Jacob DeCarli ’22

Jacob DeCarli '22 in Italy, where he's working as a Fulbright Teaching Assistant.

Jacob DeCarli '22 in Italy, where he's working as a Fulbright Teaching Assistant.

Donor Profile

Tell us about your Dickinson experience. 

My Dickinson experience was very positive. I chose two fantastic majors, international studies and Italian studies, and I enjoyed my courses in those two departments. I was also heavily involved in extracurricular activities (working in admissions, residence life, advancement and the library and with the Italian Club, for example), which helped develop my leadership skills. Apart from academics and involvement, I was able to make lifelong friends during my first year at Dickinson. I've cherished the many connections that I made with my peers, as well as with the faculty and staff at Dickinson.

How has Dickinson’s useful liberal-arts education helped you?

I'm a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Italy, and my Dickinson education prepared me for navigating life abroad. I came to Italy prepared with intercultural communication skills that have helped me in my job teaching Italian high school students. I'm still fresh out of college, so I'm sure that I will have much more to reflect on as I advance in my career and life.

What inspired your gift to Dickinson? 

Dickinson granted me a generous financial aid package, and I never had to stress about paying for my education. Now, I want to give back so that future Dickinsonians have access to scholarships and the same opportunities as I had as an undergrad student.

What is your favorite memory from your time at Dickinson? 

During my senior year, I presented my Italian honors thesis, "The Italian Media and Discourse on Contemporary Migration: Anxieties and Perceptions in the LGBTQ+ Community" at the Central Pennsylvania WGSS Symposium, hosted by Dickinson in April 2022. I wrote the thesis in Italian, so I was excited to create an English presentation to share with my peers at Dickinson. I had worked so hard on that thesis with Professor of Italian and Film Studies Nicoletta Marini-Maio, and it was a great accomplishment to be able to make my work accessible to everyone. Additionally, I went to Bologna, Italy, in January 2022 to complete field interviews for my thesis, and it was the best two weeks of my Dickinson experience (thanks to the Durden International Initiatives Fund and the Dickinson-in-Bologna program).

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love being active, traveling, reading and listening to music. I also love just exploring my city of Matera (the third-oldest city in the world) and enjoying the many cultural opportunities that are available to me in Italy.

What advice would you give to today’s students? 

Take advantage of everything Dickinson has to offer you! There are so many wonderful programs that will satisfy your academic goals and personal interests. Also, try to study abroad if you have the opportunity! It doesn't even have to be a full semester—you can participate in one of Dickinson's Global Mosaic programs, courses that include travel abroad with your professor and class during one of the holiday breaks.

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Published June 26, 2023