Federica Santini

Federica Santini is the Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures and a Professor of Italian and Interdisciplinary Studies at Kennesaw State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Italian literature from UCLA and an M.A. in Modern Literatures from the University of Siena, Italy, as well as leadership certifications from the Chicago Booth School of Business, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and Academic Impressions. In her work as a teacher and academic administrator, she highlights the critical role of active listening in education, noting that it fosters deeper student engagement, enhances comprehension, and supports the development of critical thinking skills essential for academic success. Her scholarly work in poetry, gender and women’s studies, and Italian studies focuses on inclusion through creative expression. Her articles and essays have appeared in numerous journals and volumes in the U.S. and Italy. Her award-winning poetry and short fiction have been published internationally in over 60 journals and anthologies. She has authored or co-edited six scholarly volumes and two poetry collections.