During the spring, the University of Rhode Island hosted back-to-back cultural events in collaboration with local consulates in Boston.
A Celebration of German Creativity: Art, Science and Engineering in Rhode Island
The first, called “A Celebration of German Creativity: Art, Science and Engineering in Rhode Island”, happened on April 9, 2026 and was jointly hosted by URI (Global Initiatives Office and International Engineering Program) and the German Consul General of Boston. The evening’s activities were well attended, with the now former consul general Dr. Sonja Kreibich and over 125 students, faculty, alumni and friends in the German/German IEP community present.
Among the speakers were three individuals with diverse career backgrounds (art, engineering and science, respectively) as well as unique ties to both Rhode Island and Germany: Patrick Buhr, an animation artist and assistant professor at RISD; Stefan Fertmann ’16, a mechanical engineering URI-TU Braunschweig dual master’s program alum who is now the director of manufacturing at IGUS in the US; and Dr. Susanne Menden-Deuer, a professor of oceanography at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography.
Each presented their personal journey between Germany and Rhode Island, shared what they have been working on in their differing fields, and highlighted the impact of international collaboration across their areas of expertise. They later took questions from the audience and engaged in one-on-one conversations.
Several students in the German IEP International Computer Science Program, International Studies and Diplomacy program and dual master’s programs were on hand to also share about their experiences in Germany, their current research and assignments (involving mythical creatures like mermaids and dragons) from their most recent German class.
Additional entertainment for the event was provided by students in the IEP community. German IEP alumnus Max Hill ’20, ’26 MS (German IEP & mechanical engineering, master’s in mechanical engineering) and his friend Mike Kalowski ’30 PhD offered violin and guitar duets. Incorporating some Alpine flair into the evening was Nathaniel Nichols ’26, a German, computer Science, philosophy and art quadruple major, who showed off his yodeling talents acquired abroad.
Italy at the Intersection of the Arts and Sciences
The following day, April 10, URI played host to a similar event sponsored again by the Office of Global Initiatives and the IEP, but in partnership with the Italian Consulate in Boston. This special occasion bore the title “Italy at the Intersection of the Arts and Sciences” and was a celebration of how Italy’s cultural traditions and intellectual legacy continue to shape innovation in engineering, science, and education.
A large group of speakers from the Italian Consulate in Boston, along with URI faculty, students, and alumni, offered perspectives on the intersection of culture, language, and innovation, emphasizing the role of international education in shaping academic and professional pathways, including through programs like the Italian track of the International Engineering Program.
Consul General Arnaldo Minuti, the Italian Consulate in Boston, helped preside over the event alongside the IEP’s Dr. Michelangelo La Luna, director of the Italian IEP. Kevin Perri ’26, an international exchange student from the University of Calabria, one of URI’s partners in Italy, also was essential in organizing and promoting the event within the Italian community at URI.