2022: PhD, German -- Johns Hopkins University (United States)
2013: PhD, Media and Communication, aka Philosophy, Art, and Critical Thought --
European Graduate School (Switzerland)
2005: MA, European Philosophy -- Manchester Metropolitan University (United Kingdom)
2001: BA and MA, Philosophy -- University of Bologna (Italy)

Elisa studied Philosophy in Italy, the UK, Switzerland, and lived in Berlin for many years, before continuing his studies in German thought and literature at New York University and Johns Hopkins University. His education has strongly been affected by materialistic traditions and deconstruction. Broadly speaking, Elisa works at the intersection of literature and philosophy, with great attention to textuality, slow reading, and the concrete worlds we share.

 After a visiting assistant professorship of German at Washington College in Fall 2024, Elisa joined Morgan State University as full-time lecturer in philosophy in Spring 2025. Prior to these roles, he held a postdoctoral position with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Johns Hopkins University in 2022-2024, where he worked on trans studies. He also taught several courses at Johns Hopkins University and the Peabody Institute.

 At Morgan State University, Elisa has been teaching “Ethics and Values,” “Power and Gender,” “The Good Life,” and “Critical Thinking.” He is a member of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Advisory Committee.

 Elisa’s hobby and passion is writing. Classes are never over. He likes entertaining thoughts and ideas on his Medium page and loves receiving your emails.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Philosophy of history; philosophy of language; deconstruction; gender and race theory;
XIX and XX Century French and German literature.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Monographs:

• Windrose. New York, Dresden: Atropos Press, 2013.
• B ANAL: Cipher Scheerbart. See Johns Hopkins University’s JScholarship Repository. 2021.
• Architectures of Suffering: Walter Benjamin and Paul Scheerbart. 2 Vols. Volume I: The Banal Strikes Back and Volume II: Law and Disgrace. Book manuscript under contract with Vernon Press.

Articles and Reviews

• “Friend.” Entry in Lara Favaretto’s Prospective Lexicon. Commissioned by the Riga Biennial of Contemporary Art. Forthcoming Fall 2026.
• “Of Cats, Dogs, Pigs, and Trump: Hannah Arendt’s Anecdotes.” In The
  Philosophical Salon. January 2025
• Review of Paul B. Preciado, Dysphoria Mundi. Barcelona: Anagrama, 2022. In
  Arcadia 2023; 58(1).
• Review of Márton Dornbach, The Saving Line: Benjamin, Adorno, and the
  Caesuras of Hope. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 2020. In MLN,
  German Issue, Volume 138, 2022.
• Review of Nathan Ross, Walter Benjamin’s First Philosophy. New York, London:
  Routledge, 2021. In Arcadia. International Journal of Literary Culture /
  Internationale Zeitschrift für literarische Kultur. Arcadia 2022; 57(1).
• “Rickels’s Bond, A Review of Laurence Arthur Rickels, SPECTRE” in “continent.”
  Issue 6.2 / 2017: 58-66.
• “Benjamin: Gewalt secondo Scheerbart” in Estetica. Studi e Ricerche. 2/2014.
• “Benjamin’s International Reception, 18th-20th September 2013, Berlin.” In:
  Radical Philosophy, RP 182 (Nov/Dec 2013).
• “Review of Edward W. Said, Orientalismo.” In E-Ching. Periodico mensile per la
  Pubblica Amministrazione Locale. Anno II, N. 6. July 2004.

CONFERENCE COORDINATION and PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Expanding Genders at Johns Hopkins University. Event organized for the Office
  of Diversity and Inclusion. 2024.
• Trans+ Utopia at Johns Hopkins University (narrations, art, and website). 2023-2024.
• Destitution and Power: The Trans Experience. Conference organized for the
  Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Johns Hopkins University. March 31-April 1,
  2023.