Context was founded by Paul Bennett and Lani Bevacqua. Before arriving in Rome in the fall of 2001, Lani and Paul spent a year and a half voyaging aboard Lucy, a 38-foot sailing ketch, making their way from New York City to Rome via Central America, the Atlantic Islands, and North Africa.

Paul is an award-winning writer for National Geographic and National Geographic Adventure. He holds a Master’s from St. John’s College’s “Great Books” program and has written four books for Princeton Architectural Press about architecture and landscape. In Rome, when he’s not helping run Context, he lectures on architecture, and serves as a European correspondent for Architectural Record. His article about underground Rome appeared in the July 2006 issue of National Geographic magazine and was selected for the Best American Science and Nature Writing 2006 (Houghton Mifflin, October 2007). His February 2005 NG Adventure article about sailing across the Atlantic was selected for the Best American Travel Writing 2005 (Houghton Mifflin, October 2006), while his article on global warming in Greenland for the same magazine recently won a Thomas Lowell Award (October 2007).

Before embarking on their cruise, Lani worked as a graphic designer for several advertising agencies and arts organizations in New York City. Her clients included Gillette, Compaq, Computer Associates, IBM, Gartner Group, ArtForum magazine, and Dance Theater Workshop. Her specialty was immersive advertising and web animation. She is now the creative director and designer for the Context websites and publications.

Paul and Lani have three little girls: Stella (5), Cleo (3), and Jade. They currently live in Philadelphia, PA where Context has its U.S. base, but spend four months of the year in Paris and Rome.

Petulia Melideo has been with Context from the start. She is a native Roman who has lived extensively in the U.S. and Great Britain. Petulia has a European law degree from the University of East Anglia (UK). Working from our Rome office, where she is a key player in the day-to-day management of Context Rome, Petulia oversees our operations in both Naples and London.

Jessica Stewart hails from Massachusetts and received her B.A. in Art History from Boston University. She got her first taste of Italian living during a semester exchange in Padova. She holds an M.A. in Renaissance Studies from University College London, where she wrote her thesis on the development of Giulio Romano’s early painting style in Rome. She co-manages our Rome programs with Petulia and oversees the development of our programs in Venice.

Megan McDonnell is from Brooklyn, NY. She holds a double undergraduate degree in Art History and Italian Studies from Wheaton College. She also studied at the University of Bologna with the Brown program there. She is interested in Sicilian history, gastronomy, and language. She manages our Rome office and oversees our Florence programs.

Jeremy Wolf, originally from Massachusetts, first discovered Paris during a study abroad program. He up and moved to Paris shortly thereafter, to continue his interest in French life and culture. He continues to re-discover Paris each day, enjoying everything that the city has to offer. He holds an undergraduate degree in French Language and Literature from Skidmore College, and currently manages our Paris programs.