Monica Ruocco

Monica Ruocco is a Full Professor of Arabic Language and Literature at the Department of Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean, University of Naples L'Orientale since 2018. She serves as Coordinator of the Translation Laboratory and is an active member of the Center for Studies on the Islamic World (CeSMI) and Center for International Migration Mobility (MOMI) at the same institution. Her academic leadership extends to her role on the Teaching Board of the Doctorate in 'Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean'.

• PhD in 'Studies on the Near East and Maghreb' with thesis on Politics, culture, literature: for a definition of the Arab intellectual
• Certificate of preparation for research in Arabic from Institut Français d'Etudes Arabes de Damas
• Degree in Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures, Oriental major from Oriental University Institute of Naples

Professor Ruocco's research spans contemporary Arabic literature, theater, and cultural studies with particular focus on gender dynamics, political expression, and Mediterranean cross-cultural exchanges. Her work demonstrates strong engagement with both classical Arabic literary traditions and contemporary creative expressions across the Arab world. She has developed significant expertise in translation studies, particularly in bridging Arabic literary works to Italian audiences, which earned her the National Translation Prize in 2015.

Her recent scholarly output shows consistent engagement with pressing themes in contemporary Arab societies - political transformation, gender representation, urban experiences, and cultural identity. The publications reveal a methodological approach that combines literary analysis with socio-political context, often focusing on how artistic expression reflects and shapes societal transformations. Her work spans multiple genres including literary criticism, translation, theater studies, and linguistic analysis.

• National Translation Prize 2015 by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism
• Finalist for the Biennial Translation Prize Fondazione Bottari Lattes 2020
• President of SeSaMO Italia (Italian Society of Middle Eastern Studies) 2020-2023
• President of the European Association for Modern Arabic Literature (EURAMAL) 2018-2022

Professor Ruocco has supervised numerous doctoral candidates including Annamaria Bianco, Greta Sala, and Antonio Pacifico, often in international collaborations with institutions in France and Egypt. Her research activities have been supported through multiple projects including the 'Mediterranean Archives of Memory' (ALMAMED) project (2022-2025) and participation in various international conferences where she has served on scientific committees. She has also been instrumental in organizing significant academic events such as the 13th Euramal International Conference on 'Fiction and History: the Rebirth of the Historical Novel in Arabic'.

As an active member of multiple research centers including CeSMI and MOMI, Professor Ruocco contributes to interdisciplinary research initiatives that examine the complex cultural, social, and political dynamics of the Mediterranean region. Her work with the Translation Laboratory demonstrates her commitment to fostering cross-cultural communication and understanding through linguistic and literary exchange.