Roberta Morosini

Roberta Morosini is a Professor of European Languages and Transcultural Studies at UCLA, appointed in July 2024. Previously, she served as Professor of Italian at Università L’Orientale di Napoli (since 2022) and held the 2024 Chair of Italian Culture at UC Berkeley. Her academic journey includes roles as the Charles Speroni Endowed Chair at UCLA (2019-2020) and Professor of Romance Languages at Wake Forest University. She holds a Ph.D. in Italian Literature from McGill University, specializing in Medieval Italian Literature and Culture, alongside advanced degrees from the University of Naples Federico II, Université de Rennes II, and Cornell University's School of Criticism and Theory. Morosini is a recipient of the Luigi De Lise Culture Award and has been a Fellow at prestigious institutions like Harvard’s Villa I Tatti and the Cini Foundation. She currently advises the Ente Nazionale Giovanni Boccaccio and Mediterranean Seminar.org.

Her research focuses on Medieval and Renaissance Italian Culture within a pan-Mediterranean framework, emphasizing ‘Archipelagic thought’ and geo-philology. Key interests include Christian-Muslim relations, spatial cartography, and transcultural studies of slavery and identity. She co-founded the Mediterranean Circularities book series and directs the Summer School Leggere Mediterranea in Alghero, exploring themes like 'Archipelagos' (2024).

Morosini’s teaching integrates visual literacy and decolonial approaches, using maps to enhance students’ engagement with texts. She aims to foster global citizenship through literature, inspired by her childhood fascination with medieval art and pivotal academic encounters. At UCLA, she collaborates with the CMRS Center for Early Global Studies to develop a holistic, pan-Mediterranean approach to Dante studies, prioritizing interdisciplinary and inclusive perspectives.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Italian Literature (Medieval Specialization), McGill University
  • Italian Laurea in European Languages and Literatures, University of Naples Federico II
  • French D.E.A. in French Literature, Université de Rennes II
  • Diploma, School of Criticism and Theory, Cornell University
• Professional Roles:
  • Former Vice President, American Boccaccio Association
  • President, MLA Medieval and Renaissance Italian Literature Division

Awards & Fellowships: Luigi De Lise Culture Award, Harvard Villa I Tatti Fellowship, NEH Mediterranean Summer Institute, Bogliasco and Cini Foundations.