JHU SAIS Names Marisa Lino New Director of Bologna Center
Washington - 03/18/2003 - The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of The Johns Hopkins University has named Marisa R. Lino, former U.S. ambassador to Albania, as the new director of its center in Bologna, Italy.
Founded in 1955, the Bologna Center was established to serve as SAIS's European campus. The center, which offers a graduate-level international relations program following the American system, features an international composition of faculty, staff and 150 students from more than 35 countries. The vast majority of students enrolled in Bologna return to SAIS in Washington, D.C., to complete their master's degree in international relations. The center also offers a research-oriented master of arts in international affairs for non-U.S. students and a one-year diploma in international studies.
Lino will assume the position on 08/1/2003, and will succeed Robert Evans, who is retiring after 11 years of outstanding leadership in Bologna. As Bologna Center director, Lino will be responsible for the academic and administrative components of the center. She also will be teaching one course each semester.
"The Bologna campus is integral to the SAIS education, and the Bologna director is our leader in assuring that our students there benefit fully from this great academic opportunity. Ambassador Lino combines the attributes of leadership, administration and representation, along with great understanding of the Italian culture, that defined the goals of our search. Throughout Johns Hopkins University, all who have met her look forward to a long and productive collegial relationship," said SAIS Dean Jessica Einhorn.
Having nearly 30 years of distinguished service in the State Department, Lino held overseas positions in Albania, Italy, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq and Peru. Most recently she has served since 09/2000 as a senior advisor for the State Department's Political Military Affairs Bureau. In this role, she has led various negotiations with foreign governments on the legal and financial arrangements and coverage for military and civilian Defense Department personnel deployed abroad. From 1999 to 2000, Lino was a senior inspector in the agency's Office of the Inspector General, and from 1996 to 1999 was ambassador to the Republic of Albania. She has previous leadership experience in Italy, having served as consul general in Florence from 1990 to 1993 and as a management officer in Rome from 1983 to 1985.
A native of Portland, Oregon, Lino received her M.A. in international affairs from The George Washington University's Elliot School of International Affairs in 1972 and B.A. in political science from Portland State University in 1971. In 05/1999, she received an honorary doctorate of international affairs from John Cabot University. Lino has earned four Superior Honor Awards and one Meritorious Honor Award during her Foreign Service career. She speaks fluent Italian, French, Spanish and Serbo-Croatian.
SAIS is one of the country's leading graduate schools devoted to the study of international relations. The Washington, D.C., campus is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the city's Dupont Circle neighborhood and enrolls more than 450 full-time graduate students and mid-career professionals. SAIS has trained more than 10,000 alumni in all aspects of international affairs.