Kerra Gazerro Hanson
Visiting Assistant Professor of Italian Studies
Degrees
B.A., Providence College
M.A., Ohio State University
Ph.D. University of Chicago
Research Interests
Medieval and Renaissance Studies, spiritual dialogues, hagiographies and historiographies, the Italian women mystics (Catherine of Siena, Lucia Broccadelli da Narni, Caterina de' Ricci, Stefana Quinzani)
Teaching Interests
I have taught at least one course of Basic Italian at Wheaton every semester since the fall of 2002. This is clearly one of my most gratifying professional experiences, since it is always inspiring to see students as they embark on the discovery of a foreign language. Though they normally enter the classroom not knowing a word of Italian, by the end of the course they can speak and write in the target language, without having to depend on English. This gives me and my students a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Their progress is its own reward.
In recent years I have also had the opportunity to teach advanced courses geared toward our majors and minors. In fall 2008, I will be introducing a new course entitled "Constructing Italian Women Writers and Saints of the Middle Ages and Renaissance." This course will introduce students to many female authors who have contributed greatly to Italian literature. These would include Catherine of Siena, Tullia d'Aragona, Gaspara Stampa, and Vittoria Colonna.
Publications
I am currently working on an article entitled "The Blessing of Tears: The Order of Preachers and Domenico Cavalca in St. Catherine of Siena's "Dialogo della divina provvidenza." I have also begun another essay on the relationship between Lucia Broccadelli's "Sette Rivelazioni" and Catherine of Siena's "Dialogo."