EDUCATION

The University of Chicago, Department of Anthropology – Chicago, IL                                                                                           September 2006 – present

• MA Social Sciences (anthropology of Cambodia, historic preservation, museum studies and tourism)
• Thesis: The Heritage-scape: Converting Places of Local Interest into Sites of Universal Value

Georgetown University, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service – Washington, DC                                                                 August 1996 – May 2000

• BS Foreign Service, Major: Culture and Politics
• Certificate in European Studies
  
• Thesis: Mito e l'immagine nella pietà popolare in Italia contemporanea / Myth and the Image in Contemporary Italian Popular Piety

• Studies: Italian language and composition

AWARDS

• Hannah Holborn Gray - Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Advanced Fellowship for the Humanistic Social Sciences (2009, 20010, 2011: 3-year dissertation research/write up support)
• University of Chicago Overseas Dissertation Research Grant, Summer 2009
• Provost's Summer Fellowship, Division of the Social Sciences, University of Chicago, Summer 2009 (declined)
• Leiffer Pre-Field Research Fellowship, Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago, Summer 2008
• Committee on South and Southeast Asian Studies (COSAS) Travel Grant, University of Chicago, Summer 2008
• Cornell University Southeast Asian conference travel grant, March 2008 (declined)
• Doolittle-Harrison Fellowship, Division of the Social Sciences, University of Chicago, Summer 2007
• Marion R. & Adolph J. Lichtstern Award, Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago, Summer 2007
• Committee on South and Southeast Asian Studies (COSAS) Travel Grant, University of Chicago, Summer 2007
• University of Chicago 4-year Unendowed Fellowship (2006, 2007, 2008; 2009 declined)
• Cum laude, Georgetown University Spring 2000
• Georgetown University First Honors: Spring 2000, Fall 1999, Spring 1999, Fall 1999 (latter two in Bologna)
• Georgetown University Dean’s List: Fall 1997
• Center for Italian and Italian-American Society scholarship to Georgetown University

AFFILIATIONS

• American Anthropological Association (2007 - present)
• Central States Anthropological Society (2007 – present)
• Society for the Anthropology of Europe (2007 – present)
• Society for the Anthropology of Religion (2007 – present)
• Council on Museum Anthropology (2007 – present)
• Society for Humanistic Anthropology (2008 – present)
• Interest Group for the Anthropology of Public Policy (2007 – present)
• Interest Group on NGOs and Nonprofits (2009 – present)
• American Anthropological Association Scholarly Communications Interest Group (2009 – present)
• National Association of Student Anthropologists (2007 – present)
• Tourism-Contact-Culture Research Network (2009 – present), Founding Member
• Phi Alpha Theta International History Honor Society (2000 – present)
• Theta Alpha Kappa International Theology and Religious Studies Honor Society (2000 – present)
• Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Fraternity (1998 - present)
• Knights of Columbus – 3^rd degree (1997- present)

ACADEMIC BOARDS and PEER-REVIEW

PUBLICATIONS

BOOKS

The Heritage-scape: UNESCO, World Heritage and Tourism. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2009. ISBN 9780739114346 (hardcover), ISBN 9780739114353 (paperback).

BOOK CHAPTERS

"The Passions of Pilgrimage: Promoting and Practicing Religious Tourism in Pietrelcina and San Giovanni Rotondo." In Mike Robinson and David Picard, eds. Emotion in Motion: The Passion of Tourism, Travel and Movement. Surrey, UK: Ashgate (forthicoming, 2011). 

"UNESCO’s Heritage-scape: A Global Endeavor to Produce ‘Peace in the Minds of Men’ through Tourism and Preservation." In Rana P.B. Singh, ed. Heritagescapes and Cultural Landscapes. Planet Earth and Cultural Understanding Series. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing (forthcoming, 2010)

“La Vigilia Italo-Americana: Transmitting Authenticity amid Social Change.” In Lysaght, Patricia, ed. Food and Meals at Cultural Crossroads. Proceedings from the 17th Conference of the International Commission for Ethnological Food Research, September 15-19, 2008. Oslo, Norway: Novus, 2010, pp. 124-136. ISBN: 9788270995714.

"Saints, Citizens, Pilgrims: Religious Tourism and Revitalization in Pietrelcina, Italy." In Anna Trono, ed. Tourism, Religion and Culture: Regional Evelopment through Meaningful Tourism Experiences. Galatina (Lecce), Italy: Mario Congedo Publisher, 2009, pp. 239-260. ISBN: 9788880868750

SELECTED TRANSLATIONS

"Sacred Journeys as Spaces for Peace." Invited lecture / paper to be presented at the IV Colloquium Compostela: "Pilgrims as Peacemakers." Instituto de Estudios Gallegos Padre Sarmiento / Spanish National Research Council. Santiago de Compostela, Spain, October 2010.

"The Seductions of Suffering: Stigmata, Salvation and Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo." Paper to be presented at the special session, "Rethinking Pilgrimage, Seduction and Difference" in the 1st Tourism-Contact-Culture Research Network Conference, Tourism and Seductions of Difference. (Lisbon, Portugal, September 2010).

"Introductory Remarks: Rethinking Pilgrimage, Seduction and Difference." Paper to be presented at the special session, "Rethinking Pilgrimage, Seduction and Difference" in the 1st Tourism-Contact-Culture Research Network Conference, Tourism and Seductions of Difference. (Lisbon, Portugal, September 2010).

"World Heritage as a Revitalization Movement: Managing Local and Global Tourism in UNESCO's Heritage-scape" Paper to be presented at the first International Conference of World Heritage and Tourism: Managing for the Global and the Local. (Quebec City, Canada, June 2-4, 2010).

"Defining Angkor, Producing the Heritage-Scape: The importance of Narratives in the Global and Local Management of World Heritage sites." Paper to be presented at the first International Conference of World Heritage and Tourism: Managing for the Global and the Local. (Quebec City, Canada, June 2-4, 2010).

"The  Heritage-scape: UNESCO, World Heritage, and Tourism." Invited lecture, Universita' Politecnico di Torino, (Turin, Italy: May 17, 2010).

“Saints, Citizens, Pilgrims: Religious Tourism and Revitalization in Pietrelcina, Italy." Paper presented at the conference, Tourism, Religion and Culture: Regional Development through Meaningful Tourism Experiences. Lecce: Universita' del Salento (October 28, 2009).

"St. Padre Pio's 'Jubilee Year' 2009: Exhumation, Veneration, Peregrination." Paper presented at the Anthropology of Europe Workshop, University of Chicago (October 20, 2009).

"The Passions of Pilgrimage: Promoting and Practicing Religious Tourism at Pietrelcina.” Paper presented at the Royal Anthropological Institute’s Ethnographic Film Festival Conference, Emotions in Motion: The Passion of Tourism, Travel and Movement. Leeds Metropolitan University, July 2009.

“Encountering Angkor, Producing the Heritage-scape: Colonial Archaeology as a Vehicle for Preservation and Tourism at UNESCO’s Angkor Archaeological Park.” Paper presented at the conference, Encounters: Conversations on Society, Materiality, and the Politics of the Past and Present. Interdisciplinary Archaeology Workshop, University of Chicago, May 2009.

“The Rāmāyana through Cultures, and Sita Sings the Blues.” Special lecture sponsored by the University of Chicago Graham School for General Education, in conjunction with a director-led screening of the film, Sita Sings the Blues (April 20, 2009).

“The Heritage-scape: UNESCO, World Heritage and Tourism.” Special lecture sponsored by the Union Forum, Hinsdale IL (March 22, 2009).

Discussant for “Anti-racist Activism, Attempts towards Inclusive Citizenship, 'Foreigners Councils' and the Re-inclusion of the Race/National Divide in Tuscany,” an address given by Valentina Pagliai (Remarque Institute, NYU) at the Anthropology of Europe Workshop, University of Chicago (January 29, 2009).

“Embracing a Saint, Regenerating a Town: Padre Pio, Pilgrimage and the Revitalization of Pietrelcina.” Paper presented at the Anthropology of Europe Workshop, University of Chicago (January 15, 2009).

“The Heritage-scape: UNESCO, World Heritage and Tourism.” Special lecture sponsored by the University of Chicago Graham School for Continuing Education (December 13, 2008).

“Reconceptualizing Tourism and Development through a Revitalization Paradigm: Preliminary Results from Pietrelcina (BN), Italy.” Paper presented at the conference, Attractions and Events as Catalysts for Regeneration and Social Change (Christel DeHaan Tourism & Travel Research Institute, University of Nottingham, September 24-25, 2008).

“Revitalization and Counter-Revitalization: Tourism, Heritage and the Lantern Festival as Catalysts for Regeneration in Hội An, Viet Nam.” Paper presented at the conference, Attractions and Events as Catalysts for Regeneration and Social Change (Christel DeHaan Tourism & Travel Research Institute, University of Nottingham, September 24-25, 2008).

“La Vigilia Italo-Americana: Transmitting Authenticity amid Social Change.” Paper presented at The Societé Internationale d´Ethnologie et de Folklore’s 17th International Ethnological Food Research Conference, Cultural Crossroads: Food and Meals at Cultural Crossroads. (Oslo, Norway: September 2008).

“The Heritage-scape in Cambodia: Creating ‘Peace in the Minds of Men’ at Angkor Archaeological Park.” World Archaeological Conference (Dublin, Ireland June-July 2008). Eric Gable, discussant (declined)

“The Heritage-scape: Creating ‘Peace in the Minds of Men’ at Angkor Archaeological Park.” Paper accepted for presentation at the Central States Anthropological Society 85^th Annual Convention (Indianapolis, IN, March 2008).

“The Heritage-scape in Cambodia: Creating ‘Peace in the Minds of Men’ at Angkor Archaeological Park.” Paper accepted for presentation at Cornell University’s 10^th Annual Southeast Asian Graduate Student Conference (Ithaca, NY, March 2008).

“The Heritage-scape in Cambodia: Creating ‘Peace in the Minds of Men’ at Angkor Archaeological Park.” Paper presented at Northern Illinois University’s Graduate Student Conference on Southeast Asia (DeKalb, IL, February 2008) (cancelled).

“The Heritage-scape in Cambodia: UNESCO’s (Anti-)Political Placemaking Endeavor at the Angkor Archaeological Park World Heritage Site” Paper presented in the “(Anti-)Politics of Culture” panel at the AAA Conference (American Anthropological Association Annual Conference, Washington, DC, USA, October-November 2007). Richard Handler, discussant.

“The Heritage-scape: UNESCO’s Globalizing Endeavor to Create ‘Unity in Diversity’.” Paper presented at the Conference, Multiculturalism, Pluralism and Globalization (University of Wisconsin-LA Crosse, USA, October 2007).

"Concluding Remarks" for the conference, Things That Move: The Material World of Tourism and Travel (Centre for Tourism and Cultural Change - Leeds Metropolitan University, UK, July 2007).

“Monuments that Move: Tourism and the Diffusion of UNESCO’s Global Heritage-scape.” Paper presented at the Conference, Things That Move: The Material World of Tourism and Travel (Centre for Tourism and Cultural Change - Leeds Metropolitan University, UK, July 2007).

“Unity in Diversity: European Capitals of Culture and the Construction of a European Heritage-scape.” Paper Presented at the Reinventing Europe Conference (Chicago, IL: Franke Institute for the Humanities, University of Chicago, April 23, 2005).

        Moderator: Educational Travel Conference.  (Washington, DC: ETC, 2004).

        Moderator: Educational Travel Conference.  (Washington, DC: ETC, 2003).

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

University of Chicago Graham School of General Studies, Basic Program – Chicago, IL

Associate Non-Faculty Lecturer, Introduction to Biblical Literature and Existentialism                                                                                                    March 2008 – June 2008

Associate Non-Faculty Lecturer, Poetry and Poetics of Western Culture                                                                                                                             March 2008 – June 2008

University of Chicago Graham School of General Studies, Asian Classics Certificate Program – Chicago, IL

Associate Non-Faculty Lecturer, Rāmāyana       January – March 2009

Associate Non-Faculty Lecturer, Mahābhārata and the Bhagavad Gītā in the Mahābhārata            September – December 2008

Associate Non-Faculty Lecturer, Chinese Poetry in Translation                                      September – December 2008

Associate Non-Faculty Lecturer, “Medieval” Indian Literature: Bhakti, Jainism and Sufism         March 2008 – June 2008

Associate Non-Faculty Lecturer, Rāmāyana and Cilappatikāram                                              January – March 2008

Associate Non-Faculty Lecturer, Mahābhārata and the Bhagavad Gītā in the Mahābhārata     September – December 2007

University of Chicago Department of Anthropology – Chicago, IL                                                                                                                           

Research Associate, Dr. Paul Friedrich                                                                                                                                                                             June 2007- December 2008

Teacher’s Assistant, Anthropology of Museums I and II (winter and spring semesters)                                                                                            January 2008 – June 2008

Teacher’s Assistant, Tourist Encounters, Tourist Spaces (autumn semester)                                                                         September 2007 – December 2007

WORK EXPERIENCE

Slover-Linett Strategies

Research Fellow and Fieldwork Supervisor                                                                                                                                                                                           July 2007 – present

• Design and manage customized qualitative and quantitative visitor and tourist research programs in situ for museums and cultural institutions (Selected list of institutions: Art Institute of Chicago, Terra Foundation, Hyde Park Arts Center, Smart Museum, Chicago Cultural Center, Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago), Fleisher Art Memorial (Philadelphia), Whitney Museum).
• Manage qualitative and quantitative tourist and potential visitor research programs at off-site, outdoor fielding locations in Chicago and New York neighborhoods.
• Train new field researchers in qualitative and quantitative data collection methodology.
• Perform rigorously methodological “random sampling” visitor survey research
• Conduct qualitative data analysis and write reports

Freelance Translator and Interpreter                                                                                                                                        September 1999 – present

Freelance Italian-English Translator

• Provided Italian to English translation services to academic, nonprofit and for-profit clients in the Social Sciences and Medical Sciences, especially in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, art history, economics, political science and periodontistry.
• Past publications include books, articles, websites, briefings, museum placards.
• Provided on-site interpretation and translation services in the tourism, museum and import/export industries.

Libera Universita’ di Urbino, Facoltà di Economia – Urbino, Italy                                                                                              June 2005 – September 2006

Contracted Translator and Member of Editorial Staff

• Contributed to academic research in the social sciences, particularly economics and the culture of small businesses
• Translated economics and business papers for publication and for conferences
• Translated abstracts for articles published in the University’s journal, Piccola Impresa / Small Business

Council on Foreign Relations – Washington, DC                                                                                                                              January 2006 – August 2006

Assistant Director, Diplomatic Program

• Co-founded the Diplomatic Program to position the Council as an important resource for the foreign diplomatic community under the leadership and direction of the Vice-President and Director of the Washington Program
• Engaged foreign ambassadors and their embassy staffs in a variety of outreach and communication efforts. Fostered especially close ties to a number of Deputy Chiefs of Missions
• Served as a resource to the Council staff at large by providing embassy information, promoting their publications and contacting foreign diplomats on their behalf
• Briefed Ambassadors and Deputy Chiefs of Mission on upcoming Council events and publications
• Organized monthly Embassy Lunches Series wherein ambassadors hosted a select group of Council members for off-the-record discussions. Participants included the ambassadors from Morocco, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Poland and Indonesia
• Founded and hosted periodic Roundtable Briefings for Deputy Chiefs of Mission (DCM), off-the-record meetings on pressing foreign policy issues and on the recommendations of Council task forces
• Organized Special Economic Briefings for National Security Council and State Department officials
• Operated high-level meetings between Council board members and White House officials
• Planned, organized and operated a variety of on and off-the-record foreign policy meetings for membership featuring visiting dignitaries such as United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno, European and Middle Eastern government officials, President Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, the first female African head of state

The University of Chicago Alumni Association – Chicago, IL                                                                                                            June 2005 – September 2005

Coordinator, Summer in the Cities – Washington, DC program

• Oversaw and monitored the over one hundred students and young alumni working in Washington, DC
• Collaborated with the University of Chicago Alumni Association and Career Advising and Planning Services to organize three career networking conferences in Washington, DC and arrange private tours in and around Washington, DC.
• Maintained the computer list-serv (e-mail correspondence board)

International Seminar Design, Inc. – Washington, DC                                                                                                                       March 2001 – August 2004

Director of Operations (January 2002 – August 2004)

• Researched, organized, managed and accompanied custom-designed educational and cultural tours for clients (museums, university alumni associations, cultural associations and other non-profit organizations) to Italy, Asia and Africa
• Developed the Global Garden Project, specializing specifically in garden tours for horticultural societies, botanic gardens and garden clubs
• Developed Southeast Asia as a new destination (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar)
• Expanded ISDI’s existing operations in Italy, Japan, South Africa and Australia through specialized research and international site-inspections
• Conducted business transactions and broadened relationships through seamless communication in English and Italian
• Tracked international developments related to heritage preservation and culture in Italy, Asia and South Africa 
• Managed large payments in various currencies to providers throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania
• Implemented successful organizational strategies for streamlining company’s internal operations
• Published marketing brochures and site-specific articles on culture, religion, art, and customs for passengers’ educational use on tour
• Lectured on art, landscape design and general culture at numerous pre-departure briefings at museums, horticultural societies and universities
• Served as Tour Director, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the tour to ensure its success
• Resolved a wide variety of situations related to passenger illness, outbreak of disease and terrorism abroad

Istituto Italiano di Cultura (Italian Cultural Institute) - Washington, DC                                                          November 1999 – July 2000; January -March 2001

Translator and Educational Office Assistant

• Oversaw research on the preservation of historic opera houses in Emilia-Romagna region
• Translated transcripts from Italian to English, including press releases and official publications
• Coordinated efforts in the educational office, organizing school and scholarship information
• Wrote critiques and historical annotations in English for various art exhibits
• Researched, compiled, assisted in writing, and translated monthly newsletter from Italian into English

Delaney Policy Group – Washington, DC                                                                                                                                                 July-December 2000

Associate

Italian Trade Commission, NY / Rome                                                                                                                                                             February 2000

Italian-English Interpreter for Di Filippo Vineyards (Assisi, Italy)