Francesca Silano
Assistant Professor, History
Ph.D, University of Toronto
What are your thoughts on teaching?
I see the classroom as the site of an encounter where the students and I meet each other and the people from the past whom we are studying. The knowledge that emerges from this encounter is not purely intellectual but can touch and transform our very selves. I want to communicate to students that history is the study of human beings like them, and therefore, we need to be open to interrogating assumptions, listening to the sources and to each other, and fostering our critical thinking to become increasingly discerning in approaching not only the past, but also each other.
Tell us about your field of expertise.
Religious, legal, and cultural history of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union
What hobbies/interests do you enjoy outside of academia?
Spending time with friends, reading, cooking, and hiking
