Visiting Assistant Professor of Italian Monica Straniero was doing just that — visiting Italy — when the American border slammed shut due to the coronavirus. A native of Rome — from the city’s architecturally striking Via Giulia or strada magistralis, to be exact — Straniero lives in Binghamton, but visits friends and family back in her homeland during the summer. In late August, she began her journey back to campus, but officials stopped her at the airport: While she has a valid work visa, she wasn’t permitted to enter the United States due to the pandemic-related travel ban.

She was stuck in Italy — not the worst situation for an Italian professor with prior experience teaching online. Unable to reach her students in person, Straniero brought them to Italy instead.