Luisetta Elia Chomel is Professor of Italian Emerita at the University of Houston where she was the director of the Program of Italian Studies. During her thirty years on the faculty of the University, her activity was directed toward the expansion of the program of Italian, as well as research. She introduced a number of new courses and, in 1992, established a Bachelor Degree in Italian Studies. Dr. Chomel is the author of a book on D'Annunzio's theater and numerous articles on Italian literature, theater, and cinema.