Dr. Michela Valmori

Biography

Michela Valmori is a Visiting Lecturer in Italian Studies in the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies at the University of British Columbia. Her academic focus lies primarily in Italian language teaching as well as the literary and cultural production of the Italian American diaspora. She is currently pursuing a PhD at Birkbeck, University of London, with her doctoral research titled 'Unsafe Bodies: A Kleinian Study of Patriarchy and Violence in Italian American Female-Authored Writing' (2020–2025), which examines how Italian American women writers portray themes of violence, trauma, and gender oppression through the lens of Melanie Klein's psychoanalytic theory. Valmori's scholarship bridges Italian American literature and psychoanalysis, with particular attention to Klein's theories. Currently, she is also involved in various projects, including co-founding Strade Dorate – Osservatorio di Letteratura e Cultura Italo Americana and working on an anthology of Italian migrant female writers. With a strong background in applied linguistics, she is also interested in language acquisition methodologies, such as phonetics and educational technologies. Valmori has contributed to numerous anthologies and publications in her field, reflecting her dedication to advancing the discourse on Italian American literature and education.

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Awards