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Alumni & Friends

A group of students in Piazza Farnese
JCU Alumni Office

Welcome!

At the heart of our mission is fostering a vibrant, global community of alumni who carry forward the spirit of John Cabot University. Our office is dedicated to supporting your lifelong journey by strengthening connections with the University and with fellow alumni around the world.

Rooted in the American liberal arts tradition and enriched by a global outlook, John Cabot University offers a unique experience; one we celebrate together. Whether through welcoming you back to your Alma Mater in Rome or organizing reunions and events across the globe, we strive to keep our community connected, engaged, and proud.

Your Alumni Community Starts Here

Everything you need to stay connected with John Cabot University and your fellow alumni is just a click away: jcualumni.org is your hub for everything alumni from event calendars and news to career resources and community connections. Visit the site to:

  • Register for global reunions and local alumni events;
  • Access career services, workshops, and the Jobs & News newsletter;
  • Request your Alumni ID Card and find JCU access information;
  • Connect with regional alumni chapters and volunteer opportunities.

About the Alumni Association

Founded in 1995, the John Cabot Alumni Association unites over 10,000 graduates and study-abroad participants worldwide. You are a valued member of the JCU family, and our network makes it easy to stay involved no matter where you are.

Join the JCU Alumni Network

Francesco Ruspoli
I am impressed at how much JCU has grown while maintaining its international character. I hope to contribute to strengthening the sense of community and pride among the over 10,000 JCU alumni throughout the world. Francesco Ruspoli President of the Alumni Association, Class of 1994

Meet Your Alumni Ambassadors

Regional Alumni Ambassadors offer information and guidance to prospective and current JCU students and support the growth of alumni activity by organizing various types of alumni events in their region. The Regional Alumni Ambassador maintains regular contact with the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs to make sure the University possesses the most up to date contact information for alumni worldwide. Please see the Regional Alumni Ambassadors role description.

Please write to the Alumni office to get in contact with our alumni ambassadors.


 

Courtney Smith

Gianluca Pesce - Detroit, Michigan, USA

Gianluca Pesce transferred to JCU in 2007 and graduated in 2009 with a BA in International Affairs. For the past decade, he has been working for Yolk restaurants as the Director of Marketing & Communications.

Gianluca speaks English and Italian, and in his free time, enjoys rock climbing, biking, cooking, and traveling the world! 

Pedro Vazquez

Pedro Vazquez - Thousand Oaks, CA, USA

Pedro Vazquez is an accomplished Real Estate Executive with over a decade of experience in commercial real estate strategy and execution. He studied International Business abroad at John Cabot University in Rome in 2003, gaining a global perspective early in his career.

Currently serving as Director of Real Estate at Guitar Center, Inc., Pedro leads national site selection, relocations, lease renewals, and portfolio optimization for one of the largest music instrument retailers in the U.S. His expertise spans acquisitions, negotiations, and long-term market planning, with a proven track record of delivering value through strategic real estate decisions.

Anastasiia Shmatina

Anastasiia Shmatina - Rome, Italy

Anastasiia Shmatina is from Kyiv, Ukraine. She came to JCU when she was 17 to study Business Administration with a minor in Marketing.

Anastasiia obtained an internship as a Business Developer for the IT security company Messagenius that she found at the JCU Career Fair. After the first two months, she was promoted to a full-time position as a Marketing Manager.

Courtney Smith

Courtney Smith - Washington, DC, USA

Courtney Smith graduated from JCU in 2023 with a BA in International Affairs with minors in Legal Studies and Communications. She is from the US, but grew up internationally, living on four different continents. While at JCU, she was heavily involved in the community and was student government president from 2021 to 2023. After graduating, Courtney went to Johns Hopkins SAIS, which brought her to Bologna, and then to DC, where she still lives. She is eager to meet with all JCU alumni as they come through DC and assist in establishing a DC alumni chapter!

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