On Saturday, September 20, the John Cabot University Board of Trustees announced that the recently inaugurated building on Lungotevere Raffaele Sanzio 11 will be named the Franco Pavoncello Campus.
The announcement was made by Board Chairman Salvatore Salibello during the annual President’s Gala at Rome’s renowned Hotel Hassler. This year’s gala celebrated Franco Pavoncello’s twenty years as President of John Cabot University.
During the past 20 years, the student population has tripled, and the University’s urban campus has expanded to include six new buildings and two residences. The University has enriched and consolidated its academic programs with the addition of new majors and two MA programs, as well as AACSB accreditation of the Frank J. Guarini School of Business.
“I want to thank Chair Salibello and the entire Board for bestowing this wonderful honor upon me for my contribution to the success of John Cabot University. The warmth with which the announcement was received by Trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends was deeply moving and unforgettable,” said President Pavoncello, who will step down in June 2026.
From left: President Pavoncello, President Pro-Infantia Marco Ceresoli, Trustee Francesco Ruspoli, Chair Salvatore Salibello
President Pavoncello, who first joined JCU as a faculty member in 1990, added: “The naming of the campus after the longest serving employee of JCU is not just a recognition of my work, but of the dedication of all faculty and staff who have contributed to the education of our students and the growth of our University. I hope the Franco Pavoncello Campus will be a daily reminder of the achievements we share and the strong community we have built together over the past two decades.”
The 16,000-square-foot Franco Pavoncello Campus houses the Honorable Frank J. Guarini Art Center, the Kazmir Family Design Studio, and the Martini Aula Magna. It features state-of-the-art studios for printmaking, painting, design, and photography, as well as a dedicated screening room. The campus also includes vibrant community spaces such as a rooftop terrace overlooking the Tiber River and Il Melograno café. In addition, it is home to the Dean of Students and Health and Wellbeing offices, flexible event spaces, classrooms, and faculty offices, and will soon expand its offerings to include an experimental psychology lab.
During the inauguration of the new campus on September 18, President Pavoncello thanked Carlo Vigevano and Cinzia Abbate of AeV Architetti for their exceptional renovation of the space. He also thanked Marco Ceresoli, President of the Pro Infantia Foundation, which rents the building to JCU, for his collaboration and friendship. Lastly, the President thanked the Trustees whose generosity made key projects possible: Frank J. Guarini for the creation of the Center for the Arts, Bill Martini for the Aula Magna, and the Kazmir family for the Design Studio.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Franco Pavoncello for identifying and negotiating the lease of this property, envisioning its possibilities, and overseeing its transformation into a symbol of learning, creativity, and community,” said Chair Salibello. “It is a place that represents the future of JCU, where innovation meets tradition and where students can explore, create, and grow.”
