Alessio Ponzio

Alessio Ponzio is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. He brings extensive academic experience across North America and Europe, having previously served as an Assistant Professor of Modern European History and the History of Gender and Sexuality at the University of Saskatchewan for five years. Additionally, he teaches LGBTQ+ Studies at the Università di Torino in Italy since April 2022, holding the position of Contract Professor.

Ponzio holds dual doctoral degrees: a Ph.D. in Women's Studies and History from the University of Michigan (2019) and a Ph.D. in History and Politics from Università degli Studi Roma Tre (2005). His undergraduate education was completed at the same Italian institution where he earned a B.A. in Political Studies and History in 2002. His academic journey was further enriched by postdoctoral fellowships at the Leibniz Institute of European History (Mainz), the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton), and the Newhouse Center for the Humanities (Wellesley College).

Dr. Ponzio's research focuses primarily on the history of gender and sexuality, with particular emphasis on queer history and LGBTQ+ studies. His expertise spans modern European history, the history of fascism, transnational history, and the intersection of gender, sexuality, and political ideology. His work often examines how sexual identities and practices have been shaped by historical, cultural, and political contexts, particularly in Italy from the fascist era through the post-war period. He has made significant contributions to understanding the complex relationships between sexuality, power, and social organization in twentieth-century Europe.

Ponzio's scholarly output reveals a clear trajectory from examining fascist youth education systems to increasingly focusing on queer histories of Italy. His early work explored comparative fascist youth training regimes in Italy and Germany, while his more recent publications delve into male-male sexuality, prostitution, and queer subcultures in post-fascist Italy. This evolution demonstrates his growing specialization in LGBTQ+ history within the Italian context, particularly examining how same-sex practices and identities navigated legal, social, and religious constraints in mid-twentieth century Italy.

Dr. Ponzio is actively engaged in academic service and community building within his field. He serves as Co-chair of the Queer Caucus of the American Association of Italian Studies and as Canada Representative in the International Committee on LGBTQ+ History Months. He is also a co-organizer of 2SLGBTQIA+ History Month in Canada and co-founded LGBT+ History Month Italia. His current research is supported by a Canadian SSHRC Insight Development Grant exploring how 1950s Italian homophiles engaged with international organizations to challenge discrimination.