JCU Students Travel to USA for Fairfax City Economic Development Fellowship
In May 2025, a group of students from John Cabot University traveled to Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. for a week-long interactive learning experience to cap off their hard work as the inaugural cohort of fellows in John Cabot’s transatlantic partnership with Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED). Developed through the collaboration among FCED’s CEO and Director Chris Bruno, himself a JCU alumnus, the Frank J. Guarini School of Business, and Dr. Jonathan Aberman (a US visiting professor at JCU), the fellowship provided students the chance to use their marketing and research skills in a real-world, international context, culminating in this one-of-a-kind visit.
Led by Professor Silvia Carnini Pulino, the fellowship brought together juniors Nina Lange and Mario Dinicola and sophomore Samuele Nusca-Dagon through a rigorous selection process, to explore the mechanics of international business through a marketing lens.
The semester-long program consisted of weekly virtual meetings with Chris Bruno, and FCED’s Acting Business Investment Manager, Marie Spitell, during which students learned about foreign direct investment and economic development strategies from key stakeholders across the globe. The fellows were also tasked with enhancing FCED’s strategy for Italian businesses, during which they translated their discoveries into a tangible marketing brochure. This semester-long research culminated in a formal presentation to Fairfax City’s Mayor, Catherine S. Read, and the Economic Development Authority, when the students delivered a tailored marketing pitch focused on attracting Italian businesses to Northern Virginia.
During the trip, the fellows also attended the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA Investment Summit as active guest members of the FCED team, visited the National Landing Business Improvement District, and met with professionals across sectors ranging from policy to urban development. These experiences offered students a multifaceted look into how U.S. cities compete for international business and how transatlantic partnerships are formed.
Beyond the academic rigor, the fellowship provided a transformative cultural and professional experience. Students honed their networking, public speaking, and cross-cultural communication skills whilst engaging in passionate conversations about entrepreneurship, politics, and global business development.
Opportunities like these highlight John Cabot University’s commitment to preparing students for impactful international careers through practical, globally-focused experiences, as well as the power of a global community of learning that keeps the JCU motto, “Explorando Excello”, current and vibrant.
As one fellow put it, “Working on transatlantic business development, speaking with both Italian and American experts, and navigating the realities of international investment and economic development means more than just handshakes and formalities. In my particular case, engaging in these activities felt like a natural extension of myself, and gave me a clearer sense of how my international background is not just something to explain—it’s something that adds value, and in fact, is a real superpower.”
To learn more about the Fairfax City Economic Development Fellowship: Fairfax City Economic Development Fellowship
