Our Staff / Team

100% Tuscan origins and proudly tied to the traditions of the territory, I have always been interested in the world of languages and Anglo-American cultures. I have a masters degree in Foreign Languages and Intercultural Studies at the University of Siena where, together with other Ph.D. students and professors, we have created a large digital archive of interviews in English of American expatriates in Tuscany.

I was a Visiting Instructor at the University of Rochester, NY, and during the last year of my master’s program, I realized that I wanted to work for Study Abroad programs at various levels.

This year will be my 15th year in this field. After different roles (Oklahoma University, Oberlin College, and the University of Rochester) I have settled at ISI Florence where I focus on mediation between cultures, and building relationships with institutions and the territory. Through my work, I am proud to give students the best experience our country has to offer.

Studying abroad is a crucial enterprise that shapes one’s future. I firmly believe that the more students are exposed to different contexts of Italian culture, the more they will return home with rich baggage that will enable them to grow personally and professionally. Learning to be flexible, reinventing ourselves, learning from each other, stepping out of our comfort zones, but also, and above all, not forgetting our roots, values, and traditions that make up the base of our culture… this is what I hope to pass on to my children as well as to my students.

Born and raised in Florence but a world citizen at the same time, Serena enjoys experiencing diverse cultures, and therefore, has traveled extensively both for pleasure and for studies in the fields of foreign languages and literature. From climbing the Kilimanjaro mountain to going deep into the heart of the Australian outback – following her interest in the Pacific Rim – she is always planning a new trip and a new discovery.

With ISI Florence almost since its foundation, she has guided students with their integration into the Florentine community and engagement with an authentic Italian setting.

“Break down the wall, get out of the American bubble and look at the world with new lenses. While learning about Italian culture you will discover your in-progress self-identity.” 

She loves contemporary art and the young artistic vibe, which is why her favorite spots in Florence are the Oltrarno and S. Niccolò areas. There you can find artistic jewelers’ ateliers and other boutique artisan shops. Her favorite one is the street artist, Clet. Look for his sarcastic street signs all over the city!

Serena’s favorite quote is from Bruce Chatwin: “Travel does not merely broaden the mind, but makes the mind.”

Born and raised in Termoli, an enchanting fishing town on the Adriatic coast, he came to Florence in August of 2011 and immediately felt at home. “The very next day after my arrival, I already had people offer me coffee,” Rino fondly remembers.

He studied Communication Science and wrote his master’s thesis on “Organization of Business Communication Systems.”

Before organizing the housing systems at ISI Florence, Rino worked in the human resources department for a major international American printed circuit board company.

Detail orientated, an able multitasker, and “obsessed” with organizational learning, he defines himself “brilliant in understanding people’s needs.”

He loves sport (from soccer to functional training) and is very interested in fitness and wellness in general. This is only surpassed by his passion for motorcycles (he owns two) and jazz.

“I adore all of Italy. I love to hop on my motorbike and take off for a new adventure without any precise destination.”

Rino’s favorite travel quote: “Traveling not only broadens one’s mind; it gives it form.”

Advice to students: “Speak to people, ask for information, take public transportation, travel by train, always leave time for a simple walk around without any precise destination in mind. Observe!”

Originally hailing from upstate New York, Miranda has called various cities (and countries) home over the past decade. Ultimately putting her roots down in Florence, Miranda has been discovering all the sites, smells, sounds, and tastes of the city for years now.

A graduate of Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts, Miranda’s passion for foreign languages and international politics led her to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain, and Florence, Italy. Her experience living among different cultures and languages impacted her greatly and later influenced her to pursue work as an EFL (English as a foreign language) teacher in Edirne, Turkey, and San Sebastian, Spain. Eventually, Miranda’s work brought her back to Florence in 2014, and she has never looked back.

Nina, a native of San Diego, has lived in Italy for over 30 years and is a dual-citizen. She herself was an exchange student from UCLA at the Università di Padova and Venezia where she studied studio art, art history, and Italian. Her fondest memories of her time abroad were seeing her art history books come to life as well as the numerous travels throughout the Italian peninsula by train.

“I highly recommend train travel even today. It is still considerably cheap and is a great way to discover new places. There is almost no place in Italy that can’t be reached by train. I usually traveled alone which gave me the unique chance to meet locals and especially to practice my Italian.”

Nina is always happy to share her vast knowledge of the territory (thanks to her work for many years in the tourism field, as well as being an avid cyclist) with new students eager to make the most of their experience abroad. A self-described food snob, she is very opinionated about where the best places to eat are.

“Discovering local food is also a great way to integrate into your new environment. Every region has its own traditions and every Italian is very proud of their local specialties. In order to understand what you meet on the outside, you need to discover what goes down on the inside. It’s also the best way to make local friends. You will be very dear to any Florentine’s heart once you’ve taken your first bite of “panino al lampredotto”!

Nina is a trained level 2 EMT first responder and in her spare time volunteers on a local ambulance service. Good communication and teamwork are fundamental aspects of this activity and she strives to bring the same work ethic to ISI Florence. She encourages students to have fun, but also to stay safe!

“Florence is a relatively safe place to live and small enough to walk pretty much anywhere. Common sense works here too so don’t forget to take that with you when you go out or travel. Other than that, explore, live and experience! I am certain you will make memories that will last a lifetime, if not change the course of your life.”

Don’t forget to ask her about her past as one of Italy’s pioneers of the LGBTQ+ rights movement! As the Diversity. Equity & Inclusion Officer, she offers first-hand insight into students’ expectations abroad and strives to provide any resources needed to welcome students of all diversities.

She loves sharp pencils and once held the world record for the most bicep curls in one minute (81 curls with a 15kg bar).