Alessandro Vettori

Alessandro Vettori is a Professor of Italian and Comparative Literature at Rutgers University, where he has served since 1999. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale University (1995) and a Laurea from the University of Florence (1986). As Graduate Director for Rutgers’ Italian Department, he oversees academic programs and initiated a virtual PhD student coffee hour during the pandemic. His work bridges literary analysis with theological and historical inquiry, focusing on Dante, Franciscan spirituality, and Italian Renaissance culture.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Italian Literature, Yale University, 1995
  • Laurea in Foreign Languages and Literatures, Università di Firenze, 1986

Research Interests: Vettori’s scholarship explores Dante’s theological frameworks, medieval Franciscanism, and the interplay between biblical texts and literary creativity. Recent projects include Fake News Through History (in progress) and a global anthology on Iacopone da Todi. His book Dante’s Prayerful Pilgrimage (2019) reinterprets Dante’s use of psalms in Purgatorio.

Publications: Over 20 books and articles analyze Dante, Boccaccio, Giuseppe Berto, and Franciscan hagiography. Notable works include Poets of Divine Love (2004) and essays on medieval religious poetry. His creative short stories, like La lotta del professore (1994), blend personal and cultural narratives.

• Awards:
  • Benjamin Meaker Visiting Professorship (University of Bristol, 2015)
  • Cavaliere della Repubblica Italiana (2004)
  • Aniello Lauro Creative Writing Award (1995)

Service and Outreach: Chair of MLA Marrano Prize Jury (2016), invited lectures at Columbia and NYU, and editorial roles in international conferences. He maintains active collaborations with institutions in Italy, France, and the U.S., promoting interdisciplinary dialogue in Italian Studies.