Paul Pennacchia
Receptionist, 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ University
Paul Pennacchia serves as a Receptionist at 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ University, bringing with him a wealth of international experience in education, cultural mediation, and language advocacy. Inspired from a young age by hearing his father speak a Southern Italian dialect with relatives, Paul began self-studying Italian at 10 years old through online language exchange groups based in Italy, sparking a lifelong passion for the language and culture. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics and Italian from the State University of New York at Oswego and a Master’s degree in Italian Language and Literary Translation from the State University of New York at Binghamton, completed in Florence, Italy, in 2023. He is also a certified translator.
Paul's passion for language equity and education began in upstate New York, where he successfully advocated for the implementation of Italian language and cultural programs in public schools. Through a student-led petition and public speech at a school board meeting in 2012, he helped secure funding and district-wide integration of Italian studies.
Internationally, Paul has worked extensively in Florence, Italy, in roles focused on student engagement and multicultural integration. He served as an Academics & Activities Administrative Officer for Georgetown University in Fiesole and previously worked at Istituto Internazionale Lorenzo de’ Medici as a cultural and linguistic mediator. His work in these roles encompassed translation, live interpretation, event planning, and fostering Italian immersive cultural experiences for both American and international students.
Paul has also taught Italian to students and travelers in Italy, and English to Italian students preparing for international study or relocation - deepening his commitment to cross-cultural understanding and linguistic competency.
Outside of academia, Paul is a lifelong martial artist and National Champion, holding a second-degree black belt in traditional Taekwondo and earning multiple competitive medals in Calisthenics, a gymnastic bodyweight-based sport focused on strength, control, and endurance. His personal and professional life reflect a passionate commitment to connecting people through culture and language, particularly helping Italian-Americans reconnect with their ancestral roots and heritage.