Virginia Tech Announces the Appointment of Three Women to Its Faculty

Jennifer Sano-Franchini is a new assistant professor of English at Virginia Tech. She is teaching courses in professional writing and document design.

Dr. Sano-Franchini earned her Ph.D. in rhetoric and writing this past spring at Michigan State University. She hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Hawaii.

Nadine A. Sinno was appointed assistant professor of Arabic in the department of foreign languages and literatures at Virginia Tech. Her current research is focused on the diaries of contemporary Arabic women and their writings on war and technology.

Dr. Sinno holds bachelor’s and master’s degree from the American University of Beirut. She earned a master of fine arts degree and a Ph.D. in comparative literature and cultural studies from the University of Arkansas.

Amanda J. Nelson was appointed assistant professor in the School of Performing Arts at Virginia Tech. She will lead the master of fine arts program in arts leadership that will enroll its first students in the fall of 2014. Before coming to Virginia Tech, Dr. Nelson worked for 11 years with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.

Dr. Nelson is a graduate of the University of California at Irvine. She holds a master’s degree from San Francisco State University and a Ph.D. in drama from Tufts University in Massachusetts.