Study Abroad honors Alba Frascarelli and her dedication to Arizona in Orvieto
Study Abroad Oriveto Program Director Alba Frascarelli (left) and Study Abroad Program Manager Dafne Johnson.
In the heart of Italy, the town of Orvieto has been more than just a backdrop for study abroad students from the University of Arizona; it has been a classroom, a home, and a place of transformation. And for over two decades, Alba Frascarelli has been at the heart of that experience.
As the long-serving director of the Arizona in Orvieto program, Alba has welcomed, guided, and inspired thousands of students who came to Italy in search of academic growth and cultural immersion. “Alba has been the heart and soul of Arizona in Orvieto for over 20 years. Her leadership has always been rooted in kindness, empathy, and compassion,” said Study Abroad Program Manager Dafne Johnson.” She leads with her heart, and that has shaped the entire tone of the Arizona in Orvieto program. Her vision wasn’t just about running a successful study abroad program, it was about creating a space where students felt deeply welcomed, supported, and seen.”
The Study Abroad team presented Alba with a certificate commemorating her in the Women’s Plaza of Honor.
Now, as Alba steps away from her role, the University of Arizona Study Abroad team is paying tribute to her enduring impact by commemorating her in the Women’s Plaza of Honor, a public space on campus that recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the history of Arizona and to the lives of others.
Alba’s journey with the program began in the early 2000s when she crossed paths with U of A professor David Soren at an academic conference. The meeting sparked a collaboration built on a shared belief in the power of cultural exchange, leading to the launch of Arizona in Orvieto in the Fall of 2002. As an archaeologist and educator, Alba was drawn to the opportunity to use Orvieto itself as a living classroom—one where the stones, streets, and people offer lessons in history, art, and human connection.
“I’ve always believed in the transformative power of place-based learning,” Alba explained. “Welcoming students to Orvieto—one of the most historically rich towns in Italy—meant giving them a direct, immersive experience. That connection is what drew me in and still inspires me today.”
Under Alba’s leadership, Arizona in Orvieto evolved into a program defined not just by academic rigor, but by a profound integration with the local community. Students do more than study: they live, learn, and grow as part of the town. Alba has worked tirelessly to create that environment: a space where students feel seen, supported, and part of something larger than themselves. “It’s about more than taking classes abroad,” she said. “Students form real relationships with locals, live in this beautiful hilltop town, and engage with Orvieto as more than tourists. That authenticity makes the program truly unique.”
What began as a modest venture grew into a robust academic and cultural institution, offering courses across disciplines and drawing in ever-larger cohorts of students. But through all the changes, one constant remained: Alba’s steady guidance and her belief in each student’s potential.
Alba has worked tirelessly to create an environment where students feel seen, supported, and part of something larger than themselves.
Dr. Cynthia White, Professor Emerita of Classics at the University of Arizona and long-time study abroad faculty member, shared how Alba’s work helped shape her own. “Alba was an active archeologist. She oversaw students working on the dig and she delivered academic lectures at several archeological sites on group trips,” said Dr. White. “I try to imitate Alba’s ability to combine oversight of all logistical details of the programs with her professional academic responsibilities, especially by developing in situ learning experiences for the students, on the ground rather than in the classroom.”
Alba’s tenure had many highlights—from welcoming the program’s thousandth student to witnessing former participants return to Orvieto, still deeply moved by their experience. Each milestone, each reunion, reaffirmed the depth of Alba’s impact. “Seeing students grow—academically, personally, and culturally—has been the most rewarding part of my work,” Alba said. “There are so many stories, but I’ll never forget the student who arrived unsure if she even belonged in college. By the end of the semester, she had found her voice and her confidence. That transformation is why I do what I do.”
Alba’s partnership with the University of Arizona Study Abroad team has been defined by mutual trust, shared goals, and a commitment to student success. It’s a collaboration that has shaped not just a program but generations of global citizens.
Those connections formed in Orvieto have also lasted the test of time.
“When Alba came to Tucson each year for the Study Abroad Fair, there was always a reunion where she was like a rock star: the numbers of students who came to see her overwhelmed the meeting places,” said Dr. White. “This rich cultural exchange can be traced back directly to Alba’s kindness and hard work. She singlehandedly turned an academic program into a multi-generational family!”
Alba returns to Tucson regularly to meet up with students, faculty, and staff who were part of the Orvieto program.
As she departs, Alba leaves behind not just a thriving program but a legacy of cross-cultural connection and a bridge between Arizona and Italy that has changed countless lives. Those who have worked closely with Alba know just how vital she has been to the program’s success. “Alba understood that for many students, this was their first time leaving the U.S., and she approached that with so much care,” said Dafne Johnson. “She’s built something so much more than a study abroad program, she’s built a community for our students. Because of her, Orvieto becomes a true home away from home for so many of our students and that feeling is something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”
To recognize Alba Frascarelli’s immeasurable contributions, U of A Study Abroad is dedicating a brick in the Women’s Plaza of Honor in her name—a lasting tribute to a woman who enriched the lives of so many, both in Orvieto and beyond. The Plaza serves as a reminder of the power of educators, mentors, and visionaries like Alba, whose work transcends borders and whose legacy will continue to inspire. Johnson states, “She’s helped students feel like they belonged, not just in Orvieto, but in the world. That’s a powerful legacy.”