Kristen Keach
Kristen Keach is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Italian. She holds a B.A. in Art History and Italian Studies from the University of Southern California, magna cum laude, an M.A. in Modern Art History from UC Davis, and a PhD in Italian Studies from UC Berkeley, with a Designated Emphasis in Renaissance and Early Modern Studies. Prior to joining the Italian Studies Program, Kristen held the position of Adjunct Instructor for both the Departments of Italian Studies and Art History at James Madison University. In Fall 2024, she worked with the Charlotte and Philip Hanes Art Gallery to organize a week-long pop-up exhibition where students and the local community could view and converse, in English and Italian, about the works of two contemporary Italian artists, Gianni Cestari and Delio Gennai. For Spring 2025, Kristen is organizing a film screening and Q&A with Afro-Italian artist, filmmaker, and scholar Fred Kuwornu.
With a background in both literary and visual histories, her research focuses on the intermedial relationship between text and image in Early Modern Italy, with particular interest in the poetic works of Dante, Boccaccio, and Petrarch and their corresponding visual representations. When she is not teaching, Kristen can be found exploring the latest art exhibitions, checking out the best places to eat, or spending time in nature with family, friends, and her dog, Poppy.
- ITAL 111: Elementary Italian I
- ITAL 112: Elementary Italian II
- ITAL 113: Intensive Elementary Italian
- ITAL 319: Grammar and Composition