I am a historian of Italy and the US with expertise in cultural and political studies. I teach at Marian University, where I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Global and Cultural Studies.
About Me
After completing my undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois, Chicago, I spent a year in Budapest, Hungary where I earned a Master's Degree in history at the Central European University. I then returned to my hometown outside of Peoria, IL and worked in the Teaching and Learning Center at Illinois Central College where I also taught. I completed my PhD in history at Indiana University, Bloomington in 2022 and I am now teaching at Marian University in Indianapolis. My research examines political ideas in Italian popular comics during the Fascist era and the early post-WWII years. |
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Research
In my dissertation, I examined six popular Italian illustrated periodicals from the 1920s through the late 1940s, many of which heavily incorporated comics from the US. My project led me to conduct research in five archives in the US and Italy, including the National State Archives in Rome. Despite my research trip being interrupted by Covid-19 forcing a swift retreat from Italy in March 2020, I completed my research through collaborating with other scholars to exchange source material. My research was supported by the European Studies Institute and the Office of International Partnerships at Indiana University. I am now working to transform my dissertation into a manuscript for publication.
In my dissertation, I examined six popular Italian illustrated periodicals from the 1920s through the late 1940s, many of which heavily incorporated comics from the US. My project led me to conduct research in five archives in the US and Italy, including the National State Archives in Rome. Despite my research trip being interrupted by Covid-19 forcing a swift retreat from Italy in March 2020, I completed my research through collaborating with other scholars to exchange source material. My research was supported by the European Studies Institute and the Office of International Partnerships at Indiana University. I am now working to transform my dissertation into a manuscript for publication.
Teaching
I have taught numerous classes at Illinois Central College, Indiana University in Bloomington, and Marian University in Indianapolis. I teach a mixture of classes on global history, European history, and cultural studies. Although I have always strove to impart knowledge of the course content to my students, I have tended to prioritize the skills students can take from the study of history to help them succeed in college and their future careers, namely effectively communicating an evidenced-based argument.
I have taught numerous classes at Illinois Central College, Indiana University in Bloomington, and Marian University in Indianapolis. I teach a mixture of classes on global history, European history, and cultural studies. Although I have always strove to impart knowledge of the course content to my students, I have tended to prioritize the skills students can take from the study of history to help them succeed in college and their future careers, namely effectively communicating an evidenced-based argument.
Instructional Technology
While working at the Teaching and Learning Center at Illinois Central College, I collaborated with my coworkers to coach faculty members in the construction and maintenance of their online course shells, for which we used the Learning Management System Blackboard. We also ran a blog on tech tools for teaching. I later worked again in instructional technology at Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington, IN, this time tutoring students in navigating Canvas in addition to advising faculty members. As a part of my job, I also led a number of orientations for new students on educational technology and facilitated the creation of statewide standardized online courses. Due to my experience with instructional technology, I have provided assistance for online learning to professors of the History Department at Indiana University over the past year during the shift to online learning as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. My work has led me to learn about a variety of instructional technology tools and online teaching methods, and I have assisted in or directly created dozens of courses.
While working at the Teaching and Learning Center at Illinois Central College, I collaborated with my coworkers to coach faculty members in the construction and maintenance of their online course shells, for which we used the Learning Management System Blackboard. We also ran a blog on tech tools for teaching. I later worked again in instructional technology at Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington, IN, this time tutoring students in navigating Canvas in addition to advising faculty members. As a part of my job, I also led a number of orientations for new students on educational technology and facilitated the creation of statewide standardized online courses. Due to my experience with instructional technology, I have provided assistance for online learning to professors of the History Department at Indiana University over the past year during the shift to online learning as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. My work has led me to learn about a variety of instructional technology tools and online teaching methods, and I have assisted in or directly created dozens of courses.
