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

Siena Faculty

CET Siena language faculty are seasoned instructors with extensive experience teaching for various US study abroad programs in Italy. All have completed a master’s degree in either foreign or Italian language and literature.

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

The University of Virginia Siena Curriculum Oversight Committee approves all new faculty hires. CET can provide faculty curriculum vitae upon request.

Siena Staff

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

The CET Italy Programs Director, based in Florence, cooperates with University of Virginia to oversee Siena program academics on site. S/he by manages faculty, conducts faculty orientation and regularly monitors courses.

The Siena Resident Director, based in Siena, implements 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.

Christina Angelilli, Resident Director

While studying Italian as an undergraduate at The Ohio State University, Christina spent an academic year in Italy, where she fell in love with Italian language, Italian culture and most importantly her host city, Siena. This experience inspired her to continue her studies at Ohio State and earn her MA in Italian Studies in 2011. As a graduate student, Christina gained valuable experience working with undergraduates—teaching them Italian language and imparting to them her passion for all things Italian. Christina continues this work today, serving as Resident Director for the CET Siena program.

Siena Alumni

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

Academic Advisory Boards

Two academic advisory boards oversee the CET Siena program.

• University of Virginia Siena Curriculum Oversight Committee (SCOC). This group of University of Virginia faculty meets annually to review all course syllabi and evaluations, recommend curricular changes and design new courses. The SCOC also approves all new CET Siena faculty hires.
• CET Italy Programs Advisory Board. This advisory board of US-based scholars meets annually to assess the teaching standards and curricula at CET Siena and CET Sicily. Board members visit these sites in order to evaluate programs and, when possible, teach courses.

University of Virginia Siena Curriculum Oversight Committee Members

Marina Markot
Associate Director, International Studies Office, University of Virginia

Carol Mershon
Associate Professor, Department of Politics, University of Virginia

Emily Scida
Associate Professor, Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, University of Virginia

Howard Singerman
Associate Professor, Department of Art, University of Virginia

Adrienne Ward
Associate Professor, Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, University of Virginia

CET Italy Programs Advisory Board Members

Susan S. Badder
Art Museum Education Consultant

Christopher Kleinhenz
Professor Emeritus of Italian Literature, University of Madison-Wisconsin

Arielle Saiber
Associate Professor of Italian, Bowdoin College

Daniel P. Solomon
Senior Lecturer of Classical Studies, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Vanderbilt University

Adrienne Ward
Associate Professor, Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, University of Virginia (SCOC faculty representative)

Stacey Hansen
Senior Education Abroad Advisor and Operations Coordinator, International Studies Office, University of Virginia (SCOC education abroad representative)