Photo courtesy of Robert Blandford and Randy Albers

Students From Across Columbia Discover Arts, Culture, and History in Rome 

Two classes traveled together to Rome: Topics in Writing Abroad taught by English and Creative Writing Professor and Chair Emeritus Randall Albers, and International Cultural Heritage taught by Robert Blandford, an associate professor in Business and Entrepreneurship.   

“We started talking about our courses and realized that story was central to both of our disciplines,” Albers says. “We decided that Rome would be the perfect place to explore our collaboration further and proposed a program that began in 2011 …  Being exposed to learning in Rome allows them to place their work in a world view, fostering a broader scope and a more mature sensibility.”  

In January, the classes represented students from over 13 majors, including Creative Writing, Arts Management, Fashion Studies, Graphic Design, Film and Television, Music Business, Photography, Marketing, Animation, Fine Arts, Illustration, Art History, and Advertising.  

“Students gained direct exposure to the arts, culture, language, and natural environment of Rome, home to over 2000 years of human history,” Blandford says. “The mix of students and the connections between the two classes created a dynamic creative environment encouraging cross disciplinary collaboration and learning.”  

“Despite our digitally connected work, there is no substitute for the cultural learning that takes place in every interaction and activity, from exploring Pompeii with a Roman archaeologist to mastering the nuances of coffee culture and etiquette in Italy,” he adds.   

Highlights included:  

• A day in Pompeii with a working archaeologist and a day trip to Florence.  
• The extraordinary art at the Galleria Borghese.  
• Small dinners hosted by Roman families in their homes.  

“I learned so much about arts management from a new perspective by visiting all these cultural sites. I have typically been focused on visual and contemporary art, but this trip showed me the importance of preserving art and architecture from the past,” says Jennifer Kempf, who is getting her graduate degree in arts management or MAM.   

“I was able to evaluate different approaches to visitor interaction and curation that I have not before been exposed to and am grateful for this experience to learn about arts management from a new cultural perspective,” Kempf says. “I think this trip was instrumental in my future adventures and gave me a great framework for experiencing new cultures.”  

For more information about studying abroad in Rome, click here!