Emilia Zankina stepped in as the new Dean of Temple University Rome in March 2020. She brings over a decade of experience in international education both in the United States and Europe and a deep commitment to the liberal arts tradition.
 
In the past, she has served as Provost of the American University in Bulgaria, Associate Director of the Center for Russian and East European Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, and Managing Editor of the high-ranked academic journal East European Politics and Societies.
 
She holds a Ph.D. in International Affairs and a Certificate in Advanced East European Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and publishes on topics such as democratization and elite transformation, populism, civil service reform, and gender political representation. Dean Zankina is a dedicated teacher in political science and volunteers with various organizations that support democratic governance, art and culture. She has a passion for dance and languages; she is an active dance teacher and speaks over five languages.