Melissa Demos

Education

PhD, Italian Studies, University of Texas-Austin
MA, Italian, University of Pittsburgh
BA, Humanities, California State University-Chico

As our on-site faculty for the six-week Pitt in Rome summer program, Melissa Demos teaches the various levels of Italian language in Rome, and works with our partner institute to organize and manage the day-to-day program calendar and excursions. She provides 24/7 support for the wellbeing and safety of the student participants, and graduate assistants. In her down-time in Rome, she can often be found exploring and photographing the many wonders of Rome, or giving impromptu cooking lessons to the students.

After completing a BA in Humanities in her home state of California, Melissa moved to Italy to study early modern history and art at the Università degli Studi di Firenze. In Florence, she worked with US students at Study Abroad schools as an instructor and a program coordinator. She also worked as a tour guide.

She earned her MA in Italian language and literature from the University of Pittsburgh, followed by her PhD in Italian studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Her interdisciplinary thesis explores pictorial narration in 15th-16th century painting and sculpture and some unique expressions of temporal duration in those static arts.

Since 2015, she has taught as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Hamilton College in New York. Her courses include all levels of Italian language, as well as two content courses: Contemporary Italian Society through Film and Media; and Italian Renaissance Civilization and Culture.