While at Dartmouth, David earned his B.A. in Italian Studies; was active in the Outing Club; founded an a cappella singing group; and played ultimate frisbee. His love of the arts and humanities, sparked through study abroad in Europe, has proven to be a life-changing experience, earning advanced degrees in Italian studies, a professorship at the University of Siena, and regular collaboration with international education programs focusing on food, art history, and culture. He continues to blend his professional life in Italy with hometown visits to Mobile, Alabama. David is particularly interested in understanding the socio-cultural contexts that produce and promote food culture and artistic expression and enjoys exploring creativity in many forms, such as visual arts, music, and dance. These align with a deep curiosity in rural and traditional cultures, pilgrimage, and cross-cultural exchange across the Mediterranean. An avid hiker, singer in local Renaissance choirs, swing dancer, foodie, and polyglot, David loves to share his passion for meaningful travel, sustainability, and history with others. He has taught on Putney Pre-College programs in Italy since 2018 and returns to Paris Academia for the third time in 2026.