John Cabot University’s Dean of Academic Affairs, Nicholas Startin, is pleased to announce the Valedictorian for the Class of 2026, Ekaterina Panferova. Ekaterina earned a BA in Communications, summa cum laude, with a minor in Political Science.
The term valedictorian derives from the Latin vale dicere (“to say farewell”) and refers to the student who delivers the farewell address at the graduation ceremony. This honor is typically awarded to the student with the highest grade point average in the graduating class.
Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, Ekaterina began her university studies in her hometown before spending two years in Madrid studying Marketing and Communications. Her experience in Spain helped her realize how much she valued being surrounded by people from diverse backgrounds.
“I had always been enamored with Italy and drawn to its culture, so after receiving my associate degree in Madrid, John Cabot University became the opportunity to fulfill a dream: the chance to study in Rome at an American university while still being part of an international community,” Ekaterina explained.
At JCU, while pursuing her Communications degree, Ekaterina found the academic environment she had been seeking, a space where people could disagree, debate, question, and still respect one another. “I felt that this kind of healthy debate was truly welcomed. In many of my classes, we were encouraged to approach the same event or issue through different political, cultural, and theoretical lenses. That made me feel intellectually stimulated, as well as seen and valued. The community at JCU was friendly and supportive in a way that gave me the confidence to speak and write with true passion.”
During her time at JCU, Ekaterina also explored interests that had remained dormant along her previous academic path. Passionate about filmmaking and editing, she was able to further develop these skills through courses in video production and media studies.
Her minor in Political Science also played a significant role in shaping her academic experience. “This minor helped me think more seriously about institutions, international relations, and the contexts behind media and communication systems. It made my understanding of communication broader and more grounded,” she said.
John Cabot University also offered Ekaterina the opportunity to reconnect with interests rooted in her childhood. Through her mother’s work in public relations and communications, she grew up surrounded by cultural events in Russia and became familiar with the behind-the-scenes work of museums and exhibitions. “I learned to look at museums and exhibitions as mediated spaces where design, narrative, audience attention, and interpretation all come together. This perspective became the foundation of my capstone project, in which I examine exhibitions as epistemological spaces through the lens of communication and media theory.”
In April 2026, Ekaterina was one of three students who received the Academic Excellence Award in Communication and Media Studies.
“Looking back, John Cabot University became the place where many different parts of my life finally connected — my background in media, my love for visual storytelling, my interest in cultural spaces, my Political Science minor, and my appreciation for intercultural dialogue,” Ekaterina said. “I came to JCU because I felt there was something more for me to find, and I did find it here, not only academically, but also personally."
Ekaterina’s plans for after graduation are to stay in Europe and continue her path in communications in museums, exhibitions, or cultural projects. She would like to earn a master's degree that connects creative direction with branding and management.
“I am interested in creating content and communication strategies that help people get the most out of educational and cultural environments by making exhibitions more accessible, shaping how ideas are presented, and helping institutions build a stronger connection with their audiences. I am especially grateful to Dr. Antonio Lopez, my academic mentor, for helping me clarify this path by introducing me to museology and museums as mediated spaces that shape public perception,” Ekaterina concluded.
