Alessi Ferrentino

LANGUAGE MENTOR

As the granddaughter of Sicilian immigrants, I enjoy learning and speaking Italian to deeply connect with my Nonna and Italian relatives, and to honor and stay rooted in my family's heritage. I truly love connecting with and helping others; because of this, I am incredibly grateful to be part of this wonderful local Italian community at AIS, and eager to share this passion, helping others build the confidence to converse, deeply connect with the language, and find their voice!

My passion for the Italian language and culture is deeply rooted in my family. Growing up in Vermont, with my Sicilian grandparents and second-generation mother, hearing Italian and Sicilian dialect spoken at home fostered a strong desire to communicate with them and immerse myself in my heritage. What began when I was little, learning enough Italian to share fairytales with my Nonna and engage in everyday conversation, eventually led me to minor in Italian Studies at the University of Vermont, where I was inducted into the National Italian Honor Society and spent a transformative semester studying abroad in Urbino, Italy.

Alongside my love for language, I pursued my passion for health science at the University of Vermont, earning a Bachelor's degree in Biology. I later moved to New York City and attended Pace University, where I completed my Master's in Physician Assistant Studies to pursue a career in medicine. As a Physician Assistant, I practiced in Gastroenterology in Vermont for two years before relocating to Philadelphia, where I am now enjoying being an active member of the Italian community and look forward to continuing my medical career here.

After my husband and I moved to Philadelphia, I was eager to find a connection to my roots in our new city. My husband actually discovered the America-Italy Society (AIS) for me, and I am now continuing to hone my language skills here in their advanced courses.

I am incredibly grateful to be part of this wonderful local Italian community in Philadelphia. It is my fellow students, friends, and staff who make it so special.

With my Nonna hailing from Agrigento and my Nonno from Patti, Sicily, alongside relatives in Tuscany and Milan, learning and speaking Italian allows me to deeply connect with my family here and abroad, as well as the AIS community, while honoring and staying rooted in my heritage.