Staff


Syracuse University in Florence has a qualified staff ready to help you make the most of your study abroad experience in Florence. What follows is a brief indication of each member’s administrative role at SU Florence.

Perugini, Saša; Director
(Villa Rossa, Room 22)

Cowden, Jennifer; Questura Liaison
(jecowden@syr.edu)
Jennifer Cowden processes permits of stay (permessi di soggiorno) for students and incoming faculty.

Crites, Camille; Assistant Director for Academics
(Villa Rossa, Room 21; Ext. 323; ccrites@syr.edu)
Camille Crites is responsible for the registration process (including academic deadlines, grades, and course records). She coordinates the summer and orientation programs and is responsible for course, room, and exam scheduling. Camille oversees work study applications and payments, financial aid and loan checks. She coordinates visits from SUF partner schools.

Davis, Lawrence; School of Architecture Department Coordinator
(Piazzale Donatello, 25; Ext. 346; ldavis@syr.edu)
Prof. Davis is a practicing architect and Associate Professor at Syracuse University’s School of Architecture in New York. He has been teaching architectural design courses at SU Florence since 2007 and has been coordinator of the architecture program since 2008.

Degli Innocenti, Rossana; Building Maintenance
(Villa Rossa, Room 26; Ext. 337; rdinnoce@syr.edu)
Rossana Degli Innocenti oversees all ordinary maintenance of SU Florence’s buildings and grounds and leased properties, and she is responsible for ensuring that Italian and American safety codes are met and respected.

Duni, Matteo; Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Coordinator
(Villino 3rd floor; Ext. 333; mpduni@syr.edu)
Prof. Matteo Duni is a scholar and docent of Italian history. He teaches courses on the Italian Renaissance and the history of witchcraft and magic at SU Florence and is coordinator of the Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Department, as well as interim coordinator of the Art History Department.

Fantoni, Lucia; Assistant to the Business Office
(Villa Rossa, Room 23; Ext. 352; lfantoni@syr.edu)
Lucia Fantoni assists the Business Manager with the collection and dispersal of funds, payments and general business operations.

Francini, Antonella; Option II and III Program Coordinator
(Villino, 3rd floor; Ext. 361; afrancin@syr.edu)
Prof. Antonella Francini is author and translator of numerous publications on Italian and American literature. At SU Florence she teaches courses on 20th-century and comparative literature with an emphasis on intercultural and interdisciplinary issues. She has coordinated the Option II and III programs since 1990 and 1995 respectively.

Haag, Jennifer; Assistant to the School of Architecture
(Architecture Studios, Piazzale Donatello, 25; Ext. 345; jrhaag@syr.edu)
Jennifer Haag handles budget transactions and bookkeeping operations for the School of Architecture in cooperation with the Business Manager. She catalogues new acquisitions and maintains updated files in the Faculty Research Library, and she coordinates office organization and building maintenance for the Architecture Studios. She also supervises work study students in the Architecture Department. Jennifer is a member of the website team.

Hetzel, Sylvia; Academic Resources
(Library; Ext. 359; syhetzel@syr.edu)
Sylvia Hetzel coordinates the library’s staff and daily operations and is the academic resources referral for the SU Florence’s collection of books, magazines, journals, audiovisual materials, in-house publications and online resources. She assists faculty and students with basic technological needs including the use of Blackboard for classroom instruction. She is copyeditor of the bi-annual newsletter, the Villa Rossa Voice and point person for SUF’s website. She is a member of the SUF 24/7 emergency team on a rotating basis.

Kauffman, James (Jim); Assistant Director for Student Life; Housing Coordinator
(Villa Rossa, Room 24; Ext. 327; jkauffma@syr.edu)
Jim Kauffman coordinates home stay placements and is responsible for overseeing the Student Life Office and extracurricular activities organized at SU Florence. As a member of the student emergency phone team, he keeps the 24/7 emergency phone on a rotating basis.

Kleine, Amy; Assistant Director for Health and Wellness
(Villa Rossa, Room 16; Ext. 324; askleine@syr.edu)
Amy Kleine assists students with physical and mental health concerns and handles accommodation requests for students with special needs. During the fall semester she teaches Freshmen Forum (CAS101)  and during the summer term a course on cross cultural studies (PSY/SOC 400). In addition to her work with students, she works with the director on human resource matters and the development of health/wellness initiatives for SU Florence employees. As a member of the emergency team, she keeps the 24/7 emergency phone on a rotating basis.

Kraczyna, Swietlan (Nick); Department of Studio Arts Coordinator
(Piazzale Donatello, 21; Ext. 342; snkraczy@syr.edu)
Prof. Nick Kraczyna is an active painter and printmaker who exhibits around the world. He teaches printmaking and introduction to drawing (sketchbook) at SU Florence and has been coordinator of the Studio Arts Department since 2009.

Lagi, Tommaso; IT Support Assistant
(Villa Rossa, Room 20; Ext. 355; tlagi@syr.edu)
Tommaso Lagi assists the Network Services Coordinator.

Landi, Fabio; Network Systems Coordinator
(Villa Rossa, Room 20; Ext. 329; flandi@syr.edu)
Fabio Landiis responsible for the school’s computer network and oversees all technical operations.

Landi, Silvia; Front Door Receptionist and Building Maintenance
(Villa Rossa, Front Desk; Ext. 372; slandi@syr.edu)
Silvia Landi is responsible for covering the Villa Rossa front desk, distributing mail and providing cleaning and maintenance services. She assists with special events at the Villa Rossa and the upkeep of classroom equipment.

Mannino, Rosa, Student Life Office
(Villa Rossa, Room 25; Ext. 321; rmannino@syr.edu)
Rosa Mannino provides general information and support to students in the Student Life Office, including scheduling students’ doctor appointments and taking sign-ups for all-school field studies trips. As a member of the student emergency network, she keeps the 24/7 emergency phone on a rotating basis.

Matthews-Grieco, Sara; Women’s and Gender Studies Coordinator
(Villa Rossa, Mezzanine; Ext. 334; smatth01@syr.edu)
Prof. Sara Matthews-Grieco teaches Renaissance and Early Modern History and Women’s and Gender Studies. In 1991 she created the Women’s and Gender Studies focus at SU Florence and has coordinated the program since then.

Mugelli, Roberta; Housing Office Assistant; Architecture Program Assistant
(Villa Rossa: Room 24, Ext. 328; Architecture: Ext. 344; rmugelli@syr.edu)
Roberta Mugelli assists with the placements of students in Italian home stays and apartments. She acts as the primary liaison with the host families and each semester organizes and leads a student-host weekend excursion. In addition to housing, Roberta assists the Architecture program with field trip arrangements.

Piombino, Natalia; Lecture Series Coordinator
(Villino, 3rd floor; Ext. 361; npiombin@syr.edu)
Prof. Natalia Piombino teaches Italian history at SU Florence and is coordinator of the SUF Lecture Series.

Posani, Monica; Building Architect
(Villa Rossa, Rm. 26; Ext. 332; mposani@syr.edu)
Monica Posani oversees all structural changes to SU Florence’s buildings and grounds.

Rossi, Marta; Business Manager
(Villa Rossa, Room 23; Ext. 326; mrossi03@syr.edu)
Marta Rossi is responsible for all financial matters, including bookkeeping, collection and dispersal of funds, payroll and general business operations.

Ruffolo, Elaine; Field Studies Coordinator
(2nd floor Villino, Field Studies Office; Ext. 331; enruffol@syr.edu)
Elaine Ruffolo coordinates the SU Florence Field Studies Program which includes all-school, course-specific and optional field trips. She handles field trip scheduling and reimbursement approvals in the case of conflicting course field trips.

Sassonia, Gelso; Buildings & Grounds and Equipment Maintenance
(Villa Rossa, Room 26; Ext. 337; gsassoni@syr.edu)
Gelso Sassonia assists with upkeep of SU Florence building and grounds as well as with equipment operations and maintenance.

Spini, Debora; Internship Program Coordinator
(dspini@syr.edu)
Prof. Debora Spini is a scholar in social and political philosophy. She teaches courses on political theory, contemporary history, politics and gender issues. She has been coordinator of the internship program since 2001.

Tarini, Loredana; Department of Italian Language & Culture Coordinator
(Villa Rossa, Rm. 25; Ext. 339; ltarini@syr.edu)
Prof. Loredana Tarini teaches Italian language and culture at SU Florence and has been coordinator of the language department since 1994.

Tarnopolsky, Michelle; Assistant to the Director
(Villa Rossa, Rm. 21; Ext. 336; mtarnopo@syr.edu)
Michelle Tarnopolsky provides administrative assistance to the director, including all appointment scheduling.  She liaises with administrative offices at SU Abroad and SU Europe and organizes itineraries for visitors from the home campus.

Tettamanti, Vittoria; Volunteer Program Coordinator
(Villa Rossa, Rm. 26; Ext. 349; vtettama@syr.edu)
Prof. Vittoria Tettamanti teaches Italian language and culture at SU Florence and has been coordinator of the Volunteer program since 2006.