Awards 

(2021) The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Lifetime Achievement Award
(2020) Professor Emeritus, University of Louisville
(2019) University of Toronto Mississauga Award for Outstanding Contribution to Italian Studies
(2018) Sigma Delta Pi (National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society), Orden de Don Quijote 
(2018) American Association of Teachers of Italian, Distinguished Service Award (Colleges & Universities)
(2008 - 2019) University Scholar
(2016) Miembro numerario. Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española 
(2016) Outstanding Service Award. American Association of Teachers of Spanish & Portuguese 
(2007) Outstanding Service to the Profession Award. University of Louisville 
(1998) Outstanding Research Award. University of Louisville 
(2002) Fellow. Gerontological Society of America. Social Research, Policy, and Practice
(2005) Fellow. International Communicology Institute. 

President of Academic Societies 

(2012-2014) President. American Association of Teachers of Italian
(2011) President. Semiotic Society of America 

Chief Reader - AP Language Exam 

(2005-2009; 2011-2012)  Chief Reader. AP® Italian Language and Culture

Editorships & Editorial Boards 

Editor. Names: A Journal of Onomastics (Taylor & Francis, 2008-2018) 
Review Editor. Language Problems and Language Planning (John Benjamins, 1983-2018).
Editorial Boards: Semiotica, Hispania, Critical Inquiry in Language Studies, Names: A journal of Onomastics, and others.