Julie Champlin-Liguori

Julie Champlin-Liguori, M.A. brings to the Italy Center more than a decade of experience in international education and a passion for fostering meaningful connections across people, places, and ideas.

Originally from Arkansas, Julie earned a Bachelor of Arts in German from Hendrix College, where her interest in language and culture first sparked a lifelong commitment to global learning. She later completed a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching at University of Reading, deepening her understanding of language acquisition, bilingualism, and intercultural communication.

Julie began her career at Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, where she helped develop the innovative SUMMIT Journeys program. She then relocated to Melbourne, Australia, joining the Faculty of Arts at Monash University, where she designed admissions processes for the Global Immersion Guarantee before transitioning to Monash Abroad. After relocating to Italy, she continued her work in program development with Monash University Prato, supporting the growth of transformative international learning experiences.

Having lived and worked in Australia, Austria, China, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Julie brings a global perspective to her work. Throughout her career, she has designed and managed faculty-led study abroad programs, guided students through admissions and advising processes, cultivated strong partnerships with international institutions, and contributed to strategic planning, program development, and operations to ensure impactful and well-run programs.

Since joining the Italy Center, Julie has helped expand its faculty-led portfolio from a single program in 2024 to five programs planned for 2027. She has also led major operational improvements, including modernizing the application process and spearheading the redevelopment of the Center’s website. As a first-generation college student, she is deeply committed to making international education accessible and inspiring for as many students as possible, creating opportunities that empower students from all backgrounds to see themselves as global citizens.

Julie is proud to call Bologna home and to work alongside a dedicated team whose commitment to social justice and transformative global education and social justice are at the heart of the Center’s mission. In a time when public discourse often highlights differences, she believes deeply in the power of international education to foster empathy, understanding, and meaningful human connections. She is honored to lead the Italy Center into its next chapter and to continue creating opportunities that connect people, places, and ideas across cultures, perspectives, and communities.