English Professor receives Fulbright teaching-research award to Naples

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Karin Mackenzie, (808) 956-4051
College of Languages, Linguistics & Literature
Posted: Jan 13, 2016

Cristina Bacchilega
Cristina Bacchilega

The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board recently awarded UH Mānoa English Professor Cristina Bacchilega with a Fulbright teaching-research award to Naples, Italy, beginning in February.  Bacchilega will teach a course, titled The Fantastic in Contemporary American Literature, at the Università di Napoli Orientale and conduct research on a recent fairy-tale film, The Tale of Tales.  Most of her time will be devoted to MA-level students at L'Orientale who, as part of the Dipartimento di Studi Letterari, Linguistici e Comparati, pursue American literature/studies within broader literary, linguistic and comparative frameworks.

During her four-month stay, Bacchilega will also serve as a speaker and seminar leader at the OASIS-Orientale American Studies International School, a one-week summer institute at Università Orientale’s conference center on the island of Procida, off the coast of Naples. She has been invited to give lectures in Padova (Italy), Lausanne (Switzerland), Munich (Germany) and London (UK).

Bacchilega’s disciplines include fairy tale studies, folklore and literature, and cultural studies. In her teaching of American folklore, literature and film, she takes a transnational and interdisciplinary approach, seeking to open up an understanding of the fantastic that is not devoid of historical and political significance.

Said the Kaimuki resident, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share my work with students and colleagues in Europe.  I am humbled by the honor and hope to represent the university, my department and my college with the distinction they richly deserve. My thanks to Jeff Carroll, LLL Dean and former Chair of English, and Laura E. Lyons, Chair of English, for supporting me.”

Commented Dean Carroll, “Cristina and I have been colleagues for over 25 years. She has earned the respect of students and peers alike. Universita di Napoli Orientale will thoroughly enjoy hosting her on both a personal and professional level. Ciao, Cristina.”

About the Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program aims to increase understanding between people of the United States and people of other countries. Grants are made possible through funds appropriated annually by the U.S. Congress. The program’s 12-member scholarship board is appointed by the president of the United States. Fulbright alumni have become heads of state, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs, and university presidents, as well as leading journalists, artists, scientists, and teachers. Since its beginnings in 1946, there have been more than 360,000 Fulbrighters, of whom 53 received Nobel Prizes.

The College of Languages, Linguistics & Literature (one of the four Arts & Sciences colleges) of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa offers a broad curriculum in English, foreign and heritage languages and literatures, second language studies, and linguistics. Its Asia and Pacific focused curricula is unique in the nation. The faculty regularly teaches more than 25 languages, and has the capacity to teach many more.

If you would like to support the college, please visit www.uhfoundation.org/GivetoLLL.

For more information, visit: http://lll.hawaii.edu/