Dickinson Celebrates Six Decades of Global Education, Launches $10 Million Study-Abroad Fundraising Campaign
President Jones addresses attendees during the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Dickinson-in-Italy program and global education . Photo by Joe O'Neill.
View more than 280 photos from the weeklong celebration on Flickr.
Weeklong Bologna Reunion Marks 60th Anniversary of Dickinson's Global Education Programs
by Matt Getty; video by Joe O'Neill
More than 300 Dickinsonians and their guests celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Dickinson-in-Italy program during a stunning gala in the Palazzo Re Enzo in Bologna, Italy, Friday Oct. 10. The event capped off a week of festivities ranging from pasta-making workshops to tours of Renaissance sculptures. It also served as the centerpiece of a yearlong celebration of the college’s global education program, which has grown to become a defining aspect of the Dickinson education since those first students set foot in Bologna in 1965.
“It all started here, in this most beautiful—and delicious—city, with the dream of Professor Robert Nilsson to bring students to live and learn in his beloved Bologna,” said President John E. Jones ’77, P’11, during the event. “It is truly his vision and initiative that started Dickinson on the path to being one of today’s premier colleges and universities for study abroad. And those of you gathered here today are testaments to not only Bob’s vision but also Dickinson’s mission to provide a useful liberal-arts education for our students who will lead in our global society.”
Here’s to the Next 60 Years
The event also looked forward to the next 60 years, as it marked the launch of a $10 million fundraising campaign to enhance Dickinson’s abroad initiatives. Announced by President Jones during his remarks, the campaign will seek gifts supporting scholarships for students to study abroad as well as gifts supporting Dickinson-run global programs in 13 countries and other global initiatives, such as the Churchill Global Mosaic Program. To help get the campaign off to a fast start and to remind donors that gifts of all sizes make an impact, the campaign also has a goal of 600 donors—10 for each year of global education at Dickinson—by the end of the fiscal year.
“At a time when global cooperation and understanding are perhaps more important than ever, our college is increasing its commitment to global education,” said President Jones. “Together, we can empower students to become ethical, engaged global citizens prepared to lead in an interconnected world.”
The Week in Photos
Following a classroom presentation on this distinctive 18th and 19th century pictorial genre, Adjunct Professor of Art History Elisabetta Cunsolo led participants on a tour of Bologna’s “painted gardens”—domestic environments, deceptively dressed up like beautiful gardens. Photo by Joe O'Neill.
Eric Denker ’75, retired senior lecturer and head of tours and lectures at the National Gallery of Art, led a walking tour of Bologna during which he detailed the history of some of the city’s greatest sculpture, including works by Michelangelo, Niccolò dell’Arca and Giambologna. Other cultural tours during the week included a walk through the Portico di San Luca, a tour of the city focused on its musical history led by Professor of Music Robert Pound and an excursion to Ravenna to view Byzantine mosaics. Photo by Matt Getty.
"The early success of this program created a precedent for global study and engagement at the college," said Jim Chambers '78 during the celebration. "Dickinson currently has 16 global programs with over 50 study-abroad options, firmly establishing itself as a leader in global education and the United States." Photo by Joe O'Neill
In addition to a balsamic vinegar tour and tasting, gelato tours and wine tastings, the program included a pasta-making workshop (followed by a tasting, of course) led by a professional sfoglina (artisanal pasta-maker). Photo by Joe O'Neill.
During the week, Dickinson officially honored K. Robert Nilsson for his contribution to the Dickinson-in-Italy program and global education, installing a plaque detailing his legacy in the K. Robert Nilsson Center for European Studies. Here, Resident Director of the Italian Studies Program Bruno Grazioli (left) and Senior Lecturer in Italian Luca Trazzi unveil the plaque for the first time. Photo by Joe O'Neill.
Dickinsonians mixed and mingled during a casual aperitivo (happy hour) in Caffe della Corte Bistrot, in the historic city center. Photo by Matt Getty.
"It all expanded our knowledge and gave us a newfound appreciation of the nuances, the complexity and the beauty of life," said Nancy Hoof ’75 (left), who took the stage with Jess Berghoffer ’24 to discuss the Bologna abroad experience. Photo by Joe O'Neill.
During the Marco Biagi Annual Memorial Lecture, Senior Lecturer in Italian Luca Trazzi (right) presented the Marco Biagi Scholarship to Keir Tremoglie '27. The scholarship, which is given each semester to a student studying in Bologna, was established in 2003 to honor Biagi’s memory. Biagi was a university professor and consultant to the Italian Ministry of Labour who taught at the Dickinson Center in Bologna for over 20 years and was a member of the Academic Council at Johns Hopkins University of Bologna Center. Photo by Matt Getty.
Students currently studying abroad in Bologna got career advice from alumni during a midweek networking event with Pam Byron ’93, deputy assistant director, FBI; Brian Kamoie ’93, managing director, Deloitte; Mike Quatrini ’04, attorney, Quatrini Law Group; Nancy Hooff ’75, principal, Somerset Development Company; and David Lee ’91, global head of talent acquisition, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance. Photo by Joe O'Neill.
Piazza Maggiore. Photo by Joe O'Neill.
President Jones and his wife, Beth, toast to the 60th anniversary of global education and the launch of a new $10 million campaign to support and enhance study abroad at Dickinson. Photo by Matt Getty.
Dickinson will continue to mark this important anniversary with regional events throughout the year, culminating with another celebration of 60 years of global education during Alumni Weekend.
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Published October 17, 2025