The organisation of the Sophia University Institute is comprised of both individual and collective authorities. The Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor and the Rector are individual authorities. The University Senate and Academic Council are the Institute’s collective governing bodies.
Governance Structure
Governing Bodies
The University Senate is composed of the Rector, who convenes and presides over it, the Vice-President of the Institute’s main campus, two permanent faculty members, two adjunct professors, the Vice-President of the Board of Directors, the Director of the Library, one of the Coordinators of the Student Council, the University Extension Coordinator, two elected Student representatives, and a Representative of the non-teaching staff of the Institute.
The responsibilities of the University Senate include implementing decisions taken by superior authorities and, together with the Rector, ensuring and promoting unity and the pursuit of the Institute’s objectives across its campuses.
President Declan O’Byrne
Representatives of Licentiate Degree Programme Coordinators Benedetto Gui and Marco Martino
Representatives of Non-Permanent Professors A. Cristina Montoya Montoya and Giampietro Parolin
Director of the Doctoral School Daniela Ropelato
Vice President of the Board of Administration Marcella Ferrari
Library Director Sergio Rondinara
Student Community Council Coordinator Rosiris Kruger
University Extension Coordinator Michele Zanzucchi
Student Representatives Giulia Battigaglia (Doctorate) e Abdallah Majdi (Licentiate)
Technical and Administrative Personnel Representative Maria Stella Giannetti
Academic Registrar Beatrice Gnudi
Collectively responsible for the life and activities of the Institute, the Academic Council has decisional authority for matters concerning the curriculum of studies, research and teaching.
President Declan O’Byrne
Permanent Faculty Antonio Maria Baggio, Roberto Catalano, Bernhard Callebaut, Piero Coda, Valentina Gaudiano, Benedetto Gui, Marco Martino, Paul O’Hara, Giovanna Maria Porrino, Sergio Rondinara, Daniela Ropelato
Representatives of Non Permanent Professors Marta G. Pancheva e Philippe Van den Heede
Student Representatives Nigri Giorgia (Doctorate) e De Paula Longo Gleyciane Indianara (Licentiate)
Academic Registrar Beatrice Gnudi
The Administrative Board has authority for matters concerning the financial decisions of the University Institute. It is convened and chaired by the President and it includes two representatives of the Work of Mary – Focolare Movement, who are appointed by the Vice Grand Chancellor. One of these representatives is elected Council Vice-President by Council Members and may be empowered with special representation powers and operational delegations. Other members include two Permanent Faculty members elected by the Academic Council and the President (or a Delegate) of the Foundation “For Sophia”.
Non-voting members of the Administrative Board include the Student Community Council Coordinator, the General Manager, if one is appointed, and the Head of Finance, who also acts as the Secretary.
President Declan Joseph O’Byrne
Two Focolare Movement Representatives Marcella Ferrari (con funzione di Vice Presidente) and Pietro Golin
Two Permanent Faculty Representatives Benedetto Gui and Paul Patrick O’Hara
President of the Foundation “For Sophia” Vito Pesce
Non-voting members include:
Student Community Council Coordinator Andrea Giordano
General Manager Beatrice Gnudi
Head of Finance Francesca Mazzei
Academic Authorities
GRAND CHANCELLOR
The Grand Chancellor of the Institute is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Florence, Cardinal Giuseppe Betori. The Grand Chancellor represents the Holy See at the Institute and the Institute at the Holy See. He promotes the University’s identity, objectives and development.
VICE GRAN CANCELLIERE
The Vice Grand Chancellor of the Institute is the President of the Focolare Movement, Dr. Margaret Karram. The Vice Grand Chancellor’s main responsibility is to ensure that the Institute grows and develops in conformity with its own objectives, and to oversee the decisions of its governing bodies.
RECTOR
Prof. Declan O’Byrne is the Acting Rector of Sophia University Institute. The Rector ensures and promotes communion among members of the academic community, and he directly governs and represents the Institute. The Rector is appointed for a four-year term and may only be consecutively re-elected once.
Operational Committees
In conformity with the guidelines provided by the Avepro Quality Assurance Agency of the Holy See, this internal Committee defines roles and procedures, as well as both short- and long-term objectives for evaluating and promoting the academic quality of student life.
The Student Community Council is headquartered in the Institute’s Central Campus. Its role is to give impulse to and ensure harmony in the student community life, according to the spirit of the Institute.
Offices
Academic Registrar and Operations Manager
Dr. Beatrice Gnudi
Cura l’esecuzione delle decisioni degli Organi accademici e del Consiglio d’Amministrazione, secondo le deleghe a lei attribuite, e coordinare in armonia con il Rettore gli uffici dell’Istituto, verificando la validità di ogni documento necessario per l’iscrizione, il sostenimento degli esami e l’accesso ai gradi accademici.
Tel. +39 055 9051509
segreteria.generale@sophiauniversity.org
beatrice.gnudi@sophiauniversity.org
Research and Quality Office
Dr. Amelia Stellino
Laureata in Architettura presso l’Università degli Studi di Palermo e in Storia e Conservazione dei Beni architettonici ed Ambientali presso l’Università degli Studi di Reggio Calabria, ha conseguito il Master di II livello in Gestione Integrata Qualità, Ambiente e Sicurezza, con stage presso la CRUI (Conferenza dei Rettori Università Italiane) dove ha curato le attività iniziali di Valutazione di tutto il sistema didattico universitario italiano. Esperta in progettazione e valutazione della qualità dei sistemi didattici universitari e dei servizi legati agli studenti universitari, è stata consulente per le Università per la progettazione di master e dottorati, e per gli Enti locali e nazionali per la progettazione e sviluppo di attività su fondi europei e su fondi ministeriali. A Sophia si occupa dell’Ufficio Progetti e Qualità.
Tel. +39 055 9051500
amelia.stellino@sophiauniversity.org
Administrative Secretariat
Dr. Francesca Mazzei
The Administrative Secretariat is appointed by the Rector upon consultation with the University Senate. She supports the Administration Board in handling routine and special administrative matters.
Office hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday afternoons: 3:00pm-5:30pm
Tel. +39 055 9051506
amministrazione@sophiauniversity.org
francesca.mazzei@sophiauniversity.org
Library
Dr. Laura Signore, Assistant
Laureata in Scienze per i Beni Culturali presso l’Università di Siena, di recente ha conseguito la Laurea specialistica in Bibliologia e Biblioteconomia con uno studio sulla Biblioteca dell’Istituto Universitario Sophia. Ha partecipato a vari corsi di formazione riguardanti tecniche di catalogazione, soggettazione ed utilizzo di software e standard catalografici. Dal 2010 è membro del Gruppo per l’accrescimento e lo sviluppo del Nuovo Soggettario per i termini di ambito religioso, promosso dall’Ufficio Nazionale Beni Culturali Ecclesiastici, in collaborazione con la Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze. Dal 2008 ha assunto servizio presso la Biblioteca dello IUS, dove si occupa di catalogazione e reference per l’utenza.
“Pasquale Foresi” Library hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:30am-1:30pm and 3:00pm-6:30pm
Tel. +39 055 9051544
biblioteca@sophiauniversity.org
laura.signore@sophiauniversity.org