معرفی
Paolo Frascà is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream in the Department of Italian Studies at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Arts & Science. He serves as the Coordinator of ITA250 & ITA350 Language Courses and is actively involved in multiple academic initiatives across the university. His work spans across three primary domains of scholarship and teaching, with significant contributions to Italian language pedagogy, Italian-Canadian studies, and sexuality and gender studies.
Dr. Frascà earned his Hon. BA, MA, and PhD all from the University of Toronto, demonstrating his deep connection to the institution where he now teaches. His educational trajectory at U of T has prepared him for his multifaceted role as both educator and researcher within the Canadian academic landscape.
His research focuses on three interconnected areas: Italian language pedagogy, where he develops sociocultural and experiential approaches to teaching Italian language and culture; Italian-Canadian studies, particularly examining the histories, languages, and cultural production of the Italian-Canadian community; and sexuality and gender studies, with specific attention to Queer theories and the Italian gay liberation movement of the 1970s. His scholarship frequently explores the intersections between these fields, particularly the relationship between migration and queerness.
Frascà's publications reveal a consistent commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship that bridges language education, cultural studies, and social justice. His work spans from sociolinguistics and dialectology to analyses of queer representation in Italian cinema and literature. He frequently employs innovative methodologies, including photo essays and collaborative interdisciplinary projects, to examine migration, mobility, and cultural identity, with a particular focus on subverting crisis narratives attached to global migration.
- 2024 Outstanding Achievement Award, Faculty of Arts & Science, University of Toronto
- 2024 Jackman Scholars-in-Residence, Jackman Humanities Institute & Victoria College
- 2024 Emerging Project Grant, Queer and Trans Research Lab
- 2024 Arts & Science Experiential Learning Faculty Fellowship
- 2024 Explore Grant, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
- 2023 Insight Grant, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
As a community-oriented educator, Frascà oversees numerous experiential and cultural activities through his role as Language Coordinator. He serves on the Steering Committee and as Affiliated Faculty at the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies and co-leads the Global Languages Initiative. His commitment to social justice is evident in his integration of discussions on equity and decolonization into his courses, reflecting his belief that language education should address broader societal issues.
Frascà is actively involved with several research initiatives, including co-directing projects at the Frank Iacobucci Centre for Italian-Canadian Studies focused on Indigenous-Italian-Canadian Connections and Queer Italian-Canadian Artists. He also contributes to the Endangered Language Alliance of Toronto and the Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca Queer, demonstrating his commitment to linguistic diversity and queer scholarship. His work documenting rare dialects still spoken in Toronto has received media attention, highlighting the linguistic diversity of the city's Italian-Canadian community.
