Study Abroad in Italy: History of Art & Italian Studies in Florence – Faculty & Staff

Florence Faculty

Language faculty come from Centro di Cultura per Stranieri, a special department of the University of Florence. All Italian language instructors have extensive teaching experience, and hold an advanced degree in either foreign or Italian language and literature.

Italian studies faculty are hired independently by CET. All have completed or are working toward a PhD in their field.

CET can provide faculty curriculum vitae upon request.

Florence Staff

CET maintains permanent, bilingual staff at each of its study abroad program locations.

The CET Italy Programs Director oversees Florence program academics by managing faculty, conducting faculty orientation and regularly monitoring courses.

The Florence Resident Director plans excursions, manages program logistics, and assists students with acclimation. S/he is trained to prevent and handle student emergencies.

Staff Bios

Emiliana F. Caldarelli, Director of Italy Programs

A native Italian, Emiliana earned a Laurea in Political Science from the University of Florence in 1996. In 1994, during her graduate studies, she was awarded a scholarship from Rutgers University in New Jersey where she conducted a research study about the financing of political campaigns. After returning to Italy, her work has focused on educating American students in Italy. She served as coordinator for the Rutgers Study Abroad Program in Florence, and from 1997 until 2002, she taught classes on Italian culture, politics and history in US university programs in Florence such as Rutgers Junior Year in Florence, Richmond College, Portland Community College and University of San Diego-Law School. Emiliana has been involved with the CET programs in Italy since their inception. She began as the CET Siena Resident Director (2001-2003), continued as the CET Florence Resident Director (2003-2004), and has served as Italy Programs Director since 2004.

Anna DiBiase, Resident Director and Italy Programs Academic Coordinator

Anna received a BA in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College in 2006 and an MA in Italian Language and Linguistics from the Middlebury College School in Florence, Italy in 2007. She is an Italian-American dual citizen and has spent a cumulative of six years studying and working in Italy, most recently with Georgetown University where she served as the Resident Coordinator, with The Institute at Palazzo Rucellai where she served as the Housing Coordinator and in CET Siena where she worked as the Resident Director. Anna adores her adopted country and all of the opportunities that it has afforded her. As the CET Florence Resident Director and Italy Programs Academic Coordinator, she hopes to be able to impart this passion for Italy to the students and to help them to have the most rewarding experience in the country as possible.

Florence Alumni

Hear what CET Florence program alumni have to say! Click here to contact a former student.

Academic Advisory Board

CET maintains an advisory board of US-based scholars. The History of Art & Italian Studies in Florence Program Advisory Board meets annually to discuss curricula, and assess teaching standards and courses. Board members visit the CET sites in order to evaluate programs and, when possible, teach courses.

CET jointly operates the Florence program with Vanderbilt University. All board members come from Vanderbilt University. However, the program is open to students from all institutions.

Shelley Jewell
Study Abroad Advisor, Global Education Office, Vanderbilt University

Andrea Mirabile
Assistant Professor; Director of Undergraduate Studies, French & Italian Department, Vanderbilt University

Robert Mode
Associate Professor, History of Art Department, Vanderbilt University

Sheri Shaneyfelt
Senior Lecturer; Director of Undergraduate Studies, History of Art Department, Vanderbilt University

Mel Ziegler
Professor of Art, Chair, Department of Art, Vanderbilt University

Thomas E. Bogenschild
Director, Global Education Office, Vanderbilt University