Hey, there.
Dr. Milena Anfosso, here.

I’m an award-winning Italian-American researcher in Historical Linguistics, as well as a multilingual author, translator, speaker, and consultant for projects spanning academia, literature, and the entertainment industry.
Looking for someone who blends scientific rigor with creative insight? Want to learn more about me or collaborate?
You’re in the right place!

Discover More
Media and Posts

As Featured On...

Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
About Me

Who Is Dr. Milena Anfosso?

When I meet new people, answering the simple question, “What do you do?” is always challenging. I have never fit into one box. My uncommon mix of an analytical mindset and a creative penchant is what sets me apart from others.

Throughout my life, I have explored human language from every possible angle.
Ancient languages through my Ph.D. in Historical Linguistics.
Modern languages, thanks to my ease of learning and translating between different languages and my passion for traveling and discovering new cultures.
Language as an object of investigation itself, or hardcore linguistics.
Language as a means of artistic expression through creative writing and literature.
Language as the main device to express a community's beliefs, customs, and traditions through the study of folklore.

I spent my childhood between Coazzolo, a 300-people village in the province of Asti, in Piedmont, and Jacurso, another small town in the province of Catanzaro, in Calabria (Italy). After several years in Paris to pursue my Ph.D. at Sorbonne University, I fell in love with Los Angeles, and I currently live in this beautiful city.

Over the course of my intellectual career, I have received numerous accolades, including Harvard University’s Research Fellowship in Hellenic Studies, the award "Prix de la Vocation" from the Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet Foundation (Publicis Group, Paris), and a Residency Fellowship at the Bogliasco Foundation (New York- Genoa). I have presented my research and delivered lectures at conferences across Europe and the United States. I have published a variety of creative and scholarly works in multiple languages (Italian, English, French, and Spanish), and I am a member of the Authors Guild of America. I have also engaged in translation and editing for other authors.
Additionally, I have contributed to various projects as a scientific advisor and mentored students, young researchers, and professionals. Thanks to my intellectual achievements, I was granted the Green Card for Exceptional Abilities in 2020, allowing me to live and work in the United States.

Reflecting on my journey, which, as a woman, has not been easy, I am committed to combating the discrimination that minorities—especially women—still face in their professional lives.

Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Affiliations

I Belong to the Following Professional Organizations

Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Dr. Milena Anfosso – Research, Translation, and Consulting in Historical Linguistics
Milena Anfosso
Speaking Engagements

The Skill of Public Speaking

What They Say About Me…

I have witnessed in Dr. Anfosso's research unmistakable signs of truly outstanding scholarship, and I certainly would consider her among the very best of our generation. (...) Not only is she a first-rate scholar of comparative Indo-European Linguistics, but she also demonstrates a clear ability to consistently work to the highest level in such fields as modern Greek dialectology and Sociolinguistics, bringing together the best in traditional classical and philological scholarship with the state-of-the-art in modern Linguistics

Dr. Giuseppina Silvestri — Lecturer, Department of Linguistics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Dr. Anfosso's dissertation is so rich that — unlike the typical Ph.D. dissertation, which is routinely converted into a book — this work provides material for at least two books and probably several additional research projects as well. The problems treated range across an unusually broad scope of academic disciplines and concerns (historical, ethnographic, literary, linguistic, epigraphic, metrical, etc.; of interest to ancient historians, classicists, linguists, etc.). I cannot actually think of another scholar, whether junior or senior, who is able to control all of these areas in sufficient depth and with the appropriate specialized knowledge to be able to pursue research of this kind

Professor Emeritus Brent Vine — Department of Classics and Program in Indo-European Studies, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Dr. Milena Anfosso is an engaging speaker, capable of transmitting her passion and keeping the attention of her audience alive. Her complete mastery of many modern languages (English, Italian, French, Spanish) allows her to engage effectively with an international public. (...) She earned a Ph.D. summa cum laude at Sorbonne University, Paris, which has one of the most difficult grading systems in France. Half of the students enrolled in a Ph.D. program in France abandon it before graduating, and, unfortunately, that is even more true for women. Milena stood firm and grew out of this experience, which shaped her and raised her to the rank of recognized specialist in her discipline

Dr. Lauriane Locatelli — Research Engineer, Institut de l'information scientifique et technique (Inist), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

In 2017, I was working on the translation of a book (...) from French into Italian. Since Wittgenstein is a philosopher who worked on the philosophy of language, the book in question was the perfect fit for a linguist. Even more so for a linguist whose native languages are both Italian and French and who is able to grasp all the subtleties of these languages almost effortlessly. Thus, I asked Dr. Milena Anfosso to carry out a linguistic revision of my Italian translation. The final result was substantially improved by her feedback. Her expertise was crucial in perfecting the translation, thus ensuring the success of the book

Dr. Elisa Grimi — Executive Director of the European Society for Moral Philosophy; Editor-in-Chief of Philosophical News

Milena and I worked together on several occasions. As I develop films and television, I’m constantly on the hunt for writers with a defined voice and unique perspective. I also look for writers with a clear vision. Milena’s approach to creative writing checks those boxes, and it is always fascinating to observe her in action. Her encyclopedic knowledge of culture (both past and present), traditions, and language brings a sense of true depth to her characters. Moving beyond her intellectual prowess, I’ve genuinely enjoyed collaborating with her from a personal standpoint. She’s been easygoing, inspires my team with new ideas, and is able to distill her ideas down in a way that makes them digestible to us lowly non-scholars. Despite generally being the smartest person in the room, she never makes you feel like it, and her inclusive demeanor only encourages creativity amongst colleagues

Jonny Zeller — Director and Executive Producer

After only a few minutes of conversation with Milena, it becomes immediately clear that confining her creativity solely to academia would be a great injustice. A significant factor in my success has been my knack for identifying talent. Having had the opportunity to read some of her works in English (regrettably, I'm unable to read her Italian poems!), I can confidently assert that... Yes, Milena truly has a gift for writing

Anna Elizabeth James — Screenwriter and Director of the hit Netflix movie "Deadly Illusions.”

Handling the application process for Ph.D. programs in the U.S. can feel like navigating a vast sea of confusing information, especially for someone with my background. Coming from an Italian academic environment and years of teaching in Italy, the idea of pursuing an academic career in the U.S. appeared as a daunting, disheartening labyrinth. Dr. Anfosso has been a beacon in the darkness: she provided invaluable advice to help me choose the right Ph.D. program. She detailed the pros and cons of each program, associated costs, benefits, and necessary documentation. Highly knowledgeable and multilingual, she is an expert on the inner workings of the international university system, ensuring that applicants with less experience gain a clear overview and receive patient, meticulous assistance throughout their application process. Her honest guidance fosters thoughtful academic decisionmaking. Prompt, precise, and detailed in her instructions, she never resorts to generalities and always customizes her advice to the client's profile to make each piece of the application (academic CV, statement of purpose, research proposal, etc.) as impactful as possible. I wholeheartedly recommend a mentor like Milena!

Ambra Lombardo — Instructor of Latin and Italian TV Personality
Newsletter

Subscribe to receive occasional updates, insights, and news directly in your inbox.