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Faculty and staff Sant’Anna Institute

Faculty and staff Sant’Anna Institute

President

An Interview with Cristiana Panicco, Sant’Anna Institute Founder and President

How did you come to create Sant’Anna Institute?

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.

What is your favorite part about directing Sant'Anna Institute?

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.

Why did you choose to have Sant'Anna Institute in Sorrento?

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.

How has Sant'Anna Institute evolved over the years?

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

Staff

Cristiana Panicco

Cristiana Panicco

President

Marco Marino

Marco Marino

Vice President of Academic Affairs and University Relations - Title IXCoordinator

Olga Stinga

Olga Stinga

Director of Operations - Health and Safety Manager

Serena Vacca

Serena Vacca

Director of Study Abroad

Gabriella Russo

Gabriella Russo

Assistant Director of Study Abroad

Haley Mathis

Haley Mathis

Internship Coordinator

Chad Blunt

Chad Blunt

Director of Student Life

Clelia Dalila De Marco

Clelia Dalila De Marco

Alumni Relations Coordinator

Antonino Thomas Gargiulo

Antonino Thomas Gargiulo

Student Operations Coordinator

Danila Cinque

Danila Cinque

Student Experience Coordinator

Roberta Russo

Roberta Russo

Student Life Assistant

Samantha Iovine

Samantha Iovine

Student Life Assistant

Raffaele Acanfora

Raffaele Acanfora

Service-Learning Coordinator

Laura Megna

Laura Megna

Housing Coordinator

Elena Iaccarino

Elena Iaccarino

Coordinator, Foregin Languages Department

Pasquale Santovito

Pasquale Santovito

Social Media & Communication Coordinator

Stefania Villani

Stefania Villani

Counselor

Daphne Iaccarino

Daphne Iaccarino

Counselor

Licia Amura

Licia Amura

Head of Finance

Valeria Formicola

Valeria Formicola

Finance Officer

Visiting faculty

Aziz Fatnassi

Aziz Fatnassi

Champlain College

JU 330 Anthropology of Europe (Summer Il 2019; Summer | 2021; Summer II 2022)

Annmarie Kent-Willette

Annmarie Kent-Willette

Jacksonville University

COMM 452 International Multimedia Journalism: Communication, Culture and the Amalfi Coast (Summer I 2019) – COMM 217 Introduction to Multimedia Journalism in the Mediterranean (Summer II 2019)

Leslie Rogne Schumacher

Leslie Rogne Schumacher

Center for the Study of America and the West at the FPRI

HIST 165 Western Civilization since 1648 (Summer | 2019) IS 305 Special Topics: Mediterranean Culture and History (Summer | 2019)

Jill Blondin

Jill Blondin

Virginia Commonwealth University

ARH 376 Special Topics: History of Art (Summer II 2018)

Hilary Levinson

Hilary Levinson

Virginia Commonwealth University

JU 330 Anthropology of Europe (Summer Il 2023)

Kim Case

Kim Case

PSYC 400 Psychology of Women
(Summer | 2024)