Antonella Polimeni, born in Roma on 6 October 1962 and originally from Reggio Calabria, she is the new rector of the “La Sapienza” University of Rome. With 60% of the votes obtained, he overtook the challengers Federico Masini and Vincenzo Nesi. It is the first time, in over 700 years, that a woman has conquered such a prestigious role at the head of this university, one of the most important in Europe. The elections took place online due to the pandemic. 74,5% of those entitled voted. The public ballot was broadcast in streaming.
"A good sign"
After her appointment, Antonella Polimeni, told Tg1: «Being the first woman at the top of Sapienza after 700 years is a good sign, a victory, as well as an honor. There was unity in the vote, but the victory is such for all the students, the researchers, the professors and for all the health workers involved in university hospitals without stopping in the fight against the virus ".
Head of one of the oldest universities in the world
Antonella Polimeni, full professor in the scientific disciplinary sector of odontostomatological diseases and former dean of the University's Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, takes the place of another doctor, Eugenio Gaudio. It will hold this role until 2026. La Sapienza is one of the oldest universities in the world. Founded in 1303, it was born at the behest of Pope Boniface VIII, which in the papal bull of that year "In Supremae praeminentia Dignitatis" instituted it in the capital. It houses 11 faculties, and is attended annually by about 120 students, of which 8 are foreigners.
A long career
Antonella Polimeni has a long career in the academic field. Since she was a student she has dedicated herself to university activity. As a student she was elected student representative, then a member of the evaluation team and board member. In 1987 he graduated in Medicine and Surgery. There are several publications: 470 national and international ones, 6 manuals, one of which is published in English, and two monographs. She also took care of the Italian edition of an atlas text, two manuals and guidelines published by the Ministry of Health.
"Want to experiment"
Thanks to the experience gained over the years, Antonella Polimeni is determined to write a new chapter of the La Sapienza University. He talked about it in his busy 34-page election program. "Personally - explained the rector - I am motivated by the desire to learn more than to inform, by the desire to experiment by accepting the risk of making mistakes, with the desire to correct oneself and, above all, with the conviction that necessary decisions cannot have a future if they are not the result of common work. In my academic and professional career I have always favored active listening, dialogue with everyone, without distinction: teachers, staff, students. The tools are the delegations based on competence and not on the level of teaching to which they belong, network work, the commitment to seek the instances of synthesis and integration between the different sensitivities. Sapienza will grow further if it is able to perceive the richness of its pluralism and, if I may say, of its biodiversity, thanks to the strength of its unity, respect for specificities and autonomies. And that is why, if you wish, I make myself available to work together with all of you in the next six years, with confidence in change and no fear of the future ».
(Photo University La Sapienza Facebook page)
