Month: September 2021

16 September 2021 – Washington, DC

During a visit to the Italian Embassy in Washington, DC on Thursday, Dr. Anthony Fauci stated that, “Italy has become an example to the world”. Fauci went on to compliment and promote Italy for its management of the pandemic stating, “Italy is doing well, better than the USA, particularly with the percentage of fully vaccinated people over 12 years, almost 75%, against 54% in the United States (63% with at least one dose). Italian ambassador Mariangela Zappia, thanked Fauci for his comments and his appreciation for Italy’s effective policies in response to the pandemic.

Statistically, Italy is among the top 10 nations in terms of managing COVID-19 and has set a goal of 80% of its population be vaccinated with the first dose by the end of September, and to eventually, like Portugal has done so in recent days, achieve an over 80% fully-vaccinated level and declare victory over the pandemic in the coming months.

Source: Covid, Fauci promuove l’Italia: “Meglio degli Usa, è diventata esempio nel mondo” – Rai News

The whole Umbra Institute community is awaiting the arrival of the students in the Fall 2021 cohort, who will come to a city bathed in the later summer sun. Perugia has always been welcoming to American and all other foreign students, but this semester’s students are the first since the pandemic closed down the city in March 2020.

Perugia is the capital of Umbria, which boasts one of Italy’s highest vaccination rates: just over 85% of Umbrians have had at least one dose and 75% are fully vaccinated. As of today, Italy itself is among the safest destinations in Europe, thanks to the measures adopted in the country to combat the spread of the virus.

The main initiative allowing a safe return to normal life is probably the so-called Green Pass (the EU digital Covid vaccination certificate). In Italy, the Green Pass system came into effect on August 6: the certificate must be shown to access all sorts of services, such as public ground transport, domestic and international flights, restaurants and cafés, cultural events, museums, theaters, cinemas, gyms, and pools. Anyone who has been vaccinated against Covid-19 can get this certificate.

If you are wondering whether vaccinated American citizens are able to access all the above mentioned services, the answer is YES! The Italian government has authorized the US white card bearing a CDC logo as proof of vaccination equivalent to the Green Pass. In addition, to keep the infection and the ICU occupancy rates at their current low levels, the Italian government declared that booster shots (a third dose of vaccine) will be available beginning at the end of September.   

The Umbra Institute has been very careful to define policies that put the safety of students, staff, and professors in the foreground. As required by Italian law, Umbra’s strict anti-COVID protocol has been approved by the authorities.

Everything is in place for a smooth fall semester: a bright Perugia can’t wait to show its best to the new study abroad students!

The Umbra Institute is welcoming back longtime staff member Zachary Nowak back to Perugia—now as the new director. Nowak started working at Umbra in 2005 as a study services assistant. After learning the ropes helping professors attach their laptops to projectors (these were the pre-wifi days) and chaperoning field trips to Florence, Nowak became the Special Projects Coordinator, working to create co-curricular workshops and field trips that were integrated into the Institute’s academic offering. 

This was useful training in community-engaged learning and curriculum development that later led to one of the Institute’s signature academic offerings. After completing a Master’s at Middlebury College, Nowak worked with his colleague Elgin Eckert to found the Food & Sustainability Studies Program in 2011. Nowak left Perugia in 2013 to start a PhD at Harvard University, though has for the last eight years continued to work for the Institute in academic development and US university relations. He earned his PhD in 2018, having added environmental history to his previous profile as a food historian. In the last three years, Nowak has taught for Harvard College while also working with his Perugia-based colleagues to revise Umbra’s food-related curriculum. He joins an academic team that will in the following months continue to build what is now called the Center for Food, Sustainability, & Environment as well as expand other curricular offerings. Nowak is a lecturer for the Harvard Extension School and continues to be active in the fields of food and environmental history. 

“It’s fabulous to be back in Perugia, especially with a staff team that has worked so hard to make that even in this very particular semester, the students will have an experience that is both rewarding and safe—and, without a doubt, transformative,” said Nowak.