Summer’s not over yet! But as the second summer session draws to a close, it’s time to look back at the people and places that defined Summer 2023 at Franklin. The McNeely Center of Ideas & Imagination, located in the New C Building, opened this summer and has undergone an exciting transformation as the Office of Student Life has relocated from its former home in Airone. The Gregory P. Warden Student Center, located just next door to the new Office of Student Life, is now equipped with a rentable event room, a big screen TV, Wi-Fi access, charging outlets, restrooms, a water fountain, and vending machines. The space also offers several study pods, open seating areas, and adjustable desktops for student use. Most recently, amenities such as games and books have been added to the shelves. The OSL hopes to re-introduce the “take a book, leave a book” policy in which students can trade consumed literature for fresh material throughout the academic year.
The Office of Student Life also welcomes Salam Cavallo, MSN and FNP-C, as the new Coordinator of Health and Wellness. She has extensive experience working across the United States, where she worked for many years as a family nurse practitioner and as a travel nurse. Now, she lives locally in the Sorengo area. Ms. Cavallo underwent training and orientation with colleagues and students in May of this year, and she plans to hit the ground running in August as the Fall 2023 semester commences. She has become a visible, active part of the Franklin community in just a few months. In addition to helping students with doctor’s appointments, her role will also involve preparing for the second year of the peer educator program piloted by Ms. Corbin Moro, Counselor, last year. Ms. Cavallo will also encourage healthy practices for nutrition, sexual health, and mental health. We are lucky to have her to support our students this fall!
Because of its central European location, Lugano is an ideal place to study or work in the summertime, and Franklin has a reputation for being an excellent host for study abroad programs and short-term conferences. This summer, students from the University of Texas at Dallas and groups from Ticino Musica, Plan B, and Amiconi stayed in Franklin residences as they gathered for their meetings and classes. Visitors staying in the New C Building reported being thankful for the cooling system in their newly built rooms, and students staying in Airone loved being near the Tone Athletic Center and closer in walking distance to downtown. The new athletic center located on the top floor of the New C Building now has all its Techno-Gym equipment installed, and the grand opening of the space is planned for Fall 2023! The Office of Student Life staff worked diligently to support all this summer’s visitors to the Franklin campus, and they hope that everyone will come by and visit their new location soon.