March 2010
Features / The Leaders
Study Abroad
Dr. Gregory Dell’Omo, President of
Robert Morris University
This year’s homecoming celebration on September 26 at Robert Morris University has some very important people on its guest list — the British and Italian Delegations who will be in Pittsburgh for two days prior at the G-20 Economic Summit. “In honor of our founding father, Robert Morris, we invited the British Delegation back,” says University President Dr. Gregory Dell’Omo. “We’ve also invited the Italian Delegation because, with the recent earthquake in L’Aquila, Italy, the university there was completely destroyed and about 55 students were killed. We have established tuition scholarships for two of their students to come to Robert Morris, and the local Italian community is also raising money for their room and board.” The university has a great representation of the world’s cultures — more than 32 countries are represented in the student body, 18 are represented in the freshman class alone. Dr. Dell’Omo, who has a strong background in international academic programs, really sees the need to produce graduates with global experiences. “We really want our students to be aware that to compete in the world job market, they need to have international skills,” Dr. Dell’Omo says. “They need to understand languages, cultures, political systems, and economic systems throughout the world because no matter what job they have, they are going to have international components.” With its vast amount of international programs, partnerships with international universities, study abroad programs, as well as the Rooney International Visitors Scholars Program, which brings in world scholars in to serve as visiting faculty members, Robert Morris University is a perfect example of international higher education.