Meet Milena Anfosso, Ph.D. | Historical Linguist | Author | Translator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Milena Anfosso, Ph.D. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Milena, what role has risk played in your life or career?

That’s a fascinating question. According to my DNA test results, my genetics suggests that I should be more likely to be a risk-averse person. And, if you’d happen to meet my parents first, you would predict that about me, too. But as soon as you’d get to know me, you will instantly realize that I’m definitely on the other side of the spectrum. I’m pretty brave. I mean, I moved to Los Angeles alone after spending most of my life in a 300-person village in Northern Italy (Coazzolo, to be precise), after all.

Another interesting case of the old Nature vs. Nurture dilemma? Probably. But mostly and foremost, life taught me fast that it’s not worth living without taking risks. I’m not saying you should take all your life savings and go gambling in Vegas or fly to New Zealand to try bungee jumping right now. That would be irrational risk-taking. I’m saying that if you want to be happy or feel fulfilled, from either a professional or a personal standpoint, you must get out of your comfort zone. There’s no other way. Venting about your boss or your current dating situation won’t change anything. You must take action and embrace the risk. Will you feel uncomfortable? Definitely. Will you make mistakes? Sure. Will it hurt? In some cases. But… Guess what? There is no shortcut to growing and breaking free.

For example, speaking in public, one of the main skills for a researcher to share results and gain visibility, was one of the biggest obstacles for me. As I am very introverted, I couldn’t stand the idea of having so many eyes on me, not only at big international conferences, where audiences are usually filled with experts in my field way more prominent and experienced than me, but also at small department seminars. I was afraid of being judged for not being good enough, not interesting enough, or not prepared enough. I would talk too fast and sweat out half of my body weight. But I knew I had to overcome that fear if I wanted to spread and share my ideas successfully. So, I embraced the risk. My first conference at Sorbonne University, Paris, in 2014 was an excruciating experience. But I worked hard to improve. I took voice classes, asked a successful speaker to mentor me, and practiced a lot. Taking that risk paid off, as I got to speak at conferences in so many incredible venues in Europe and the U.S., in four different languages (English, French, Italian, and Spanish), even as an invited speaker, and I’m looking forward to other exciting speaking engagements.

So, take risks: It’s way more rewarding than suffering in silence in your bleak cocoon.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

When I meet new people, it’s always challenging to answer the simple question, “What do you do?” In fact, I have never fit into one box. Am I a creative scholar or a scholarly creative? My interest in human language is the common thread connecting my Ph.D. in Historical Linguistics, my passion for writing, and my ease of learning and translating between different languages. No wonder I have explored human language from every possible angle: from ancient languages to modern languages, from hardcore linguistics––language as an object of the investigation itself, to creative writing and literary criticism––language as a means of artistic expression. I think that this uncommon mixture between an analytical mindset and a creative penchant is what sets me apart from others.

Although I published my first creative writing book (a collection of poems entitled “Deneb”) in 2011, I started my professional career in Academia in 2014. My award-winning research project on the sociolinguistic relationship between Ancient Greek and Phrygian eventually became the core of my dissertation [“Linguistic Problems on the Relationship Between Ancient Greek(s) and Phrygian(s)”], defended at Sorbonne University, Paris, in 2019. My dissertation provided the material for more than a dozen published academic articles, more than two dozen speaking engagements, one ongoing book project (partly funded by Harvard University), and several other projects that are being developed.

Becoming a successful scholar as a woman has been challenging. Sadly enough, physical appearance can still affect your academic career in the 21st century. Since my first exam as an undergraduate in Classics at the University of Turin, Italy, I have experienced countless micro-aggressions based on my physical appearance. On my first exam, the examining professor got overtly aggressive as soon as I sat on the chair before him. After he had meticulously scanned me from head to toe, he contemptuously defined me as “Some little blonde, to be sure, someone who would never deserve the top score of 30/30 cum laude.” Rest assured, in all my bleach-blond-haired glory, I passed and got the top score on that exam. Men are not the only culprits of gender stereotyping, though. I overheard fellow ladies’ comments along the lines of “Is it a conference or a beauty pageant?” as I was walking towards the podium on many occasions. But I didn’t let that intimidate me. Keeping with that tradition, I rebelliously defended my Ph.D. dissertation in my bleach-blond hair and short black dress while sitting cross-legged on top of an old Sorbonne’s desk. Sure enough, the most rock ’n roll dissertation defense in the history of the Sorbonne––and with the highest honors, too.

As I have already pointed out in many interviews on media such as Cosmopolitan Italy, TV7 Andalucia, La Repubblica, La Stampa, etc., Academia is still a conservative and male-dominated environment, where gender stereotyping is still a very strong component. We should not forget that it was created by elite white men and for privileged white men. Despite the progress in the last decades, there is still a long way to go for the complete acceptance of scholars that deviate from these norms, who must work twice as hard to be taken seriously. On the other hand, I wish Academia was a safe space for scholars to express themselves and grow intellectually without fearing judgment or shame independently of their gender or physical appearance. As stated by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, one of the first feminist literary women in the Americas in the 17th century, “souls do not have a gender” (Romance 19, v. 111–12).

Regardless of my promising start in Academia, I have come to realize that I do not want to be part of it in a canonical way. It’s not that I hate it. On the contrary, for better or worse, I owe everything I have become and most of the skills I have honed to Academia. However, my professional path is continually evolving. For me, the opportunities to learn and grow here in Los Angeles are exponentially more significant than the prestige garnered by a tenured position at any institution because I highly value my freedom. I think this mentality and ability to step back for a broader perspective can help you unlock your potential for something truly remarkable in unexpected places. Also, it is a good way for me to balance the creative and analytic sides of my brain, thus taking care of my mental health.

That is why, last year, while keeping my affiliation with Harvard University, I started my own consulting business, “Dr. Milena Anfosso.” It has opened doors for me and brought several inspiring projects into my life. First, during the summer, I co-authored a fiction book, and we are now in the last editing steps of the manuscript before publication. I’ve also had the chance to dip my toes in the Entertainment Industry, acting as a linguistic consultant for some movie projects. I had already worked as a researcher for a documentary, but inventing a language for a movie has always been one of my dreams, so I cannot wait to make it a reality! Moreover, thanks to my extensive training in Translation Studies at the University of Turin, Italy, I have been able not only to work as a translator for several customers, inside and outside of Academia, but I have also mentored a brilliant graduate student in Translation Studies from China. Thanks to the project we developed, she could apply to prestigious Ph.D. programs in Hong Kong and the U.K. I also had the fantastic opportunity of translating, among others, Questlove’s speech from English into Spanish as he received an honorary doctoral degree at the 144th Commencement of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Last but not least, in line with my engagement for gender equality and female empowerment, I have become a supporter of many female-owned businesses, both in Italy and the U.S. All in all, it has been a fruitful year. I hope this is just the beginning of many other exciting things!

Do not hesitate to reach out if you feel like collaborating with me would be a nice fit.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That’s a tricky question! There are so many exciting things to do in LA! However, I would try to make my friends experience things they could never do in Europe.

The first thing that stunned me when I landed at LAX for the first time in 2016 was the orange and pink-infused sunset sky. I had never seen such an incredible display of colors, ranging from intense blue to purple and crimson, all at once. So, if my best friends from Europe decided to visit, I would bring them to watch the sunset. I particularly enjoy the Manhattan Bech Pier since it is less touristy than the Santa Monica Pier and offers countless angles to capture the perfect sunset picture. That comes in handy since my friends are always on the look for the next instagrammable moment! Then, I would bring them to StrandBar to sip on a luscious margarita made from scratch while enjoying a killer view.

A tour of Downtown LA is a must since skyscrapers are not easily found in Europe. One of my favorite museums in DTLA is the Natural History Museum. The Dinosaur Hall is so incredible! My friends would freak out at the sight of the Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons. And the Butterfly pavilion, with more than 30 species of butterflies freely fluttering around, is my favorite part of the museum. I love butterflies! After the museum, I would bring them to another incredible place: Clifton’s Republic. This iconic spot opened in 1931, during the Great Depression, and it is located at the historic core of DTLA, between 7th St. and Broadway St. There are five levels featuring different themes opened to the public. My favorite one is the Tiki Bar “Pacific Seas,” a tropical oasis that celebrates the Golden Era of Travel, initially opened by Clifford Clinton to distract guests from the devastating economic situation with the fascination of faraway tropical paradises. Inside, there are genuine Polynesian artifacts, palm trees, and even a real boat!

Another thing that I would love for my friends to try is, of course, authentic Mexican food. It’s pretty hard to find it in Europe, and since I moved here, it has become one of my favorites! When I’m back in Los Angeles after a trip, the first thing I do is stuff myself with street tacos. The unmistakable taste of a bite combining meat, fresh onion, cilantro, habanero sauce, and tortillas has become synonymous with home to me. I have a long list of street taco trucks, but if I had to pick only one location, I’d say Leo’s Taco Truck in South La Brea Ave. They make one of the best “Al Pastor Tacos” I’ve ever had! On the other hand, for a more bougie experience, I would bring my friends to Toca Madera in West Hollywood or La Conde in Santa Monica. Both places are beautifully decorated and have a great party vibe. At Toca Madera, I strongly endorse the “Carne Asada A La Roca,” and “The Lord Taco” with wagyu beef at La Conde is to die for!

My friends, of course, couldn’t escape my passion for Antiquity, even in LA. That’s why I would bring them to the Getty Villa Museum in Pacific Palisades to enjoy the Greek and Roman art housed in J. Paul Getty’s Roman-inspired seaside home. Since they heard me speaking endlessly about grave inscriptions from Roman Phrygia, as they play a significant role in my research, I would be more than happy to show them a real one: the grave relief for Tation and Tatianos (150–175 CE). The view from the terrace overlooking the Pacific Ocean is enriched by the soothing smell of the Mediterranean plants from the Herb Garden. After the free class on Graeco-Roman Antiquity, I would make sure my friends enjoyed some well-deserved recreational time at the beach. Paradise Cove in Malibu is one of my favorite spots for a beach day. There is nothing better than a table on the sand at Paradise Cove Beach Cafe to take the fresh sea air in and gaze at the blue ocean with a delicious Mai Tai in hand!

Sure enough, there would be plenty of other things to do, but I picked some of my favorites. I hope you’ll like them, too.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
At this point in my life, I’ve realized that a grateful attitude toward all the good people and things we find along our paths is crucial. We are neither isolated dots nor the center of the universe, so taking the time to acknowledge even the smallest benevolent gesture toward us can exponentially improve our relationships as human beings. It might sound cliché, above all, here, in Los Angeles, where talking about ‘vibes’ is quite a superficial matter, but there is no higher energetic vibration than a state of gratitude. It’s a balm for the soul. Sometimes, I feel so grateful for all the love surrounding me that I’m moved to tears.

There are many people I would love to thank.

First of all, my family and closest friends in Europe. Even if we have a complicated relationship, mainly because it’s hard for them to accept that I live on another continent, miles and miles away from them, they have always ensured I had the support I needed to fulfill my dreams—all in their own way. My grandma took care of me when I was still a baby, and I could never thank her enough for all the unconditional love she gave me. As an immigrant to another country herself, she always inspired me with her resilience and strength. Then, I owe my mom my passion for literature and creative writing. I still cherish those moments when, as a kid, she would read me poems in French with her melodious voice. I got to know authors like Baudelaire and Apollinaire at a very young age and discovered the magic that words, through sound and rhythm, can conjure. Life changing! On the other hand, my dad has been my first and most enthusiastic investor, and I still have to learn much from him about finance and business. My best friends from Italy and France have learned to tolerate my silence in group messages for days before I monopolize the conversation to keep them in the loop, and, despite that, they never loved me an ounce less.

From a professional standpoint, I thank the Foundation Bleustein-Blanchet Pour La Vocation for providing me with the initial research funding that allowed me to work as a Visiting Researcher at UCLA for three years. I am still proud to have been chosen along with twenty other brilliant young talents from all fields out of 4,000 applicants. The award ceremony took place at Théâtre de Paris in November 2015, and I still remember that pivotal moment in my life with great emotion. At UCLA, I met my mentor, Professor Brent Vine. As a classicist-linguist or a linguist-classicist with a warm fatherly side but always challenging me to do better, he taught me all the skills I have acquired as a scholar. And, of course, many thanks to the senior fellows at Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies who, thanks to their generous Fellowship in 2020, allowed me to develop and promote the editorial project for a monograph based on a chapter of my doctoral dissertation that I’m currently curating. Their support (as well as other scholars’) proved crucial in my successful application for a Green Card based on exceptional abilities.

Finally, I would like to thank my beloved partner Jonny Zeller for believing in my talents and skills way more than I myself do and bringing me down to earth when Imposter syndrome kicks in. He is such a creative and caring person, and sharing these last few years with him has been a total blessing for me.

Website: https://www.milenanfosso.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.milenanfosso/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milena-anfosso/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milena.anfosso/

Image Credits
Jonny Zeller