Syracuse Florence’s highly qualified staff is committed to helping students make the most of their study abroad experiences in Florence.
Sasha Perugini
Program Director
VR-Rm 22
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-336
A native of Tuscany with Serbian background, Professor Perugini is fluent in Italian, Serbian and English. She earned her Laurea Magistrale (MA comparable) in English and Russian at the University of Siena and her doctorate in History of Performing Arts from Tufts University. She has been the Director of Syracuse Florence since 2011 and acts as the program’s legal representative. She teaches cross-cultural management and communication. Perugini has published five books and many scholarly articles on topics ranging from language to food to AI and bias. Recipient of the Chancellor’s Fellowship in 2023. She is involved in advocacy for women in leadership, and regularly leads dedicated seminars on the subject.
Kevin Barnett
Information & Communication Technology
VR-Rm 20
Email: jkbarnet@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-355
Kevin Barnett collaborates with the IT Manager at SU Florence and at other Syracuse Abroad centers on the development and upkeep of information and communication technology systems.
Andressa Bavaresco
Wellness & Services Coordinator
VR-Rm 27
Email: abavares@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-324
Andressa Bavaresco is responsible for student health and wellness services. She helps students with the kinds of personal, social, and cultural concerns that can arise during their time in Italy. She keeps the 24/7 student emergency phone on an occasional rotating basis.
Olimpia Bozza
Internship Program & Experiential Learning
VR-Rm 24
Email: flrinternships@syr.edu; obozza@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-332
Olimpia Bozza is in charge of the Syracuse Florence Internship Program. She also manages course fees and budgeting for site visits and course related field trips and handles matters related to acquisitions for studio arts courses. She keeps the 24/7 student emergency phone on an occasional rotating basis.
April Child
Academic Support Coordinator
Villino Library Office
Email: amchild@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-359
April Child is responsible for all library operations including circulation, reference assistance, cataloging, and resource management. She also assists with academic operations and provides support for students with academic accommodations.
Claudia Delli
Assistant Director of Business & Operations
VR-Rm 25
Email: cdelli@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-337
Claudia Delli oversees all aspects of the budget, ensures compliance with health and safety protocols relating to our students and our facilities, and manages general operations throughout the Syracuse Florence campus. She also keeps the 24/7 student emergency phone on an occasional rotating basis.
Jennifer Haag
Assistant to the School of Architecture
Donatello 25
Email: jrhaag@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-345
Jennifer Haag handles budget transactions and bookkeeping operations for the Architecture department in cooperation with the Business Manager. She is responsible for organizing the architecture field study trips, cataloging new acquisitions, and maintaining updated files in the Faculty Research Library. She also coordinates office operations and building maintenance for the Architecture Studios.
Melanie Honour
Housing & Services Facilitator
VR-Rm 27
Email: mchonour@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-321
Melanie Honour is responsible for student housing and information services. As a member of the student emergency team, she keeps the 24/7 student emergency phone on an occasional rotating basis.
Fabio Landi
Network Services Assistant
VR-Rm 20
Email: flandi@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-329
Fabio Landi assists the IT office with maintaining the school’s extensive computer network and technical operations.
Silvia Landi
Building Maintenance
VR-Front DeskEmail: slandi@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-320
Silvia Landi is responsible for campus mail distribution, classroom and equipment upkeep, cleaning and maintenance services, and receptions for special events.
Francesca Messeri
Assistant to the Director
VR-Rm 23
Email: fmesseri@syr.edu
Work phone: +39 055-5031-336
Francesca Messeri provides administrative assistance to the director including appointment scheduling, visitor itineraries, and events organization and promotion.
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-352
Simone Monaco provides general information and assistance to students in the Student Life Office including sign-ups for the various activities offered at Syracuse Florence. As a member of the student emergency team, he keeps the 24/7 emergency phone on an occasional rotating basis.
Agnese Padovan
Facilities and Operations Assistant
VR-Rm 25
Email: apadovan@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-365
Agnese works in the Business & Operations office. She deals with various suppliers and contracts, managing day-to-day facilities-related requests. She also helps to organize events and visits.
Salvatore Panico
IT Assistant
VR-Rm 20
Email: spanico@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-323
Salvatore provides IT support to faculty, staff, and students. He assists with the day-to-day operations of the IT Office and helps the IT Manager with projects and planning.
Alessandra Pino
Immersion & Guidance
VR-Rm 10
Email: alpino@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-320
Alessandra provides cultural immersion guidance to students in the Student Life Office. As a member of the student emergency team, she keeps the 24/7 student emergency phone on an occasional rotating basis.
Rebecca Ricci
Business Office Assistant
VR-Rm 25
Email: rericci@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-326
Rebecca Ricci assists the Assistant Director of Business and Operations with administrative tasks related to the budget and expenditures.
Gelso Sassonia
Facilities & Grounds Maintenance
VR-Front Desk
Email: gsassoni@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-337
Gelso Sassonia assists with the upkeep of buildings and grounds as well as with audiovisual equipment operations and maintenance.
Barbara Schiatti
Field Studies Program
VR-Rm 24
Email: florencefieldtrips@syr.edu; bschiatt@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055 5031331
Barbara Schiatti plans, schedules, and budgets for the optional I-Explore and I-Experience field trips and manages the logistics of the course-related field studies. She also handles budgets and logistics for Signature Seminars and assists with faculty-led summer programs from the US.
Rachael Smith
Assistant Director for Students’ Academic Success
VR-Rm 21
Email: rsmith81@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055 5031322
Rachael Smith is responsible for coordinating academic operations and ensuring things run smoothly. She liaises closely with the Student Services and administrative teams, providing support to faculty and students.
Erika Soncin
Human Resources Administrator
VR-Rm 26
Email: esoncin@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-382
Erika Soncin provides administrative support to Human Resources operations and organization.
Kamila Subko
Human Resources Administrator
VR-Rm 26
Email: ksubko@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-333
Kamila Subko is responsible for overseeing HR administration tasks and people management focusing on communication and effective teamwork.
Michelle Tarnopolsky
Academic Office Assistant
VR-Rm 24
Email: mtarnopo@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-381
Michelle Tarnopolsky provides program assistance to the Academic Office, gives campus tours for alumni, edits the Villa Rossa Voice newsletter, and oversees the Syracuse Florence website.
Jessica Volpe
Assistant Director, Student Services
VR-Rm 29
Email: jbvolpe@syr.edu
Work Phone: +39 055-5031-327
Jessica oversees staff and operations within the Student Services team, including the Student Life Office, Health and Wellness, Community Engagement, and Housing. She is responsible for semester planning, budgeting, and housing protocols in collaboration with the business, risk management, and SUAbroad offices. She coordinates arrivals and orientation and serves as backup to Emergency Team staff outside of office hours. She also keeps the student 24/7 emergency phone on an occasional rotating basis.