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Marcello Fantoni, Ph.D., of 5X���� has been appointed the university’s new associate provost for global education. Fantoni currently serves as director of 5X���� in Florence, Italy, and the university’s Europe manager. He also teaches historical studies in architecture and urban design.

“Recognizing the growing importance of international student enrollment at Kent State, the increasingly crucial role study abroad now plays in our students’ educational experience, and the need to maintain and improve both for the short and long terms, I have promoted Marcello Fantoni to the position of associate provost for global education,” says Todd Diacon, senior vice president of academic affairs and provost of Kent State. “He has done a wonderful job leading our Europe operations, and I look forward to working with him more closely on ways to prepare our students for today’s global society.”

Since 2005, Fantoni has served as director of Kent State in Florence, where student enrollment has increased by 50 percent. He also has held the position of the university’s Europe manager since January 2011, overseeing Kent State’s campuses in Florence and Geneva, Switzerland. Fantoni has created new curricula in communication, business, arts and sciences, education, arts and architecture in collaboration with Kent State deans and has developed six new summer programs. He currently oversees 30 faculty members at the Florence campus. Fantoni has established and cultivated new partnerships with George Washington University, Rutgers University and Miami University, as well as developed and implemented new agreements with universities in Brazil, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Fantoni has helped with fundraising activity for study abroad experiences for Kent State students.

Before joining Kent State in 2005, Marcello served for nine years as director of Georgetown University in Florence. He is an accomplished historian of Europe and of the history of architecture. A renowned scholar, Fantoni has participated in numerous conferences and symposia, authored three books, edited 13 books and published several essays in books and journals. A native Italian speaker, Fantoni also speaks English, French, Spanish, German and basic Russian.

Fantoni received his master’s degree from the University of Florence, a doctoral degree from European University Institute and a post-doctoral degree from the University of Florence.

Fantoni will begin his new appointment on Aug. 6. He replaces Mary Anne Saunders, executive director of Kent State’s Office of Global Education, who has accepted a similar position at the University of New Mexico.

For more information about Kent State’s Office for Global Education, visit www.kent.edu/global.