Ernesto Valdesolo (Tino), President and Founder of the Italian Language Program (PILC)
Dr. Ernesto Tino Valdesolo Dr. Ernesto Tino Valdesolo is an accomplished educator, community leader, and advocate for Italian culture with a distinguished career spanning over five decades. Born in Vicenza, Italy, and educated in Verona and Boston, he holds advanced degrees including a Doctorate in Science Education from Boston University. Dr. Valdesolo taught biology in the Boston Public Schools for 24 years and has been recognized for his excellence in science education with awards from the State Science Fair and Westinghouse. He has also directed summer programs for gifted students through the National Science Foundation. He founded Biomax Inc., a successful international dental implant company serving the Italian market.
A passionate promoter of Italian language and culture, Dr. Valdesolo has founded and led numerous initiatives including the Centro Promozione Cultura Italiana (CPCI), the North End Italian Saturday Program, and Casa Monte Cassino, a hospitality center for international medical patients and families. He served three terms as the first elected president of Boston’s COMITES and was honored by the Italian Republic as a Knight and “Commendatore” for his cultural contributions. Dr. Valdesolo currently directs Ca Rapulin, a didactic farm in Calosso, Italy, and continues to be deeply engaged in cultural and educational endeavors in both the U.S. and Italy.
Vanessa Gamble, Director of the Italian Language Program for Adults
Vanessa Gamble (Parravano) is an experienced educator and administrator with over a decade of work in language instruction, curriculum development and program leadership. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Italian Language and Literature and a Master’s degree in Italian Literature from Boston College. Vanessa also completed the Administrative Leadership Program at Curry College. Vanessa teaches Italian and Spanish at both the university and high school levels and also works as an instructional coach, supporting teachers in developing effective proficiency-based practices for world language instruction. In addition, she has presented at pedagogical conferences in Massachusetts, sharing insights on methods and approaches that benefit learners. A passionate advocate for multilingual learners, Vanessa brings a global perspective to her work, shaped by her years living in Italy during her adolescence. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters—both students at PILC—especially during their nature-filled getaways to Maine and New Hampshire.
Katherine Cooper, Social Media and Website Content Curator
Katherine Cooper is an experienced social media manager and content creator with over five years of experience working both freelance and with boutique digital marketing agencies. Passionate about storytelling, community building, and digital media, she has collaborated with a wide range of brands and businesses to create engaging online content and meaningful connections.
Katherine spent part of her childhood in Italy near the Aviano Air Force Base in Friuli Venezia Giulia, where she attended Italian public schools for four years before returning to the United States to complete high school and received her Masters from Auburn University. Her deep connection to Italian language and culture continues to play an important role in her life today.
She is also a mother of two children who currently attend the Pirandello Italian Language Center, where her family continues to celebrate and strengthen their connection to the Italian language and heritage.
Angelica
Angelica is a Registered Investment Advisor at a small asset manager in Boston. She holds degrees in Finance and Marketing and a minor in International Affairs from Northeastern University. She also runs a travel consultancy, specializing in custom, slow, experiential travel in Italy. Born and raised in the North End, she started attending PILC (then CPCI) in 1995 as a student, where she learned and became fluent in Italian eventually becoming a teaching assistant in 2009 and later on a teacher. While at Northeastern her knowledge of both teaching and the Italian language led her to be hired by the university to co-teach abroad programs in Italy focusing on Entrepreneurship and Family Business with groups of 30-40 students per semester. Outside of work she can usually be found in Italy visiting family and friends.
Joseph Cascio