Meet The Staff

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 22
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1336

Professor Sasha Perugini is a trilingual academic leader (Italian, Serbian, English) with over three decades of experience across U.S., Italian, and Australian higher education. She serves as Director of Syracuse University Florence and Director of Global Innovation for Syracuse Abroad. In 2025 she was also appointed Courtesy Faculty at the Whitman School of Management.
Since assuming leadership of Syracuse Florence in 2011, she has modernized the academic and operational architecture of the center, strengthened its civic and cultural partnerships, expanded its visibility, and positioned it as a model for experiential and intercultural learning. She also serves as Syracuse University’s legal representative in Italy.
Her current portfolio in Global Innovation focuses on piloting innovative, non credit bearing learning models, AI-enhanced educational design, executive education for Syracuse Abroad. She pilots scalable programs that connect academic innovation with institutional strategy.
A published author and frequent speaker, Professor Perugini writes on cultural narratives, leadership, and the implications of artificial intelligence for education and society. In 2023 she was awarded the Chancellor’s Fellowship for innovation and cross-cultural leadership. She is also active in advancing women’s leadership and regularly leads seminars on governance, inclusion, and intercultural strategy.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 23
• Email: vbrocchi@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1336

Valentina Brocchi provides administrative assistance to the Director, including appointment scheduling, visitor itineraries, and events organization and promotion.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 21
• Email: rsmith81@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1322

Rachael Smith oversees all academic operations, working with the team to continuously improve and enhance our educational offerings, providing the resources and support for students to have the best possible learning experience during their semester in Florence.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 21
• Email: lfenelli@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1386

Laura Fenelli supports faculty, helping to develop pedagogy and curricula that privileges innovation, experiential learning and a student-centered approach.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 24
• Email: obozza@syr.edu
• Email: flrinternships@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1332

Olimpia Bozza coordinates the Internship and I-Engage programs, organizing volunteers and community outreach. She oversees the course fees and budget planning for the experiential learning components of courses, as well as acquisitions for studio arts courses, and creates content for social media.

• Location: Villino Library Office
• Email: amchild@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1359

April Child is responsible for all library operations including circulation, reference assistance, cataloging, and resource management, as well as organizing workshops for students. She also assists with academic operations, providing support and coordinating exam logistics for students with academic accommodations.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 24
• Email: bschiatt@syr.edu
• Email: florencefieldtrips@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1331

Barbara Schiatti plans, schedules, and budgets for the optional I-Explore day trips and weekend trips and manages the logistics of the course-related field studies. Currently on leave.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 24
• Email: hstinnet@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1349

Hannah Stinnett deals with the logistics and budgets for course-related weekend trips and site visits, as well as planning, budgeting and coordinating Faculty-Led courses and Signature Seminars.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 24
• Email: mtarnopo@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1381

Michelle Tarnopolsky assists the Experiential Learning Office by booking art history site visits. She also assists students with academic accommodations, liaises with alumni, creates content for the website, and edits the Villa Rossa Voice Newsletter.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 27
• Email: mchonour@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1321

Melanie Honour oversees housing staff, student housing assignments, and housing emergencies. As a member of the student emergency team, she keeps the 24/7 student emergency phone on an occasional rotating basis.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 26
• Email: giriccia@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1351

Giulia Ricciardi works closely with Student Life Advisors, manages student services communication, events and activities, assists the Assistant Director for Student Services in disciplinary matters, and assists the Housing Manager with housing issues and communication.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 29
• Email: abavares@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1324

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.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 27
• Email: dguzzo@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1344

David Guzzo is part of the student housing staff, and housing emergencies. As a member of the student emergency team, he keeps the 24/7 student emergency phone on an occasional rotating basis.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 10
• Email: mdanie16@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1352

Martina Daniele 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, she keeps the 24/7 emergency phone on an occasional rotating basis.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 25
• Email: cdelli@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1337

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.

• Location: Villa Rossa Front Desk
• Email: naladeni@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1320

Nathalie Aladinese works at the Villa Rossa front desk, welcoming students, checking in guests and visitors, and assisting the Assistant Director of Business & Operations.

• Location: Villa Rossa Front Desk
• Email: cguazzin@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1320

Chiara Guazzini works at the Villa Rossa front desk, welcoming students, checking in guests and visitors, and assisting the Assistant Director of Business Operations.

• Location: Villa Rossa Front Desk
• Email: slandi@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1320

Silvia Landi is responsible for campus mail distribution, classroom and equipment upkeep, cleaning and maintenance services, and receptions for special events.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 25
• Email: apadovan@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1365

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.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 25
• Email: rericci@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1326

Rebecca Ricci assists the Assistant Director of Business and Operations with administrative tasks related to the budget and expenditures.

• Location: Villa Rossa Front Desk
• Email: gsassoni@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1320

Gelso Sassonia assists with the upkeep of buildings and grounds as well as with audiovisual equipment operations and maintenance.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 33
• Email: esoncin@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1382

Erika Soncin manages all HR operations including payroll, overseeing recruitment and selection processes, drafting contracts, and handling related administrative tasks.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 33
• Email: mvenezia@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-5031-333

Myriam Venezia assists the Human Resources Manager with payroll and other HR-related tasks.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 20
• Email: spanico@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1355

Salvatore provides IT support to faculty, staff, and students. He oversees with the day-to-day operations of the IT Office as well as projects and planning.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 20
• Email: mbianc01@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055 5031329

Matteo Bianchini assists the IT office with maintaining the school’s extensive computer network and technical operations.

• Location: Villa Rossa RM 20
• Email: gpennett@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055 5031323

Giulio Pennetta assists the IT office with maintaining the school’s extensive computer network and technical operations.

• Location: Donatello 25
• Email: dprofeta@syr.edu

Daniele Profeta is an Italian architect and designer. He is the Director of the Architecture Program of Syracuse University in Florence. He has previously taught at the Yale School of Architecture and at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). Daniele is a partner at A/P Practice, a collaborative partnership with Maya Alam. Their projects combine everyday digital habits, contemporary imaging technologies, and traditional craftsmanship to surpass an introverted conversation and open up novel forms of practice. Past work ranges from small scale public installations to sites of speculative re-use.

• Location: Donatello 25
• Email: jrhaag@syr.edu
• Work Phone: +39 055-503-1345

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.