Inside this issue:

WolfTracks
Volume 5, Issue 3
The American University of Rome Alumni & Friends Newsletter Summer 2008
Inside this issue:
2008 Commencement Celebrations
Communication & English Department Week
Agreement with Tor Vergata

UNIVERSITY OF
ROME
WolfTracksTHE AMERICAN
Dear Alumni and AUR friends,
Welcome to this Summer edition
of our Newsletter.
We decided it was about time for
a new outfit, so we hope you like
the new design, with more color
and pictures to reflect the buzz of
activities and the energy which
permeates around Campus.
students, whom we expect will
leave traceable track of their
paths after moving on from AUR.
We welcome your thoughts on the
new look and any suggestions for
improvement.
Happy reading!
In this Issue:
Commencement 2008 4
Spring 08 Award recipients 9
Communication week 11
AUR signs with Tor Vergata 17
Italian elections watch 18
AUR races for the cure 20
AUR alumni voices 21
We also have a new title: Wolf
Tracks, to commemorate our
The WolfTracks Team
AUR Celebrates 40 years
of Service since 1969
2009
Next year marks the ruby anniversary of The American University of
Rome. Since its inception in 1969, The American University of Rome
has worked to help transform the lives of thousands of young men and
women.

Pictured: Paul Zinder delivers
an inspirational speech to the
graduating class
The Class of 2008
Celebrates
Commencement
On May 16, 36 AUR students from 10
different countries received their
Degrees. President Marino congratulated
the Graduating class of 2008 and
challenged graduates to “go forth to
conquer the world…but write back to tell
us about it, or even better, come back in
person”.
Grand Marshall Paul Zinder (AUR’s Chair
of Communication & English)
remembered his own Commencement
day, “sitting next to students I had never
met before, in a huge sports arena on
the basketball court..” and reminded
students of “how fortunate you are to
know everyone in those uncomfortable
gowns sitting next to you”.
AUR Trustee Domenico Oliva greeted
graduates and all present on behalf of
the Board of Trustee and Buddhist Monk
Dario Girolami gave his inspirational
message.
A Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris
Causa Degree was conferred upon U.S.
Ambassador to Italy, Ronald P. Spogli
who, in his Commencement Address,
underlined the need for graduates to
embrace flexibility and to be prepared
for a professional life made of several
careers rather than one.
In the course of the ceremony AUR’s
Ambassador-in-residence Parker Borg
and Multimedia Technology Technician
Heather Marie Miller were invited to
stand and be awarded for Outstanding
Service to Students by President Marino.
The Graduating Class of 2008 was
represented by Jay Patrick Irwin, who, in
a touching speech about relationships
and reciprocity, thanked AUR’s faculty
and administrative staff “who have
helped us reach this point and share an
idea for the path ahead”. Here follows
an abstract from his speech, which made
the whole AUR family feel very proud.
Thank you Jay, and the best of luck to
you and the Graduating Class of 2008!
“If I may speak on behalf of my
classmates, the class of 2008 would not
be here today without the help of many
different people. The AUR faculty and
administration cannot be forgotten. In
lieu of forgetting a name, I will thank you
all together because it is the whole AUR
team that makes the university such a
special place. Thank you all. To the
administration: not only do you deal with
the joys of the students studying abroad
with infinite patience, you are a huge
part of the reason the resident students
have such a close-knit community. For
me personally, you have not only made
studying at AUR fun and enjoyable,
you’ve made it possible. Professors,
thank you as well.
Studying at AUR has opened my eyes to
the interesting and complex world of
International Relations in ways I did not
know were possible. In my short time at
AUR I have had the luxury of studying
under professors from 7 different
countries, and traveling with them to
study in Ghana, Montenegro and Boston
as well as here in Rome. From the first
time I spoke on the phone with
admissions, to this beautiful ceremony
today, thank you AUR staff for all your
hard work.
My classmates. Thank you for being
so diverse, interesting and fun. Most of
you have been here longer than me, and
I cannot tell you how much it means that
you welcomed and accepted me into
your community. I have had a blast, from
the soccer games to dinners at the Thai
Inn to late night encounters at On the
Rox…I am excited and eager to see what
each of us goes on to do, and look
forward to future mass emails and
reunions with these stories”.
Commencement
Speakers
President Robert Marino
Professor Paul Zinder, Grand
Marshall
Ambassador Ronald P. Spogli
Trustee Domenico Oliva
Buddhist Monk Dario Girolami
Graduate Jay Irwin

The Graduating
Class of 2008
Bachelor of Arts in Art History
Melissa Díaz Arredondo Cepeda
Cortney Healy
Heather Lyn Higgins
Jeanette L. Pena
Dana F. Phelps
Alison Sherman
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Giulia Arcieri
Kelsea R. Brennan-Wessels
Melissa J. Cannavo
Sean P. Castle
Silvia Serena Jackman
Kris Jorens
Madelaine Rose Kuns
Michael A. Maury
Rosi Nathalie Mosca-Herrera
Alexandra K. Nardi
Emanuela Peçanha Pellitteri
Christopher Roberts Camus
Pietro Alessandro Schiavo
Bachelor of Arts in International
Relations
Almudena Amerlinck-Huerta
Donna J. Coyle
Laura Yvonne Dana
Chelena Dosi Brunone
Jay Patrick Irwin
Francesca A. Procopio
Keith N. Roberts
Bachelor of Arts in Italian Studies
Jennifer A. O'Neill
Mia Elizabeth Pezzanite
Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration
Rebecca Elisa Agurcia
Valentino De Sousa
Antonio Illiano
Austin Clark Jenkins
John Anthony Persico
Kefas T. Putra
Anastasia Victoria Safarian
Margaret Elizabeth Smith

Above: Graduate of Communication Kelsea
Brennan-Wessels with her friend and once study
abroad student Katie Schuck.
Above right: Graduates Almudena Amerlink-
Huerta and Melissa Diaz.
Right: Graduates Emanuela Pellitteri and John
Persico

Left: U.S. Ambassador
to Italy, Ronald P.
Spogli, AUR President
Robert Marino, AUR
Trustee Domenico Oliva
and Provost Richard
Resch.

ARTS STUDENTS EXHIBIT AT THE
GYROTONIC INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTION
Professor Breda Ennis organized and was curator of a student exhibition
last May which was part of the GYROTONIC INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTION, held in Rome from the 18th to the 29th of May at the
Centro di Preparazione Olimpico, Acquacetosa “Giulio Onesti”, Largo
Giulio Onesti, l in Rome. The American University of Rome gave its
patronage to the American–Italian Convention, sponsored by Vodafone
and Avis. The three students participating in the show were Kristin Mosca,
Luciano Chance and Brittany Sweney. The mediums used was painting,
printmaking and drawing.
This was a unique chance for the students to receive press and TV
coverage. Delegates from all over the world were present, including from
the U.S. and Japan. The initiative was part of The Pyramid Art Studio’s
plan to provide special opportunities for the students who study at AUR. It
Professor Magda Romano is new
Coordinator of Career and Internship
Services
Associate Professor of
Communication, Magda
Romano, was been appointed
AUR’s Coordinator of Career
and Internship Services in June
2008.
She will be responsible for
working with Academic
Department Chairs in arranging
support and guidance for
students in the development of
career goals and skills for
pursuing them. She will organize
career workshops, related
resume preparation, job
searching and interview
techniques and will arrange for
AUR’s participation in career
fairs. She will assist in the
development of contacts with
organizations and employers who may provide opportunities and/or internship
for students and alumni. In addition she will coordinate with Academic
Department Chairs the credit-bearing internship courses.
AUR launches
new program
in “The Italian
Business
Environment”
The Italian Studies Department
and the Business Studies
Department have collaborated
to create a new minor at AUR to
be launched in September
2008. This program in “The
Italian Business Environment”
will serve students majoring in
both departments as well as
students in communication,
international relations or other
fields.
Many non-Italian AUR students
decide that they wish to remain
in Italy after graduation and this
program together with AUR’s
internship program prepares
them for careers that they can
begin in Italy.
Courses in the program such as
Italian for Business, The Italian
Economy, Introduction to
International Business, Special
Topics in Marketing and
Organizational Communication
in Italy, International Business
Law, International Economic
Organizations, Museum
Management, Art Gallery
Management, Organizational
Behavior in a Global Context,
Global Marketing, Italian
Design, Introduction to Italian
Culture, and the Sociology of
Contemporary Italy, taught by
AUR’s outstanding international
faculty, provide a rich selection
for students to choose from to
create a program that matches
their needs.
For more information see the
Schedule of Classes for Fall
2008 or contact the Office of
Admissions, or either of the
Departments of Business Studies
or Italian Studies.
For further information please contact Prof. Magda Romano at
m.romano@aur.edu

2008 Farewell Event
Students, staff, and faculty gathered in
the AUR garden on Thursday May 8th to
celebrate the end of the Spring 2008
semester at the annual Farewell Event.
Guests sipped prosecco and wine and
enjoyed hamburgers, porchetta, pasta
salad, and cake. About 250 guests
attended the event and enjoyed the
night’s festivities as they listened to music
and reminisced about the past school
year.
Awards were given out to study
abroad and degree-seeking students
alike for their contributions to the AUR
community. The AUR Wolves and She-
Wolves were also presented with medals
for their hard work this year.
Below is a list of awards and the
recipients:
Spring 2008
Award Recipients
Irene Greaves (AUR)
Caput Mundi Award for Academic
Excellence
Valeria Aronica (University of Wisconsin
- Plattsville)
Caput Mundi Award for Cross Cultural
Understanding
Anastasia Victoria Safarian (AUR)
Caput Mundi Award for Cross Cultural
Understanding
Arkady Vidgop (The College of New
Jersey)
Student Life Ambassador of Goodwill
Hratch Achadjin
George Washington University
Student Life Ambassador of Goodwill
IR students and Prof. Walston with RAI International Director Piero Badaloni
IR students take part in RAI
International program on
Italian voters abroad
AUR students took part again in RAI
International's news series "Italia
World", hosted by RAI International
director Piero Badaloni, on April 17.
This time the debate was on the role
and importance of Italian voters
abroad and the eight Parliamentarians
most voted outside of Italy were
presented.
Italians abroad elect six senators and
twelve deputies and in the last
Parliament their vote was crucial for
the Government.
Parliamentarians from Australia, North
and South America took part in the
debate via satellite link.
AUR's Prof. James Walston and several
of AUR students made up the studio
participants.
AUR and Lazarski School
of Commerce and Law
sign agreement
The President of The American
University of Rome (AUR), Dr. Robert
A. Marino, and the President of
Warsaw’s Lazarski School of
Commerce and Law (LSC), Dr. Juliusz
Madej, signed a Memorandum of
Understanding on May 21.
The agreement seals the two
institutions’ desire to cooperate in the
areas of institutional effectiveness and
assessment, to establish a mechanism
for faculty and student exchanges, to
develop course articulation covenants,
to cooperate in joint research projects,
to promote the exchange of visiting
Faculty.
The two institutions agreed to develop
opportunities for faculty, staff and
students to increase the
internationalization of both institutions.
Michaela Rubala
Townson
Student Life Ambassador of Goodwill
Timothy Ponzi
AUR
Student Life Ambassador of Goodwill
Cristina Cote
American University
Student Life Ambassador of Goodwill
Antonio Illiano
Sports Award for outstanding Excellence
President of Warsaw’s Lazarski
School of Commerce and Law and
President Marino sign the MOU
LSC was founded in 1926 by Ryszard
Lazarski. It offers undergraduate,
graduate and post-graduate programs
in Polish and in English. The academic
offer in English includes a Bachelor of
Arts in Business Economics and a
Bachelor of Arts in International
Relations, as well as Master of Science
in International Business Economics
and Master of Business Administration.

AUR’s fourth
annual
Communication
& English
Department
Week
Back by popular demand the
Department of Communication &
English held the fourth annual
Communication & English
Department Week in April.
Communication & English
Department Week is a series of
evening events devoted to
showcasing the work of both
students and professionals in the
field.
As in years past, the everpopular
Black Maria Film and
Video Festival kicked off the
week. The Black Maria Film and
Video Festival tours US
universities and film festivals
every year, screening awardwinning
independent films and
videos from around the world.
This year’s festival line-up
included the Jury-Prize winning
documentary Uno degli Ultimi
(One of the Last), directed by
Professor Paul Zinder, coproduced
by Professor Maurizio
Marmorstein, and edited by AUR
Multimedia Technology
Technician Heather Marie Miller.
Other events included the AUR
Student Media & Photography
Show, an evening devoted to
student photography, films,
videos, and other multimedia
work. Emmy-nominated
producer, Laura Weinstein, gave
a presentation called "Yes, You
Can Make a Living as a
Documentary Filmmaker”.
The closing event was the AUR
Student Reading and Remus
Volume II Publication Party.
Remus is the departmental
literary journal devoted to
publishing original student
writing, as well as photography
and artwork.
Directed by Professor of English
Elizabeth Geoghegan, and
assisted by a team of student
editors, this year’s issue
contained creative work by over
20 AUR students and the evening
reading featured several of the
students published in Volume II.

“It isn't an easy play but I am happy
with the overall level we have
achieved”.
Professor Antonello Villani
AUR’s Acting Club gets Seduced
Sam Shepard‘s play commemorates the club’s third year
The AUR Acting Club presented Sam Shepard's play
"Seduced" on April 23 in the Auditorium of "Chiesa
Santa Maria Regina Pacis", close to AUR. The play
was directed by AUR Professor of Communication
Professor Tony Villani, and was acted by Philadelphia
program students, who also worked on their costumes
and designed the poster used for the play.
The AUR Acting Club was created in 2005 as a way
to give aspiring and closeted actors a chance to
perform in front of a live audience and Professor
Villani, who has been Academic Coordinator since. It
is not a class, even though Professor Villani’s Acting
students do join in sometimes.
Students are supposed to bring material to the
meetings in order to choose what to stage. Usually
plays get staged each semester, the highlight so far
having been the production of Christopher Durang's
THE ACTOR'S NIGHTMARE in December 2006.
“It isn't an easy play – commented Professor Villani
just before the performance - but I am happy with the
overall level we have achieved, especially considering
what little time we have had and the lack of
experience of some of the actors”.

INSPIRATIONAL
ROME
EXHIBITION AT
THE PYRAMID
ART STUDIO
The Pyramid Art Studio was
happy to present its end of
Semester Student Exhibition
entitled “Inspirational Rome” on
April 29. The classes participating
were: Painting I and Painting II,
Printmaking I and Printmaking
II.The Spring semester saw a
particularly creative group of
students and the 120 people who
came to the Exhibition on the
evening of the 29 th April
commented on the great variety
of works and the predominance
of strong colors.The first year
students concentrated on
experimentation – an important
process on the road to
discovering a tendency and the
first touches of an eventual
personal style.The second level
students worked on specific
projects chosen by them.These
themes followed the research
approach to the making of art as
outlined in the “Inspirational Track
Methodology” (created by Prof.
Breda. Ennis). This methodology
enables students to research into
art works of the past, e.g. if a
student chooses the image of
‘wings’ or ‘light’ they must
research past masters who
concentrated on this
aspect.From this they then go on
to express their own personal
interpretation of these
concepts.It was an exciting
process both for the students and
the professor.All students carried
out duties relating to the
organization of the Exhibition and
the invitation and brochure were
also made by the students.

BUSINESS
The 2008 Strategic
Management class
(graduating seniors)
with US-Italy Fulbright
Commission Executive
Director Dr. Maria
Grazia Quieti (seated
at right) and Business
Studies Department
Chair Prof. Kathleen
Fitzsimmons (left)
US-Italy Fulbright Commission “Client”
for Strategic Management class
Last semester graduating business majors worked
on a consulting project for a "real world" client, the
U.S.-Italy Fulbright Commission. For the second year,
Dr. Maria Grazia Quieti agreed to act as client for the
students in the Strategic Management class, the
capstone course in the Business program. While last
year the focus of the project was a competitive review
and positioning strategy recommendation, this year's
mandate, delivered to the group on April 11 by Dr.
Quieti during a meeting at Fulbright headquarters in
Rome, formulated a communications strategy for the
Commission's primary communications medium: its
website.
The class worked in teams to formulate a web
strategy and design the structure of a site that was
required to meet the needs of the diverse stakeholders
of the Commission. Like all non-profit organizations,
the Commission must communicate effectively with a
wide array of publics, including university students
(prospective Fulbright scholarship applicants),
University staffs and faculties, the US and Italian
advisory boards and respective ministries, the
Commission's Board of Trustees, Fulbright alumni
(former Fulbright grant recipients) and the media.
Our seniors rose to the challenge! The teams
presented their recommendations on April 24. Class
members, Fulbright staff and AUR Business Faculty
voted for the best Fulbright Web Communication
presentation.

BizClub members,
guests and Advisor
Prof. Kathleen
Fitzsimmons with the
famous Ferrari
“Cavallino”
BizClub trip to Ferrari and Maserati
On April 17 the AUR Business Club, in line
with the “service” aspect of its mission, organized a
Business Department field trip to the production
facilities of two of Italy’s most famous automakers:
Ferrari and Maserati, in the Modena area. Club
officers set up tours for 40 participants at the two
factories, where students met company managers
and got an overview of the history of the firm, the
contributions it has made to the industry and,
especially in the case of Ferrari, to the sport of auto
racing.
The AUR Business Club was founded in 2003
and was the first student club at AUR. Its mission is
threefold: service, functional and social. It serves the
AUR community by managing the AUR
merchandising business, which it launched in
2004. Its functional mission is fulfilled by sponsoring
trips like this one to business locations and by
inviting guest lecturers to address club
members. Finally, the BizClub provides social
networking connections for its members, who find in
the BizClub a group of people with similar interests.

AUR and Tor Vergata
Announce Alliance
The American University of Rome and the Tor Vergata
Università degli Studi di Roma signed a Memo of
Understanding to develop joint degrees in the fields of
Management and Economics. AUR President Dr Robert
Marino and Dean of the Tor Vergata School of Business
and Economics, Dr. Michele Bagella, led the teams that
met recently to celebrate the signing of the document.
The meeting was the latest in a series of encounters that
faculty members from the two schools have had over
recent months, to explore the reciprocal benefits of a
potential alliance.
The goal of the alliance is to launch a joint degree
program (the equivalent of the Italian “laurea triennale”
or “laurea di primo livello” and the American bachelor’s
degree) by Fall 2009. The working group will develop
the curricula as well as enrollment strategies to attract
qualified students not only from the US and Italy but also
from the EU and elsewhere, who might benefit from a
joint Italian-American degree. In addition, the two
institutions agreed to cooperate in joint research projects
and to promote faculty exchanges.
Interdisciplinary Workshop
“Us and the Other”
A
n
interdisciplinary
workshop titled
"Us and the
Other", organized
by Dr. Vicky
Kynourgiopoulou
(Arts& Humanities
Department) and
Dr. Isabella
Clough-Marinaro
(IR and Italian
S t u d i e s
Department) had
tremendous
success and a
phenomenal
turnout last April. The debate brought together an
interdisciplinary approach and emphasized the
importance of open dialogue and acceptance as the
pivotal conrnerstones of our society and of our university
as well.
Some of the themes addressed in the workshop were:
• How do perceptions of us and the other affect
multicultural dialogue?
• What kinds of hybrid identities are developing in a
globalized world?
• How have racism, stereotyping, prejudice and other
forms of discrimination been manifested themselves in
history?
• How are imagined boundaries enacted through
practices?
• How have literature, the media and the visual arts
perpetrated or countered discriminatory discourses?
• How do economic forms of inequality and exclusion
occur? Why does poverty become a stigma?
• How has international migration contributed to debates
on cultural pluralism and citizenship?
• What can be done to strengthen dialogue among
civilizations and cultures in order to promote
international co-operation and solidarity?
The following students contributed to the workshop by
presenting a paper: Mia Pezzanite, Cortney Healy,
Tatiana Petrovic, Melissa Diaz, Kassandra Frua de Angeli,
Troy Hannigan, Kenneth Miraski, Roy Halstead, Scott
Davenport
The following Professors presented papers: IR and Science
Professor Paolo Crocchiolo, IR Professors Darya Pushkina,
Steven Colatrella and Nicola Perugini, Communication
Professor Tony Villani.
The workshop was followedby the screening of the film:
"Real Bad Arabs. How Hollywood Vilifies a People".
If you would like to read abstracts from the workshop
participants’ papers please consult the AUR website:
www.aur.edu/pdfs/us_other.pdf

Italian
Elections
Watch
n the lead up to the Italian
political elections, last April, the
International Relations
Department of The American
University of Rome, in collaboration
with the Centro Studi Americani and
the Association for the study of
Modern Italy, held a conference on
April 4 titled The Italian Elections
2008, issues, personalities and
techniques.
The conference, held in the Auriana
Auditrium, explored Italy’s complex
political arena and electoral system,
and issues such as the
accomplishments of the Prodi
government and the role of the Church
and of Christian values in the election
campaign. Amongst the speakers were
Mark Donovan, Professor at the
University of Cardiff, Jim Newell,
Professor at the University of Salford,
Caterina Paolucci, from the James
Madison Unversity of Florence, Marco
Contini, La Repubblica foreign desk
journalist, Andrea Vannucci,
Statistician and political analyst, and
Nora Galli de’Paratesi, author. AUR’s
International Relations Professors Luca
Ratti, Claudio Lodici and James
Walston took part as organizers and
speakers.
On the day of the election, April 13,
from just before the opening of the
polls until the result was sure,
diplomats, visiting academics and
journalists followed and analysed the
election results at AUR along with
students and faculty.
RAI International and Associated Press
Television News, German radio world
service Deutsche Weller recorded
interviews at AUR for their dispatches.
Prof. Walston was interviewed by al-
Jazeera, Sky News, BBC, TV
France24, Reuters, CNN, PressTV and
CBC.

Rare glimpse into the Vatican’s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Sacred and Profane Diplomacy class visits The Holy See
Prof. Walston’s “Sacred and Profane Diplomacy”
class finished with a bang as the last class meeting was
held in the Vatican’s “ministry of foreign affairs” and
ended with a bird’s eye view of the Wednesday papal
audience.
Ushered in through the Porta S. Anna, the class, along
with Prof. Pushkina and Prof. Walston , were escorted by
a Swiss guard to Cortile del Belvedere and went up to the
offices of the Dicastery for Relations
with States as the Holy See’s foreign
ministry is called. They were
welcomed by Mons. Pietro Parolin,
the head of Vatican diplomacy, the
“foreign minister” and then had a
presentation from Mons. José
Bettencourt on how Vatican
diplomacy is organized and what it
wants to achieve. There was a lively
discussion started by Prof. Pushkina
on how the Holy See’s definition of a
“just war” has changed over the
years.
After the formal session, Mons.
Bettencourt took students round the
offices – many foreign ministries have
maps of the world on their walls, but
few, surely are 15th C frescoes and
for the modern maps, how many have the city names in
Latin?
And then onto the terrace overlooking a packed St.
Peter’s square as the Pope gave his Wednesday
audience. The view meant that this time with the whole
city in front of us, Rome really was AUR’s classroom, a
classroom that gave students insights into the Holy See’s
worldwide outreach too.

7 Ways for
alumni to get
involved at
AUR
PIctured: Students, Faculty,
and Staff pose before the
race.
1. Join the AUR Alumni Network
Go to www.aur.edu/alumni/
stay_connected.html and update your
information. Of course, study abroad
students have always been a
welcomed part of the AUR family!
2. Tell your friends, family and
acquaintances about your experience
at AUR
Spread the word about studying
abroad at AUR. If your experience
was life changing, tell your friends
about it.
3. Suggest student internships, work
placement or recruitment opportunities
with your employer
Make a difference in the lives of new
alumni and current AUR students by
helping them to gain real world
experience.
4. Start an Alumni Association in your
area
Contribute to a truly global AUR
alumni network by reforming or
starting a new Alumni Association
where you are.
5. Contribute to the WofTracks
Newsletter
Send in your stories and photos,
memories of your time at AUR, news of
your whereabouts and developments.
6. Play an active role in organizing
alumni events
If you have an idea about an alumni
event let us hear it about it.
7. Contribute to AUR through making
a donation
Giving back to the AUR community in
any amount you choose will contribute
to our continued success.
Twenty-nine AUR students, faculty, staff and friends participated in the 9th annual Race
for the Cure on Sunday May 18th. Despite continuous rain showers, the event brought a
record of over 40,000 participants from all over the world. The race took the
participants through the Baths of Caracalla, Circus Maximus and the Colosseum.
All money raised for the event goes to breast cancer prevention and research.
The AUR Reach Out Club hosted a murder-mystery fundraising party on Thursday
April 3rd. Murder in Margaritaland had a Caribbean theme and was held in the
Auriana Auditorium. Participants signed up to attend the party a few weeks before the
event and received character descriptions and tips for dressing like their character in
their mailboxes soon after.
At the party, guests were treated to Caribbean style snacks and listened to reggae
music. The Reach Out Club, which works to raise money for non-profit organizations
and charities, decorated the auditorium to make the guests feel as though they were at
a tropical resort. Each guest was given a list of objectives to complete in order to help
them solve the “murder”. Awards were given at the end of the night for solving the
“murder”, being the best dressed, and having the best acting skills while playing their
part.
Murder in Margaritaland was a great success and the club has already begun
making plans to host a murder-mystery party during the Fall 2008 semester. The
proceeds from the event have been donated to the World Food Programme’s “Fill the
Cup” Campaign, which aims to provide schools in Africa with food for their students.
www.aur.edu

AUR’s eclectic group of recent alumni start their careers, volunteer, and travel the world
Valerie Toedenhoefer
(Business Studies, Class of 2006)
“I have just been accepted into a trainee program as a
Future Product Manager at Adidas World of Sports. It is
an 18 month program and each of us has to switch
departments every three months and go abroad for three
months.
I had several interviews with them and even had to
participate at an Assessment Center. I really like the
company and the mentality of Adidas. At the
headquarters 50 different nationalities are represented
and the house language is English”.
Adam Linnell
(International Relations, Class of 2007)
Alumnus Adam Linnell wrote to his International Relations
Professors last April to update them on his whereabouts and
to catch up with AUR. Here is an extract of his E-mail to
Prof. James Walston:
“Since my A.U.R trip to Ghana, which I enjoyed so much I
have been eager to visit other African countries so I
decided it would be worth it…, and it has been. I am
currently a Peace Corps volunteer in northern Uganda
working primarily at an I.D.P camp in Gulu but also with
local organizations and schools in the area. I am not sure
if you have had the opportunity to venture to eastern Africa
but I find Uganda to be a very beautiful country and its
people kind not to mention gracious hosts. I think Churchill
was correct in proclaiming it "the pearl of Africa" (or at
least a pearl). Overall, after about a year and two training
semesters I can report despite inevitable pitfalls my peace
corps (including both semesters of training) experience has
been invaluable. Everyday I am taught unique lessons
across a broad spectrum of curriculum. Although some
topics I have enjoyed over others it certainly has been a
year of learning experiences”.

Jaden Rocco
(Business Studies, Class of 2007)
Jaden, a Business Studies graduate from 2007, has
accepted a job with Aksia, a research and advisory
firm in the hedge fund industry, in New York City. It
was a tough decision, because months of
interviewing and networking delivered two offers
within 48 hours of one another. The other was from
Goldman Sachs, in their Operations area. But after
six rounds of interviews (six whole days of talking!)
with Aksia, Jaden decided to take that job, as a
research analyst.
"Since Aksia is a new and small company, I will
be working on the same floor as the CEO and
partners of the firm, each one of them having
between 15- 20 years of investment management
experience. It's a great opportunity to learn. The
job is right in Manhattan, about a 20 minute walk
from my apartment, or two stops on the metro. ”
When I began my search back in August, I thought
to myself that all I'd need to do is get an interview. I
thought my personality and unique stories would be
enough to get me a job in investment banking. Eight
months later, I now realize that getting a job in this
industry takes enormous interview development and
preparation. After going through 4 rounds at HSBC,
5 rounds at Goldman, 2 rounds at Alliance
Bernstein, 6 rounds at Aksia, and talking to many
people in the business, I finally had mastered the art
of interviewing enough to land a job. It really took
a lot of practice to be able to understand the
specific job you're applying for and what they're
looking for, market yourself accurately for those
specifics, and cover everything that they might
throw at you."
Mike Park
(Business Studies, Class of 2007)
“As I'm sure you've heard, I'm at the U.S.-Italy
Fulbright and so far so good. I'm a sort of "do
everything" person, but I am mainly consulted for
things dealing with Marketing. We have been
working on a brochure to send to sponsors, and
after Professors Fitzsimmons and Sonnabend gave
feedback about turning it into an eight page
booklet, I set off working on a preliminary draft,
which has come a long way, and is ready to send to
the graphic artists for them to work their magic. I've
searched for Fulbrighters currently in Europe with a
specialization in International Relations to make a
speech with Giuliano Amato (former Minister of
Interior). I searched the database for the best
candidates, and then wrote a little summary on
each which was then sent to him. I worked on the
text of the Christmas party message that was sent
out to all Fulbrighters and friends of the commission
(I believed Professor Fitzsimmons received one). I
participate in the Alumni Association meetings and
give them my feedback and suggestions.
Currently, I'm updating and modifying the
PowerPoint presentation used when commission
representatives visit universities and speak to them
about the program. One of the employees here is a
kind of "IT" person, and wants to expand their
website and make it more user friendly and more
eye-appealing. Not only am I writing an English
version for the site, but I have a list of things I will
work on with her concerning the design, or just new
features”.

Derrick Fiedler
(International Relations, Class of 2007)
On Monday, April 21, Derrick Fiedler held a lecture for
IR students during Prof. Darya Pushkina’s International
Law class. The Lecture, titled “Jus in Bello: Law, Morality,
War and Individual Soldiers", tackled the rules ofwar
and the moral and ethical aspects of their application on
individual soldiers.
Derrick, who graduated last December and whose thesis
was recommended for distinction, has recently been
admitted to a highly respected MA multidisciplinary
program in Social Sciences at the University of Chicago,
where he will begin attendance in September 2008.
Tony Sala
(Business Studies, Class of 2007)
“My first six months out of college have been
memorable. I moved back home after 2 amazing
years in Italy, with memories that could fill 10
scrapbooks. I met amazing friends, experienced the
Italian culture, traveled all over Europe, and
experienced a very welcoming environment and a
faculty I admire. So I arrived home in awe that my
last two years had been such a life changing
experience, and asking myself “what now?”
The first month I visited and caught up with all the
friends and family I had not seen for a couple years.
Then it was time to hit the grindstone. I decided it
would be a good idea to get a part-time job while
searching for what I really wanted to do.
I had a friend who worked at a winery that
produced Italian wine varieties. I thought it would be
a perfect fit for me and applied for a wine educator
Ana Milicevic
(Business Studies, Class of 2004)
“It is great to hear that some really good things are
happening at AUR. :) Accreditation and this newsletter
for alumni - great job!
I left Henkel two months ago. I got an offer to change
my job, and I took the opportunity, so now I am working
in the marketing team of Berersdorf Belgrade,
responsible for Nivea Hair Care and Nivea Bath Care.
Awesome job and a lot of interesting learning so far. I
simply love it. Working with such nice products has
always been my wish, and after some time I am really
glad I switched jobs. I am now working and trying to
keep up with my social life. This means very little
sleeping and relaxing, but I guess there will be time for
that as well one day”.
position in the tasting room. I was told that all the
wine educator positions were filled, but was asked if
I would like to apply for a job in research and
development.
I interviewed for this position with the Director of
operations and the CEO and got the job! Since then
it has been such a great learning experience.
My jobs for the last six months have been:
conducting primary & secondary research, creating
marketing materials, and learning all aspects of the
business including daily operations and production.
Recently I have been promoted and have been put
in charge of our monthly magazine that goes out to
our thousands of club members all over the US. My
duties with the magazine include; generating
articles, conducting photo shoots, creating ads and
graphic design. I have had such an amazing journey
so far, and the wine country in California is almost
as beautiful as Italy. I look forward to continuing this
wild ride”.

Summer Students
Venture Out
AUR’s first field trip of
the summer was a hit
Field trip to Pompeii
June 2008 - Pompeii, the ancient Roman town
buried by a volcanic eruption, and the ancient city
of Paestum were the first destinations of the Summer
program’s field trips. Students studied the
development of ancient societies in the southern
peninsula, looked into their houses and ancient
bathing complexes, their forums and temples,
theaters and shops, even their brothels. They
climbed a gravel path to the summit of the Vesuvius
volcano.
On the last day they had the chance to see the
ancient Greek city of Paestum and even got to see
a Vespa Touring Club parade. Afterwards they
enjoyed a fantastic meal and got to spend time on
the beach.

WolfTracks
Alumni & Friends
Newsletter
Team
Maurizia Garzia
Editor
Heather Miller
Layout and Design
Michelle Spaulding
Student Assistant
Message to AUR alumni: Creating a Global Network
The AUR Rome chapter is planning to organize future alumni events, especially in
the context of the 40th anniversary of our institution. Please send in your
suggestions for future initiatives and let us know if you would like to volunteer to
become an active member of the Rome chapter or to initiate a new AUR Alumni
Association in your area.
Our objective is to create a truly global AUR alumni network. To help us in that
direction please send more contributions to the AUR Newsletter and update your
records on the AUR website (http://www.aur.edu/alumni/stay_connected.html).
GET IN TOUCH! STAY IN TOUCH!
We look forward to hearing from you. Please write to: alumni@aur.edu.
Maurizia Garzia
Alumni Relations
wolftracks
THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ROME
VIA PIETRO ROSELLI 4
00153 ROME ITALY
TEL +39 06 58330919
FAX +39 06 58330992
WWW.AUR.EDU