As Director of Adult Education, AJ Fitzgerald develops and oversees adult learning initiatives at Temple University Rome. Under Fitzgerald’s guidance, the Adult Study Abroad program launched in 2019 with a single pilot participant. The program has since grown considerably, and now boasts 2 cohorts and 50+ enrolled participants annually. More than 150 Adult Study Abroad alumni have completed the program as of Fall 2025.

The Adult Study Abroad program is set to be replicated by Temple University’s Japan Campus in 2026, offering future adult learners a choice of destination between Rome, Italy and Kyoto, Japan. Additional programs currently in development include Teachers Study Abroad, an ACT 48-accredited professional development program for Pennsylvania K-12 teachers, set to launch in Summer 2027.

In addition to adult education programming, Fitzgerald also helps develop and implement co-curricular and professional development events for the Temple Rome community. Key guest speakers have included NBA legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Algerian-Italian author Amara Lakhous, Pulitzer Prize-winner Jhumpa Lahiri, and Italian socio-linguist Vera Gheno.

Holding degrees in both Physics (B.A. 2011 – Brown University) and English (M.A. 2015 – University of California, Davis), Fitzgerald’s creative/research interests lie at the intersection of STEM and the humanities: the relationships between science, science policy, literature and other creative media, as well as the socio-cultural impacts of advancements in science and technology.

Fitzgerald has been working at Temple University Rome in various roles since February 2018.