Jessica Oliveri of Lebanon Spending Semester in Italy

2014 Oct 24

Jessica Oliveri of Lebanon, Pa., is one of 26 Lebanon Valley College students studying away for the fall 2014 semester. Oliveri is spending the semester in Italy as part of the College's study abroad program, which includes 12 foreign countries and two stateside internship opportunities.

In this program, students attend the Umbra Institute located in Perugia, Italy. Students can choose from a variety of courses with integrated field trips to famous Italian cities and sites, community engagement opportunities outside of the classroom, and extra-curricular activities. Perugia serves as the ideal backdrop for study abroad in Italy. Rich in art, architecture, and historical significance, it is internationally recognized as a city of learning. The ancient city lies far from the beaten path, surrounded by the rolling hills of Umbria and Tuscany. Travel from Perugia is easy since Rome, Florence, Siena, Assisi, and Cortona lie only a short distance away.

Oliveri, a graduate of Cedar Crest High School, is pursuing a bachelor of science in psychology at The Valley.

The College is in the process of developing a handful of new short-term programs that would make it even easier for busy students to study off-campus. In the spring semester, two new course-embedded programs will be offered in Italy and England. By the time they graduate, nearly 20 percent of LVC students will have spent time studying and traveling abroad, experiences that will shape and inform the rest of their lives as global citizens.