Stefano Corsano has been a member of the St. John’s Rome Campus
team since 2002, and currently serves as the Coordinator of
Academics and Program Development. In that role, he works with the
rest of the Rome staff on a number of projects, from planning
academic excursions to working directly with students.
Aside from his official duties, Stefano loves interacting with
students and helping them in any way he can. As a native Roman, he
particularly enjoys sharing his personal experiences and knowledge
of the city. “I like to let them know that Italy isn’t only pizza
and pasta, but an incredibly rich country in terms of art and
culture,” he says. His favorite Italian experiences include
visiting the famous Trevi Fountain (but only at night, when the
crowds have subsided) and watching the solemn changing of the
guards at the Palazzo del Quirinale.
Stefano sees Rome as the ideal place for art lovers, he himself
being an avid fan of museums and music of all forms (especially
opera). But he also stresses that it’s a great place for outdoor
activities, which he takes advantage of by rowing on the Tiber
River, kayaking at a nearby lake and biking through the city. To
first-time travelers, he preaches the virtues of flexibility: “They
should forget their home country for a while and enjoy the
diversity. All of a sudden the homesickness will disappear (if
there is any). Diversity means richness.”