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AUR Hosts the Women’s Film Institute Shorts TourOn September22,AUR hosted theWomen’s FilmInstitute (WFI)Shorts Tour,which screened11 short filmsdirected andco-directed bywomen, includingan animated piece by AUR Professor Kristen Palana.The Women’s Film Institute was created 5 yearsago in order to create awareness, support and opportunitiesfor women in the film industry. To celebrate theorganization’s anniversary, the Shorts Tour has traveledto New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Boston. AURwas the tour’s first visit to Europe.Above: Professor Paul Zinder, Executive Director of the WFI,Scarlett Shepard and Professor Kristen Palana.Cooking Classes at AURThis semester, new cooking classes were offered underthe leadership of Chef Andrea Consoli from Le Fate Restauranton Viale Trastevere.The lessons on traditional Italian cuisine take place everyTuesday evening in the campus kitchen, and students aretaught by the experienced Italian chef to prepare typical disheswith their own hands. Final tasting is part of the course.Above: Chef Andrea Consoli at work.Above: Students prepare and taste Italian cuisine.4

AUR Joins Spirit DayThe AUR community wore purple onOctober 20 to commemorate Spirit Day, an internationalevent created in memory of the sevenboys across the United States who committedsuicide in recent months due to homophobicabuse in their homes or schools. Purple representsSpirit on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender(LGBT) flag, and the Spirit Day organizerschose this color to support all victims ofintolerance.Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementijumped off the George Washington Bridge inNew York on September 22 after his roommateDharun Ravi and classmate Molly Wei streamedhis gay sexual encounter online.Billy Lucas, 15, killed himself September 9, and Seth Walsh, 13, hung himself September 19. Both sufferedharassment in their schools. Asher Brown, 13, killed himself September 23, soon after coming out. Six days later,openly gay Johnson & Wales University student Raymond Chase hung himself in his dorm room.The AUR community strongly supports diversity and condemns homophobia.AUR Victory against JCUThe 2010-2011 season of the Campionato di Calciodelle Universita’ di Roma began with the AUR-JCU match.The AUR Wolves, supported by a standing-room-only crowdof students, staff and faculty fans, won by a 2-1 margin. Theseason’s first game, commonly known in the league as the“American Derby,” was decided with a late second period goalby David Correale. As always, AUR’s team mascot “Wolfie”was in fine form encouraging fan support.Wolves’ coach Roberto Capata expressed his confidencein this year’s squad and their dedication and focus.League president Paolo Anedda was also in attendance to viewthis exciting league game.Back Row L-R: Jessica Malmstrom, Zoe PadullaFront Row L-R: Rory Westerman, Alex Sexton, FreddieDunphy as “Wolfie,” Michela SummaAUR Signs MOU with AmericanUniversity of Puerto RicoPresident of IAPR Manuel Feruo’s signs agreement withPresident Marino.In September AUR signed a Memorandum of Agreement(MOA) with the Inter American University of PuertoRico. The MOA is intended to encourage academic cooperationand enhance access to resources within the twoinstitutions. It enables exchange of students and faculty forthe purposes of teaching, learning and research and the organizationof events related to common interests.5

RaisingAwarenessamongStudentsThis year, Student Governmentexpanded “Awareness Week”into an entire month of activities.The 2010 Awareness Month beganwith an open forum on sexuality ledby AUR student Edgar Barrales.Awareness Month includedan open forum sex talk, a discussionon alcohol and drug use with AUR’snew on-campus medical doctor anda week-long “CondomGram” sale.The following week included Halloweenactivities.Awareness Month also includedAUR participation with “Retake Rome” (www.retakerome.it),a group supported by La Fondazione G. Garibaldi,which seeks to raise awareness and participation in neighborhoodclean-ups and heightens a sense of communityin Rome. Students cleaned graffiti off a stretch of wall onVia Cassia.In order to raise money for cleaning supplies to beused in their efforts with Retake Rome, Student Government,along with a group of public relations students, helda Change to Change Rome fund raising event. Studentsparticipated by paying for and then decorating space onthe “legal graffiti wall” in the AUR garden. The event raisednearly 140 Euros.Senior Nohea Reveley-Mahan is the Non-ProfitChair of the AUR Student Government and organized theevent.Above and below: students participate in the Change toChange Rome fundraiser.6

Above: Rachel Tomasino with her pumpkin, which won first prize.HalloweenA U R ’ sannual PumpkinCelebrationCarving Competitiontook placeOctober 28, in theCampus Garden.This Halloween event, organized by the Student Life Office,has become a tradition at AUR, featuring extravagantand creative carvings to mark the beginning of Halloween.The winner received a € 25.00 gift certificatefor Da Simone, the pizzeria just down the street fromCampus.This year, Student Government contributed to theHalloween festivities with a traditional contest: challengingstudents to eat donuts from a string without using theirhands. However, contestants found themselves munchingcornetti instead of American style donuts, putting anItalian spin on the American tradition.Above: Petar Stoykov finished his cornetto first and won thecompetition.Above: Naomi Bar carves her Jack-o-Lantern.Above: Pumpkin carved by Elyse Ellis,which won second prize.Above L-R: KJ Wagner, Petar Stoykov, and Melanie Pisano wait tostart the contest.7

Giving Thanks: AnAmerican Holiday inRomeHeld by Student Government and StudentLife, this year’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner tookplace November 25 in the Regina Pacis Auditorium.The Auditorium was packed with alumni, students,staff, faculty and administration, as well asfamily and friends. The dinner included mashed potatoes,peas, home-made stuffing, cranberry sauce,and of course, turkey.Above: Professor Paul Zinder and President Robert Marinocarve the ceremonial turkeys.8

Fine Arts Daywith the AmazingGraceGospel ChoirThe newly created FineArts Area at The American Universityof Rome inaugurated itsfirst year with a “Fine Arts Day”held on December 1.Student art from thepainting and sketchbook coursesAbove: The Amazing Grace Gospel Choir performing in the AUR Auditorium.was exhibited. The AmazingGrace Gospel Choir, directed byProfessor Timothy Martin gave abenefit concert in the Auditorium,where selected student art wasshown.Proceeds from the concertwent to the Casa di Accoglienza Bernadette dell’Unitalsi, a project to help sick children and their families, and tothe Spanish nuns of San Giuseppe della Montagne in Viale Vaticana, who care for a small group of orphaned children.Don Romano De Angelis, Ecclesiastical Director for Unitalsi, was instrumental in finding these worthy charities.The Fine Arts Area Director Professor Breda C. Ennis and AUR Sophomore David Samulski worked with theStudent Government of AUR for various fundraising events, including the Toy and Food Drive, Latin Dance Session,Wine Tasting and managed to raise around 700 Euros all together.The Fine Arts Area hopes to continue its work by fulfilling its mission to create art through knowledge ofRome as a twofold city with both beautiful artistic secrets as well less pleasant realities, often involving the sick andunderprivileged. The making of art and the generosity of outreach to the local community will lead to the preparationof young artists who are professionally trained and have a deeper understandingof the world.Above: Student Kruti Mehta with her artwork during the Fine Arts Dayexhibition.Above: AUR student Leslie Carr-Riegel singingwith the Amazing Grace Gospel Choir.9

AUR Recognizes Excellence inServing StudentsThis year’s Best Service Awards, in recognition oftheir outstanding contribution to The American Universityof Rome, went to Prof. Paul Zinder, Chair ofthe English & Communication Department, for histeaching effectiveness and leadership in the formationof students, and to Daniele Torri, Computer ServicesTechnician, for his efficient and cheerful support toboth faculty and staff.Above: Prof. Zinder (left) and Daniele Torri (right) receive their honors from President Marino.Introducing Future Students to the AUR CommunityOn October 10 and 11, 2010 AUR hosted an Open Day event with great success! Students from all over theUnited States and Rome participated, and all the applicants were accepted either for Spring 2011 or Fall 2011 semesters.During Open Day, students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of events including campus andneighborhood tours, meetings with DepartmentHeads, attending classes, and participating in areception and lunch hosted by the Enrollment Servicesstaff. Students were also given the chanceto present all their admissions documents, give anon-campus interview and receive an admissionsdecision by the end of the event. In addition, admittedstudents received a €350 credit towardstheir first semester tuition for attending Open Day.Most of the admitted students also received amerit scholarship.Overall, Open Day was a success andparticipants had a great time. Matthew Ringard,one of the participants, summed it up perfectly:“For me AUR went from being a far away conceptto a tangible experience. It went from beinge-mails and a website to people and showed methe life of AUR. It’s wonderful!”From top left: Abigail McLean, President Robert A. Marino, AshleyBabin, Matthew Ringard10

Above: Robert E. Carlucci L.H.D. with AUR President RobertA. Marino and Mrs. Aileen Carlucci.Honoris Causa Degree toItalian-American Entrepreneurand Philanthropist Robert E. CarlucciA Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa degree wasawarded by AUR to Robert E. Carlucci on September 29 ina ceremony held at the Auriana Auditorium and attended byTrustees, faculty, staff and students.A successful Italian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist,Carlucci was born and raised in Malden, Massachusetts,while his paternal and maternal grandparents emigratedto the USA from Santa Maria del Molise, Molise-Abruzzo, andPalermiti da Catanzaro, Calabria, respectively.He formed BCS, Inc., a wholesale and vending company,and Cooperative Refreshment Centers, a relatedfood product supplier throughout Maryland and Virginia. Healso founded R&R Ventures and Affiliates, a major operator of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut Express restaurantsthroughout Central and Southern Maryland, the Eastern Shore and Delaware. Mr. Carlucci’s success has led himto a leadership role with the KFC/YUM corporate entity, having served as Vice Chair Franchise KFC/YUM BrandsGovernment Affairs for the Northeast, as President of the Northeast Franchise Association, and as the President ofthe KFC Advertising Board for Washington DC.Mr. Carlucci has devoted the same driving force to community service and philanthropy that he devoted tohis business. Most notably his leadership produced a major partnership between R&R Ventures and the MuscularDystrophy Association. R&R Ventures has contributed over a half a million dollars towards the fight against musculardystrophy. This funding has supported MDA clinics, medical equipment, MDA summer camp and research to a curefor over 43 different forms of neuromuscular diseases.R&R Ventures has also been very active in the local communities it serves, providing discounted productsand product donations to needy schools and churches throughout Southern Maryland. Furthermore, Mr. Carlucci haspersonally served as Chairperson for the United Way of Anne Arundel County and as a member of the Board ofDirectors of the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. In recognition of his many accomplishments, in 2008 the LidoCivic Club of Washington DC named him as its “Man of the Year.”Most recently, Mr. Carlucci has expanded his philanthropic and service activities to the national scale, withhis recent election to the Board of Directors of the National Italian American Foundation, the leading organizationdevoted to the preservation of the Italian heritage in the United States.AUR is honored to have welcomed Robert E. Carlucci, L.H.D. into its academic family.Conference on Contemporary RomeOn the 26 and 27 of November, AUR hosted a bilingual conference discussingthe “Changing Faces of the Eternal City.” The conference was organizedby Isabella Clough-Marinaro, Cristina Lombardi-Diop, and Bjørn Thomassen withsupport from the Center for Global and Cultural Studies and The American Universityof Rome as well as the Patrocinio from the Comune di Roma and RegioneLazio.The conference provided a forum for the discussion of Rome’s “people, itspolitics and economy, its environment, the challenges of globalization.” It providedinterdisciplinary discussion of transformations currently taking place in Rome withregards to “the fast-changing urban realities of Italy’s biggest city and capital.”Featured at the conference was keynote speaker Dr. Michael Herzfeld of HarvardUniversity.Above: Keynote speaker Dr.Michael Herzfeld11

AUR Alumna Starts Non-ProfitOrganization in MozambiqueAUR AlumnaIrene Greavesgraduated in2009 with a CumLaude BA in Arts.Irene recentlyspent 6 monthsvolunteering independentlyinMozambique, in atown called Macia.She taughtEnglish, workedat the hospital,and a rehabilitationcenter for under nourished and malnourished babies. Additionally,with the help of Priest Eugenio Celestino Langa, she created an ongoinginitiative, called the Ku Kula Project, to raise funds and create a new school for the town.Web: http://www.ku-kula.org/home.htmlThe following are excerpts from some of Irene’s Situation Reports, written during her time in Mozambique.10.05.10Some of my students are very eager to learn English, and they always want to have Homework. When they comein the next day they want me to check it with a red marker and they are so delighted when they have done a goodjob.03.06.10What affects me the most is the amount of sick people here. People are constantly sick - I am the only person whohasn’t gotten malaria since I’ve been here. Everybody I live with and work with has had malaria at least once, if nottwice with constant recurrences. And malaria is just about the best thing you can get. At the hospital I have seenthe worst things: a 9-year old child with severe malnutrition, meningitis and HIV - what could be worse? Their sad,lonely faces tell it all...Death surrounds us every second, and death arrives early for most people.Here, the law ofnature is not applicable - mothers bury their children, grandmothers bury their grandsons. “We are used to death herein Africa,” some people tell me, “and yet, it will still always affect us.”We must remember that we are lucky, and we should always put things into perspective, stand in other’s shoes, andthink that sometimes the things we worry about or complain about are nothing incomparison to the suffering that we see in countries such as this one. Above all,we must value life, respect each other, and help each other.18.06.10I’ve been thinking very much about what can be done to end the problems inAfrica, but there are no easy solutions. We cannot pretend to change a culture,no matter how wrong it is and how much harm it does, it is not our right as‘Westerners’ to barge in and impose our mode of life in a country that has sufferedgreatly from colonialism, to independence, to civil war, to fighting incurablediseases and epidemics. We can only try to help, and I keep thinking that theonly viable solution is education. It is the new generation the only one that canchange the course of life here - it is too late to change the old generation. Thechildren are our hope.12

We can educate them so they can form better decisions abouttheir lives, so they can be knowledgeable and be able to makeeducated choices and decisions about their lives, that way strayingaway from the vicious cycle the country has fallen into. I seesome of my students and they are so eager to learn, to have abetter future - no matter how young they are, they realize thatthey can change their lives by studying more.14.07.10It is very hard living here and facing life’s injustices everyday. But this can’t stop me, I know I have to work harder tomake this place a better place, and one person can do greatthings, one person alone can be capable of great change. Buttogether, we are stronger; together, we can do more. I hope that you agree with me and you help me believe thatthere is a place for a better future in this world, and that through teamwork we can solve many problems. Togetherwe can change the world.26.07.10...the father said to me “When we look at you, it is as though we were looking at Lizete. You are our daughter,part of the Chilaluque family.” In the simplicity of a house, ofa family, in the middle of nowhere, I felt a wonderful feelingof profound and true love and friendship. The stars andthe bright moon were the only source of light other than ourcandle.10.09.10There’s so much to be done here. I’ve become a Mozambican- they say “you are white, but you have a black heart.”I notice the difference between myself and the other whitepeople that are here now. They are so different; they don’treally mix up with the Mozambican people and always stayin their little groups. I, on the other hand, have deeply enteredthe life and hearts of many Mozambicans - I have beento practically every different type of ceremony, I have beenliterarily “Into the Wild” where never before a white personstepped in. I have become a member of many families: a sister, a daughter, a mother; I have made true friendships.In these six months, in a corner of the world, in a forgotten place, I found myself. I discovered the reasonas to why I’m here in this world, why I came, who I am, where I want to go, what I want to do. Out in the fields,in the wild, among endless fields of corn and vegetables, where animals roam around, in a place with no light, notechnology, no human being to disrupt nature’s course, I felt free as one of the indigo-blue birds that flew by, freeas the soothing wind and the flapping leaves ...I’m thinking of writing a book about this whole experience andnaming it “My Black Heart.” I really feel terrible leaving, because after all the progress my students have made, nowit will suddenly come to a halt, brusquely. But I hope that theycarry with them everything they’ve learned with me and willnever forget it. I’ve been touched by so many lives here, andI’ve also touched many. When I come back I want to stay fora long time here, now that I know how everything works, whatthe problems are, I’ve met so many people willing to help mein the future, Mozambicans with brilliant projects to help theirfellow people. Africa is a unique continent, sometimes I feellike I’m living in the past here, as if time didn’t pass, as if wewere stuck behind, forgotten - globalization still hasn’t reachedus.13

AUR Students Achieve Outside the ClassroomAn American Intern at the Italian Chamber of DeputiesAlexandra McCarthy graduated in December, but during her last semester atAUR, she didn’t show the slightest signs of Senioritis. Alexandra attended class, finishedher thesis and worked both as a student assistant and as an intern for the ItalianChamber of Deputies.Alexandra worked in the office of MP Amato Berardi, Deputy of Italian Citizensand Constituencies in America, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Her workincluded translation of press releases and managing Berardi’s events in Italy and theUSA.Alexandra recently translated a statement on eating disorders released by thecity of Rome.“This is the first time the city has addressed this issue,” Alexandra says.After graduation Alexandra plans on attending graduate school for internationalrelations or law. She says that her work in the Italian Parliament has confirmedher interest in international work.“I most enjoy the fact that I’m working in a field that is important, even essential…andworking internationally, I make phone calls all over the world, not just inRome,” she said.Professor Kathleen Fitzsimmons, head of the AUR Internship program, helpedAlexandra find this great opportunity.Published at Age 20AUR Communication Major Alessandra Potenza,aged 20, has just had her first book publishedin Italy.“Dal Punto di vista di Giulia” (“From Giulia’sPoint of View”) is a diary novel Alessandra drafted atthe age of 12, when she moved with her parents fromthe city of Trieste to a small village in the Friuli region.There she had to start her new life from scratch.“It is an adolescent story about growth, friendshipand discovery, written at a time of deep changein my life,” Alessandra says.Alessandra presented her book at the Libreria PortoAntico Libri in Genoa on November 3 and will soon present her novel in Rome onJanuary 29. May this be the beginning of a long and successful writing career.Follow Alessandra’s blog at: http://www.160caratteriperdirlo.blogspot.com/News from ChinaAlessandra Bresnan contacted AUR from China, where she is currently studyingabroad.“I would say I’m getting into the swing of things here in China, I know my wayaround the city and I am having a great time. I have already visited Shanghai with theprogram and we will be going to Beijing in two weeks. I love the Chinese culture andthe people, I would feel really at home here if it wasn’t for the food. I cannot deny thatI crave pasta every day and I look forward to having a meal cooked by my nonna.”14

Ways for Alumni toGet Involved at AURJoin the AUR Alumni NetworkUpdate your information at www.aur.edu/alumni/stay_connected.htmlStart an Alumni Association in your areaContribute ideas for future Alumni EventsSpread the word about AURSuggest student internships, work placement,or recruitment opportunities with youremployer Help new alumni and current studentsgain real world experience.Contribute to the WolfTracks NewsletterSend us your stories, photos, memories, andnewsContribute to AUR by making a donation.Give back to the AUR community in anyamount you choose and enrich the lives ofstudents.How to Donate:From the US (in dollars), wire to the Bank ofAmericaAccount: 001923458961Routing: 026009593From Europe (in Euros), wire to the BancaPopolare di SondrioAccount: 3010X51IBAN: IT48 C056 9603 2210 0000 3010X51SWIFT: POSOIT22In dollars or euros with a check made out to:The American University of RomeSent to:Via Pietro Roselli 400153 Rome, Italyorc/o NIAF1860 19th St. NWWashington, DC 20009Thank You for ThisYear’s DonationsAgatha AurbachGabriel BattistaGabriel BevilacquaDoris BroganJames BroganEllyn BrownEric BruckerPhilip CantelonRobert CarlucciPaul CrawfordSusan CrowleyJoseph Del RasoMathew Di DomenicoDiane EdelmanJonathan EdelmanMaria EvansStephen FordAbraham GafniAlexander GiacobettiNickolas GiordanoLeila Gonzalez-SullivanJohn GotandaJohn HalebianLaurence HirschTheresa ItalianoKauffman FoundationJohn KelleyPaul KennedyLouis Klein Jr.Robert KrapfHelen LaffertyGerard LaroccaDenis LawlerMelanie LubinJohn LutzVincenzo MarraDominic MassaroC. Dale McClainSamuel McClureJoseph McCullen, Jr.Thomas MenglerJoseph MogliaMr. James MurraySonyl NagaleDonald NikolausSusan PackelDavid PegnoElaine PetrossianJohn QuindlenRowena RajandranMarc RaspantiFrank RazzanoRichard ReschBuck RileyLee RizzutoCarmen RomeoMichael RothCarl SchrammRichard ShulmanJacqueline ShulmanMarc SteinbergJoseph TateVincent ViolaSol WeissJoan WinshipJackie WoodsMichael Zampardi15

Alumni NewsClinton Calabrese Studied Abroad at AUR in 2006. Clinton came to AUR recently for avisit. He is currently located in London and would like to come back to Rome next springto give a talk to students about his Study Abroad experience. At right is a photo of himon a trip to Russia with Student Life.Christopher Camus graduated from AUR in 2008 with a degreein Communication. Christopher came to visit AUR and said that he is very attached to thecity and the school, has lots of friends here and he loves coming back to visit. Christopherrecently opened an Italian restaurant in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, called That’s Amore.Kelsea Brennan-Wessels graduated from AUR in 2008 with a degree in Communication.Kelsea is currently a broadcast journalist on the English news deskat Vatican Radio. She married Jacopo Basile Giannini, small business owner, onOctober 3, 2010 at Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome.Sara Edmonson graduated from AUR in 2002 with a degreein Business Administration. Sara keeps a very interestingblog full of her observations about life in Italy - http://saraedmonson.wordpress.com/ .Check it out! It’s full of useful tips and recommendations.Madeline Marie Feicht graduated from AUR in 2009 with adegree in International Relations. Madeline is living in England, doing an internship at aPR agency while applying for a post-study visa. She finished her studies at Oxford Universityand is applying for a position as a Strategy Consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers,the world’s second largest global professional services firm, which has its headquarters inLondon.Christina Fox graduated with a degree in International Relations in 2010,and remained in Rome for love. She and her boyfriend run excellent restaurant,Il Rugantino and pizzeria The Mirror, both located in Trastevere.Michael Gotlib was a Study Abroad student from Binghamton Universityin 2005. Michael recently came to visit his sister Lauren, currentlya Study Abroad at AUR, also from Binghamton University. Michael said he hasgreat memories of his time at AUR and is playing ambassador to our institution. He iscurrently studying for a Doctorate in Psychology at the University of Hartford.16

Alumni News, continuedCortney Healy graduated from AUR in 2008 with a degree in Art History. She recentlyfinished serving with the Peace Corps in Morocco. During her time in Morocco Cortneyworked on a documentary entitled You Can Dream: Stories of Moroccan Women Who Do.The film can be viewed here: http://womensvoicesnow.org/watchfilm/you_can_dream_stories_of_moroccan_women_who_do/Cortney writes:“Things are well here. Peace Corps is great. I finish my service this Friday. I can’t believe it.Such an amazing experience. I’m planning on going back home, to Boston and after, well Ihope to find a job. Ideally I will start Graduate school in the fall but that all depends on a variety of things. I wouldlove to go back and study Human Rights and Media studies. I wish I could make it back there.Hopefully in the future.”Filmmaker Bliss Holloway is an AUR alumnus who put the AUR International RelationsDepartment in touch with the Director of the Kokrobitey Institute, Renée Neblett Kokrobitey,and made the Ghana Scholarship program possible in the first place. Bliss is now sponsoringthe scholarship winner’s allowance in Rome. Many thanks, Bliss.Catherine and Geoffrey Maita were Study Abroad students atAUR in 2002. The couple met on the island of Capri, and weremarried in 2007. Four of Catherine’s roommates from AUR attendedthe wedding. “We often think of our wonderful time in Romeand hope to return some day,” says Catherine.Sascha Kugel graduated from AUR in 2005 with a degree in Communication. Saschahas taken on a job in marketing and booking at a sailing school in the island of Elba. Hehas moved back to Italy and lives on the island.Shortly after graduating from The American University of Rome in 2008 with a BA in Communication Michael Mauryaccepted an internship in sales and marketing at Los Angeles Confidential Magazine, a regionalluxury publication in Los Angeles, California. After nine months of tedious office work and redcarpet events, Michael received a job offer from a young entertainment marketing company,Hollywood Branded Inc. Already familiar with the glitz and glam of Hollywood, he easily carriedthese experiences and his degree to an agency specialized in product placement. The agencycreates marketing campaigns for brands, TV and film production companies alike. A few of theagency’s clients include: BlackBerry, Dearfoams, Harman/Kardon and Keurig. Michael alsovolunteers at Best Friends LA, a dog rescue organization where he couldn’t resist adoptingLayla, a Labrador mix. He plans on pursuing his career in marketing and brand managementand furthering his education at a graduate program in the near future.Collin McCanna was a Study Abroad student at AUR through the ISAprogram in fall 2009. Collin exhibited his art and photography November12-21 at the Mudd Art Gallery at the Seeley G. Mudd Library inAppleton, Wisconsin. The exhibition was entitled “Pieces of Rome.”Alexia Pilleris, who graduated in 2010 with a degree in Communication,has been accepted into a master’s program in Florida at NovaSoutheastern University in mental health counseling, beginning withthe winter semester.17

Alumni News, continuedAUR Alumni in London: News from Madeline Marie Feicht“Our AUR community is strong; even after graduation and outside of Rome. AUR Alumni in London havehad two reunions, which are turning into a monthly trend. Those of us in England are: Cait Bagby (Kings College),Alexsandra Petrova (SAE Institute), Alessandro Batazzi (Bristol), Dana Phelps (UCL Alumna), Martina Demopoulou(Royal Holloway), and Claire Tinguley-Rubin (Sotheby’s Institute of Art), Madeline Feicht (Oxford Alumna), Valentinode Sousa (University of East London Alum), and Catie Smith. In October, Catie, Valentino, Cait, Alexsandraand I met up for a drink at the Princess Louise Pub. For those who were just beginning their graduate programs,it was nice to see familiar faces shortly after arriving in London. For those who have graduated and are working inLondon, meeting up with some alumni meant reconnecting and finding out what is happening at AUR.The Princess Louise pub is divided in small rooms and it was hard to find everyone, but once we did, wegot a room off the main bar and chatted of old times and shared advice about living in the UK, from visas to thegloomy weather! Actually, even for those of us hooked on the Roman sun, we were pleasantly surprised that Londonis not as gloomy as the Italians make it out to be! Some left after the pub to study, but Madeline and Alextook a tour of the British Museum down the road. All in all, it was great to get together and we planned to meetup again soon.In November, Cait, Valentino, Petar Stoykov, and I met up at an Irish pub called Waxy O’Connor’s inSoho. Petar is still studying at AUR, but was visiting London to check out graduate programs. He spoke with usabout our programs, advice on applications and his visits to a few universities in England. We wish him all thebest in his applications and hope to see him back in London as an AUR Alum soon!We are planning a get-together in December at Be@One in Covent Garden before some of us head backhome for the holidays.”AUR Alumna Creates Soccer Clinic for GirlsAnastasia Safarian, who graduated from AUR in 2008with a degree in Business, was a dynamic, active student. She wasCaptain of the She-Wolves, Vice President of the BizClub, studentassistant, ResGrad and was active in the Student Government.Now Anastasia lives in Rome and works for NGO Bioversity.She continues to "give back" to the community as a memberof AUR's Campus Girl Scouts, and recently organized a Soccer Clinicfor 4th and 5th grade scouts. At the Training Conference for GirlScout volunteers in October, which Anastasia attended, she decidedto hold a soccer clinic to build girls’ confidence and teach them leadershipskills, sportsmanship, teamwork.The clinic was held at The American Overseas School of Rome and was a huge success.One of the participating Girl Scout leaders, Martha Klinck, said "Anastasia taught the girls so much morethan technique, she showed them that girls can do anything and all the better when girls are leading!!"AUR Campus Girls Scouts was launched in 2008 and is the only chapter outside the United States.The CGS worked with the Rome homeless shelter at Termini Station, participated with the Rome Girl Scouttroops in World Thinking Day, and sponsor annual holiday parties for Girl Scouts, where they work withthe girls in teambuilding and creative activities."Thanks again for connecting the Campus Girl Scouts with our troops. They have proven to bean extremely valuable resource for all the Girl Scouts in Rome," says Ms. Klinck.18

Faculty NewsProf. of English, Lisa Colletta’spaper, The Ultimate Utility of Nonutility,is on Academe Online.“Forget trying to measure learning.The greatest value of the liberal artscan be that students start to understand the complexity,confusion, and contradiction at the heart of human experience.”The Ultimate Utility of Nonutility http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/pubsres/academe/2010/SO/feat/coll.htmProf. of English Lisa Colletta and Media andCommunication Chair, Prof. Paul Zinder are the firstrecipients of the Provost’s Award to Support Scholarly,Creative and Professional Activity, announced in Juneand intended to allow full-time faculty members tocomplete or significantly advance a major project thatwill be of benefit to the individual and the University.This discretionary award, with either course relief or amonetary grant, is made to two successful applicants(one in the fall semester and one in the spring).For 2010-2011 the following Awards have beenmade: Professor Lisa Colletta receives the Provost’sAward for Fall 2010 to enable her to complete themanuscript of her book Voluntary Exiles: British Novelistsin Hollywood 1935-65 and submit the manuscriptfor publication.Professor Paul Zinder receives the Provost’sAward for Spring 2011 to enable him to complete thethird documentary film in what is to be an Italian trilogyand enter it for screening in prestigious film festivalsworldwide.The Bulletin of Italian Politics journal dedicated awhole issue to papers that were given at the AURConference on Racism last year: http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/politics/bulletinofitalianpolitics/currentissue/Professor of Digital Media,Kristen Palana will be a featuredartist at The 23rd AnnualSociety for Animation Studiesconference, set to be held inAthens, Greece on March 18-20, 2011. Kristen will be givingan oral presentation on animationpre-production best practicesas well as a workshop oncolor theory. Screening at theconference along with other animationswill be her 2008 fine art short, “Larry and Roz.”Also on exhibit will be stills from her upcoming animation,“Veggie Propaganda,” set to be completed in 2011. “VeggiePropaganda” is a quirky sing-song animation that putsa spotlight on our relationship to animals, their rights, andthe benefits of eating less meat. For more information onthis conference as it is assembled, please visit: http://sasathens2011.wordpress.comC o m -municationAdjunct Prof.Vil-Tonylanigavea most successfulreadingof Rome’sown poet G.G.Belli’s workstranslated intoEnglish at Rome’s National Library on Thursday, Oct.21. The response to poems such as Er Giudizzio Universale(Judgment Day), Er Caffettiere Filosofo e UnAntro Vetturino (The Cabby in the Square) was enthusiastic.AUR Adjunct Prof. Silvia Esposito attendedthe reading and was acknowledged as a Belli translatorand fellow AUR faculty. Every poem read by Prof. Villaniwas first read in its Roman dialect original by actor MaurizioMosetti. The issue of translation and transadaptationwas addressed by Belli scholars and Rome UniversityAngloamerican literature professor and scholarCosma Siani.19

Faculty News, continuedContinued from page 20Academically, Prof. Walston gave a paper in September,at the American Political Science Associations Annual Conferencein Washington, DC, entitled “Berlusconi’s Legacy” to bepublished in the Bulletin of Italian Politics next year. The BIPalso published the proceedings of the IR Department’s 2009conference on “Racism in Italy - the Second Generation” editedby Prof. Isabella Clough Marinaro and Prof. Walston,who also wrote the introduction http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_165443_en.pdf .In practical IR terms, Prof. Walston and former Ghanacourse alumna, Gabriella D’Amico’s work on international developmentin Rome paid off when Walston was elected as a memberof the Commission of the Rome city council’s Comitato Cittadinoper la Cooperazione Decentrata. The CCCD coordinatesuniversities and NGOs that work on development in Rome so theIR Department’s presence reinforces AUR’s link with the city andwith international development.My AUR Alumni PortletLaunchedAUR Alumni now have a place all for themselves on the AURwebsite. Go to www.aur.edu, take a look at the My AUR Alumniportal front page and request a login to gain full access.Prof.Paul Zinderwas interviewedfor aradio segmentcelebrating thefiftieth anniversaryof FedericoFellini’sLa Dolce Vitain November.The story airedon the program“Arts on the Air” in Germany, on DeutscheWelle carriers, and on the Deutsche Wellesite.He was also interviewed for a pieceon Susan Sarandon’s career for the Voiceof America. The interview was broadcast onthe program “Prime Time Radio”, which airson various public radio stations in the UnitedStates.Prof. Zinder’s documentary Benedizionedelle Bestie (Benediction of the Beasts)won a Bronze Award at the 2010 OregonFilm Awards. The film has received six internationalfilm festival selections in 2010and has won two awards. Adjunct Prof.Elizabeth Geoghegan served as Producerwhile Prof. Zinder directed and photographedthe piece. Adjunct Prof. SilviaEsposito is featured in the film.Prof. Zinder’s documentary Unodegli Ultimi (One of the Last) screened atthe Festa di Coltano in Pisa (Italy) in lateJuly, and at the Far North Conservation FilmFestival in Fairbanks (Alaska) in November.To date, the film has been selectedto screen at 36 international film festivalsand has won five awards. Prof. MaurizioMarmorstein produced the film with Prof.Zinder while Prof. Zinder directed and photographedthe piece.21

Maurizia GarziaEditorChelsea GrahamLayout and DesignPhotographywww.myspace.com/master.anomalyThe WolfTracks TeamA message to AUR Alumni: Creating a Global NetworkWe encourage Graduates and past Study Abroad students at AUR to stay connected with one another and with theUniversity through active participation.Our objective is to create a truly global AUR alumni network. To help us accomplish this, please email your storiesfor the next WolfTracks edition to alumni@aur.edu. You can also join the AUR Alumni Facebook network.If you are in Rome, remember that the Rome chapter meets the first Thursday of every month for an aperitif ordinner, as a way to network, exchange contacts and keep in touch. Check the AUR website for the next date andlocation. We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact us via E-mail or call +3906 58330919 and ask forMaurizia.A presto!WolfTracksTHE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ROMEVia Pietro Roselli 400153 Rome ItalyTel +39 06 58330919Fax +39 06 58330992www.aur.edu