FUA ALUMNI | President Gabriella Ganugi Alumni - President Gabriella Ganugi Alumni

Being a Peer Rep means helping and offering suggestions to current and/or prospective FUA students. It is a way for alumni to provide guidance in situations that our alumni have already experienced in the past. Help the new students settle down and enjoy the best of Florence by giving them suggestions and ideas.

Meet our Peer Reps

If you’re interested in getting in touch with one or more FUA Peer Reps, please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Grant Isaacson

Participating in the Spring Semester Hospitality Management Career Program I had the fantastic experience of taking courses through FUA and interning at the student laboratory, Ganzo. Gaining experience networking with local companies: I left Florence more motivated and prepared than ever!
The hands-on immersion and application of course material throughout the semester is a unique feature to FUA that is incomparable.

Feel free to contact me for any advice, questions, or to simply gain more understanding of the global Hospitality Industry. The world is at your fingertips!

Courtney Hamlin

I studied at FUA in 2011-2012 through their 1-year Baking & Pastry Program at Apicius. I also participated in the Tutto Toscana program in 2011 and would highly recommend it! I truly loved my experience living and studying in Florence and also love telling others about it! So, if you have any questions about the programs, traveling, favorite food spots, working in the food industry, or just life in Florence, I'm happy to answer any and all questions!

Just remember, that you may only get this opportunity once in your life, so make the most of it! :)

Bobby Hoffman

Your participation in a program at FUA will likely be one of the best you have ever had. As a professor at the University of Central Florida, I participated in a language program as a student in Summer 2013. I found the school faculty and staff to be very supportive and friendly. I also experienced the wonderful Florentine people and best culinary that Florence has to offer.

If you would like an alumni perspective on how to enjoy Florence and the surrounding area, please feel free to contact me.

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FUA Ambassadors

Written by Super User

FUA provides two unique ways to stay engaged within the FUA community and share your alumni perspectives with current and future students. See below for details on the Ambassador and Peer Rep programs.

FUA Ambassador Program

FUA’s Alumni Ambassador Program provides our former students the opportunity to meet with other graduates and with prospective students looking into FUA. Selected Ambassadors fulfill a 1-year commitment to the program and collaborate closely with the FUA Alumni Network on a series of structured projects and initiatives.

Through the Alumni Ambassador Program designated alumni volunteers work to create stronger connections between their fellow alumni as well as being as a landmark for present and future FUA students through targeted communication.

The FUA Ambassadors will get in contact with other alumni, as well as with prospective students. The Ambassadors are available to answer questions and suggestions you might have regarding your upcoming Florence experience!

We are honored to introduce you our Ambassadors for 2018:

Samantha Lucenti

Originally from Buffalo, New York, I came to Florence University of the Arts in 2015-2016 from Grand Valley State University, where I graduated in May 2017 with a degree in Hospitality Management.

At FUA, I enrolled in hospitality and wine courses, and my ultimate goal while studying abroad was to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, and I was so fortunate to be able to meet many different people who all brought something unique to the experience.

One of the best opportunities I had at FUA was my Experiential Learning at Fedora. I also had the pleasure of working alongside the Hospitality Manager of Fedora and Ganzo at many special events, and I learned so much throughout this hands-on experience. Subsequently, I had the opportunity to participate in the 2016 TuttoToscana program in NYC. One of the most important skills I learned was adopting a new mentality that allowed me to open up to change and flexibility. This mind-set has led to many positive things for me!

If you’re interested in getting in touch with Samantha, please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Kerry Callender

I changed careers in 2015 and made the exciting transition into the hospitality field. I enrolled in an accelerated degree program at Culinary Institute of Virginia, earning an associate’s degree in Culinary Arts & Applied Nutrition and a bachelor’s degree in Food Service Management.

I met the staff of FUA at the National Restaurant Association Food Show in May 2016 and knew immediately that I wanted to participate in the TuttoToscana program. After spending one term in Florence studying event management and the wines of Tuscany, I traveled to New York City as part of a team to execute a week of events including at the James Beard Foundation.

The experiential learning model at FUA is unmatched. This transformative experience ignited my passion for the wine industry and I actively pursued a path to sommelier training while working as an event manager. Now, with scholarships from the James Beard Foundation and the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), I enrolled in the Wine and Beverage Graduate Certificate Program at CIA’s California campus in the heart of Napa Valley. The learning opportunities I experienced at FUA are shaping my career in ways that exceed my expectations.

If you’re interested in getting in touch with Kerry, please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..