The Department of Romance and Classical Studies is very pleased to celebrate Maria Silva, Italian Minor in RCS, for her fully-funded acceptance to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Ph.D. Program in Italian. This program is notable for having a large focus on interdisciplinary studies, i.e. bridging art history with Italian language and culture, something for which Maria holds a great interest.

Maria’s research interests involve how Italy’s rich artistic traditions have impacted the rest of the world, specifically Italian textiles and their contributions to the modern fashion industry and economy. Though open to a wide range of possibilities following completion of her Ph.D., Maria is very interested in working with the Italian textile industry, such as with an historic textile mill or as a sustainability consultant for one of Italy’s clothing brands.