Teresa Lobalsamo

Teresa Lobalsamo

Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Italian Studies
Associate Chair, Language Studies

Teresa Lobalsamo is Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, of Italian Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga. She teaches Cinema, Cultural Studies, Language, and Theatre. Her current research centres on the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (gen AI) in Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, including optimizing assignments and rubrics in the age of gen AI. Professor Lobalsamo is also currently curating a digital archive of Italian-Canadiana, titled “Italian-Canadian Foodways,” which has recently been the topic of her invited, public lectures.

Teresa’s unfulfilled dreams: to be on Saturday Night Live and/or to sing on a big stage (unless being a retired wedding singer counts?)!

Current Courses

Summer 2024:

  • ITA242 (Italian Award-Winners, Box-Office Hits)

Fall/Winter 2024-25:

  • ITA100 (Beginner Italian)
  • ITA235 (Italian Culture Through Food)
  • ITA309 (Mafia Movies)

Education

  • PhD, Italian Studies, University of Toronto (U of T)
  • MA, Italian Studies, U of T
  • BA Hons, Italian, English, French, U of T 

Areas of Teaching and Research Interests  

  • Cinema Studies
  • Cultural Studies
  • Experiential Learning
  • Food Studies
  • Language
  • Theatre 

Selected Publications

Book Chapter

  • Lobalsamo, Teresa, Dellannia Segreti, Sylvia Gaspari, Mohammad Jamali. “The Reality of Artificiality: Artificial Intelligence in the Culture and Language Classroom.” Cases on AI in Language Teaching, Learning, and Assessment. March, 2024. IGI Global. Peer-reviewed. 17 pages.

Articles & Textbook

  • (Forthcoming: Winter 2025.) Lobalsamo, Teresa and Dellannia Segreti. “Overseeing Large-Scale Graduate and Undergraduate-Driven Digital Learning Projects.” Interdisciplinary Digital Engagement in Arts & Humanities (IDEAH). Peer-reviewed. 9 pages.
  • Lobalsamo, Teresa, Ethan Salerno Nogueira, Adriano Pasquali, Dellannia Segreti. “Humanities Pedagogy in a Pandemic Context: Case Studies on Remote Classrooms for Language and Culture Studies.” Digital Humanities Pedagogies in Times of Crisis. International Journal of Humanities and Arts Computing, vol. 17.2, October 2023. Edinburgh University Press. Peer-reviewed. 15 pages.
  • Lobalsamo, Teresa, and Adriano Pasquali. “Drama-Based Foreign Language Learning and the Modern Mandragola.” Skenè. Journal of Theatre and Drama Studies, vol. 5, no. 1, 2019. Peer-reviewed. 29 pages.
  • Lobalsamo, Teresa, and Wendy Schrobilgen D’Angelo. “Exploring Learners’ Perceptions of North-South through Italian Cinema.” Soleil, 2015. 10 pages.
  • Open Textbook: Italian Grammar. UTM Library: Digital Initiatives, 21 Oct. 2015. Archived in 2022 for updates. 

Editorial Credits

  • Lobalsamo, Teresa. Editor. Redefining Education With Pandemic Pedagogies. IGI Global. 300 pages. Fall 2024.
  • Lobalsamo, Teresa and Simone Casini. Italian Pedagogy in an Age of Memes. Conference Proceedings. Cultura e comunicazione. 17. Guerra Edizioni. December 2020. 80 pages. Editors.
  • Gastronomy, Culture, and the Arts: A Scholarly Exchange of Epic Portions. Conference Proceedings. May 2017, U of T T-Space. Legas Publishing, Toronto, Oct. 2017. 350 pages.
  • Federico Fellini: A Disorderly and Passionate Genius of Italian Cinema. Conference Proceedings. Co-editor Alberto Zambenedetti. Cesati Editori. Jan. 2016. 300 pages.

Selected Grants, Fellowships and Awards 

  • Seed Grant, Learning & Education Advancement Fund - LEAF, Office of the Vice-Provost, Innovations Undergraduate Education, UofT, 2024-27. Sustaining Growth in Culture Studies Courses through Digital Learning and Virtual Experiential Learning.
  • Pedagogical Research Fund, Office of the Vice-Principal, Research, UTM, 2024-25. Investigating the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Language Learning and Assessment.
  • Experiential Learning Development Grant, Principal Investigator, Experiential Eduction Unit, UTM, 2023–24, Cultural/Community Engagement.
  • Global Classrooms Funding Competition, Office of the Vice President International and Centre for International Experience, U of T, 2023, New Perspectives and Cross-Cultural Appreciation in Italian Studies: Support for Cross-Institutional Activities.
  • Teaching Excellence Award for Junior Faculty, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic and Dean, UTM, 2018.
  • Dean’s Excellence Award, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic and Dean, UTM, 2012; 2018. 

Other

Projects

Recent Community Engagements as an Invited Speaker

  • (Forthcoming: Spring 2025.) “The Corə of Naples: Caffè Gambrinus.” The Soul of the City Series; Speakers Annex. Toronto, ON. 1 April 2025.
  • “Cucina Italiana: A Mouthwatering History of Italian Food;” Roaming the Regions of Italy: An Up-Close Look at Il bel paese.” 6-Part Curious Minds Lecture Series, Hot Docs. Toronto, ON. Various dates, 2023; 2024.
  • “Un grande pasto italiano.” Stratford Festival Forum Dinner, Stratford, ON. 26 Aug. 2023
  • “On Eduardo DeFilippo.” Stratford Festival Meighen Forum, Stratford, ON. 24 Aug. 2023
  • 4-Part Cultural Lecture Series,Villa Charities, Toronto, ON. Various dates, Fall 2021.