President
An Interview with Cristiana Panicco, Sant'Anna Institute Founder and President
After studying abroad as a university student in England and Germany, my world changed. My world became bigger, and I realized that there are few barriers that one cannot overcome.
As a speaker of four languages and a world traveler, I believe in the transformational power of exposure to new languages, people, and cultures. I started Sant’Anna Institute to share this philosophy and vision with others.
I really enjoy sharing my passion for language and diversity with students. I like to contribute to the growth of students by understanding their difficulties and helping them see all of the possibilities for their life.
I am an educator and an entrepreneur and want others to experience the beauty of learning and creating. It is a privilege to watch students open their minds, become more intuitive, and see all that the world has to offer them.
I was born and raised in Turin, Italy, in northern Italy. I have traveled extensively but have always been fascinated by southern Italy; the culture, traditions, and sheer beauty of its landscape have drawn me back ever since I first visited the unspoiled, typically Italian small town of Sorrento.
When I arrived in Sorrento, I felt as if I had just woken up from a long, deep sleep. Sorrento was one of the most charming and distinctive towns I had ever seen. Its unique location was a deciding factor in my decision to open a school that could help international students expand their worldview.
Sant’Anna Institute, born in 1998, has evolved into an international community where Italian and foreign students of all ages and from all corners of the globe can come together to exchange ideas, cultures, and projects. I started by providing Italian and cultural courses for foreigners and then added foreign languages for native Italians.
A couple years after Sant’Anna Institute was founded, we set up collaborative relationships with American and other foreign universities and high schools, providing study abroad programs. Despite the world’s uncertain political and economic outlook, we offer students, teachers, and universities a professional service in international education.
Our Team
StaffCristiana Panicco
PresidentMarco Marino
Vice President of Academic Affairs and University RelationsOlga Stinga
Director of OperationsSerena Vacca
Director of Study AbroadGiorgia Del Santo
Communications and Social MediaCaroline Amuro
Internship CoordinatorMarisol Diaz
Study Abroad CoordinatorStefania Villani
CounselorAntonino Thomas Gargiulo
Student Life CoordinatorHolly Hammeren
University Relations CoordinatorMICHAEL NELSON
Partnership Development CoordinatorElena Iaccarino
Coordinator, Foreign Languages DepartmentPasquale Santovito
Assistant Coordinator, Foreign Languages DepartmentLicia Amura
Head of FinanceValeria Formicola
Finance OfficerOur Team
FacultyAlessandro Buffa
Course: Cultural StudiesBianca Buonocore
Didactic Vice-Coordinator and Italian Language TeacherIda Brancaccio
Chair of Classical Studies - Courses: Classical StudiesAlba Fagnano
Course: Drawing on LocationAdriana Nave
Courses: Introduction to Volcanology, Introduction to GeologyAntonio Di Giacomo
Course: Introduction to Scientific ResearchLuigi Incarnato
Course: Introduction to digital photographyStefano Federe
Course: History of Italian CinemaMarco Marino
Courses: History of Italian Cinema, Western CivilizationFrancesca Vacca
Course: World Literature and Creative WritingFabrizio Novellino
Chair of Humanities - Courses: History of the Mafia, History of Italian Food and CultureLuca Paladino
Courses: Nutrition StudiesDomenico Palumbo
Literature studies Coordinator and Italian language teacherMonica Ottarda
Courses: Intro to PsychologyDomenico Sgambati
Chair of Natural Sciences - Courses: Introduction to Marine Biology, Marine ConservationConcetta Spano
Introduction to Health ProfessionsIlaria Tartaglia
Courses: Archaeology, Art HistoryNunzia Travaglione
Didactic Coordinator and Italian Language teacherAlberto Corbino
Chair of Social Sciences - Courses: SustainabilityDavide de Gennaro
Chair of Business Studies - Business & TourismMary Goretti Byamugisha
Int. Politics and Human Right