Italian Event Spotlights JMU's European Union Program

From: Public Affairs

October 5, 2007

HARRISONBURG — Dignitaries representing Florence, Italy, and James Madison University will convene Oct. 6 at a press conference in Florence focusing on JMU's unique residential graduate program in European Union studies.

The European Union Policy Studies Program is designed to broaden students' intercultural competence and to prepare them to become knowledgeable contributors in domestic and international business, government and politics, international organizations and non-governmental organizations. The program will also prepare students who will earn a master of arts in political science degree to embark on careers in law, teaching and research about the European Union.

Senatore Graziano Cioni, the deputy mayor of Florence; Dr. Francesco Pinto, a board member of the Pio Istituto de' Bardi; and Marchese Ferdinando Frescobaldi, president of the Pio Istituto de' Bardi, will join James Madison University President Linwood H. Rose and members of the James Madison University Board of Visitors, the university's governing body, at the 1 p.m. (Italian time) press conference at the Palazzo Capponi, which is located in the Santo Spirito district of Florence.

Speaking about the importance of American students immersing themselves in the policy studies program, Giampiero Giacomello, an assistant professor of international relations at Bologna University who is teaching in the new James Madison University program, said: "European-American ties are still strong, but that alliance has moved beyond the relationship that existed during the Cold War. It is now more dynamic and ever-changing. It is thus absolutely necessary to have more and more knowledgeable professionals on both sides of the Atlantic that will contribute to the well-functioning of such a successful partnership."

The new program is housed within the 16th century Palazzo Capponi, a 14,000-square-foot palace owned by Pio Istituto de' Bardi (The Bardi Institute), an 18th century philanthropic organization that provides educational opportunities in the Florence community. James Madison University recently renovated space in the palazzo to provide offices, classrooms and computer labs and apartments for students and faculty fellows.

The first 17 students in the new program are studying in Florence during the European Union's 50th anniversary.

The one-year, 33-credit-hour graduate program is unique in its focus, said Dr. Lee Sternberger, executive director of James Madison University's office of international programs. "I have not seen another program like it in the U.S., where American and international students from varying disciplines — technology, law, government, humanities — will study in Europe and focus on the European Union's policies," Sternberger said.

James Madison University, located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, is a public, comprehensive university with an enrollment of over 18,000 undergraduate and graduate students. JMU is the only university in America named for James Madison, the fourth president of the United States and a framer of the U.S. Constitution.

JMU Public Affairs contact: Don Egle, 540-560-7770 or egledk@jmu.edu.

# # #