EDUCATION

 

Fall 2020                 Ph.D. in History – University of Houston

      Dissertation Title: The Friendship network of Matilda of Tuscany. Reconstructing            Matilda’s Motivation and Ideology through the lens of her individual relationships.

 

• Dissertation awarded “Distinction”

• Fields: Medieval History, Roman History, History of Early Modern England, and Art History

 

 

April 2008                  D.I.T.A.L.S certification – European Union 

                                  (Didattica dell’Italiano come Lingua Straniera)

• Professional qualification for language instructor

 

                                  April 1999                    Master in Medieval History- University of Florence (Italy)

                                   Thesis Title: ‘Life and business of Niccolò del Buono Busini, a XIII sec. Merchant, seen                                   from his manuscripts’.

 

                                  April 1999                   Bachelor of Arts in Italian Literature (Italian) - University of                                                                                Florence (Italy)

 

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 

August 2021 –  Present              University of St. Thomas, Houston

                                          Assistant Professor of European History

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January 2021 –           University of St. Thomas, Houston

Present                       Adjunct Professor of World Community I (World Civilization to 1500).

 

September 2020 –      Medieval History Teacher

 Present                     Aquinas High School, Houston

               

 

 

January 2010 –          Lone Star College, Montgomery

June 2012                       Italian Teacher​

 

 

September 2008-        ENI Petroleum Houston

January 2010                 Italian Teacher for ENI employees

•  Italian – Beginners

•  Italian – Intermediate

 

September 2008-        Teacher of Italian Language, Literature, and Culture

January 2010                Tolomei Cultural Institute. Italian Language and Culture School –                                                                   Florence, Italy.

 

•  Developed and taught semester-long Italian language courses for American study-abroad students, Benedictine College, Kansas.
     •    Instructed students from Siberia and Kazakhstan, Akademgorodok, University of Novosibirsk.
     •    Taught an in-depth didactic course on the Instruction of Italian as a Foreign Language to Italian professors from COASIT Australia.  

        

January - June 2007    The Italian Cultural and Community Center – Houston (TX), USA                                                                     Italian Teacher

                                                     Taught Italian to American students

• Taught Italian to American students

•  Italian language classes range from beginner to advanced level.

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

2021                                 “Anselm of Canterbury and Matilda of Tuscany: The Journey of Friendship”,                                                 MATILDICA, III, 2020, Journal of AMI-MIA – Matilda of Canossa and Tuscany                                               International Association.
                                          2017    Nihil Terrenum, Nihilque Carnale in Ea: Matilda of Tuscany and Anselm                                            of Lucca during the Investiture Controversy, Storicamente, 13, 31, 2018. 

 

 

CONFERENCES

 

2018                                  Anselm of Lucca and Anselm of Canterbury: Inhabitants of Two Separate                                                     Worlds? St. Anselm of Aosta, Bec, and Canterbury International Conference,                                               University of Houston, in collaboration with the University of St. Thomas. 

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 2015                                 Matilda of Tuscany and Anselm of Lucca During the Investiture Controversy.                                                50th International Conference of Institute for Medieval Studies.  Kalamazoo,                                              Michigan.

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:

 

January 2019 –            Editor of MATILDICA, International Journal of the Matilda of

Present                         Canossa and Tuscany International Association, AMI-MIA.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE:

 

September 2009-         Crossroads Cultural Center Houston

Present                           Founder and Director of the Houston branch

• Created and organized public events

• A full account of all events and information about Crossroads Cultural Center can be found at www.crossroadsculturalcenter.org

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PUBLIC LECTURES:

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2018                              St. Francis and the Sultan, Dubai, United Arab Emirate.  

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2016                              Giotto and the Arena Chapel, University of St. Thomas, Houston.

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2013                             Duccio di Buoninsegna and his Maestà, University of St. Thomas, Houston.

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2011                             The Life of St. Francis of Assisi seen through the lens of the cycle of

                                     The twenty-eight frescoes in the Upper Church of the Basilica of San Francesco                                        in Assis, University of St. Thomas, Houston.

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 2010                             Life and Art of Caravaggio, University of St. Thomas, Houston.

 

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

January 2018  -         Member of Matilda of Canossa and Tuscany International Association

Present                 https://en.associazionematildicainternazionale.it/copia-di-ami-mia