Kean University / 20-26 July 2025
Dr. Roseanne Mirabella, Associate Professor of the Department of Criminal Justice & Public Affairs, College of Business and Public Management of Kean University brought a group of 10 graduate students to Naples, Italy, for an intensive three-credit Travel Learn summer course. She and Dr. Robert White, Director of the Académie Cor Iesu, helped students explore the philosophical and theological roots of philanthropy in Western thought and the nature and meaning of charity from theological, philosophical and public policy perspectives.
Daily classes and seminar sessions examined the influence of Christianity and other religions on the development of philanthropy from the first through the twenty-first century. The texts were studied to provide clues for understanding the role of religion in the formation of societal expectations and the public and private structures established around philanthropic giving and receiving. Students were also encouraged to examine and discern the ultimate purposes of philanthropy and charity in their daily lives through a series of service-learning encounters with local civil and ecclesiastical authorities, focused on considering the issues surrounding immigration in and around the city of Naples.
The course also featured cultural experiences, including visits to churches and monasteries, and opportunities to taste local wine and cuisine, in order to explore how the religion continues to impact and influence philanthropy in Naples today.
“My time traveling with the Académie Cor Iesu was intellectually enriching and spiritually inspiring, blending rigorous study with unforgettable cultural experiences. I grew in knowledge and faith, while discovering beautiful places. If you get the chance to join a future course, take it. You’ll come home with both a fuller mind, a fuller heart and lots of knowledge.” – Abiola Adenuga, MPA Graduate Student, Class of 2026
“It is with enthusiasm that I recommend Académie Cor Iesu’s Travel Learn program as an exceptional opportunity for a comprehensive travel learning adventure. The Naples, Italy travel learn journey was filled with socially and intellectually transformative experiences that immersed us in the history and culture of the region. They exposed us to the complex societal challenges that the city faces regarding immigration and showed us how various religious and nonprofit organizations are working to deal with these challenges. It was an eye-opening and life-changing experience.” – Sherrie Calish, MPA Graduate Student, Class of 2025
“As an experienced educator of study abroad programs for over twenty years, my collaboration and partnership with the Académie Cor Iesu since its formation several years ago stands far over and above the other organizations with whom I have developed study abroad courses. The personalization of the curriculum to activities on the ground in various countries has provided a unique experience for my students to engage with local stakeholders providing a bridge between theory and practice. Assessments by my students and university administrators both attest to the uniqueness of the Académie's approach and its impact on student learning.” – Dr. Roseanne Mirabella, Associate Professor of the Department of Criminal Justice & Public Affairs, College of Business and Public Management, Kean University
