Recap

After a long hiatus, more than 120 Bolognesi from different Bologna classes met in person on the occasion of the 14^th edition of the Amici di Bologna event, which was held at the Manhattan Penthouse in New York City. The event featured a lively discussion on The War in Ukraine and the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy by SAIS Professors Jessica Fanzo and Sergey Radchenko, moderated by Dean James Steinberg. The panelists provided rich and complementary perspectives about the impact of the Ukrainian conflict -- with Professor Radchenko providing an incisive analysis of the situation on the ground and bordering geopolitical issues around Putin's recent policy announcements around conscription, while Professor Fanzo provided an insightful assessment of the broader implications of the conflict and how it is exacerbating existing crises in food and energy security. While there wasn't room for much optimism in the debate given the topic, Professor Fanzo pointed to the urgent need for global leaders and development actors to commit more resources and improve their coordination to help mitigate, rather than merely adapt to, these crises.

After the symposium, alumni present mingled during the cocktail hour. The younger generations of alumni, in particular, enjoyed exchanging points of view about their Bologna experience with members of previous classes, together with gathering important insights into the life and career path of the older generations of Bolognesi. For some Nuovi Amici, it was the first time reconnecting in person since March 2020, making for an exciting reunion!

The evening then continued with a seated dinner, during which Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations Khadija Hill presented the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus Award to Edward L. Morse (JHU'63, B'66, '66). In addition, Amici Committee co-chair Tom Tesluk (B'81, '82) introduced the Amici di Bologna Student Fund, highlighting the importance of enabling bright students to take advantage of the Bologna experience by supporting their tuition costs, their internships and their extra-curricular activities. Finally, the event concluded with a celebration of Mike Plummer's Directorship through a slide show narrated by Tom Tesluk.

The formal part of the evening over, the more energized alumni gathered nearby at the Winslow for an afterparty. No doubt, good aperitivo habits acquired in Bologna contributed to ensuring the party continued in style for the rest of the night!