Dina Habib Powell, Assistant Secretary for Education and Cultural Affairs, visited Rome from October 25-27 to consult with Italians from a range of professions on the current state and future prospects of U.S.-Italian and transatlantic relations and seek their views on the factors most likely to shape U.S.-Italian relations over the next few years.

To emphasize the importance of “people-to-people” diplomacy, Assistant Secretary Powell also visited a local high school participating in student exchanges and met with a large group of U.S.- Italy exchange program alumni.

Ms. Powell encouraged all former exchange participants to join the State Department’s “global community” of alumni, who continue to build common bonds and share ideas by networking with fellow alumni around the world at www.alumni.state.gov.