Home Away from Home: Meet International Business Student Leonardo Di Franco-Cascone
Raised between LA and Rome, Leonardo is an International Business major and a Marketing minor. Because of his passion for movies and the open discussions they offer, he is the President of the Film Appreciation Club.
Tell us about your background. Why did you choose JCU?
I was born in Los Angeles, but my family is from Rome. I came to John Cabot because of my grandmother, Fiorenza Di Franco. A professor of Theater and Italian Literature and a former Head Librarian at JCU, she wrote several books, including Unscathed by Fire (John Cabot University Press, 2009). She had a big impact on the JCU community. Growing up, I spent every summer in Rome with my grandmother, so that’s why I can speak Italian. Rome is like my second home, so when I came here to study, I didn’t have any big adjustments to make, apart from living alone for the first time.
What made you decide to pursue a BA in International Business with a minor in Marketing?
I figured going abroad meant studying something international. I chose a minor in marketing because my mom is a marketing teacher. She teaches consumer behavior and global marketing at Cal Poly Pomona, California. Another thing that prompted this decision is the fact that I’ve grown up around my dad’s butcher shop. The people who work there are basically like my second family. So I know what it’s like to see the ins and outs of a small business, as well as the educational side of it.
What is a class and/or professor that has had an impact on you and why?
Professor David Castronuovo has helped me a lot in getting my writing to where it needed to be for university classes. With him telling me that it’s okay to mess up sometimes, I was able to grow academically. He provided this comfortable space for me to keep going. Another professor who’s had a meaningful impact on me is Professor Carola Hieker. I loved her Organizational Behavior class and she helped me find my confidence. I also liked Professor Riccardo Maiolini and his Principles of Management class.
You are the President of the Film Appreciation Club, but your BA is not film-related. How did your passion for movies come about? What prompted your decision to join the FAC?
When I first came to JCU, I didn’t have many friends, so I joined a club to meet new people. At first, there was a Film Appreciation Group that was started by Katherine Jacobs, and they needed board members. So I joined the board because I was enjoying the group activities. It was like a community, a kind of family. During my second year, we converted the group into a club, and now it’s my third year on the board.
If there had been no film club, I would have founded one. That’s how much I care about this project. I do it not just because of my love for movies, but also because I think it’s really important that there is a safe space for students to come and talk – not just about movies, but also about real issues surrounding the movies. For the club, the movie is what offers the guidelines for a greater discussion.
We do a lot of collaborations with other clubs on campus. We’ve done many with Queer Alliance, BASA, ASA, and Women’s Leadership Initiative. For example, in our collaborations with WLI, we have watched movies like Bottoms, Thelma and Louise, and Barbie. It created great conversations and allowed students to come forward and just talk about their experiences with issues surrounding women’s rights, the LGBTQ+ community, and the struggle of being part of these communities in a rapidly changing world.
How would you describe your experience here at JCU? What would you say to other potential students who want to apply?
I love JCU. It’s a great tight-knit community. The people here are so nice, and the Italians are awesome! So, to prospective students, I’d say, study abroad. It’s always a good idea. When you come to John Cabot, enjoy it, because it’s going to go by so fast. And if you ever struggle to find friends, just join a club and you’ll be able to meet so many new people.
