After being at the helm of ISI Florence for eight years Prof. Andreina Bianchini retired on March 30. She will continue to serve the institute as Executive Advisor until the end of 2012. As of April 1 the new director is Prof. Antonio Artese, DMA, assisted by Prof. Stefano U. Baldassarri, Ph.D.: Stefano has been appointed Director of Academic Affairs and Dean of Students. Under Andreina’s leadership ISI Florence grew from a small hub to a full consortium of several universities. Her emphasis on quality faculty has given our program its fine academic reputation. Faculty, staff, and partner institutions are all most grateful to Prof. Bianchini for her successful efforts in developing ISI Florence, turning it into the competitive, cutting-edge study abroad program that it is today. Prof. Artese holds a DMA from UC Santa Barbara and a Diploma in Piano Performance from the Conservatorio “Santa Cecilia” in Rome. From 2003 to 2010, he served as director of the University of California, Siena Study Center. Stefano U. Baldassarri holds a Ph.D. from Yale University. He has taught Italian Literature at ISI Florence since 2003, and has published many volumes and essays on Medieval and Renaissance literature.