1994-2005

1994

The University of Denver initiates a student exchange program with the University of Bologna. The goal: To engender understanding and trust between young people of different cultures. Eight students, four from each institution, participate during the inaugural year.

1995

Dr. Dennis Ferraro and Leonard Waldbaum (JD University of Denver), among others, form Amici of the University of Denver, a community organization committed to the promotion and support of education exchange between DU and Italian students and faculty. The organization emphasizes cultural
understanding, language appreciation and the enjoyment of la dolce vita

The University of Bologna and the University of Denver begin a faculty and scholar exchange program. Professors Franci (Bologna) and Waldbaum (Denver) are the first to participate.

1996

DU Amici creates a $2,500 scholarship to support the University’s Italian study abroad program.

Top DU administrators including Provost William Zaranka, Vice Provost for Internationalization Ved Nanda and Vice Provost of Undergraduate Studies Sheila Wright, visit Bologna.

1997

Provost William Zaranka (DU) and Magnifico Rettore Fabio Roversi-Monaco (Bologna) sign the DU/Bologna Agreement.

Magnifico Rettore Fabio Roversi-Monaco (Bologna) is awarded an honorary doctorate in education from the University of Denver.

Visiting scholar and Pro-Rettore Professor Mario Rinaldi (Bologna) delivers a speech on the history of the University of Bologna to DU faculty and staff.

Visiting scholar Dr. Tiziano Bonazzi, professor of American History – University of Bologna, presents a lecture on The Significance of the Frontier in American History: A European View.

DU Amici awards $5000 to support DU students studying in Italy.

1998

Visiting scholar Professor Paolo Mengozzi, facoltà di giurispruderza (Bologna), presents a lecture on European community law and international human rights.
Spencer Wellhofer, professor of Political science at DU is visiting scholar in Bologna

Visiting Scholar Piero Ignazio, professor of comparative politics, delivers lecture at University of Denver

1999

The University of Denver and University of Bologna conduct an international colloquium in Denver. The topic is Rights, Deviancy, and Crime in a Transnational Era. Twelve DU professors and six Bologna professors participate.

2001

The University of Bologna and University of Denver conduct an interdisciplinary symposium in Bologna entitled The Grand Tour Lives On.

Cooperativa Libraria Universitaria Editrice Bologna (CLUEB Press) publishes proceedings from the 1999 joint colloquium on Rights, Deviancy, and Crime in a Transnational Era. Professor Giovanna Franci and Roberta Waldbaum co-edit the text.

Visiting scholar Andrew Goetz, associate professor of geography and associate director of the Intermodal Transportation Institute (DU), delivers lectures on navigation law to Italian students in Bologna.

2002

The University of Denver and University of Bologna create the International Center for Civic Engagement. Dr. Robert Coombe, DU Provost, and the Magnifico Rettore of the University of Bologna, Pier Ugo Calzolari sign the agreement in an official ceremony. Pro-Rettore Roberto Grandi and Vice Provost Sheila Wright are among the delegation.

The first group of twelve students enrolls in courses at the Center. Roberta Waldbaum serves as faculty resident director and teaches a course titled Cinema and Italian Culture and Society. Five Bologna professors teach a seminar titled Current Social and Political Issues in Bologna.

Visiting scholar Professor Lucia Rossi (Bologna) addresses international law and globalization issues before students and faculty of DU’s College of Law.

Visiting scholar Dr. Giovanna Filippini (Bologna) visits DU to discuss student and faculty exchange opportunities with Provost Bob Coombe and Vice Provost Sheila Wright.

Professor Giovanna Franci (Bologna) participates in the Utrecht Network Summer School on Human Rights in collaboration with DU on the topic of Human Rights in a Globalized Society

Italian newspaper, Il Sole 24 Ore, publishes an article about the Center.

2003

The Center conducts international faculty dialogues in Bologna to address two key, emerging issues: (1) How civic engagement does and should mesh with other university obligations to provide first-rate teaching and scholarship, and (2) How to resolve the inherent tension between disseminating knowledge and preparing students to become grounded, public intellectuals.

Instructors Mariagiulia Grassilli (Bologna) and Todd Waller (Johns Hopkins University, Bologna) teach a spring course titled Human Rights and Film: Perspectives through Service in Italy.

The Center sponsors the 3rd annual International Human Rights film festival in Bologna. The topic: War. Prison. Profit/Poverty. Professor Giovanna Franci and Center Coordinator Heather Kochevar introduce Zendand-e Zanan, a film directed by Manijeh Hekman of Iran.

Professors Giovanna Franci (Bologna) and Roberta Waldbaum (DU) present a session at the 30th Anniversary Biennial Conference of the Italian Association for North American Studies in Rome in a session titled Ambassadors Within/From the Academy.

DU launches Spring Quarter in Bologna. This new program includes up to 16 quarter hours of coursework, four of which involve service learning.

2004

The Center sponsors the 4th annual International Human Rights film festival in Bologna. Professor Giovanna Franci and Center coordinator Deana Ahmad introduce Matrubhoom: Country Without Women, a film by Indian director Manish Jha and Original Child Bomb, a film by American director Carey Schonegevel.

The Center conducts its second series of international faculty dialogues. Borders and Bridges: International Perspectives and Civic Engagement provides an opportunity for DU faculty from across the disciplines to examine theories and applications of civic engagement and service learning. The sessions focuses on two main initiatives:
(1) mentoring faculty who have a service learning or civic engagement project; and (2) meeting with Bologna faculty who have similar academic and research interests.

The Center joins Charles University (Prague) in hosting The Global Leadership Program in Bologna.

Tom Farer, dean of Graduate School of International Studies, is the visiting faculty scholar at the Facoltà di Giurisprudenza.

2005

Dr. Ved Nanda, vice provost of Internationalization and professor at the College of Law is the visiting faculty scholar at the Facoltà di Giurisprudenza and at the Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development at the Johns Hopkins University. His lecture topic: International Courts and Human Rights.

The Center sponsors the 5th annual International Human Rights film festival in Bologna.

The DU Amici awards $5000 to students studying abroad in Italy

Fall quarter resident director in Bologna, Antonia Banducci (Music) teaches Made in Italy: Creativity, Music and Society. Using specific musical works composed in Italy between 1400 and 1725, this course explores the ways in which social, political and economic factors help to inspire and shape the creative impulse.

Bologna Center hosts Project Albania. Twenty-four students from DU’s Daniels College of Business and the Graduate School of International Studies participate in a faculty-led, community development study abroad program. This program includes a visit to Bologna for cultural training and to Albania for the community development project itself. While in Bologna, DU faculty use the Bologna Center as a base to promote cultural awareness through education and training courses.

Dr. Luca Zan, Professor of Economics at Bologna is Visiting Scholar to DU.
Spring 2005 Faculty Dialogues in Bologna – Interim Provost Gregg Kvistad, professors Hill, Waldbaum, Wittmer, and Wright meet with Bologna faculty and administrators.

Dr. Sheila Wright, executive director of DU’s Learning Communities and Professors Giovanna Franci (Bologna) and Roberta Waldbaum (DU) deliver a joint presentation during the International Leadership Association’s conference in November in Amsterdam.