“Never before in these moments, the portraits of the men who led the University of Padua, which accompany the entrance into the hall of the Basilica, seem to me to vividly convey their stories, their thoughts, their hopes. Who knows if at the moment of the election they were moved, as I am. Or maybe they already felt a strong sense of a sweet responsibility, that of leading the University of Padua ". It is the first “hot” statement of Daniela Mapelli, new rector of the University of Padua. Eloquent words about his new role and what the past of this university has been. It is no coincidence that, as soon as she was elected, she published a photo on her Facebook page that portrays her with images of the many rectors who preceded her behind her. A long history that of the University of Padua. And that today, for the first time in eight hundred years, "crowns" a woman.
The new rector will hold this office for six years, until 2027. She was elected with 1381,50 votes. In a ballot that had seen her competing with another woman, Patrizia Marzaro, who stopped at 1186,62 total votes. The new rector, who succeeds Rosario Rizzuto, will be at the helm of the University of Padua starting from XNUMX October, with the start of the new academic year. As required by the safety regulations linked to the pandemic, the voting took place electronically. Very high participation by all those entitled to vote.
The University of Padua is the second oldest in Italy. It was founded in 1222 from an offshoot of the University of Bologna, the oldest in the Western world, dating back to 1088. A group of students and teachers who sought greater freedom of culture and expression moved to Padua. The first registration in Padua of a regular university organization dates back to 1222.
“Here I grew up professionally but above all as a woman”, says the new rector
In September last year she was elected, at theCa 'Foscari University of Venice, the first female director, Tiziana Lippiello. In December it was the turn of Antonella Polimeni, the first woman to hold the highest academic post at the La Sapienza University of Rome. A pink wave in the most important Italian universities that the new rector of Padua did not fail to underline. “From next October we can - finally! - say 'men and women who led the University of Padua'. I grew up in this university. Professionally, of course, but above all as a woman ". This was echoed by the rector still in office, Rosario Rizzuto, who expressed his great happiness "for the election of Professor Mapelli, the first woman - and was now - at the helm of the University of Padua".
Mother of two children, Daniela Mapelli is 56 years old and was born in Lecco. She graduated in Experimental Psychology in Padua in 1991, with a research doctorate in Trieste in 1996 and research and study experiences abroad. He currently holds the chair of Neuropsychology and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. “A name that will remain in the history of Sapere Veneto, commented the president of Veneto Luca Zaia. “The election of a woman is important - added the President of the Senate Elisabetta Casellati - after an all-female ballot. For the guidance of one of the most prestigious universities in Italy and in the world. A clear message for the whole country: when merit is rewarded, no goal is foreclosed on women ”.
The historic University of Padua, where Galielo Galilei taught and where the first woman in the world graduated
Really important step for the Padua university where, it is worth remembering, Galileo Galilei also taught. And where, in 1678, the Venetian Elena Lucrezia Corner Piscopia graduated in Philosophy.
(ph credit press office of the University of Padua)
