Faculty
DANIELA COSTA
Italian Studies Faculty
Daniela Costa received a Master’s degree from the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, specializing in piano studies. Since 1998 she has been teaching music history regularly at a number of study abroad programs in Florence, including Richmond College, California State University and Kent State University. In addition she pursues a busy career as a concert pianist.
VALENTINA DOLARA
Italian Studies Faculty
Valentina Dolara, lawyer and trainer in non-violent conflict management, graduated from the University of Florence with a degree in international public law. Dr. Dolara has concentrated her research and professional interests on problems connected to international justice and human rights. She is deeply committed to issues of equality, active citizenship, interfaith dialogue and peace among cultures and has worked for the United Nations and as a consultant for other non profit organizations. On several occasions Dr. Dolara has cooperated in the organization of public events and acted as media liaison for H.H. the Dalai Lama. She has taught extensively for international university programs in Florence.
RENE M. DU TERROIL
Academic Program Development
Italian Studies Faculty
René Du Terroil holds a BA in Political Science and European History from Hofstra University and an MA in International Economics from the Università Bocconi in Milan. He spent several years at Asian trading houses and NGOs dealing with migration and refugee issues. He founded a language center in Florence in 1998 and since that time has taught and served as an administrator for international academic programs. He was the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs at Florence University of the Arts (2005-2008) before moving to Academic Program Development for Palazzi - Florence Association for International Education.
FRANCESCO FELICI
Italian Language Faculty
Francesco Felici received his Degree in Foreign Languages and Literature (Specialization in Nordic Languages) from the University of Pisa. He also holds a D.E.A. (Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies) in Finno-Ugric Languages from the Sorbonne University, Paris. A remarkable linguist, Francesco has fully mastered ten languages and has a working familiarity with four more. He has taught at the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Pisa and in the Department of Romance Languages at the University of Poznan, Poland. He has published widely in his field.
SIMONETTA FERRINI
Italian Language and Studies Faculty
Simonetta Ferrini graduated from the University of Florence with a degree in Foreign Languages and Literature: English and German. She has taught Italian language and literature for many years at study abroad programs in Florence and on a teaching exchange program at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her special interest also lies in Eastern philosophies and she teaches a course on world religions at FUA. In addition she teaches Contemporary Italian Literature and Literature of the Grand Tour.
DILETTA FRESCOBALDI
Italian Studies Faculty
Diletta Frescobaldi received a degree in Business and Economics from the University of Florence. She specializes in Marketing, Strategy and Corporate Finance. Since 2003 she has been Consultant for a Strategic Planning Project in the hospitality industry. She has worked as Consultant for a repositioning project within the marketing and sales department of the Grand Hotel and Westin Excelsior (Starwood Hotels & Resorts) in Florence, and as a Strategy Consultant at Roland Berger (Strategy Consultants) in Milan. Since 2001 Diletta has worked in the area of marketing for her family’s prestigious 700 year-old wine business – Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi
MARTINA GHIANDELLI
Italian Language and Studies Faculty
Martina Ghiandelli holds a degree in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of Florence. She also obtained an MA in Communications from the Center for Strategic Therapy (M.R.I), Bologna. She is the recipient of a number of writing awards and has taught widely at study abroad programs in Florence.
UMBERTO GORI
General Manager
Italian Language Faculty
Umberto Gori graduated from the University of Florence with a degree in Foreign Languages and Literature with a concentration on German and Hungarian. While working in international trade, as well as teaching Italian as a second language, Umberto has continued to pursue his linguistic and cultural studies at universities in both Germany and Hungary.
TIZIANA LANDRA
Italian Language Faculty
Tiziana Landra graduated from the University of Pisa with a degree in humanities and a concentration on art history. She is currently pursuing post-graduate studies in the area of twentieth century art and the performing arts. Tiziana has taught Italian as a second language both at international language schools and for US academic programs in Florence.
LEONARDO LASTILLA
Italian Language and Studies Faculty
Leonardo Lastilla graduated from the University of Florence with a degree in European Languages and Literature: Italian, French and English. He holds a Ph.D. in Italian Literature from University College, Dublin (IRL) where he also lectured on Italian history and literature. Dr. Lastilla has lectured extensively at international programs in Florence and Perugia. He is the author of award winning collections of poetry and short stories.
BARET MAGARIAN
Italian Studies Faculty
Baret Magarian holds a Ph.D in English Literature from the University of Durham (UK) and a B.A. (Hons) from Royal Holloway College, University of London. He has published fiction and reviews books, as well as writings on films and theater in British publications.
PATRIZIA MARZOCHETTI
Coordinator FUA Italian language program
Italian Language and Studies Faculty
Patrizia Marzochetti graduated from the University of Florence with a degree in Modern Foreign Languages and Literature. She has taught Italian as a second language, Italian culture, cuisine and wine culture for over twenty years in Italy, Austria and Australia. Patrizia has taught extensively for study abroad programs in her native city of Florence.
LORENZO PICCHI
Italian Studies Faculty
Lorenzo Picchi holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Florence and a M.A. in Media and Communication from the University of Manchester (UK). He has taught for a number of US academic programs in Florence and has a particular interest in the culture and politics of modern Italy. The main focus of his research and publications lies in the history and sociology of the Italian Mafia. Lorenzo is also the Editor-in-Chief of the online newspaper “The Florence Newspaper”.
NADA STULTUS
Italian Language Faculty
Nada Stultus began her career as a teacher of Italian as a second language by teaching Japanese students in Tokyo where she lived for many years. For over twenty years she has been teaching Italian in Florence to students of all nationalities. Nada holds a diploma in business interpreting (specializing in English and Spanish for the commercial sector) from the Accademia Internazionale di Lingue, Florence.
ELISA TERRAZZI
Italian Language Faculty
Elisa Terrazzi has a long experience teaching Italian as a second language in Florence at international language schools and US academic programs which include Richmond College, Johns Hopkins University and Sarah Lawrence College. She graduated from the University of Florence with a degree in Modern Literature. She also holds a Masters in Art History from Pisa University and a M.A. in Foreign Language Teaching from the University of Venice, Ca’ Foscari.
SIMON YOUNG
Italian Studies Faculty
Simon Young hold an MA cum laude in Celtic Studies from Clare College, Cambridge (UK) and a doctorate from the Istituto di Studi Umanistici of the University of Florence. His special field of study is on ecclesiastical history. Dr. Young has published widely on the Celts in the early Middle Ages and on Italy during World War II. He is also the author of two critically acclaimed historical novels.