Professor Stephen Cerulli during his virtual talk.
Hostos Community College hosted a thought-provoking event honoring Italian-American Heritage Month, featuring scholars who delved into the evolution and significance of Italian-American culture within the CUNY system and beyond. The virtual gathering, which took place on Wednesday, October 9, was highlighted by remarks from Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Allied Health Chair Charles Drago, York College Professor and Calandra Italian-American Institute President Donna Chirico, and a special presentation by Hostos History Lecturer Stephen J. Cerulli, who provided an engaging platform for discussing Italian-American contributions and the ongoing efforts to foster and protect their legacy in academia.
Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Hostos President, during her opening remarks.
Charles Drago, the moderator of the event, set the tone with an opening reflection on his own Sicilian roots and the opportunities his family embraced upon arriving in the United States. "This country gave my grandparents opportunities," he shared, recounting his grandfather's rise from humble beginnings to owning multiple businesses in New York City. Drago’s sentiments were echoed by President Cocco De Filippis, who expressed her support for the Italian-American community and highlighted figures like Dr. Jill Biden, an Italian-American community college educator and First Lady of the United States, as a symbol of the community’s accomplishments.
(Top, left) Stephen Cerulli; (top, right) Dr. Charles Drago; and (bottom, center) Dr. Donna Chirico during the Q&A section.
The event’s keynote speaker, Professor Cerulli, a Ph.D. candidate at Fordham University and lecturer at Hostos, explored the rich history and interdisciplinary nature of Italian-American studies as a field of academic inquiry. He emphasized that while the field had grown significantly over the years, it still lacked critical academic support within institutions of higher learning, especially those that house hundreds of Italians and Italian-Americans, whether as students, staff, or faculty. Despite that, multiple Italians or Italian-Americans continue to expand the horizons of the field, with many of them serving at Hostos, such as Senate Chair Behavioral and Social Sciences Professor Ernest Ialongo and History Professor Marcella Bencivenni.
Cerulli underscored the vital role that CUNY’s Calandra Institute has played in promoting Italian-American scholarship, sharing that "the Institute has evolved into a powerhouse of publishing" and a hub for academic and public engagement.
Suitably, Cerulli’s talking points were echoed by Professor Chirico herself, who reinforced the importance of academic programs in sustaining cultural heritage. "If you don’t know a subject exists, how can you pursue it?" she remarked, advocating for increased funding and support for Italian-American studies courses across CUNY.
Reflecting on the evolving nature of cultural identity, Cerulli also remarked, "Identity is not static; it's constantly changing," emphasizing how younger generations of Italian-Americans are actively reconnecting with their heritage through social media and cultural events, highlighting the need for more Italian studies programming in colleges and other institutions given the yearning for connection that younger generations have.
After the main presentation, the audience asked questions focused on how to support Italian studies programs and how the feeling of Italian-American identity has evolved over time. The event concluded with gratitude expressed by all speakers and a call for ongoing collaboration to uplift and sustain Italian-American heritage through scholarship and cultural programming.