New education director arrives in Chicago

Dottoressa Marina Lenza is the new director of the Education Office of the Italian Consulate of Chicago.

Lenza was born near l’Aquila in the Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e dei Monti della Laga, the largest mountainous area of Abruzzo. She graduated from La Sapienza, the University of Rome, and has held roles in the Ministry of Education as a teacher and didactic director. She has also worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the administration and coordination of Italian educational and cultural institutes, as well as with Italian training systems, particularly language and culture courses abroad.

Lenza’s goals are to enhance the promotion of both the Italian language and culture in close collaboration with organizations in the Chicago-area Italian-American community. She plans on accomplishing this by strengthening Italian programs ranging from elementary to high school; supporting best practices and professional development of educators; and assisting all teachers of Italian, including through the certification of teachers. In collaboration with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, she plans to involve schools in activities to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri.

Lenza arrived with her husband and children in January. She is fascinated by Chicago’s architecture and the beauty of the skyline, as well as by the “harmony between the various styles of modern and older buildings.” With the arrival of summer and the lifting of state restrictions, she is looking forward to exploring more of the city’s art and culture.

Benvenuta, Dottoressa Lenza!