Maria Luisa Merolla

Maria Luisa Merolla is an Associate Professor in Contemporary History (M-STO/04) at the Department of Social and Economic Sciences, Faculty of Sociology, Sapienza University of Rome, where she has held a tenured position since October 1, 2015. She previously served as a Confirmed Researcher starting from March 1, 2009, and as a Researcher from March 1, 2006. Her academic journey began with a Doctoral Degree in History of Political Parties and Movements from the University of Urbino 'Carlo Bo' in 2002, following her Political Science degree with honors from the University of Naples 'Federico II' in 1994.

Professor Merolla's research focuses on the intersection of cultural history, media studies, and music as historical sources, particularly examining American cultural influence in Italy during the Cold War era. Her work explores how music, radio, and television shaped Italian society and national identity during critical historical periods, including the post-WWII reconstruction, the economic boom years, and the cultural transformations of the 1960s-1980s. She has developed a distinctive approach to using sound as a historical source, pioneering the integration of audio materials into historical research methodology.

Her publication record reveals a consistent scholarly trajectory examining the cultural Cold War, American cultural diplomacy through music, and the transformation of Italian society through media. Her most recent work extends into sustainability studies and contemporary global processes, while maintaining her core interest in how music and media shape historical consciousness. Her research has increasingly focused on Bruce Springsteen's cultural impact in Italy, reflecting her innovative approach to using popular music as a lens for historical analysis.

• GRAMMY Museum Affiliate recognition (2017) for founding and directing the Music Making History research unit
• Direction of the SPRINGSTEEN AS HISTORY PROJECT (2020-2024) with Sapienza University, The New School, and Monmouth University
• Winner of the PROGETTO GIOVANI RICERCATORI (2000) for research on political parties and national identity

Professor Merolla has directed numerous research projects on topics including American cultural diplomacy in Italy, the role of music in the Cold War, and the historical significance of sound sources. She founded and directs the Music Making History research unit (2015-2024) and has served as Erasmus coordinator for multiple European universities. Her international collaborations include work with institutions in France, Spain, Portugal, and the United States, reflecting her transnational approach to historical research.

As founder and director of the Music Making History research unit, Merolla has established a significant scholarly ecosystem focused on using sound sources for historical research. Her collaboration with the GRAMMY Museum and the Bruce Springsteen Archives has created unique opportunities for integrating popular music archives into academic historical research, establishing Sapienza University as a leading center for innovative historical methodology that bridges academic research and cultural institutions.