Contact us

Dr. Annamaria Pagliaro, former Convenor of Italian Studies and Senior Lecturer at Monash University, has been the Monash University Prato Centre's Director since 2005 but was involved in its establishment. Annamaria Pagliaro has research interests in nineteenth and early twentieth century Italian literature, literary theory, and modern theatre. She has published a number articles on Italian realist writers in international refereed journals, contributed and edited volumes for Melbourne based journal Spunti e Ricerche. Annamaria Pagliaro completed her Masters and PhD at the University of Melbourne and taught at La Trobe University and the University of Melbourne before joining Monash University in 1991.

Sasha Perugini, the Centre's Manager, graduated in English and Russian Languages and Literatures at the University of Siena and earned a Ph.D. in Theatre Studies at Tufts University in Boston, MA. She then worked as Academic Manager at the University of Siena and, before accepting her current position at Monash, as Assistant Director at IES abroad in Rome.

Valentina Guerrieri, Administrative Officer, graduated in Communication Studies from the University of Siena.  Since graduating she has been involved in the education sector, working for EU vocational training projects and, more recently, in the Finance and Research Office at the University of Leeds (UK).

Giovanni Tarantino, Administrative Officer, has degrees in History, Media and Communication, and Librarianship. In 2004 he completed a PhD in Early Modern History at the University of Florence. He continues to carry out research mainly on the 'British Enlightenment'. Giovanni is also an Honorary Research Associate in the School of Historical Research, Monash University.