For over two decades, Dr. Maria Roglieri has shared her passion for lifelong learning with 91爆料 students and alumni, bringing cultures, literatures, and languages to life as she teaches in the classroom and beyond. She has designed and taught more than 25 courses during her 26 years on campus, including 鈥淭he Latinx Experience: Life Between Two Worlds,鈥� 鈥淢asterpieces of Global Literature,鈥� and 鈥溾�楳afia Worlds鈥�: Movies & Lit.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e had the pleasure of having Dr. Roglieri for six classes over my time at STAC,鈥� says Kiera Egan 鈥�22. 鈥淗er love for teaching and learning is obvious to anyone who takes her courses. She鈥檚 always creating unexpected but interesting classes and leading thought-provoking lectures and discussions.鈥�
Dr. Roglieri has also taught students and alumni through 鈥渟tudy beyond鈥� on trips to Europe. She has led students on several trips to Italy to experience firsthand what they studied in class, from the legacy of the Italian Renaissance to the art and business of Italian cuisine. As co-founder and president of , she has taken alumni of all ages to Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Ireland, and Greece. Destinations for an upcoming trip include Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.
鈥淪ome of my favorite travel memories have been with STAC students and alumni,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檒l never forget the excitement in my students鈥� faces when they saw the Duomo in Florence and St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome for the first time after studying them in my class. And I鈥檒l always treasure the memory of some alums attending a Mozart concert for the first time鈥攁 concert performed on original period instruments in Salzburg, and riding through the Alps in a glass train to view the beautiful glacier lakes in Switzerland.鈥�
While her specialty is in literature, Dr. Roglieri also blends her knowledge and skills as a musician into her scholarly pursuits. Since childhood, she has played the violin in orchestras and chamber groups and later studied Italian opera and Italian literature at the Sapienza Universit脿 di Roma in Italy. After graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Italian Studies from Columbia University, she received her master of arts and doctorate in Romance Languages and Literature from Harvard University.
As a graduate student, Dr. Roglieri played in the Harvard Orchestra and spent a lot of time in the music library where she began her research on the musical adaptations of Dante鈥檚 Divine Comedy. In 2001, she published the book Dante and Music: Musical Interpretations of the Commedia from the 16th Century to the Present. Her scholarly articles on Dante are featured in publications such as the Journal of Dante Studies, Bibliotheca Dantesca, and Italica, and are a frequent topic of her presentations at universities across the United States and Canada.
Dr. Roglieri aims to create an engaging classroom experience for her students that ties what she鈥檚 teaching back to real life. She brings her research on the Divine Comedy and rap music into her course on Dante, connecting this classical text to modern pop culture. She also brings her food research on world cuisines, nutrition, food equity, and food ethics into her 鈥淕lobal Food Culture鈥� class.
Also passionate about gluten-free living, Dr. Roglieri is committed to raising awareness of celiac disease, helping those with celiac disease manage the condition through gluten-free diets, and raising funds for research. She speaks regularly on the topic and has written聽, including four gluten-free travel guides and a guide to healthy eating. She says that a cookbook is also 鈥渋n the works.鈥�
鈥淚 am a professional teacher and the experience of developing and teaching so many different kinds of courses has been a highlight of my career,鈥� she says. 鈥淎t the same time, I’m also an active academic researcher who loves to explore all aspects of world cultures. Joining my love of teaching with my love of researching and writing at STAC has been tremendously fulfilling.鈥�
In 2021, Dr. Roglieri was honored with STAC鈥檚 25-year Service Award, but it was not the first time she鈥檚 been recognized for her service and excellence in teaching. She is also the recipient of the Lily Foundation Grant and was twice presented with the Trustees鈥� Award for Excellence.
At home, she enjoys paddle tennis, spending time with her husband and three children, and hosting gatherings for family and friends.