Professor John Hajek awarded Order of the Star of Italy by Consul-General of Italy

L-R: Professor in Spanish and Latin American Studies Alfredo Martinez Exposito; Consul-General of Italy Dr Hanna Pappalardo; Acting Head of School of Languages and Linguistics, Professor of Italian Studies John Hajek; Acting Dean of Arts Professor Lesley Stirling.

Professor of Italian Studies John Hajek has received the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy (Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia) in recognition of his years of dedicated service to the teaching and promotion of the Italian language in Victoria and Australia, thereby fostering relations between the two countries.

Italian Consul-General Dr Hanna Pappalardo bestowed the honour at a ceremony in Melbourne for Professor Hajek, who is Acting Head of School of Languages and Linguistics at the University of Melbourne.

The honour is a symbol of the strong co-operation between the Faculty of Arts and the Government of Italy, which has long supported the Faculty’s Italian Studies program through the provision of a Lectorship.

The honour also reflects a wider recognition of the Italian Studies program’s significant contribution in teaching of Italian language and culture in Victoria.

The University congratulates Professor Hajek on this honour.