Currently: 31°F
Millersville University was selected in September to host a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence from Italy to teach undergraduate and graduate courses, and to collaborate with students, faculty, staff and the Lancaster community during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Dr. Alessandra Landini is an expert in inclusive and innovative didactic teaching methods. Her worked is influenced by her community the Reggio Emilia approach, a flexible educational philosophy where children are encouraged to express themselves and their interests while developing their personalities through a self-guided curriculum. She serves as the headmaster of the Istituto Comprensivo A. Manzoni in Reggio Emilia, Italy, which is comprised of five separate buildings and schools, including a childhood center, three primary schools and a middle school. Additionally, she is an affiliate faculty member of the University of Reggio Emilia and Modena where she contributes to global research and teacher preparation initiatives.
The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program brings visiting scholars from abroad to colleges and universities in the United States, offering discipline-specific expertise to benefit their students, faculty, staff and communities. Landini is one of 25 Fulbright Scholars-in-Residence who will teach and develop innovative courses in the United States during the 2025-2026 academic year. She arrived at Millersville University in August and will conclude her time with the program in December.
The Fulbright S-I-R Program is a part of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program that addresses the curriculum and teaching needs of U.S. institutions of higher education. Through the program, U.S. institutions can apply to host a scholar for a semester or full academic year to teach courses, assist in curriculum development, help develop study abroad or exchange partnerships, and participate in speaking engagements and activities that positively engage the local community. S-I-Rs work across departments to enhance, expand and create programs and courses.
Landini brought her expertise to the University’s doctoral studies program on educational leadership. In addition to co-teaching courses with Millersville faculty members and working with the College of Education and Human Services, Landini presented at numerous organizations throughout the state, worked with local school districts on workshops and STEAM curriculum, and shared her cross-cultural perspectives on education.
“The most enriching aspect has been the feeling of being part of a community that shares my values and inclusive spirit, with a faculty deeply committed to educational vocation and teaching,” shares Landini. “I believe that the valuable collaboration with the professors I shared my studies and courses with – Dr. Beth Powers, Dr. Ann Gaudino and Dr. Tiffany Wright – has been the professional and personal experience that has most significantly impacted my human and professional well-being. I truly owe them my gratitude for the enthusiasm with which they have supported this important chapter of my cultural and professional life.”
“Hosting Alessandra Landini as a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence gives our students and faculty a transformative opportunity to learn firsthand from one of the world’s most respected educational communities,” says Powers, professor of early childhood education coordinator of the Center for Public Scholarship and Social Change who also wrote the grant that brought Landini to Millersville. “Her remarkable work enriches our curriculum, strengthens global collaborations and sparks innovation in classrooms on our campus and throughout our region.”
Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided nearly 450,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, 44 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and non-profit sectors.
Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which has operated in over 160 countries worldwide.
For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit https://fulbrightprogram.org or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office by email: ECA-Press@state.gov.
