Alessandra Brivio

Alessandra Brivio is an Associate Professor in the History and Political Science Department at Erskine College. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the Università Statale di Milano and a Ph.D. in Early Modern History from the University of California, San Diego. Her research focuses on 17th-century Milan, particularly biopolitics and societal responses to plague epidemics. She is currently completing a manuscript titled “Between the Devil and the Holy Water: Plague Spreaders, Demonic Conspiracies, and the Intervention of Church and State During 17th Century Plague Epidemic.”

Teaching areas include World Civilizations, Ancient Greek/Roman History, Medieval History, Renaissance and Reformation Studies, and the History of Medicine and Disease. She served as Department Chair (2021–2024) and received prestigious teaching awards in 2021 and 2024. Brivio is an active member of the Renaissance Society of America and frequently presents research at national conferences.

Personal interests include coastal vacations in Florida and southern Italy, Italian cooking, and hosting students at her home to share cultural traditions.