Meet the Team!
My name is Kelsie Fernandez and I am a second year student pursuing a dual degree in Humanities and English, with a minor in Communication. I became introduced to undergraduate research at FSU because of my enrollment in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program through which I joined Dr. Irene Zanini-Cordi’s research project entitled “Culture, Conversations, and Social Networks in 18th- and 19th-century Italy” in the Fall of 2023. I was drawn to this project because of Dr. Zanini-Cordi’s interdisciplinary approach to the her study of the literary salon and the opportunity to contribute to her research in a way that would allow me to explore different areas of interest within the Humanities. My participation in this project involved editing Dr. Zanini-Cordi’s upcoming book and an independent study surrounding the topic of Italian salonnières which culminated in the production of a podcast episode. Participating in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) provided me with exposure to the world of research and allowed me to connect with this group of inspiring women.
My name is Colson Gantt and I am a second year student studying International Affairs and French. I am from Tampa, Florida and I have been a Florida resident my whole life. My goals after graduation are to attend law school to study international law and to hopefully work abroad someday. I was introduced to undergraduate research through Florida State’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) where I worked alongside Dr. Irene Zanini-Cordi and my teammates conducted research on literary salons of the 18th and 19th centuries and their connection to Social Network Theory. I have read and analyzed numerous primary and secondary sources on the topic of literary salons and the salonnières who host them. Working on this project has allowed me to explore the French influence on Italian salons and culture as French language and culture is one of my academic interests. Each member of my team and I have published one podcast episode each about our chosen topics within the realm of Italian salons and Social Network Theory. The project we are working with this grant will further the development of our podcast series as well as our knowledge on the subject. Furthering this research through this grant experience will be very beneficial for my academic growth. I am excited to work on this project with my mentor and my fellow teammates.
Hi! My name is Emma Clark and I am a freshman from St. Louis, Missouri. I am double majoring in political science and philosophy. I was introduced to undergraduate research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) in which I worked alongside Dr. Zanini-Cordi and fellow teammates to investigate various topics related to Italian literary salons, Social Network Theory, 18th-century Enlightenment culture, and the lives and writings of various Italian and French salonnieres. This research culminated in the first several episodes of our podcast Sip and Connect – the rest of which will be produced from our work under this grant. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to utilize and strengthen my skills of literary analysis and critical thinking – skills applicable to future career aspirations of mine, including continued undergraduate research and ultimately law school. I am excited to continue working with this incredible team!
Hello! My name is Angelina Dobbs. I am a sophomore from Denver, Colorado, double majoring in English and psychology. I love the brain, so one career plan I have is to attend graduate school for a Ph.D. in neuroscience to conduct research. I also love to read, so another plan is to become a book editor after graduation. Book editing is the primary reason I joined Dr. Irene Zanini-Cordi’s research project called “Culture, Conversations and Social Networks in 18th- and 19th-Century Italy” in the fall of 2023 while in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. Part of the project was to assist her in editing and indexing the book she was writing, along with completing a personal study relating to her work on Italian salonnières. Due to my interest in research and women’s studies, this was a fascinating project for me. I also got to work with a fantastic group of women, and now, months later, we are extending our project with an IDEA Grant.
Our IDEA Grant research, grounded in the principles of Social Network Theory, examines the 18th-century culture of sociability in Italy and the diffusion of Enlightenment ideas through salon networks. We want to explore the influence of popular Italian salonnières through their social networks and communication media (writings, gatherings, learning endeavors, event organization). Our findings will demonstrate how a newly found power in social “connectedness” helped Italian women to overcome gender bias and craft new personal, literary, and often political identities. They will show how interpersonal connections, social networks, and social media can shape one’s life story and become the vehicle of culture-changing trends.
To disseminate and apply our research, we are recording a podcast series called “Sip and Connect: Social Networking Italian Style,” which will be posted to Spotify for the public to enjoy. The four of us, guided by our mentor, Dr. Zanini-Cordi, will record twelve episodes that delve into topics of Italian culture as they relate to sociability and social networks. These topics link to those covered in an FSU class taught by Dr. Zanini-Cordi on 18th-century Italian salons and sociability, so the episodes will also serve as supplemental course material. We can’t wait to begin this project and hope that our research will excite and inform more people about Italian culture in an entertaining way.
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