Are you an alumni of the Italian program?
We would love to hear from you! Fill out our alumni survey to be featured on the Department of French and Italian's website! The survey can be completed here: https://forms.gle/VJrbqsHBQu3GtHKE7.
If you'd like to stay in contact with the department after graduation, then please send your personal email address to Lindsey Parisius, [email protected], to be added to the alumni email list!
2025
Katerine Lee
Italian and Political Science
I chose to major in Italian at UC Davis because I enjoyed my language courses, and I wanted to be able to read Boccaccio’s Decameron and Dante’s Inferno as they were originally written. There’s nothing quite like the challenge of learning a new language and culture. I think my experience taught me to be a little braver and helped me appreciate the results that come from consistency and continuous curiosity. My approach to academic and professional challenges is “I can do anything, because I once recited from memory a canto from Dante’s Inferno to a class of 20 people (in Italian!)”.
2022
Arianna Guadagnoli
Italian and Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior
I wanted to pursue an Italian major at UC Davis to further immerse myself in my ancestor's language and culture. Although it can be difficult to put maximum effort into assignments and readings, especially during midterms/finals, the knowledge you learn from your university coursework is priceless. Pursuing a second major, especially one that is radically different from the other, has some incredible benefits, including opening you up to a variety of new classes and experiences that you would not have otherwise had access to, widening your scope of knowledge. I am currently using the knowledge and skills I learned as an Italian major to teach children about Italian language and culture as an international school teacher.
2021
Mary Quilici
Italian and Biological Sciences
I am currently a dental student studying at the University of the Pacific Dental School in San Francisco. There are a number of patients who cannot speak English, and it is an honor to be able to use my knowledge of Italian to help treat them. I have patients who speak Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and French, and I am able to use the skillset I gained in undergrad to translate what they need and speak back to them in a manner they understand. Another area in which I am able to use my knowledge of the Italian language and culture is in my work as a board member of the Italian COMITES located in San Francisco. Our group works with the Italian consulate to provide guidance and support to Italians who have the goal of working, living, or studying in the United States. We also support Italian Americans who want to become involved in their communities and build up a strong foundation for Italian American groups in their areas.
I believe my Italian major along with my biological sciences major truly provided me the perfect balance of culture, art, literature and science. Don't be afraid to get involved with your community, and I hope you consider adding Italian as a major (I promise you won't regret it)!
Lauren Watson
Italian and Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity
I am now studying full-time in a Masters of Arts in Italian program at Middlebury College. I am currently abroad in Florence, Italy, studying at Middlebury's Florence campus and at the University of Florence. I will graduate from the program with an M.A. in Italian with an emphasis in Culture in August 2026 after one more semester at Middlebury's Vermont campus. Beyond Italian, I graduated with my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from UC Davis in May 2025, am a licensed veterinarian in the state of Vermont, and am currently submitting applications for residency!
Studying Italian at UC Davis made all of this possible. I plan to move to Italy one day and work internationally as a veterinarian. UC Davis Italian helped me grow academically, professionally, and personally!
Aida Morgan-Russell
Italian and Medieval and Early Modern Studies
I majored in Italian and medieval and early modern studies while attending UC Davis. I’m currently a third mate on a tall ship. We do educational sail training for high school and college students. I’m considering school in Italian studies in the future. My greatest take away from Davis was my study abroad opportunity. I thought it was marvelous and really helped me grow my confidence in my language skills as well as personal skills. My last year of classes were my favorite, I learned it was well worth it to wait for upper division literature discussions in class.
Study abroad! If you want to work on your language skills while abroad though, you really have to work hard to find the right opportunities: it’s easy to get stuck speaking English with your UCD cohort, and even with the locals. Also, learn to use the library and really get comfortable looking for the sources you want. There are some fantastic (and free) resources to which UCD can grant you access if you know they’re available and how to reach them! Speaking to a reference librarian is a great place to start.
Leo Vodantis
Italian and Sustainable Environmental Design
Studying Italian opened up my mind and forced me to interact and think in a foreign language which gave me a new set of tools and confidence that you could only get when you force yourself to be self-sufficient in a situation that is out of your comfort zone. It gave me a different lens on how to view the world and interact with people who share different beliefs and customs.
My favorite part of my program was studying abroad in Florence under the guidance of Professor Margarita Heyer-Caput. It was truly one of the most fun and exciting times of my life while being led by one of the most amazing professors UC Davis had to offer. I am most proud that I was able to graduate with a double major in Italian and that I was able to learn from so many awesome professors and interact with students who I ordinarily would have never met.
The skills that I gained studying Italian have paid dividends professionally and personally because I can use this skill at work and because it is a hobby that I never tire of practicing and learning more about.
2020
Gabriela Gomes
Italian and Economics
While attending UCD I was a double major in Italian and Economics. I moved back to Brazil a little while after I graduated and since it was in the middle of the pandemic, I took a bit of time off to enjoy my family. This year, I started working as a translator while I'm getting ready to apply for grad school. To me, the main takeaway was, as cliche as it sounds: Don't be afraid to try new things, even if they seem hard. That's how I ended up double majoring instead of minoring in Italian. Also, take advantage of the courses that the department offers! I took a class in Italian translation with Professor Subialka that helps me tremendously with my translating gigs now, even if I'm working with other languages. Enjoy your time on campus and get to know the professors, they are the best!
Caroline Kreins
Italian and English
I was a double major in Italian and English while attending UCD and I am now attending law school at Pepperdine's Caruso School of Law. I have a multitude of takeaways from my time in the Italian department. The accessibility to professors and the relationships I was able to build with my professors was something I will always cherish. The intellectual rigor of the courses within the major translated to my ability to think critically in other areas of my life (since I had to come up with new modes of completely digesting the material, as it was in a foreign language). I was also a peer tutor and that experience is something that was another major takeaway for me.
My advice to current and incoming students would be to go to office hours and get to know the professors. They are all such phenomenal professors and people, and I think it is incredibly beneficial for students to go speak with them about any questions they might have or just in general to discuss the material for fun! I would also suggest that students practice their oral speaking skills by continually participating in in-class discussions, talking to professors, talking to student tutors, or even fellow classmates - it is helpful to keep those skills sharp! I wish I had practiced a bit more after I graduated in 2020, because now I need to refocus my oral speaking in an attempt to apply to international law internships based in Italy!
Ashley Lord
Italian and English
I was a double major in Italian and English. I thought Italian would be a fun language to explore. Take the time to make friends because they can help make your education feel a little easier. Having friends make what you’re studying a lot of fun. Italian is a well-rounded major. You’re not just learning the language itself. You are also learning the history of the language and the people who speak it. The classes are interesting and there are opportunities outside the classroom to learn even more.
Isabella Schrammel
Italian and Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior
I double majored in Italian and NPB. I was inspired by my mother to major in Italian, who did the same. I also saw it as an opportunity to better learn the Italian language and my own heritage. Now, I use the language skills I learned when conversing with family, and I use the analytical skills I learned in the ITA major every day in law school.
My favorite part of my program was studying abroad in Florence in Fall of 2018. This was an incredible experience, to say the least. Professoressa Heyer-Caput is amazing, and so passionate about her students’ learning and immersion abroad. Study abroad was my favorite part of my time at UCD.
A double major is completely manageable and totally worth it! For me, it allowed me to focus my required GE requirements into another major. Between a STEM major and the Italian major, I only had to take two or three non-major courses to fulfill GE requirements. The STEM major satisfied all my science GE requirements, and ITA major fulfilled the humanities requirements. In a nutshell, you get two degrees while taking a similar number of courses. Plus, there are so many opportunities within the ITA department, and the professors are some of the most intelligent, caring, and insightful individuals.
2019
Kassandra Campos
Italian and Cognitive Science
I was interested in pursuing an Italian Major because I had always wanted to learn another language. In the process, I discovered the beauty in the language, culture, and literature. After graduating, I went to live and work in Italy for a few months. The experience was amazing! Now, I am a teacher in Northern California, and my students love our occasional Italian lessons. My advice is to take all the classes you may be interested in and to learn as much as you can about everything!
2017
Pia Wright
Italian
While attending UC Davis I was an Italian major with a minor in Film Studies. I chose to major in Italian because I had a hard time in college and wanted to focus on something I was passionate about. Being surrounded by the professors, lecturers, and other students in the Italian department helped me so much in understanding pursuing my passions. I felt supported by my department and truly was able to be myself and follow my dreams, and I still feel I am able to do that today because of those experiences.