Assistant Vice President of SJU Rome Location Received Ph.D. with The School of Education

Administrator Earns Doctorate
February 12, 2025

Massimiliano Tomassini, Assistant Vice President of European Programs at St. John’s University’s Rome, Italy, location, successfully defended his Ph.D. research recently in The School of Education.

Dr. Tomassini’s dissertation was a case study of the culturally responsive teaching practices of Italian teachers in their work with US undergraduate students studying abroad in Rome.

His dissertation mentors were Evan T. Ortlieb, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, Education Specialties, and Michael R. Sampson, Ph.D., Professor, Education Specialties, The School of Education.

“Dr. Tomassini’s research provides valuable, research-based information on how professors in host countries can better connect and understand the cultures of the American students they are teaching,” said Dr. Sampson.

It is a unique opportunity that a current SJU administrator from the Rome location completed his doctorate with the main campus program.

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