Meet Dean Francesca Cuccovillo as she discusses her goals towards students’ growth inspired by her experience as an international student.
Community Spotlight
By Michaela Salzman / Matthew staff || Edited by Bronte Delmonico
Introducing Francesca Cuccovillo, the newly appointed Dean of Students at John Cabot University originally from Bari, Italy, Dean Cuccovillo has lived and worked internationally- from Italy to Belgium to the United States – studying Political Science and International Relations and Affairs. Dean Cuccovillo expresses that she believes her global perspective is essential to helping the student body at JCU be safe, flourish, and engage in an international campus. I recently had the privilege of sitting down with her, delving into her vision for the future of our university community. She passionately discussed her plans to empower us to extract the greatest value from our educational journeys, all while ensuring our security and well-being.
You have an exceptional educational background with a B.A. from Universita degli Studi di Milano in International Relations and Affairs, and an M.A. in Political Science and International Relations as well as International Law and Diplomacy. Finally, recently, you attended Harvard’s Management Development Graduate Program.
How have these disciplines led you to ultimately venture into higher education?
When I was at St. Johns University, I started to work as a graduate assistant and that’s where everything started. I obtained a work-study position and quickly realized that I deeply enjoyed the environment of higher education and that I really liked working with students. So, I brought together the expertise I had in Political Science and combined it with what was needed to run an organization and student body. Understanding how an organization works in all the political aspects is similar to that in a university setting as well. Political Science and International Affairs can be integrated into many different fields and finding my passion in higher education wasn’t deterring from the study but applying it in a different way.
Then I decided to pursue a more formal education in higher education and I took part in the Management Development Program at Harvard University. This was very recently, a couple of years ago. It was a very important experience for me, it had a wonderfully international scope, and it was a tremendous opportunity to learn in one of the most renowned universities in the world and from top-notch professionals with impressive careers in higher education.
You also have experience at two other Universities in Rome: The American University of Rome and Temple University. What made you come to JCU?
I have had the luck and privilege of working at great universities in Rome. There are so many wonderful experiences that shaped me professionally, and I think I contributed to the growth of these institutions specifically through establishing student services and new freshmen programs. However, I have very strong values that I carry with me into every profession, and I find it also important to work for an institution where I can share these values, which I am honored to do at JCU. I am delighted to serve such an international student body and help students feel at home. I love working for the complex university that JCU is: a place where many different cultures, religions, and diverse backgrounds can come into play and form one community is worth exploring and strengthening. All of these backgrounds coming together and sharing core values is a beautiful thing. I hope I can contribute to this and foster acceptance and encouragement of our diverse student body.
Like much of the JCU student body, you have a very international background, having studied in Milan, Boston, Belgium, and New York. How do you now feel you can use these experiences towards your career as Dean of Students at JCU?
I feel very lucky to have this position and to work in this field because my work here and the work I’ve done in other institutions have always been informed by my experience as an international student. I was a first-generation student as well as a student who studied in a language that is not their first: English. I would like to candidly share with you that I had moments in my life as a student where I struggled.
While my international studies were enriching, to say the least, I also experienced firsthand what many students are JCU are experiencing now. I felt during my studies abroad, or in bigger cities, that I wasn’t given the full support I should have been; I wish I could have had more support from my institution at times when I needed some more mentoring and guidance. Everything that I have done since I started working in this field has been a consequence of my own experience, always thinking about what can I do to serve my students so that they can feel supported and don’t have to struggle as I did.
I want to make the Student Life team come across as very open and welcoming. I urge students to please reach out to us. The Dean of Students Office is often seen as somewhere you go for issues, but I want students to know that we do so much more than that. We are here for everyone, not just to solve emergency situations, but also to hear from you and support you as much as we can. Take advantage of us; I understand firsthand how hard university life can be and how beneficial having support is.
Shortly after your studies, you did an internship with the International Expansion Team at Endeavor in which you conducted research on Italy’s socioeconomic climate and entrepreneurship. Can you tell me a little more about this and what led you to go to New York?
The Endeavor team basically helps small businesses with high potential to scale up. The company works primarily in developing countries but is also starting research and establishing a presence in Greece and Italy. Given my Italian background, this was a very interesting experience for me; it helped me understand the socioeconomic climate on a deeper level. As international students, there are many instances where we can apply our diverse backgrounds to our education and it’s very exciting to do so. Another reason why this opportunity was also very educational for me is that it helped me better understand the business side of non-profit institutions such as universities.
What are your goals for this semester as the new Dean of Students?
My first priority is to get to know the student body. I am trying to participate in as many events and opportunities as possible. I want to connect with the Clubs and Organizations and Student Government and really listen and understand what their needs and requests are. In this initial stage, I want to make an assessment and understand which aspects to focus on. I am committed to observing, listening, and getting to know students.
Then, of course, I’m already thinking about some projects that I want to implement that will take more than a semester. Primarily, I would like to start offering more gender-inclusive housing to students. I think it’s very important that we create and foster an inclusive student community. Having that inclusive housing option goes in that direction and helps with pursuing that goal. Secondly, I am also looking at how we can improve the Resident Assistant job in general so that we can recruit, train, and retain qualified Resident Assistants. We want to ensure that we provide them with an experience that’s formative and can help them achieve their professional goals. I’ve been a graduate assistant myself, that’s where my career started, so I see how important it can be. I don’t want this position to be an experience for students where they only feel like they are helping others without getting anything in return.
There are many other projects that have more to do with the organization of our department and improving student services accessibility. I must say that I have an amazing team here and I am very impressed with how professional, motivated, and dedicated the Student Life division is. I’m off to a good start and it won’t be hard to implement and improve things for everybody.
Studying in a big city like Rome, coupled with the presence of foreign students, issues arise with safety and security. Additionally, there is talk about the dangerous nightlife in Trastevere. What are your strategies and initiatives to make students feel safe and comfortable in Rome?
This is a very complex issue that requires the synergy of different departments and people. Firstly, it begins with the administration preparing students for their experiences in Rome and understanding the importance of staying safe. On the surface, this starts with pre-departure information as well as Orientation resources that teach students tips and safety measures. However, as we all know, things can happen to students that are completely out of their own control. This is where the second department becomes important: we have developed a direct relationship with the local authorities to ensure that they not only know who we are but are also concerned with our well-being in Trastevere and the rest of Rome. This connection is paramount to student well-being and allows us to pair our areas of concern with the authorities’ areas of expertise.
Lastly, the student body needs to work together to ensure each other’s safety. We need to understand that taking care of each other is how we avoid situations and protect ourselves. When students go out together they should always be returning together. This is especially important at JCU as we have such an international student body, whether from another country or even just outside of Rome, we might not be familiar with the areas to avoid or the specific cultural understandings of the people here. I want everyone to know that this is really top of my priority: to make sure everyone is safe and that we have policies and procedures in place continuously to make this possible.
After traveling, working, and studying in so many different cities and countries, what led you back to Italy, and specifically Rome?
I didn’t have a plan and I want students to know that that is okay. We tend to make these plans for our lives before we embark on the journey but sometimes other opportunities will present themselves and we feel the need to follow them. It’s beautiful when surprises happen. After all my studies, an opportunity presented itself in Rome and my family was especially happy; I also realized how much I missed my country and how great it would be to come back. While there is so much growth from traveling and immersing yourself in different environments, it’s also nice to be able to bring those experiences back into your own culture and roots.
Are there any recommendations you want to share with the student body in order to stay healthy, happy, and safe?
I don’t want to sound like an old person saying, “you should be doing this,” but since you asked [laughs] …. All students have a unique international opportunity, no matter if you are studying abroad in Italy or if you are Italian studying at an American university. This experience can really be life-changing. I am a product of international education myself; I am who I am today professionally and on a personal level because I have had these experiences. With this being said, I wish and encourage students to have meaningful experiences while here, and I use the word “meaningful” intentionally. We live in a very chaotic world and it’s very difficult to navigate, especially for young adults. I can only imagine what it means to be exposed to so many inputs and so much information.
There are a few things I advise students. The first is self-care. Take the time to take care of yourself, whatever that means for each of you. Whether it’s working out, meditating, spending quality time with friends, or establishing meaningful connections. It could also mean having a cultural experience in the city. And try to take advantage of all of the opportunities this university offers because there are plenty. The beauty of studying in a degree-granting institution for a study abroad student is that there is so much they can access in terms of clubs, campus engagement, and volunteering. So make sure you spend the time to be with other students and share this experience with others. Something I’m always concerned about is this tendency we have as a society to be isolated from one another. We need to feel a part of a community. This adds so much to an experience.
Additionally, really try to learn about Italian culture. Try to meet with locals, to go off the touristic path. We are in the heart of Rome and it’s beautiful in Trastevere, but you should also try to go to other neighborhoods like Testaccio, try to see how Romans really live. One of the most important things we can do as human beings is to be aware of privileges by exposing ourselves to other cultures and people different from us. This helps so much to grow into someone well-rounded, empathic, and passionate. In other words stay true to our university’s motto: Explorando Excello.
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