Department of Italian, Spanish, Portuguese & LAS, University of Toronto

Celebrating the achievements of Eugene Chiappetta, who completed an Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) with a Major in Neuroscience and a double Minor in Italian Studies and Immunology.

Moved by a genuine interest in connecting with his family’s heritage, Eugene found a rewarding and supportive environment at ISPLAS. Throughout his studies, he deepened his understanding of Italy’s language, history, and culture while creating lasting memories with the ISPLAS community.

Swipe through to learn more about his experience at ISPLAS.

Congratulazioni, Eugene!

The Contemporary Italian Women Authors (CIWA) research group is pleased to announce the online symposium “Carte vive. Archivi di scrittrici tra letteratura e editoria,” which will take place online on 25 and 26 June 2026.

Concluding the “Carte vive” seminar series, the symposium brings together scholars working on women’s writing, literary archives, publishing history, and the recovery of marginalised or overlooked authors. The panels will examine letters, manuscripts, editorial materials, and archival collections, considering their role in literary criticism and in the reassessment of the Italian canon.

Swipe to view the full programme.

The event is open to all.

Zoom link for all sessions in our bio.

👏 Join us in applauding Zoe, who completed her degree with a double major in pharmacology and immunology and a minor in Spanish.

Her journey is a reminder that university is about much more than personal growth, knowledge acquisition and career opportunities. For Zoe, studying Spanish became a bridge to reconnect with her heritage and deepen her understanding of identity and culture. 🇵🇪

Swipe through to learn more about her experience at ISPLAS.

¡Felicidades, Zoe!

🎉A special congratulations to Selin Tasman, who completed a double major in computer science and cognitive science, along with a minor in Spanish.

🇪🇸 She had a wonderful experience at ! Studying Spanish at ISPLAS was a natural choice, as Spanish had been part of her academic journey since middle school. One of her favourite memories was preparing a 19th-century meal inspired by Don Quijote.

Now it’s time to enjoy the summer in Toronto! ☀️

Swipe through to learn more about her experience and the advice she would give her first-year self.

🎓 Wishing continued success to Vanessa, who completed his degree with a double major in economics and political science with a minor in Latin American studies.

Since arriving at U of T, Vanessa knew she wanted to focus on ways to support Latin America from an economic perspective. Through her minor in Latin American studies, she gained a deeper understanding of the region’s cultural and historical contexts, allowing her to explore the connections between economics, history and society. Following graduation, Vanessa plans to take some time to enjoy her twenties before pursuing postgraduate studies in development economics. 📚

Swipe through to learn more about her experience at ISPLAS.

¡Felicidades, Vanessa! 🎉

🎓 Hats off to Raul Galvão, who completed his degree with a double major in History and Portuguese and a minor in Political Science.

From speaking Portuguese at home to exploring the rich histories, cultures, and social realities of the lusophone world, his time in the Portuguese program became a journey of reconnecting with his roots in new and meaningful ways. The next chapter? Pursuing a Juris Doctor degree at the University of Ottawa. 🇧🇷🇵🇹

Swipe through to learn more about his journey at ISPLAS.

Parabéns, Raul! 👏👏👏

👏 We’re proud to recognize Isabella Perdigón, who completed her degree with a Major in Political Science and a double Minors in Latin American Studies and Philosophy.

She’s heading to Western this fall to pursue her Juris Doctor. In her backpack, she carries the many experiences, lessons, and memories gathered throughout her journey at the University of Toronto. Some of her most formative experiences came through her engagement with Latin American Studies, including a memorable trip to Peru during her fourth year. 🇵🇪

Swipe through to learn more about her journey at ISPLAS.

¡Felicidades, Isabella!

😊 We’re thrilled to congratulate Shania Winter, who completed her degree with a Major in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies (CrimSL) and a double minor in Spanish and Sociology.

“Try to find joy and happiness in every aspect of university life.” This is the advice she would give her first-year self if she could go back in time. Although Shania experienced some overwhelming moments throughout her university journey, she will never forget the group rap roast she took part in during the SPA220Y1. 😂

Swipe through to learn more about his journey at ISPLAS.

¡Felicidades, Shania! 🎉

Shining a spotlight on Marco Amatangelo, who completed his degree with a double Major in Art History and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and a Minor in Italian Studies. 🎉

What was supposed to be just an elective course became something much more. When Marco completed ITA250, a second-year Italian language course, it sparked a deep interest in the field. It marked the beginning of his journey, expanding his connections within the community and immersing him in the Italian language and culture. 🇮🇹

Swipe through to learn more about his journey at ISPLAS.

¡Congratulazioni, Marco!

🥂A heartfelt salute to Isa Thompson, who completed a Major in Human Geography and double Minors in Spanish and Geographic Information Systems. 🇵🇷

The transition from high school Spanish to university-level coursework was challenging for her, even though she grew up in a Latino family.

From attending office hours with Prof. Laura Colantoni to studying at the Universidad de Granada in Spain, where she spent a couple of weeks immersed in the language, Isa was able to explore Spanish culture and history in depth.

Swipe through to learn more about her experience at ISPLAS.

¡Felicidades, Isa! 🎉