Made in Italy: An immersive experience exploring culture through food
Professor Anna Marra is committed to helping students engage with culture in meaningful, interdisciplinary ways, especially through the study of food. Throughout the past few years, Professor Marra served as an Immersion advisor for Made in Italy: Italy and Abroad, a Maymester course exploring Italian culture through the lens of food studies. Designed to connect classroom learning with real-world experience, the course involves immersive activities that help students explore how food, history, and identity intersect in Italian society, gaining a deeper, more nuanced understanding of Italy's cultural and culinary heritage.
Made in Italy allows students to move beyond theoretical study and into lived cultural experience: "Students are not only studying Italian food and culture as an abstract subject but also encountering it directly--through site visits, hands-on cooking workshops, and conversations with local producers," said Professor Marra. Senior Jacqueline Welsh captured some of these activities in a day-in-the-life video, which can be seen here.
Made in Italy underscores the importance of mentorship and experiential learning for Professor Marra: "One of the most rewarding aspects of this experience has been seeing how students translate what they encounter in Italy into meaningful academic and personal growth," she explained. "Many of them arrive with an interest in food and culture but leave with a deeper understanding of Italy’s history, sustainability practices, and global connections. It has reinforced the value of building brides between classroom learning and lived cultural experiences."
