Francesca is an artist-scholar, a teacher, and a translator.

Born in Sicily, she grew up in Iran, Italy (Basilicata), and Wales where she attended the United World College of the Atlantic. After graduating with a BA in Theatre from the University of Florida, she received her MA and PhD in Theatre from The Ohio State University.

Currently, she is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of English and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at SUNY - Stony Brook.