Founded in 1962, the Rome Center of Loyola University Chicago began as the inspiration of John Felice, S.J., who envisioned a center for humanistic studies in Rome sponsored by the university. The first group of 90 students and seven faculty members arrived in February of 1962. Originally housed in the CIVIS complex built for the 1960 Rome Olympics, the Rome Center has since had three other locations. In 2007 the campus was renamed the John Felice Rome Center in honor of its founder and first director.