A full-time Italian professor at Youngstown State University will be departing for a new opportunity at Loyola University Chicago in the fall. Carla Simonini accepted a position at LUC, where she has been named the inaugural Paul and Ann Rubino Professor in Italian American Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.

According to LUC’s University Newsroom, “The endowed professorship was established to build a premier IAS program among only a handful of programs in the country.” Simonini said she was honored to be selected for the position. “Career-wise, it’s a big step up,” Simonini said. “It was not an easy decision because I love it here. I love my students.”