2023-24 New Faculty

Mario Sassi obtained his Ph.D. in Italian at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught both language and culture—with particular attention given to Dante’s Divine Comedy. He also taught for DePauw University’s summer study abroad program in Grado, Italy. His research focuses on Medieval storytelling and popular narratives, considering the role of the supernatural in religious and literary works (exempla and novelle). He is interested in the interactions between language and creativity, publishing on medieval Italian language and manuscripts. Additionally, he studies medievalism in contemporary pop culture, including in videogames and TV shows. He is excited about introducing Williams students to the world of Italian culture and language. In his free time, Mario enjoys cooking and baking, visiting art museums, dogs, and nature.