Franklin has a long history of empowering and highly skilled alumni, who constitute a vast and growing network of more than seven thousand entrepreneurs, innovation enthusiasts, researchers, policymakers, and, above all, leaders sharing a common vision of shaping the future. As individuals, their contributions are extraordinary. As a community, their impact is substantial. Our alumni took their first steps here on Franklin’s campus in Lugano, flourishing and thriving over the years, and becoming responsible and successful citizens of the globe today. They live across the world, in different time zones and different continents, and yet keep Franklin close to their hearts, proudly representing the Franklin Family.
We caught up with some of them and asked about their accomplishments and achievements after Franklin.
Today, let's read a short update from Jason, class of ’06.
- Full name: Jason Giancola
- Where you are from: Cleveland, Ohio originally, now Columbus, Ohio
- What you majored in at Franklin: Visual & Communication Arts major, Art History, and Studio Art minors
- Year of graduation at Franklin: 2006
- Your current job position and at what institution: Creative Marketing Manager, McGraw Hill LLC
"I discovered Franklin as a transfer student after first studying in the States and Italy. Though I was generally prepared to simply finish my academics abroad, what I was not prepared for were some of the most meaningful and rich experiences that would shape the person I have become. From inaugural Academic Travels to Japan and Venezuela, to representing residence Airone in ultimate frisbee tourneys. From robust discussions with peers representing diverse perspectives, to professors challenging my thinking during class, followed by informal chats with espressos in the Grotto. Franklin helped me develop a growth mindset and build confidence in my academic interests and creative talents, all while empowering me to be my authentic self—allowing my sense of personal agency to flourish.
Fast-forward 16 years and you’ve found me in a growing career at a global educational organization, with two graduate degrees, having visited 30 countries while living on six continents, and with a natural ability to make genuine connections with individuals of various stratifications. My unique Franklin journey has influenced how I live in and interact with the world. I continue to find myself a student of the human condition and a global citizen feeding off the lived experience. The impact of those two years is evergreen and can be summed by my favorite cultural expression:
Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not. – R. W. Emerson"
