Carmen De Lorenzo, Instructor and Coordinator of the Italian Program in the Department of Romance and Classical Studies at Michigan State University, will help shape how Italian is taught and experienced in Michigan as part of her newly appointed role as the Michigan Representative for the Osservatorio della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo. This appointment from the Italian Consulate honors De Lorenzo’s dedication to advancing Italian language education at all levels.
As the Michigan Representative for the Osservatorio della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo, De Lorenzo will collaborate with educators, cultural leaders, and consular officials to strengthen Italian programs and to create exciting new opportunities for students and communities across the state, from advising on educational initiatives to spotlighting Italian culture.
This is the first time MSU has received such an appointment, and De Lorenzo is quick to credit the vibrant community of students and colleagues who’ve supported her along the way.
“I’m only a representative — there’s a team around me. My students are a part of this, and so are the people who work in the Italian minor. It takes a village,” she said. “In reaching this position, it’s because of all the work my students have put into the minor, the study abroad program, and everything we’ve built together.”
“There’s a team around me. My students are a part of this, and so are the people who work in the Italian minor. It takes a village. In reaching this position, it’s because of all the work my students have put into the minor, the study abroad program, and everything we’ve built together.”
De Lorenzo also emphasizes how meaningful it is to her to bring visibility to the university and especially to MSU’s Department of Romance and Classical Studies — something she deeply values and is proud to contribute to through this recognition.
A native Italian who earned an M.A. in Foreign Languages and Literatures from the University of Pisa in Italy, De Lorenzo came to MSU in 2005 to pursue a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) while also teaching French and Italian. She found her passion in teaching and sharing her culture and has taught French and Italian at all levels since then.
“It’s about more than just language,” she said. “It’s about helping people understand how Italians live, think, and connect with the world.”
In addition to teaching language courses, she works on curriculum development for the 100- and 200-level Italian Program. She also specializes in technology integration in the curriculum and use of technology in the classroom. She developed the currently used blended course formats for first- and second-year Italian courses. Another area of interest is assessment, for which she developed the currently used Italian Placement test online.
Throughout her career, she has focused on building strong partnerships with nonprofits to attract new students to MSU and to provide opportunities for current students.
Outside the classroom, she has created several community programs, including the Italian for Adults program that offered beginner and intermediate classes and was established through the MSU Alumni Associate and Community Language School, the French and Italian for Kids curriculum that introduced young learners to these languages and was offered by the Community Language School, and the LEAF (Les étudiants avancés de Français) initiative that supported middle and high school students across Michigan to advance their French skills and prepared them for the AP exam. Both the French and Italian for Kids curriculum and LEAF were developed in collaboration with Sandhya Shanker, former Director of the Community Language School in the Center for Language Teaching Advancement (CeLTA).
De Lorenzo’s outreach also extends to collaborations with the Michigan 4-H program, MSU’s Grandparents University, advising the MSU Italian Club, and organizing the Italian Film Festival USA at MSU, which showcases contemporary Italian cinema. De Lorenzo has strengthened the Italian program’s presence through the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, with events in Detroit and Lansing. She regularly presents at conferences like MIWLA, the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), and the American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI) and has led a summer study abroad program in Ferrara, Italy, providing students with immersive language experiences abroad.
For her outstanding achievements in language education and dedication to expanding cultural and educational opportunities for her students and the MSU community, last fall she was awarded the Michigan World Language Association’s (MIWLA) Georges J. Joyaux Post-Secondary Educator Award.
As she steps into her new role as the Michigan Representative for the Osservatorio della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo, De Lorenzo is already planning ways to bring more visibility to Italian programs and build stronger bridges between schools, universities, and the broader community. Her goal: to inspire the next generation of Italian learners and celebrate the richness of Italian heritage in Michigan and beyond.
By Mya Towne and Kim Popiolek
