Soraya Cipolla (she/her) is originally from Sicily, she also lived in Siena (Italy) and Spain. She is currently a PhD Candidate in Italian Studies and Queer Studies. Her research focuses on LGBTQIA+ representation in 20th and 21st century Italian literature and cinema.

Her dissertation “Queer Specters: Sapphic Desire in Italian Literature and Cinema (1980 – 2023)” argues that sapphic desire haunts 20th and 21st-century Italian literature and cinema. Like a ghost, sapphic narratives are often unseen but leave traces. Sapphic characters frequently appear in ghostly or monstrous forms in interaction with other power dynamics such as class and race. These ghosts are queer as they occupy an in-between space and engage with oppressive forces in non-linear ways.

Soraya’s research interests include as well gender identity exploration within contemporary language and literature, gender-inclusive language in the classroom, and inclusive pedagogy. Soraya is also a trained interpreter and translator for Italian, English, and Spanish.

Over the years, Soraya participated in various EUC initiatives, including the High School Translation Competition and the Black European Literature exhibit.