Maria Succi-Hempstead

Maria Succi-Hempstead has taught Italian language at all levels in Italy, England and the U.S. At Smith College since 2006, she has been exploring methodologies in second-language pedagogy and acquisition and has developed teaching materials and resources for her students. Several of these initiatives received funding from the Five Colleges Mellon Blended Learning Initiative, the Five College Consortium, and the Smith College Digital Pedagogy Fellowship. 

Maria recently earned a master’s degree in Advanced Design for Teaching Italian Language and Culture to non-native speakers from Università Ca’ Foscari in Venice, Italy. She has a strong interest in exploring and utilizing new technologies to actively engage students in their learning both inside and outside the classroom, while also fostering their intercultural competence. 

At Smith College Maria oversees all language courses and supervises the department tutors. She also mentors the teaching fellows and organizes conversation sessions and social events for language students.

As the Smith in Florence Program Faculty Liaison, she works closely with the Office for International Study and the directors in Florence while advising and preparing students for their study abroad experience. 

She directed the Smith Program Abroad in Florence in 2010-11.

She is currently a Board Member of the Massachusetts Italian Teachers Association.

A VIDEO INTERVIEW with UMass prof. Frank Sleegel on the changes brought about by the pandemic on the city of Northampton. This interview was funded by a Curricular Enhancement Grant by the Smith College Center for the Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability (CEEDS)