President of The American University of Rome, Dr. Scott Sprenger, on making the announcement stated, “The university is delighted to be able to publicly acknowledge Mr. Canepari’s significant contribution to Italian-American cooperation and his tireless promotion of Italian life and culture around the world. Mr. Canepari, in both his diplomatic roles and his influential publications, demonstrates the depth and breadth of the relationship between the United States of America and Italy – a viewpoint that is at the heart of what AUR stands for.”
Andrea Canepari was Ambassador of Italy in the Dominican Republic from 2017 to 2021. In 2017, he reopened the Embassy of Italy, inaugurating a new Diplomatic Chancery and a new Residence and resuming political, cultural, and economic relations. Between 2018 and 2021, he promoted three cultural years with hundreds of events in conjunction with institutions, companies, universities, and local cultural centers to celebrate and highlight the significant common history that Italy and the Dominican Republic share and to create new opportunities for future collaboration.
From 2013 to 2017, Canepari was the Consul General of Italy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with consular authority for the States of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey (southern counties), North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. He has received numerous awards and over 200 mentions in the press, radio, and television. In 2016 he received the 2016 “Global Philadelphia Award” biennial award from Temple University, awarded to those who stand out for their enhancement of international relations for the city of Philadelphia. He has been a part of numerous committees and commissions including the Papal Event Committee (on the Pope’s visit to Philadelphia in September of 2015); the Presidential Advisory Board of Jefferson University, facilitating the creation of the first medical degree recognized in both Italy and the United States; and the International Advisory Board of Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS of Pavia, Italy.
From 2006 to 2010, he was First Secretary of Political Affairs and Relations with the United States Congress at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, D.C. From 2002 to 2006, he was the Chief of the Economic and Commercial Office at the Embassy of Italy in Ankara.
Mr. Canepari’s international decorations include Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Knight of Magisterial Grace, Order of Malta; Grand Cross with Silver Star of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella; and the EUFOR Libya CSDP Service Medal for Planning and Support, awarded by the European Union. Canepari holds a BA and a Master’s in economics from L. Bocconi University (Milan, Italy) and a Law degree from the University of Parma. He also holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a full scholarship fom the “Gianani Foundation” (awarded yearly by the Italian Banking Association to a scholar for academic excellence).
He is co-editor of the book The Italian Legacy in Washington D.C.: Architecture, Design, Art, and Culture, published by Skira in 2008. He is also co-editor of the book The Italian Legacy in Philadelphia: History, Culture, People, and Ideas, published by Temple University Press in 2021; and editor of the volume The Italian Legacy in the Dominican Republic: History, Architecture, Economics, and Society, published in 2021 by St. Joseph University Press for the North American edition and by Umberto Allemandi for the Italian and Spanish editions.
Mr. Canepari will present his latest publication, ‘The Italian Legacy in Philadelphia’, at a public event at Centro Studi Americani on the 25th of May at 11:30 am. The event is free to attend and open to all. Registration is required. If you wish to attend, please register at www.aur.edu/andreacanepari