Collective Impact: N.U.in Program Manager Louise Kennedy
Born in Ennis, Ireland, Louise Kennedy joined the JCU staff in 2021 as N.U.in Program Manager and is currently Vice President of the Staff Council.
You are N.U.in Program Manager. What does this job entail? What are some of the biggest challenges and rewards?
The N.U.in program allows students to spend their first semester at Northeastern University studying abroad. There are several sites in Europe, including Rome. There are about 200 N.U.in students at JCU every year.
I manage a team of seven program coordinators and one assistant program manager to help the students navigate this time in their lives. We give the students a structure and provide a program that they can rely on as they move through this journey. The biggest challenge is moving with the generations because they change every year. Consequently, the biggest reward is then being able to understand and communicate with them.
Tell us about the path that led you to this role.
I had no idea what I was going to do when I left university, so I got a master’s degree in Conference Interpreting, and then I pivoted into tourism. I obtained a license to work as a tour guide in Italy and did that until COVID, when I learned a hard lesson about what it means to be a freelance worker, and it didn’t appeal to me anymore. I started to look around and applied for the N.U.in the Assistant Program Manager position, but I was asked if I could be the Program Manager instead. I figured I could do it, and here I am.
What brought you to Rome?
I went to Galway University, which is in the county north of where I was born. I decided to study Italian at university because I was good at learning languages. I picked Italian because it seemed easy to me. As it turns out, it is one of the most studied languages in the world! I ended up loving my courses, which is what brought me to Italy. When I moved here, I was immersed in the language and I became fluent.
You are Vice President of the Staff Council. What are some projects you are currently working on?
Right now, we’re trying to match the rapid rate the University is growing at and make sure that everyone in the backbone of the University is accounted for. Our goal, alongside the Executive Cabinet, is to try to address how HR should be implemented to suit our current staffing model. This could be a way of consolidating staff management into one place in order to make everyone feel more excited about growth.
There are so many people who work here, and it pushed me to think about the importance of the collective. At John Cabot, everyone’s job is part of an interconnected web that relies on each other. Recognizing that our staff is large now and needs extra support to voice their concerns and proposals is important.
What are some pros of living in Rome?
A pro is being surrounded by seasonal local produce year-round. It makes it easy to eat healthily every day, even if you’re going out to eat. Another advantage is the power of the sun. I’ll have days where I wake up and feel happy for no other reason than it’s sunny! Rome’s beautiful weather allows me to do many physical activities, which I love.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
Right now, I’m happy to see what happens with the N.U.in program and how we can grow. As far as the JCU Staff Council is concerned, I want to get more involved with other staff members and know what people in other departments do. It’s thanks to the Staff Council that I really understand the importance of that. I hope to be someone who can help people move toward their goals.
