Degrees Earned
B.A., University of Massachusetts at Amherst; 1989,
M.A., Rutgers University; 1996,
Ph.D., Rutgers University; 2000
Undergraduate Courses Taught
Italian Language and Culture, levels I-V
Introduction to Italian Literature
Italian Civilization and Culture
Boccaccio’s Decameron
Dante’s Comedy
Italian Cinema
Honors: Life Stories
Publications & Editorships
Book translations
Daesh and the Terrorist Threat: from the Middle East to Europe. Ed. H. Giusto, Foundation for European Progressive Studies/Fondazione Italianieuropei: Brussels, 2015.
Treccani: 90 Anni di Cultura Italiana 1925-2015. Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana: Loreto, 2015.
Articles and essays in books and journals
“The Seven Cardinal Virtues of Italian Studies,” in Teaching Italian Language and Culture Annual (TILCA), Queens College, CUNY, 2019.
“‘Fabrizio, traduci per me’: Language, Power and the Other in Mario Puzo’s The Godfather” in Translating for [and from] the Italian Screen: Dubbing and Subtitles. Bordighera Press: New York, 2020.
“On the Founding and Legacy of St. Michael Cemetery, Boston’s Italian-American Burial Ground,” Voices in Italian Americana, 29:2, Fall 2018. 22-27
“Interview with Joe Castiglione, the Voice of the Boston Red Sox,” Italian Americana, Summer 2018. 173-182
“What to Learn from a Tale of Building a ‘Campus’ and Academic Program in Italy,” Beyond, Volume 1, 2018. 116-121
“Cloistered Bodies and Open Minds in Boccaccio’s Decameron,” in Donne del Mediterraneo. Saggi Interdisciplinari. Ed. M. Marino and G. Spani. Società Editrice Fiorentina, Firenze 2017. 69-81
“Sculptural Form and the Love Theme in Michelangelo’s Rime,” Italian Quarterly, Spring 2003. 5-16
“From Corleone to Cinisi: Righting Mafia Fictions through Documentary Film,” Voices in Italian Americana, 12:2, 2001. 139-149
“Sotto la Serica Scorza del Poeta: Poliziano as Model in Michelangelo’s Rime,” NEMLA Studies, Volume XXIII-XXIV, 1999-2001. 5-34
“Unpropitious Emphasis on Escape: Gabriele Salvatores’ Mediterraneo,” La Fusta, Volume 12, Spring 1998. 72-82
Book Reviews
Dante’s Florence, digital application by Michael Papio and Giovanni Spani. Quod Manet, 2019 in Italica, 96: 2, Summer 2019. 356-358
Baseball Italian Style, by Lawrence Baldassaro, Sports Publishing: New York, 2018 in Italian Americana, Summer 2018. 238-240
History of the Renaissance, by Virginia Cox, I.B. Taurus: London, 2015 in Italian Culture, Volume 35:2, September 2016. 111-113
No Respect, by Gerard Malanga, Black Sparrow Press: Santa Rosa, 2001 in Italian Americana, 23:1, 2005. 121-122
Two Blind Pigeons, by Joe Pernice, Ashmont Books: Boston, 2001 in Voices in Italian Americana, Volume 14:1, Spring 2003. 120-123
Other publications
“A Shared Strategy,” by Claudia Mancina. Trans. Richard Bonanno. The Progressive Post, Issue 9, Summer 2018. 79-80
Presentations
“‘La lussuria par v’insegni’: Appunti Carnali sull’Opera Michelangiolesca,” Seminario Letteratura e Peccato, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallora, Spain, 2019
“Brama di Potere ne il Padrino di Mario Puzo,” Seminario Letteratura e Peccato, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallora, Spain, 2018
“Cloistered Bodies and Open Minds in the Decameron,” Women of the Mediterranean: Representations and Self-Representations . Sorrento, 2016.
“Global Education in the Third Millennium: Study Abroad Programs and Sending Institutions in Dialogue,” Roundtable Discussion Presenter, American Association for Italian Studies (AAIS), Baton Rouge, 2016
“Italia, Paese di Migranti,” Società Dante Alighieri/Istituzione Biblioteca Malatestiana, Cesena, 2015
“Da studente e docente: Stati Uniti/Italia. Due sistemi universitari a confront” Joint presentation with Prof. Luciano Margara, Coordinatore Campus Universitario Cesena, Società Dante Alighieri/Istituzione Biblioteca Malatestiana, Cesena, 2014
“Michelangelo Scrittore” Società Dante Alighieri, Cesena, 2013
“Boston’s Italian Burial Ground: St. Michael Cemetery,” Italian American Studies Association (IASA), 2013.
“Permanence and Assimilation in Boston’s Italian Community: the Case of St. Michael Cemetery,” Echioltremare, co-sponsored by
New Echoes and Voices in Italian Studies and the Association of American College and University Programs in Italy, 2013
“Peace and Peacemaking in Gabriele Salvatores’ “Mediterraneo,” Mediterranean Studies Association, Corfu, Greece, 2011.
“Death Memorials in Boston’s Italian Community,” Mediterranean Studies Association, Salamanca, Spain, 2010.
“Michelangelo and Malady,” Mediterranean Studies Association, Sardegna, Italy 2009.
“L’utile et dulce nel Decameron,” American Association of Italian Studies, Taormina, Italy 2008.
“Rereading Boccaccio’s ‘Masetto da Lamporecchio,’” Mediterranean Studies Association, Evora, Portugal 2007.
“Frank Capra and Sicily,” Mediterranean Studies Association, Genoa, Italy 2006.
“New Orleans’ Sicilians and Their Contribution to the Development of Jazz,” Mediterranean Studies Association, Messina, Italy 2005.
“Dominic James ‘Nick’ LaRocca and New Orleans’ Italian-American Jazz Pioneers,” AAIS, Ottawa, 2004.
“A Constructive Approach to Teaching Language and Literature,” AAIS, Washington, D.C., 2003.
“Il cinema studentesco: Filmmaking as a Tool for Teaching Literature,” AATI, Toronto, 2002.
“Pondering Art, Love, and Form in Michelangelo’s ‘Rime,'” Sixteenth-Century Studies Conference, Denver, 2001.
“Hides and Hearts in the Poetry of Michelangelo,” AATI, Boston, 2000.
“Poliziano as Model in Michelangelo’s ‘Rime,'” NEMLA, Pittsburgh, 1999.
“Incorporating Video Materials into the Classroom,” ACTFL/AATI, Nashville, 1997.
“Mediterraneo: Tragicomic Fascist Catharsis, Focusing the Kaleidoscope of Italian Cinema,” Rutgers University, 1996.
Grants and Awards
Faculty Development Grants, Assumption College, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015
Instructional Technology Mini Grant, Assumption College, 2012
Michael O’Shea Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, Assumption College, 2010
Technology in Teaching Mellon Grant, Skidmore College, 1999-2001
UNICO, Fellowship Award Recipient, W. Orange, NJ, 1998
Department of Italian Senior Fellowship, Rutgers University, 1997
Graduate School Dissertation Fellowship, Rutgers University, 1997
Teaching Excellence Center Grant Recipient, Rutgers University,1995
Joseph E. Laggini Scholarship Award Recipient, Rutgers University, 1994
Professional Affiliations
American Association of Teachers of Italian, AATI
American Association of Italian Studies, AAIS
Mediterranean Studies Association, MSA
Italian American Studies Association, IASA
Association of American College and University Programs in Italy, AACUPI
American Boccaccio Association, ABA