Chiara Fabbian is a Clinical Professor and Director of the Italian Language Program in the Department of Hispanic and Italian Studies. Her research interests include women’s writing (with focus on women writers Grazia Deledda, Matilde Serao, and Tommasina Guidi), literature and social sensibilities, as well as language pedagogy and curriculum development. She has also written on the development of literacy, global communication, and critical thinking skills in a contextualized perspective and through a social justice approach to foreign language teaching and learning. Her work has appeared on the journal Italica and other venues. She served as President of the Women Studies Caucus (American Association for Italian Studies), Secretary of Italidea-Midwest (a not for profit organization that promotes Italian language and culture), Midwest Representative for the AATI (American Association Teachers of Italian, two terms), and is currently a member of the Osservatorio della lingua italiana and Italian Section Convener for the American Association of University Supervisors, Coordinators, and Directors of Language Programs.
She received numerous Fellowships and Awards for her teaching, service to the profession, and research, including the 2018 Dante Alighieri Award from the Illinois chapter of the AATI, Teaching Recognition Awards from the UIC Council for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (2016, 2012), UIC Inspire Award (2011), and Mellon Foundation Dissertation Fellowship (2005-06).