The John D. Calandra Italian American Institute of The City University of New York began as the Italian American Institute to Foster Higher Education. In 1978, New York State Senator John D. Calandra, then chairperson of the Italian Legislative Caucus, called for the creation of an Italian-American institute to address historical, sociological, political, and cultural issues. The New York conference of Italian-American State Legislators initially funded the Institution in 1979 to address the educational needs and concerns expressed by Italian-American students, faculty and staff at CUNY. Eight years later, the Institute was renamed in honor of the late Senator John D. Calandra. In 1995, the CUNY Board of Trustees officially designated the Institute as a university-wide research institute devoted to documenting and preserving the Italian-American experience, under the aegis of Queens College.
The Italian American Faculty and Staff Advisory Council has its origin with Chancellor Kibbee’s directive appointing chairpersons of Italian American advisory committees at each CUNY college. The Council objectives are to advise the college presidents and Chancellor through the work of the Institute and its Dean on concerns affecting the University’s Italian American community and to safeguard accountability for Italian American personnel within the University. Additionally, campus delegates articulate the needs of students, faculty and staff at the individual campuses and deliberate ways in which the Institute can address them.
To learn more about the Council, or to express your interest in becoming a campus delegate, contact Dr. Donna Chirico, Chair of the Italian American Faculty Staff Advisory Council, by telephone at 718-262-2687 or by email at dchirico@york.cuny.edu.
Executive Committee
Chair: Donna Chirico, York College
Vice Chair: John Rose, Hunter College
Treasurer: Johanna Devaney, Brooklyn
Recording Secretary: Kristina Varade. BMCC
Campus Delegates*
Baruch
Vince DiGirolomo
Sarah Rappo, Alternate
BMCC
Lisa Sarti
Patrizia Comello-Perry, Alternate
Kristina Varade (on sabbatical)
Bronx Community
Giulia Guarnieri
Silvia Carlorosi, Alternate
Brooklyn
Angelo DiBello
Johanna Devaney, Alternate
CCNY
College of Staten Island
Paola Ureni
Rosanne Carlo, Alternate
CUNY Central
Joseph Tirella
CUNY Grad Center
Pinar Ozgu
Guttman
Anastasia Koutsidis
Hostos
Charles Drago
Kevin Carmine, Alternate
Hunter
John Rose
Janet Rubel, Alternate
John Jay
Delegate Needed
Alternate needed
Kingsborough
Frank Percaccio
Angela Toscano, Alternate
LaGuardia
Jerry G. Ianni
Law School
Lehman
Alex Coller
Nicholas Boston, Alternate
Medgar Evers
Cristina Migliaccio
Aphrodite Sarafoglou, Alternate
New York City Tech
Morris Hounion
Professional Studies
Janet Guidi
Shannon Gallo – Alternate
Queens
Alexandra DeLuise
Annie Tummino, Alternate
Queensborough
Stephen di Dio
Christina Kofron, Alternate
York
Donna Chirico
Samuel Ghelli
Calandra Institute
Dean Anthony Tamburri, ex officio
*Not all campuses currently have representation.