Members
Dario Danti
City Councilor for Employment, Universities and Research
“The Belong Project Advisory Board aims to be a forum for dialogue and discussion among key players in Florence’s academic and institutional worlds. It will guide the decisions of a project that aims to foster the integration of international students, provide concrete responses to their needs, and find the most appropriate ways for them to integrate into the city.
The City Council’s presence on the board is of great value; it demonstrates how much we, as an institution, care about Florence’s vocation as a city of education that is attractive to both Italian and international students.
We intend to consolidate this dialogue by expanding the board to include the entire world of higher education in the city and gradually exploring individual issues — from housing to job opportunities — to develop project proposals that we, as an administration, can then implement.”
Lorenzo Tellini
School Director, Istituto Marangoni Firenze School of Fashion and Art
“Being part of the Fondazione Destination Florence Advisory Board represents a unique opportunity for Istituto Marangoni to contribute to the development of our region, sharing expertise and strategic visions to promote Florence as a destination of excellence.
I’m certain that through collaboration and shared energy we can help make Florence even more appealing and a leading player on the international study abroad scene.”
Marco Del Panta Ridolfi
Former Secretary General of the European University Institute
“The Belong project is an opportunity to realize what was my goal during my years as a City Councilor in Florence: to build the City of Knowledge, based on attracting students and researchers — producers of knowledge — rather than just ‘hit-and-run’ tourists.
Being a member of the project’s advisory board allows me to continue in this direction, just as I endeavoured during my years as Secretary General at the European University Institute.”
Lorenzo Ricci
Associate Director, New York University Florence
“I’m honored to serve on the Advisory Board of the Fondazione Destination Florence. I hope that my extensive experience in both business and education will contribute to the foundation’s mission of making Florence the best possible destination for study abroad.”
Sasha Perugini
Director, Syracuse University Florence
“I’m honored to join the Fondazione Destination Florence Advisory Board, which serves as a learning laboratory and an opportunity to roll up your sleeves and contribute to the development of a city that never ceases to surprise those who think they know it.
I would like this board to become a platform capable of highlighting the many valuable testimonies that arise from the encounter between the city and the experiences of international students, restoring their dignity to the narrative and debunking caricatured stereotypes.
I’m grateful for this opportunity and curious to see how our collaboration can blend tradition and future with a small but decisive step — a collaboration that’s even more important in this time of technological revolution dominated by artificial intelligence.”
Stefano U. Baldassarri
Director, ISI Florence
“I’m deeply honored by the invitation to join Fondazione Destination Florence’s Advisory Board; it represents an excellent opportunity for me to learn and contribute to projects that I believe are beneficial to the entire city.
I know almost all the other members of the committee, having collaborated with them in various ways over the course of nearly thirty years, since I returned to Florence after earning my PhD at Yale University.
I therefore know that we share ideals and goals. Most of us direct cultural institutes; in several cases, like mine, they are affiliated with AACUPI (Association of American College and University Programs in Italy).
Together, since the late 1990s, we have held lectures, organized international conferences, presented books, coordinated seminars, and established new courses to expand the educational offering and provide stable employment for faculty who live in this city.
As the word itself suggests, an ‘Institute’ must have a solid structure that can provide the necessary guarantees to everyone who works there and help them grow both personally and professionally.
I believe that Fondazione Destination Florence, thanks also to the diverse skills it brings, can play a decisive role in ensuring that Florence is more than ever a centre of research, encounter, and development.”
Fabrizio Ricciardelli
President, AACUPI; Director, Kent State University Florence
“I’m thrilled to announce the launch of the Belong Advisory Board, as I see this initiative as a concrete sign of Florence’s international vocation.
Being part of a project that brings together American universities, the University of Florence, and higher education institutions means being able to help build a genuine bridge between the local community and the international students who choose the city as a place to live and study.
I believe the study abroad scene is a valuable opportunity to integrate diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives, enriching the city’s social and cultural fabric. It’s an important step in strengthening the network of welcome and knowledge, and I’m proud to be a part of this journey.”
Alessandro Borrani
President, Comitato Toscano
“Being appointed to the Advisory Board of Fondazione Destination Florence is a source of pride and a recognition of the Comitato Toscano’s work in promoting language, culture, and Made in Italy.”
Rosa Maria Di Giorgi
President, Cherubini Conservatory of Music and ISIA Florence
“Being part of the Belong project’s Advisory Board strengthens an already established strategy aimed at bettering global dialogue with prestigious higher education institutions and fostering the academic community’s integration into Florence’s cultural and institutional life.”
Jason Houston
Dean, Gonzaga University in Florence
“Serving on Fondazione Destination Florence’s Advisory Board means expressing and conveying my passion and respect for Florentine culture to a new generation.”
Giorgia Giovannetti
Vice President for International Relations and Professor, University of Florence
“Being part of Fondazione Destination Florence’s Advisory Board together with Unifi means turning excellent ideas into concrete projects, seeing them realized, and overcoming inevitable obstacles together — with the aim of conveying the richness and vitality of Florentine culture to new generations of students and visitors.”
Goals
- To foster integration
- To listen to needs
- To build lasting relationships
- To enhance the presence of international students who enrich our social fabric with their stories, cultures, and visions
