President: Lydia Lindsey

Year: Senior

Major: Forensic Anthropology

Minor: Biological Sciences

Ciao! Mi chiamo Lydia. I’m honored to be serving as President this year! I’m a senior majoring in Forensic Anthropology and minoring in Biological Sciences. I took Italian as a requirement my freshman year and I knew that I wanted to keep participating in the club afterwards! In addition to taking classes my freshman year I was lucky enough to go to Bologna to study abroad in the summer of 2019! I had an amazing time and I highly recommend everyone to go if they can! It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the language and culture of Italy! I look forward to all that is in store for the club this year!

Vice President: Olivia Accardi

Year: Sophmore

Major: Kinesiology

Minor: Italian & Biological Sciences

Ciao! Mi chiamo Olivia. I am very excited to be serving as Vice President this year. I am a sophomore majoring in Kinesiology and minoring in both Italian and Biological Sciences. I have grown up in an Italian household and have always wanted to learn more about the language and culture; this is something UT has given me. By joining the Italian club, I realized there was so much UT has to offer outside the classroom that can immerse myself in the language and culture. I am very excited to see what this year has in store for the club!

Treasurer: Alana Messer

Major: Microbiology

Minor: Psychology

Ciao! My name is Alana, I’m majoring in microbiology with a minor in psychology. I currently work in an undergraduate research lab. I took Italian as my language requirement and fell in love with not only the language but also the culture! I hope to travel lots and definitely visit Italy at some point in my life. 

Public Relation: Jaci Owens

Year: Junior

Major: Pre-Law

Minor: Psychology

Ciao! I am a junior, and I’m a pre-law major and psychology minor. I chose Italian because I wanted a fresh start at learning a new language, and the department was so friendly and helpful that I wanted to be a bigger part of it. I’m also apart of Mock Trial, Jones Center Ambassador, and Diversity Educators on campus.

Co-Media Chairperson: Matthew Perkins

Year: Senior

Major: Art History & Italian

Ciao! My name is Matthew, I am Art History and Italian major. I have been apart of the Italian department since my freshman year and fell in love with the language. Currently I am a TA in the Italian Department working in introductory courses. I joined the Italian club last year and am so very excited to server as the Co-Media Chairperson. I hope to study abroad in Europe in the summer and spend sometime on the Amalfi coast.

Co-Media Chairperson: Maria Suarez

Year: Senior

Major: Biochemesity & Cellular and molecular Biology

Minor: Italian

Ciao! Mi chiamo Maria. I am very excited to be serving as co Media- Rep this year. I am a senior majoring in Modern Foreign Languages and World Business with a concentration in Italian and a minor in Communications. I got interested in Italian my freshman year while I was trying to find out what I wanted to do in college. Luckily, for me I found a love for the language and moved forward in other Italian courses. I am bilingual already and love traveling, which drives my ambition and passion for knowing different languages.

Event Chairperson: Grace Shelton

Year: Junior

Major: Biochemesity & Cellular and molecular Biology

Minor: Italian

Ciao! My major is Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology with a minor in Italian. I grew up in Atlanta and my favorite past times are reading, spending time in nature, and being with my friends/family. My role in the Italian club is covering the monthly newsletters as event chairperson. 

Event Coordinator : Shelby Staut

Year: Senior

Major: Anthropology with a concentration in forensics

Minor: Biological Sciences

Ciao! I am a senior graduating in the Spring of 2022 studying anthropology with a concentration in forensics as well as a biological sciences minor. I have been a member of the Italian Club since enrolling in my first Italian class with Francesca in 2019.  In my free time, I enjoys being a member of the Pride of the Southland, spending time with friends, and drinking chai tea while reading a book.   

Adviser: Renée D’Elia-Zunino

Position: Distinguished Lecturer of Italian

Office: 708 McClung Tower

Email: rdelia@utk.edu

Renée D’Elia-Zunino is a Distinguished Lecturer in Italian Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She graduated at Università di Genova, Italy. She grew up in Uscio, in Northwestern Italy, and married Laurent Zunino, a Frenchman from Provence. She loves to teach, write, cook, and enjoys family traditions. Her courses range from beginners Italian, to intermediate, and cultural upper division.  She is the advisor for the Italian Club UTK. Besides her scholarly research, she writes stories for children and recently published the book The Curious Adventures of Wickl-Wackl and His Friends, Xlibris Dec.2017.