UC Davis Study Abroad, Summer Abroad Italy, Art, Culture, History in the Eternal City Program, Header Image

Summer Abroad Italy - Instructor

Art, Culture, History in the Eternal City

Jay Grossi

Instructor Photo
French and Italian

I was born in Berkeley, California and raised in Sacramento. My paternal grandparents immigrated from Canton Ticino, the Italian-speaking area of Switzerland, to California in the 1920s. In 1979 I visited this region of Switzerland and Italy for the first time, and upon my return to California, I decided to study Italian language, literature, culture, and history. I eventually went to graduate school at UC Berkeley where I specialized in modern Italian literature. I also have a great interest in Italian-Swiss history and culture.

I have been a lecturer in Italian language and culture at UC Davis since 1994. On March 4, 2021, I was awarded the Excellence in Teaching in Study Abroad Award at the University of California, Davis. The summer of 2024 will be my 16th time leading a study abroad program in Rome, and I look forward to another very rewarding year in Rome, Italy with my students!

A Message to Student and Parents

I have been faculty leader of the UC Davis Italy, Art, Culture, History in the Eternal City summer abroad program since 2007. The students who participate on this program and I stay in the historic center of Rome; during our stay, every morning Monday–Friday we do a walking tour of the Eternal City visiting historical sites, such as St. Peters, Villa Borghese, the Roman Forum, etc.; in the afternoon Monday–Thursday the students attend class where I teach them about Roman (and Italian) history and culture. In addition, there will be the following visits outside of Rome: a day trip to Tarquinia, north of Rome to visit the Etruscan tombs, a visit to the ancient Roman port of Ostia Antica, a visit to Renaissance Villa D’Este east of Rome, and a three-day trip to the Amalfi Coast where we visit Pompeii and other historical sites in this region. I have found my 15 years as faculty leader a very rewarding experience and I hope to make 2024 an even better experience for my students!"