Fall/Winter 2016
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IlTHE ALUMNI NEWSLETTERBollettino FOR THE JOHN FELICE ROME CENTER FALL/WINTER 2016 Students discover Roman villa remains IN THIS ISSUE BY ALEXANDRA JONKER (JFRC FALL ‘15) A LETTER FROM JOHN FELICE tudying at the Rome Center is already an immersive and eye-opening experience for students— pg. 4 so how can it be taken a step further? That’s the question that Jennifer Engel, executive director MEET THE RICCI SCHOLARS Sat the Office for International Programs, and Alexander Evers, associate dean for academic affairs pg. 7 and professor of classical studies and ancient history at the JFRC, sought the answer to last summer. “We were talking about different things that we could be doing during our summer session to update the ROME-ANCE IS IN THE AIR curriculum and invigorate it,” says Engel. “Then we came up with the idea of what we labeled the Fusion pgs. 8–11 Experience.” STUDENT INTERNSHIPS Continued on page 3 pg. 13 TRANSFORMING THE ROME CENTER Students discover MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM DIRECTOR NEW LOYOLA PRESIDENT Roman villa remains Michael J. Garanzini, S.J. Interim Director, John Felice Rome Center On August 1, 2016, Jo Ann Rooney, JD, LLM, EdD, Continued from cover Chancellor, Loyola University Chicago began her role as the 24th president and first lay leader of Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Rooney’s The Fusion Experience pairs two different, inauguration took place on Nov. 4. but complementary courses into a single well- This new appointment expands Dr. Rooney’s rounded study-abroad adventure. Students Dear Alumni, Family, leadership in higher education, as she has spend their first two weeks in Rome and their served as the president of both Spalding final two weeks traveling to a specific region University—a private, Catholic, doctoral-level in Italy, doing different activities outside of and Friends, university in Louisville, Kentucky—and Mount Ida the typical classroom setting. By melding two College, a baccalaureate-level college offering distinctive areas, Engel says that learning is no undergraduate and graduate degrees in Newton, longer “siloed” into different subjects. It is a privilege to serve you and our keeping the momentum of renewal, Massachusetts. She has also spent more than 22 “Students are learning about the content Rome Center community as the renovation, and expansion of the years teaching at the graduate and undergraduate in an interrelated way, versus the traditional center’s interim director these past Rome Center. Your dedication is levels. way of learning about history in one class and few months. As you may have heard, impressive. And some of you, like During her learning about art in another,” she says. “This I accepted this role in place of Ted those who joined us here last May eight-year tenure at then makes learning all the more impactful Bohr, S.J., assistant professor of art at the All-Class Reunion, have had a Spalding, Dr. Rooney when you can actually learn about something history and theology here—who had more intimate opportunity to reflect led an impressive in the classroom and then go out and see it been previously identified as interim on what makes Rome, its people, and turnaround of an and get your hands dirty.” director—while we continue to search this program so unique and so vibrant. institution facing The Fusion Experience offered two for a permanent director. We hope to That has included the chance to see severe challenges. different course options last summer, each announce the hiring of that person in how our renovations of the Monte Then in July 2010, of which allowed students to fuse not only the next few months. Mario facility are helping make this an she was appointed complementary subject areas but also two even more attractive home for future president of Mount different regions of Italy. The first was a During the past six or seven years, students. Ida College. After comparative Italian cultures class focusing many of us have had the great only months in that on food, wine, and photography. Essentially, fortune to have a front-row seat for Those of us who knew John Felice position, she was the program fused a literature class on Italian the wonderful progress being made experienced the depth of his vision called by the Obama culture with a foundational photography at the JFRC. In a short time, we have and devotion to his students. His Administration to Jo Ann Rooney, JD, LLM, EdD course. seen the acquisition of the property, a legacy is talked about and felt here serve her country The students traveled to Abruzzo—a growth in enrollments, new academic each day. In this issue on pg. 4, we are Please visit LUC.edu/ as the nominee for region east of Rome along the coast of the programs that have expanded our pleased to share with you a letter John inauguration for event principal deputy Adriatic—and visited a range of different reach, and now the expansion of the wrote to his students shortly before photos and videos. under secretary of sites, learning about the history and culture campus onto the oliveto where we his passing, now framed in the JFRC defense for personnel and readiness in the U.S. of the region as well as its environment and will build another residence hall and lobby. All of us who came into contact Department of Defense. Dr. Rooney was confirmed sustainability. After participating in wine chapel. What has remained the same with John have been inspired by him, for the position by the U.S. Senate in May 2011. In tastings and going to an authentic cheese this spectacular structure,” says Evers. “The is the dedication and caliber of those especially his vision and his capacity 2012, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta production facility, students then honed their walls were in perfect condition and show who educate the hearts and minds for becoming a significant figure in awarded Dr. Rooney the Department of Defense newfound photography skills, documenting a continuity of habitation from the second of our students. Our faculty never our lives. His personality and character Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the highest the connections they saw between food and century AD, a peak time of the Roman Empire, cease to amaze me. We are fortunate still fill the halls here at the JFRC. award given to a civilian by the secretary of wine, agriculture, the environment, and Italian well into the Middle Ages.” to have not only students passionate Thank you for attending our defense. culture. The Sicilian authorities were as thrilled about exploring their world but also wonderful alumni events and Dr. Rooney joined Loyola from Huron Consulting The second Fusion Experience began as the students to discover the remains faculty and staff who conduct classes donating to the Avanti! campaign Group in Chicago, where she was managing by pairing a classics course in archaeology and have given the Rome Center unlimited in ancient ruins, take students on to help us continue to build the final director with responsibility for developing techniques with a class on classical Roman permission for the next three years to fascinating cultural explorations, and vision of our center’s founder. strategies to advance Huron Healthcare’s Federal history. The group, led by Evers, then visited excavate in that location. The findings challenge the boundaries of our Government Healthcare Sector consulting practice. Ragusa, Sicily for a two-week archaeological provided an exciting conclusion to the students’ perceptions of the world. “My passion is, and has always been, education,” dig (pictured above). A team of five students summer, and Evers says that both Fusion Having met and spoken with many Ad majorem Dei gloriam, said Dr. Rooney. “During the search process, I and five local volunteers put their spades into Experiences went very well. (Top and bottom) JFRC students unearth of you who have generously shared was struck by the dedication and commitment the ground on an untouched archaeological “For the students, it’s been a tremendous an ancient Roman villa in Sicily. time and resources, I want to again exhibited by representatives of the faculty, site and uncovered a Roman villa. experience,” says Evers. “To not only learn emphasize how important you are to Michael J. Garanzini, S.J. students, staff, academic leadership, Jesuits, and “There were previous indications that the and study in the classroom but also be able board members. That commitment, and Loyola’s grounds were pregnant with remains from to actually see, feel, smell, taste, dig, find—it strong mission, drew me here.” the distant past, but no one expected to find makes it all real. It makes it all unforgettable.” 2 3 A letter from John Felice 2016 Felice Award recipient Philanthropist supports The following letter was written by John Felice to students a few months before he passed away. At the time, Felice was living in Chicago and unable to travel to Rome. JFRC students through scholarships amed for the founder of the Rome Center, the Felice Award is conveyed N annually at the Loyola University Chicago Founders’ Dinner to an alumnus(a) for leadership in business and community along with support of the Rome Center. Meet the 2016 recipient. KATIE VOGELHEIM (JFRC ’77–’78) Like many Americans who venture abroad, Katie Vogelheim arrived in Rome and didn’t want to leave. Within days of exploring the city (and minutes of sampling gelato), she knew she wanted to stay the year. However, her parents couldn’t afford it. Two weeks later, they mysteriously reversed course. She eventually learned their decision was made possible by John Felice. To this day, she thanks him for the year that changed her life.