Luigi Giancarlo Corti

Luigi Giancarlo Corti is a dedicated Associate Professor of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Miami University. He teaches a few classes within the department, including one on automation that he enjoys because it is lab-based and can visually see the creation of the students’ work. Dr. Corti has an active role in research concerning micro and nano electromechanical systems with students and faculty and is involved in the Association of Latinx Faculty and Staff (ALFAS) on campus. Dr. Corti is always looking to improve recruitment of diverse faculty and students to include in the mechanical and manufacturing engineering program. 

 

Representation at Miami

There is substantial representation within the engineering department, but it looks a little different. Although there are only 2 other Latinx faculty members, there is no shortage of people with international backgrounds. Corti finds his sense of belonging at Miami from his diverse co-workers. He describes that having colleagues from all over the world provides a community just the same. “We’re all in the same boat. Regardless of where we are, we are mixed identities from somewhere. That makes it easy to understand everybody in a certain way.” Corti explains the compassion and togetherness of the department: “If we need anything, we help each other with different things.” This reciprocity includes matters outside of academics. They have all given and received help from each other. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

Early Life in Ecuador

Corti was born in Quito, Ecuador to a multicultural household; born to an Ecuadorian mother and an Italian father, his paternal grandparents moved to Ecuador during the war in Italy. He grew up in Quito, but very much honored his Italian side by studying the language and holding dual citizenship. 

​

His father was always fixing things around the house, which was a source of bonding for them. Corti’s spark of love for engineering can be attributed to growing up in a climate of tinkering and understanding how things worked. He and his father have the philosophy of “Always adapt, try to come up with the best solution for what we have.” 

​

Corti’s childhood in Quito consisted of hanging out with his friends, most of whom he still keeps in frequent contact. They had similar interests in science and physics, and were “useless at sports, some of us.” They would drive go-carts around and play videogames. They were good kids, not getting into trouble or trying to create problems. Corti grew up aware of the social issues going on in Ecuador during this time (learn more about the South American context here), and that they were “the same as any other Latin American country.” These issues were mainly to do with economic inflation and oppression of indigenous populations, which are still very much contested matters to this day. He explains how the politics in Ecuador at that time are very similar to what's occurring around the world now; they were trying to divide the population and say that everybody is lying so that no one knows who to believe. This cycle led to the Ecuadorian constitution being changed multiple times. 

 

Finding International Community in the US

Dr. Corti received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Escuela Politécnica del Ejército in Ecuador. He then got accepted (and offered a scholarship) to complete his Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Idaho, where he went on to complete his PhD. He describes the initial move alone to Idaho as not too bad–just very cold. It was a bit awkward at first because he was 24 years old and lived in the dorms, but everyone was mostly friendly. Even though this was the first time he was living on his own and in a new country, he knew how to take care of himself and be self-sufficient. Additionally, there was a tremendous community of international students at the University of Idaho. The university did a really great job of introducing the students to the campus community and local town. The Latinx student population was 30-50 people from all over South America and Iberian countries. Corti describes the relationships as very close: “After a while even if you don’t speak the same language, you get to understand each other.” He cites this family of international students as the main contributor to making the transition smooth. The community of students would all switch off cooking for each other and exchanging their recipes. Food really is one of the best ways to bond with others and show love (see our Miami University Latinx community recommended recipes here). There were also always lots of activities for the international students that promoted integration and help that was always available. During this time, he talked on the phone to his family in Ecuador quite a bit to keep the relationships strong. It was through this program that Corti met his wife, who is Peruvian. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transitioning to Oxford

The move from Idaho to Oxford for a Miami job opening in 2015 was a bit more difficult because he and his wife had to start from scratch to form connections within the existing Latinx/international community here. Corti drew many similarities from his experience in Idaho to Miami University. They are both relatively small universities, and there is a culture of if you knock on anyone’s door, they are willing to help. Corti remembers how much driving there was at first, always needing to go to Hamilton or Cincinnati for things. This aspect was hard because his two kids didn’t like being in the car all the time. 

​

His transitions throughout the U.S. have affected his identity in many ways. “You become more adaptable.” Being brought up in a multicultural household has prepared him well for accepting multiple identities within himself. He knows and understands that there are differences everywhere. Corti channels this cumulative sentiment in the most compassionate way possible: “You grow up feeling different so you don’t want to make anyone else feel different.” 

 

Bittersweet Remote Family Connections

Corti misses a lot of aspects of Ecuador and Latin American culture. He misses the food, his family, and having the community support of raising kids. “We felt the distance more when we had (young) kids.” There is a culture of welcoming anyone at any time, reciprocity, and caring for each other’s children. In Oxford, this family support was simply harder to come by. Corti also describes how difficult it is to know that he has nephews and cousins in Latin America that they only see through a screen. The distance is incredibly hard in these terms. His parents visit for special occasions, such as first communions, and the reunions are sweet. When asked about moving back, Corti explains that it is tempting because of staying close to family, but that his job is in Oxford and that it is very important to him. He describes how he is gaining more and more stability as he furthers his career. His current position means a lot to him. 

​

There was a certain degree of tension during the 2016 elections and successive presidential administration, mainly due to the fact that Corti and his family were still in the U.S. on a green card. It was a scary time because Corti’s kids were getting a lot of (mis)information from school that created worries relating to their citizenship that they did not have previously. Now that the social and political climate has calmed down to a degree and he and his family have thoroughly discussed the racially-charged political rhetoric that inevitably comes up, the tension is alleviated. 

​

Corti very much values ensuring the multicultural identity that he grew up with stays connected with his family now. He does this through speaking Italian and his wife speaking Spanish with the kids, keeping traditions authentic (no toys on Easter!), cooking as a family, and just generally embracing the mezcla of culture. He recalls memories of his childhood, where they all gathered together to make gnocchi, cookies, and other dishes. There is a culture of everyone helping out to make food. He keeps this strong by passing it down to his kids now. 

​

He acknowledges that his multicultural identity has changed over the years–his ties to home have been stronger and weaker at different times. Dr. Corti and his family have developed a close knit community of other multicultural families in the area. “The closest friends are the ones that become your family.”

​

Check out his favorite recipe here.