Twenty-three Allegheny College alumni, professors and friends traded the familiar for the sun-soaked shores of the Mediterranean this spring, spending nine days exploring the vibrant island of Sicily.
Yes, the history, the culture, the food were all unforgettable. But if you ask the travelers, the real magic was in the people who accompanied them on the journey.
“We spanned 50 years and three generations of Alleghenians connected by shared values and experiences,” says Chris Shipley ’84, who was an English major and communications minor “That, as much as anything, made the trip extraordinary.”
The excursion was the first in what organizers hope will be a series of educational tours led by Allegheny professors. The idea had been brewing since 2021, when the Office of Institutional Advancement began exploring an alumni travel program.
“We knew many alumni had fond memories of study away and experiential learning trips from their student days,” says Sara Pineo, assistant vice president of institutional advancement. “We wanted to bring that same kind of immersive, eye-opening experience to our alumni community.”
Professors Mark Cosdon and Shannan Mattiace stepped forward with a proposal: a 2025 alumni tour centered in Palermo and Western Sicily. Their plan drew on years of experience creating student travel experiences and deep local connections.
One of the best things about this marvelous trip was bringing together Allegheny alumni from 1967 to 2016,” recalls Mattiace, Arthur E. Braun Chair of Political Science. “Even though decades had passed between their time at the College, their stories were strikingly similar; late nights with friends, classes with inspiring professors, the same sense of camaraderie. Watching younger and older alumni connect so easily was heartwarming.
For alumna Marie Romanelli ’87, who was a double major in English and art, the timing was perfect.
“The offer came in an alumni email, and it just so happened I’d just retired from teaching,” she says. “What a terrific way to kick off this new phase of my life; traveling with professors who framed the trip around cultural points of interest, sharing their expertise, and meeting fellow alumni. It felt like the ultimate grown-up field trip.”
Cosdon, professor of theatre and performance studies, has been leading interdisciplinary Italy travel courses since 2007. His approach blends history, art, politics, and hands-on cultural experiences; what he calls “the beauty and intersections of the liberal arts.”
Since 2019, Cosdon also has been a visiting professor at the University of Palermo, teaching contemporary U.S. theater and directing. “I know the city, the region, and the island particularly well,” he says. “Sicily is complex, layered, and endlessly fascinating. It felt like the perfect place to reconnect with Allegheny alumni who remain as inquisitive and engaged as ever.”
Shipley agrees: “The trip was exquisitely planned, a perfect mix of tourist highlights, cultural immersion, and intellectual exploration. Professor Cosdon took us beyond the guidebooks to show us his deep love of Palermo, and Professor Mattiace connected us with locals who gave us insight into the migration issues shaping the region today.”
With that first journey now a success, Allegheny is looking ahead to more adventures. If this trip proved anything, it’s that Gator spirit travels well, and when shared over Sicilian sunsets, it’s unforgettable.
