Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison,1995. Professor of Italian. I've been at the University of Arizona since 1997, after teaching for two years at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. I teach courses in Italian language (all levels), literature, culture and folklore. In 2008 I was honored with a COH Distinguished Teaching Award; the nomination required a "Statement of Teaching Philosophy," which can be read here.

My research focuses on medieval comic literature, including books on Cecco Angiolieri (2001) and Dante (2011). This is a field that is vitally important, but frequently misunderstood. The literature of insult was viewed as a means to reinforce morality by publicizing and chastising people's misbehaviors. Therefore, it was considered an ethical art; it was called the literature of "blaming," which was juxtaposed to the literature of "praise" (for praiseworthy actions and individuals). My most recent book, Dante's Tenzone with Forese Donati: The Reprehension of Vice (University of Toronto Press, 2011), explores Dante's experiences with this type of poetry. I recently gave a talk on "Dante's Poetry of Insult" for Humanities Week, which fleshes out these ideas further. It can be viewed here.

In addition, I am the co-editor of a collection of essays in honor of my dissertation advisor, Christopher Kleinhenz (2012). I have also published numerous articles on medieval literature, including the other comic lyric poets, Dante, Boccaccio, and Petrarch.