The American University of Rome

A record year, made possible by our global community.

The American University of Rome has closed out its most successful fundraising year in the institution’s history, securing a record $3.5 million in new gifts and commitments. This extraordinary support will help advance scholarships, academic innovation, campus development, and the student experience in Rome.

Thank you to every alumnus, parent, trustee, and friend who believes in what AUR makes possible. As we prepare for the public launch of our comprehensive campaign, this historic fundraising year provides a powerful foundation for the university’s next chapter. Building on this unprecedented momentum, AUR will continue investing in scholarships, academic innovation, campus expansion, and the distinctive international education that has defined the university for more than 55 years.

Read more on aur.edu

Some more images capture the ongoing transformation of Building B and the Mesina Art Studios, reflecting the steady work behind a project that will expand opportunities for learning, creativity, and collaboration across our campus.

Great things are built one day at a time, and we’re excited to share these updates with our community.

Some stories connect generations, places, and the work we choose to do.

AUR is proud to celebrate M.A. Food Studies student Ariana DeLaurentis, the 2026 recipient of the Sons of Italy Foundation American University of Rome Scholarship.

For Ariana, the recognition brings together her Italian-American family history and the work she hopes to continue throughout her career.

“My great-grandparents immigrated from Abruzzo and Calabria and built a farm in southern New Jersey, teaching our family that food is an expression of generosity, dignity, and care,” she says.

At AUR, Ariana is building on her experience in food education, farmers’ markets, and sustainable agriculture. Her research looks at how agricultural traditions, public policy, and grassroots leadership can better support small-scale farmers and rural communities.

“Studying in Rome has allowed me to reconnect with those values while preparing for a career supporting farmers and rural communities around the world.”

We are proud of AUR’s longstanding partnership with the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, and grateful to continue supporting the next generation of Italian-American students together.

Congratulations, Ariana. We’re so happy to share this moment with you.

Read more at aur.edu.

This summer, our classrooms welcomed professionals from around the world for Health & Risk Communication in Pandemics and Beyond, a summer professional development course hosted at AUR.

Led by Dr. Renata Schiavo, Senior Lecturer at Columbia University, the program brought together participants from healthcare, communication, international development, nonprofits, and academia to explore today’s most pressing global health challenges.

At AUR, learning extends far beyond traditional degree programs. Throughout the year, our campus hosts professional institutes, executive courses, and other learning opportunities that bring together experts, practitioners, and lifelong learners. Whether you’re beginning your degree or returning to build on years of experience, AUR offers opportunities to learn at every stage of your journey.

Learn more at aur.edu

What if your next chapter started here?

Not just in Rome, but in a community where curiosity crosses cultures, learning happens beyond the classroom, and every day feels a little different from the last.

Whether you’re discovering a new passion, preparing for your career, or finding your place in the world, AUR is where it all begins.

Visit our website to learn more.

Most students study museums. AUR students work inside one.

This summer, three AUR students — studying Film, Business, and Interdisciplinary Studies — are interning behind the scenes of Vanessa Noel: Dream Shoes, an international exhibition at the Casa Museo Boncompagni Ludovisi Casa Museo Boncompagni Ludovisi in the center of Rome. Cataloguing objects most people will never get close to, helping build the exhibition floor by floor, and turning research into something visitors actually stop for.

This is just one of the internships happening right now. Rome is full of museums, embassies, NGOs, design studios, and much more — and AUR has the connections to get students into them, in pretty much every major you can think of.

University is meant for exploration — testing different fields, different career paths, before choosing a direction. At AUR, that exploration comes with real experience already built in by the time you graduate.

Curious where an AUR education could take you, or interested in partnering with AUR to host student interns? Follow and see where it leads.