Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Nationality: Italian and American
Previous Institution: Ellis School
Majors/Minors: Art History with minors in Italian Studies and History
Class of: 2016
Which universities and/or schools have you attended in the past?
I went to the Ellis School, which was a private, independent, all-girls high school.
What is your international background?
My father is from Tuscany and my mother is from Los Angeles, California. School breaks were spent divided between the two sides of my family.
How did you hear about Franklin University Switzerland, and why have you chosen to study here?
The SAT website directed me to the Franklin website because it had fit my desired major and the international aspect.
I think that Franklin blends an academic atmosphere very well with a practical education. I am studying Art History, while also having the opportunity to engage with an international student body and develop skills that I envision my future employer will value (intercultural competency, international travel experience, foreign language skills).
What is your major and why have you chosen this field of study? Is there a particular subject within this field that you find especially fascinating?
I chose Art History because I am able to understand the interactions between cultures throughout the centuries; the Baroque, Romanticism, Contemporary Art, Installation Art and the Art Market.
Why do you think a student who is interested in your major might want to choose Franklin University Switzerland?
In order to succeed in a field such as Art History (at least the sector that I am looking to go into, the art market), I believe that a diverse set of practical skills are certainly necessary (international experiences, foreign language skills, comfort in traveling alone, professionalism, global friend network, and a general knowledge of arts organizations outside of the US) in order to add value to a company.
For example, I worked at a modern and contemporary art fair (Art Southampton which is connected to Art Basel) in Southampton, NY in July 2014. We had many international gallery booths (mainly from Europe) and part of my job as an intern was to help the galleries before, during, and after the fair with setting up their booth and receiving all of their necessary information and materials. More generally, my job was to make the galleries feel comfortable and satisfied with their experience at the art fair. I made good relationships specifically with the Swiss, German, and Italian booths that were present at the fair. Furthermore, my boss called me in to translate some German for them. While these skills were certainly not necessary in order for me to do my job, it definitely left an impression in the mind of my boss, and more importantly in the mind of the galleries.
There are many examples that I have of these kinds of instances. Overall, I think that it helps to diversify myself and also set me apart from other candidates. These are skills that cannot necessarily be taught.
Which special features/differences do you see in your classes in comparison with other institutions (schools or universities) where you may have studied previously?
The “internationalness” of the professors certainly set the tone for this environment.
What has been your favorite Academic Travel course, and why?
Iceland fall travel 2014 with Professor Hale with a focus on Environmental Science and Sustainable Tourism.
Science in general, and certainly Environmental Science, is by no means my forte. This course satisfied a general education requirement. At other universities, general education classes can often discourage students who are not in the field to a point where they are unengaged with the class, professor, and material. Furthermore, the unengaged students can outnumber and bring down the engaged ones. At Franklin, due to the small student body and travel component, Professor Hale is able to engage the non-Environmental Science students and encourage them to apply their strengths to the assignments. For these reasons, I was able to do a project on the marketing of an Icelandic product, Skyr, and how this contributes to its ability to be an environmentally sustainable product.
Travel allowed me to step outside of my academic comfort zone and learn both broadly and deeply about a new country.
If you have already had this opportunity, please tell us more about any internships/study abroad programs you have done.
I have done many internships going back to the summer after my junior year of high school. However, most recently and pertaining to Art History are Art Southampton in Southampton, NY in July of 2014 and Hyperallergic in Brooklyn, NY in July of 2013.
What are your general or specific career goals? How do you think studying at Franklin will help you achieve these goals?
My ultimate goal right now would be to be a Contemporary Art Consultant to Private Collections. However, after college, I will most likely be going into Art Fairs or Auction Houses.
What do you like best about the campus or university?
I like the view, the fresh air, my favorite professors, the families that I babysit for, and the fact that I can walk/bus everywhere.
What are you passionate about beyond university extracurricular activities?
Yoga (hot power vinyasa), language learning (Italian, Latin, German, and Arabic), and obviously art.
What do you do for relaxation/recreation?
I like reading (history, art history, and contemporary art), yoga and photography.
What tips would you give to someone coming to Franklin University Switzerland from your home region?
This is not a vacation. You have to be ready to live in a foreign community and integrate yourself.
Describe your typical day here at Franklin.
Babysitting, classes, homework, meetings with professors, cooking - nothing too exciting.