I am an Italian scholar in Media Studies, writing, thinking, and living across languages and cultures. I am also an educator who loves teaching and believes in creating a positive learning environment, where each student is seen, treated with respect and dignity, and helped to succeed to the best of their abilities. At UVA, I teach American and Italian crime films and television, social justice, and global cinema, but most of my research revolves around true crime, in its many nuances and forms, and across media platforms. From true crime documentaries to fiction films, TV shows, books, podcasts, songs, and social media, I study how media interpret and reimagine real crime cases, analyze how true crime narratives are constructed, and discuss the impact and persistence of racialized assumptions and gender and cultural stereotypes. In recent years, true crime has become a cultural phenomenon that requires critical attention, and that’s why I am excited about my new Engagement course. Students are introduced to the study of the true crime genre—its aesthetics, visual and narrative conventions--through an overview of the historical and contemporary crime cases that changed America.