When Amy Persichetti, Ed.D., came to Cabrini College in 2001, she knew she was entering an environment in which she would thrive.
“It was clear to me from the start that Cabrini was a warm place that challenged and supported not only its students but its faculty,” Persichetti says. “Cabrini is an excellent fit for me.”
Persichetti enjoys seeing students develop as writers. She currently is working on a writing concentration for the English department, and has created or revisited several courses for the concentration, including Experiential Poetry; Writing, Editing, and Publication; and The Creative Eye.
“Ultimately, I would like students to leave the classroom having a solid skill set, adaptable writing skills, and a desire to contemplate their own lives,” Persichetti says. “I also try to expose students to as much culture as possible so that they are able to enjoy a lifelong appreciation for reading and the arts.”
Persichetti has coordinated on-site poetry readings by Martín Espada and Nikki Giovanni, regular open mic nights for student writers, and is active with the College’s nationally recognized literary magazine, Woodcrest, which was honored with Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s Gold Crown Award for its 2010 edition.
Persichetti also is active in the social justice mission of the College. She says it is her fundamental job to motivate students to see themselves both as part of a tradition and as agents of change.
She is committed to domestic violence education, and has built a replicable Community-Based Research course to help students understand the issues behind domestic violence, conduct research for community partner Laurel House, and empower women and families to lead lives free of fear and abuse.
Persichetti earned a doctorate degree in education from Widener University, a master’s in education from the University of Massachusetts, and a bachelor's from Penn State University. Her work has been published in the International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
In her free time, Persichetti enjoys gardening, music and traveling. She lives with her husband, Art, and daughter, Emerson, in Kimberton, Pa.
Contact information:
Amy Persichetti, Ed.D.
Instructor, English
Grace Hall, Room 213
610-902-8378
amy.deblasis@cabrini.edu