Italidea names first executive director

Dottoressa Daniela Cavallero has been named the first executive director of Italidea Midwest.

A 501(c)3 charitable organization, Italidea-Midwest fosters the study of the Italian language and the promotion of Italian culture. The organization works in conjunction with the Chicago Italian Consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 10 Midwest states.

Cavallero is an adjunct professor of Italian in the Modern Languages Department at DePaul University and the president of Sentieri Italiani in Chicago. She has taught on the high school level in Italy as well as at other universities in the metropolitan area.

A native of Torino, Piemonte, Italia, Cavallero has written articles and produced publications on teaching the Italian language and culture to American students, presenting her research at numerous conferences, seminars and symposiums.

A member of the AP College Board Italian Language and Culture Reading, Cavallero has served as a vice president of the American Association of Teachers of Italian in North America. She has been involved with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages’ Oral Proficiency Committee and the Illinois State Board of Education’s licensure testing system for the Italian language and culture exam.

Cavallero has been involved in countless initiatives promoting the Italian language and culture, both in and out of the classroom, and will bring that expertise and experience to bear in her new position. Engaging the participation of Italian businesses and agencies in the activities of Italidea-Midwest is among her objectives.

— Cav. Lyn “Linda” Scolaro