Inaugurated in 2024, the Charles R. Ross Endowment in Italian Studies is named after Charles R. Ross, a resident of Santa Barbara and lifelong admirer of Italy and Italian culture. The endowment sponsors a distinguished lecture series and an award for contributions to transnational Italian culture; the lecture and the award alternate every year.
The lecture series brings eminent speakers in the field of Italian Studies to UCSB with the aim of highlighting innovative research that connects Italy to the most important issues of our day.
The award in transnational Italian culture recognizes contributions that advance new understandings of Italian culture on a global scale.
2026
Charles R. Ross Award in Transnational Italian Culture
Mattea Fo, Director of Fo Rame Foundation, & Mario Pirovano, Actor
2025
Charles R. Ross Distinguished Lecture in Italian Studies
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Professor of History and Italian Studies, NYU