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Centering Student, Faculty & Staff Well-Being ​

Florence, Italy  
Friday, May 10, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. CET

Addressing Critical Challenges Faced by International Educators Today

Building skills to support today's education abroad students is critical for on-site international educators, faculty, and staff. 

​At The Forum’s Regional Seminar: Centering Student, Faculty & Staff Well-Being, we will explore today's most critical topics centered around well-being—both student and staff—to create successful engagement for all.   

Hosted in collaboration with Syracuse University and The Forum on Education Abroad, this one-day event will cover two topics related to student and staff overall wellness:  
​

• Tools and techniques for managing mental health issues of students and staff. 
• How European-based educators can help students manage their intersecting identities in a different cultural context.  ​​

​​Expand your professional network while upskilling from Italian experts and leaders in the field!   ​

Who Should Attend 

This event is for international education professionals in and around Italy who are interested in enhancing the on-site experiences of learners and fostering collaboration among colleagues across Europe.

Schedule

All times below are CET (Central European Time) UTC/GMT +1. 
9:00 - 9:15 a.m.      Welcome
9:15 - 9:30 a.m.      AACUPI remarks
9:30 - 12:30 p.m.    Making Diversity More Diverse: U.S. Identity Politics and the Study Abroad Advantage​
12:30 - 14:00 p.m.  Lunch (provided)
14:00 - 17:00 p.m.  Mental Health As An Onion: How to Keep from Crying 
17:00 - 17:15 p.m.  Wrap Up

Meet our sponsors

Presenters

Gian Franco Borio
Attorney at Law in Florence, Italy
Legal Counsel to AACUPI and EUASA

gianfranco's bio

​Gian Franco Borio, attorney at law and former CPA, is Legal Counsel to the Association of American College and University Programs in Italy and to the European Association of Study Abroad. Law degree cum laude from Florence University, specialization studies at SAIS of Johns Hopkins Univ. in D.C., London City Poly, in Germany and France. He served as Technical Counsel for Italy at the Federation of EU CPAs (FEE) to the European Commission on Corporate Law, Tax Law, SMEs. He is admitted to the Florence (Italy) Bar.

Nicole Collins
Director of Strategic Partnerships and Outreach Syracuse University

nicole's bio

​Nicole Collins is the Director of Strategic Partnership & Outreach at Syracuse University. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Nicole brings with her 18 years of experience in global education, including crisis management, program development, partner relations, and strategic planning. Before joining Syracuse Abroad, Nicole held professional leadership roles at Miami University, IES Abroad, and Wake Forest University.
Nicole earned a B.A in International Studies from Case Western Reserve University, where she studied abroad in Costa Rica at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma. Nicole received an M.A. in Intercultural Communication from Wake Forest University.

Laura Dupont-Jarrett, PhD
Assistant Director for Education Abroad Mental Health University of Minnesota Global Programs and Strategy Alliance

Laura's bio

Laura Dupont-Jarrett, PhD, LP, is Assistant Director for Education Abroad Mental Health, providing training, guidance, and resources to UMN staff, faculty, and onsite resident staff on student mental health and wellness abroad. She also works with Student Affairs, providing similar services for faculty and staff on student mental health and wellness on campus. She’s a licensed psychologist who has worked in higher ed over 20 years as an academic advisor, mental health counselor, instructor, coach/trainer, and administrator. She received her MA and PhD in Counseling & Student Personnel Psychology; and her BA in Psychology and French, including short-term study in France.

Troy Gordon, PhD
Director of Global Teaching & Learning
​Syracuse University Abroad

Troy's bio

​Troy Gordon is the newly-appointed Director of Global Teaching & Learning for Syracuse University Abroad. From 2014-24 he served as the Director of the Syracuse University London Program and as Academic Director 2012-14. Before joining Syracuse, Troy taught full time at UCLA in Los Angeles and at Hult International Business School in London, where he was appointed chair of the Media & Communications Department and later, Associate Dean. With a Ph.D. in Women’s Studies and English from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), Troy has taught many cross-disciplinary courses in international education, including Mass Persuasion; The Media and World Politics; America: A Foreign Perspective; and the inaugural James Bond & British Masculinity course at Syracuse University London.

Amy Kleine
Former Assistant Director of Health and Wellness at Syracuse University in Florence
​

amy's bio

​As former Assistant Director of Health and Wellness at Syracuse University in Florence, Amy has over 20 years of experience in handling student concerns while abroad and in crisis response/management. At Syracuse Florence, she also taught Cross Cultural Psychology and a first year experience course for Syracuse freshmen studying abroad their first semester. Amy now freelances as a mental health and safety consultant for local abroad programs and short-term visiting counseling programs from the States. Amy holds masters degrees in counseling psychology and Italian language and is a member of The American Counseling Association, The American College Counseling Association, The American Psychological Association, Assocounseling Association of Italy and the International Counseling Association.

Vanessa Nichol-Peters, PhD
Director of Marist College Italy

vanessa's bio

​With 20+ in the field, Vanessa began her career in Education Abroad as a program coordinator in Zimbabwe with the School for International (SIT). Moving to SIT’s Vermont campus, Vanessa worked in international compliance with a global portfolio of programs in Africa, Latin America, and Oceania. She went on to Academic Director positions at SIT in Durban and Cape Town South Africa in thematic areas of Reconciliation and Development, Education and Social Change, and Multiculturalism. Vanessa also worked with programs across the continent of Africa as Associate Dean of African Programs for SIT. Vanessa has spent the last decade as Director of Marist College’s campus in Florence, Italy. The campus is home to a traditional study abroad program, a First Year Abroad program and several 4-year degree programs. Vanessa holds an MBA from Ohio University, an MA in Community Development and Adult Education from the University of KwaZulu Natal, and a PhD in African History from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Vanessa currently serves as a member of the Forum on Education Abroad Council.

Margherita Pasquini
Member and Director, Sustainable Partnerships
Alethea Global Consulting Cooperative

MarGherita's bio

​Margherita Pasquini is the Director of Sustainable Partnerships at Alethea Global Consulting Cooperative.

She's been in the field of international higher education for 15 years, primarily responible for university relations management and study abroad program development.  She's a Forum Trained Facilitator and Assessor, with extensive experience of training and public speaking. She's a passionate advocate for climate action in international higher education and is currently the Europe Chapter President of CANIE- Climate Action Network for International Educators.

Sasha Perugini, PhD
Director of Syracuse University Abroad Florence

Sasha's bio

​Dr. Sasha Perugini's academic background includes a Laurea Magistrale in English and Russian from the University of Siena and a Ph.D. in History of Performing Arts from Tufts University. Her career within International Education spans over three decades and in different countries: United States, Italy, and Australia. Since 2011, Dr. Perugini has been serving as the Director of the Syracuse University in Florence program, a large operations hosting an average of 1000 students per year. In addition to her leadership duties, she teaches a course on Cross-Cultural Communication and Management. She regularly presents at international conferences and has published extensively on several topics including, International Education, Human Capital, Leadership, and Artificial Intelligence in Education. Dr. Perugini has published 5 creative nonfiction books: literary reflections on macro themes of our contemporary society.

Fabrizio Ricciardelli, PhD
President Association of American College and University Programs in Italy (AACUPI) and Director of Kent State University Florence

Fabrizio's bio

Fabrizio Ricciardelli, Ph.D., was appointed Director of the Kent State University Florence Center in 2012 after serving in leadership and teaching roles at Georgetown University at Villa Le Balze. Ricciardelli joined Georgetown University in 2004 and served for six years as Professor of History. Between 2010-2012, he was also selected as Academic Director and in 2010 he became the chairman of the scientific committee “Villa Le Balze Studies.” His academic experience includes journal articles, conference presentations, and several reviews. He has authored and co-authored numerous books on institutional and political history. His main field of study is Italian city-states in the social, economic, political, and cultural landscape of Medieval Europe. Ricciardelli worked for National Geographic on The Secrets of Florence in 2009. In 2021 Ricciardelli was elected President of AACUPI, the Association of American College and University Programs in Italy. A native of Florence, Fabrizio Ricciardelli earned his undergraduate degree in Medieval History at the University of Florence and his Ph.D. at the University of Warwick in England.

Registration 

Rates	Member	Non-Member	Open	Close
Early Bird	$289	$339	1-Feb	1-Mar
Regular	$339	$389	2-Mar	12-Apr
Late	$389	$439	13-Apr	10-May

This is event is SOLD OUT!
​Please consider joining us for the Regional Seminar in London instead

Register to the Regional Seminar in London

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Accommodation

Click here for a list of recommended hotels near the Syracuse Florence Center along with a discount promo code.