Paola Lorenzi is Assistant Professor of Italian and Director of the Italian Language Program at Pepperdine University where she successfully established a minor and Bachelor of Arts in Italian Studies. A native of Italy, she received her Laurea in Foreign Languages and Literature from the University of Florence. She also attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California for post-graduate studies in art, design and photography. In 2007 the Italian government honored her with the distinguished title of "Cavaliere della Repubblica Italiana". Her translations of various works have been published in journals of Italian studies.