Professor of English at the University of Bologna since 1999, she has held the position of Associate Professor since 2021. Her research focuses on the English language of fashion and postcolonial literature in North America. Her research interests center in particular on specialized language in the fashion industry and on the indigenous literature and culture of Canada and the United States. She currently focuses her research on the decolonization of fashion, cultural appropriation, and lexicographical studies related to clothing, jewelry, textiles, and accessories.
She is involved in national and international research projects and collaborates with various foreign institutions. She is the author of several publications.
Education
She earned a degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures in 1991 from IULM in Milan and received her Ph.D. in Literature and Cultures of English-Speaking Countries from the University of Bologna in 2006.The title of the doctoral thesis is: “Fighting Terrorism since 1492: resistenza, armonia e spiritualità nella comunità delle donne aborigene canadesi nelle opere di Kateri Akewenzie-Damm, Jeannette Armstrong e Ruby Slipperjack”. In 1985, she obtained diplomas in interpreting and translation and parliamentary interpreting from the Scuola Superiore di Interpreti e Traduttori in Bologna.
Academic Career
After several years of contract teaching (from 1999 to 2013) at the University of Bologna, she became an RTD Researcher in the L-LIN/12 discipline (Language and Translation – English Language) at the Department of Sciences for Quality of Life, University of Bologna, Rimini campus, in 2013. In 2021, she became an Associate Professor.
Teaching Activities
Since 1999 she has consistently served as a professor, teaching various courses for the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Medicine and Surgery, as well as for the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures and the School of Humanities and Cultural Heritage at the University of Bologna.
She currently teaches English for Fashion in the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Fashion at the Department of Arts (DAR) of the University of Bologna, Rimini campus.
She organizes and coordinates in-depth seminars on her areas of expertise.
Academic Activities
From 2007 to 2015. Member of the research group coordinated by Prof. Carla Comellini for the “Modern and Contemporary English Literature” project, which is part of the degree program “International Cooperation, Regulation, and Protection of Ethnocultural Rights and Heritage” at the University of Bologna (Ravenna campus).
From 2008 to 2010. Member of the Socrates-Erasmus Exchange Projects Committee for the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy at the University of Bologna (Rimini campus).
2010–present. Member of the International Research Center for Culture, Fashion, and Communication (CFC; www.unibo.it/culturefashioncommunication), sponsored by the Department of Quality of Life Sciences, University of Bologna, Rimini campus.
2014–2019. Affiliation with the “Alfredo Rizzardi” Center for Canadian Studies, coordinated by Prof. Carla Comellini.
Institutional Activities and Academic Appointments
2002–2004: Member of the Internationalization Committee for Socrates-Erasmus exchange projects at the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy, University of Bologna (Rimini campus).
Since 2017, member of the International Relations Committee for the three-year degree program “Fashion Cultures and Techniques,” School of Humanities and Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Rimini campus.
2016–21: Coordinator at the PUP (University Prison Center) for fashion courses. Committee for support activities for incarcerated students and coordinator for students in the Fashion courses at the PUP.
2018–present. Member of the Quality Assurance Management Committee for the “Culture and Practices of Fashion” program—QA Committee.
2021. Affiliation with the CIRI operational unit in Rimini.
Committee for Innovative Teaching.
2023–present: Internship Committee.
2024–present: serves as Deputy Coordinator of the Bachelor’s Degree Program in Fashion Cultures and Practices (CLAM)
Membership in scientific and editorial committees
EDITORIAL BOARDS OF SERIES, JOURNALS, AND BLOGS
2009–present: member of the editorial board of ZoneModa Journal, Pendragon, Bologna
2014–present, member of the Steering Committee for the “Culture, Fashion, and Society” series, Bruno Mondadori Editore, Sanoma Italia
2014–18, member of the Scientific Committee for “Spazio Zone Moda” – Italian Fashion Studies, the blog for the degree programs at the University of Bologna, Rimini Campus, which are identified by the official “ZoneModa” logo.
SERIES EDITORSHIP
2023–present: Co-editor of the series “Fashion, Media and Culture: Perspectives on Global Lifestyles,” Bloomsbury Publishing, PLC, UK. The series is co-edited with Prof. Federica Muzzarelli and Prof. Stefano Marino
Other Activities
Studies on the literature and culture of the indigenous peoples of North America and Canada, with a particular focus on poetry. Organization and translation of events and conferences on the subject.
