Since graduating from Skidmore in 2001 I have done much with my Italian skills. I spent the next two years after graduation in Turin, Italy, working in the International School of Turin and auditing some courses at the Universita' di Torino. From 2003-2004 I worked on my MA at the University of Manchester, England, in Italian Studies. I am currently a PhD student at Manchester, working on Italian female saints and art. Were it not for professors Shirley Smith and Richard Bonanno at Skidmore I surely would not be where I am today! Although I majored in Art History and minored in Studio Art at college, Italian has been a huge part of my life from the first day of sophomore year. I was able to spend a semester in Florence junior year, and that really clinched it for me - I knew I had to get back to Italy by whatever means possible! I am still in that frame of mind, and I will definitely be spending at least three months (possibly six, but maybe more) in Rome next academic year for my PhD research, and I will also be a research assistant to one of my supervisors.
I don't know what I will end up doing with my life, but I hope to finish my PhD in 2007 or 2008, and then my dream would be to teach at an American university in Italy. No matter what happens, Italian will always be a major force in my life, for part of me remains in Italy and certainly always will. I am so grateful for the opportunities that Skidmore has given me!

Anna's email address is annapiperato@yahoo.com