Staff

Staff

Program Director: Miriam Grottanelli de Santi

Half British half Italian, she grew up in Siena, studied in Cambridge, UK, lived and worked in Paris, Prague, Florence and Rome before deciding that Siena was by far the best place to live and came back to set up a school that would give a complete and balanced social and academic experience to American undergrads.

Academic Director: Lisa Nonken

Lisa received her MFA in Studio Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, her Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Sculpture from the Lyme Academy of Fine Art, and her BA from Mount Holyoke College in Studio Art and Art History. Lisa is an American artist who first came to Siena in 2008 as an Art Instructor for the Siena School for Liberal Arts. In 2010 she returned to Siena to help launch the partner program Siena Art Institute, where she currently serves a dual role as academic director. She enjoys many community initiatives in Siena, including the hiking club, swing dancing, and singing local choirs. 

Administrative Assistants

Clio Manfredi

With a BA in Theatre and Performing arts and an MA in Marketing, Clio is a lover of languages though shy when it comes to speaking them. She follows the School’s social media and knows Siena’s social life better than anyone else. She’s passionate about dogs and cinema!

Silvia Zordan

With a background in cultural projects, community initiatives and language studies, Silvia completed her degreen in Cultural and Linguistic Medication at Siena's Università per Stranieri.  She enjoys sharing our beautiful Tuscan region with visitors!