Maria Cook

Maria Cook is a Lecturer in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at Binghamton University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Medicine from the University of Bologna, Italy, and has been actively involved in Italian language and cultural education since emigrating to the U.S. in the 1990s. Her teaching portfolio includes foundational Italian courses (111, 115), specialized courses like Food and Culture of Italy, and a new course, 181: Visiting Italy, designed to enrich travel experiences through cultural insights.

• Specializes in Italian language instruction
• Develops culturally immersive courses (e.g., Food and Culture of Italy)
• Integrates travel education into curriculum
• Focuses on practical language applications for travelers

Her academic work emphasizes experiential learning and bridging linguistic gaps through cultural understanding. Prior to her university role, she taught Italian at Saint James Middle School and the American Civic Association for traveler-oriented programs.