
Nicole Gounalis
Extended Day Instructor
I’m thrilled to be part of the SFS community!
I grew up in upstate New York, and I earned a B.A. in Literature and Italian from Bennington College in Vermont. I moved to the Bay Area to pursue a Ph.D. in Italian Studies at Stanford, and it was through my experiences teaching in graduate school that I first discovered a passion for being in the classroom.
After completing my graduate studies, I taught first-year students at Stanford as part of a required introductory liberal arts program. Connecting with students on the cusp of a major life transition inspired me to pursue a new path working with younger students! When I’m not teaching, reading, or writing, you can find me watching old movies, volunteering with my favorite cat rescue, or off on a hike.