Special Announcement
Dear students of World Languages,
If you find the department office closed we will be able to address your inquiries via phone and via email. For matters pertaining to your particular language class please contact the coordinator of your language program listed on the side of this page. For general student questions email Paola.Ureni@csi.cuny.edu and Graceann.Rispoli@csi.cuny.edu, or leave a message at 718-982-3700 and someone will respond to you in a timely manner during business hours.
Information about placement exams can be found at this page: Fast Track Placement Examination Page.
For the tutoring schedule visit here.
Remembering Professor Ruth Calderon-Gutierrez
Ruth Calderon-Gutierrez was a Spanish professor at CSI from 1965 until her retirement in 2010. When she retired, she was the longest-serving member of our department, and possibly in the College as a whole. She taught hundreds, if not thousands, of students in all levels of Spanish language, civilization, and literature. She specialized in pre-Hispanic civilizations and shared her love of indigenous cultures with her students and colleagues. Ruth also organized poetry-memorization competitions for students. Her colleagues will undoubtedly remember her office, which was packed with artwork and artifacts from Latin America and around the world. She was instrumental in hiring many of the current members of our department’s faculty. She was also a native French speaker, in addition to Spanish. Her family had fled France in 1941, after her father escaped from a Nazi internment camp outside of Paris and, with the help of the International Rescue Committee, emigrated to the United States. She had a remarkable life and she is missed.
World Languages and Literatures Department Overview
The Department of World Languages and Literatures prepares students to flourish in our diverse city and interconnected world. Students who have majored in Italian and Spanish have gone on to successful careers, and they have been accepted at top Schools and PhD programs. We encourage all students to minor in a second language. Language skills and cultural competence provide the leading edge in the job market and advance intellectual and personal growth.
What are some obtainable jobs with World Languages and Literatures degrees?
- Education
- Fashion
- Export/Import
- Manufacturing
- Food Industry
- Shipping
- Publishing
- Advertising
- Airlines
- Banking
- Diplomacy
- Communications
- Interpreting
- Journalism
- Telecommunications
Majors and Minors
Programs in World Languages and Literatures
Captivating major and minor programs on foreign languages, literatures and cultures.
World Languages and Literatures Faculty & Staff
Full Time Faculty
Staff
Belmonti, Valeria
Director of the Media Center
Building 2S, Room 114
Phone: 718.982.3711
valeria.belmonti@csi.cuny.edu
DeJesus, Melvin
Assistant Director of the Media Center
Building 2S, Room 114
Phone: 718.982.3711
melvin.dejesus@csi.cuny.edu
Rispoli, GraceAnn
Cuny Administrative Assistant
Building 2S, Room 109
Phone: 718.982.3700
graceann.rispoli@csi.cuny.edu
Martucci, Karen
College Assistant
Building 2S, Room 109
Phone: 718.982.3700
Karen.Martucci@csi.cuny.edu
Adjunct Faculty
Alessandra Zavaglia |
Alexandria Pucciarelli Miller |
Anna Carter |
Antonio Martinez-Meraz |
Armando Escobar Gomez |
Benedetta Cutolo |
Bianca Masilowsky |
Colomba Varriano |
Damian Lambert |
Dani Venditti |
Filippo Fabbricatore |
Gema Rodriguez Ibarra |
Giuliana Ammavuta |
Hager Abouelkhair |
Jessica Wohlstetter |
Jose Burbano |
Juan Saborido |
Kai Krienke |
Laura Cassarino |
Lorena Paz Lopez |
Luis Escamilla Frías |
Mara Salvati |
Maria Corona |
Maria Forlano |
Marinetta Paone |
Mohamed Badr |
Mohamed Mashaal |
Natalie Piccione |
Oumar Toure |
Paola Gambino Tranchina |
Pauline Geudj |
Raul Miranda |
Roa Harizi |
Sergio Alves |
Solmaz Lee |
Stelmach Spencer |
Tinny Lai |
Valbona Zylo-Watkins |
Xiaoling Dong |
Yu-Tsui Lin |
Yurien Ribot |
Our Media Center, Honor Societies & Special Initiatives

Modern Languages Media Center
The mission of the Modern Languages Media Center is to facilitate the integration of instructional technology into foreign language courses.

Français@CUNY
Français @ CUNY is a French language education site to foster exchanges among French-language CUNY faculty across campuses.
Modern Languages & Literatures Jobs and Internships
- 1-year position AY2019-2020, Mainland Regional HS, Atlantic County, NJ, contact…