CLICK BELOW FOR A LINK TO THE EVENTS CALENDAR OF THE CENTER FOR ITALIAN AND ITALIAN AMERICAN STUDIES

Past Events

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This Summer Earn 6 MSU Credits and Fulfill Graduation Requirements
(Click on the link below for more information)
Southern Italy 2008
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ITALIAN NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATION OF THE ITALIAN NATIONAL DAY 2008

For further information kindly contact consolato.newark@esteri.it

IT PAYS TO TAKE ITALIAN AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

Everyone knows that, in this ever-changing global community, learning another world language just makes sense. Well, now, students majoring in Italian language and culture at Montclair State University are finding out that success in Italian class can easily translate into dollars and cents. This academic year, numerous scholarships are being awarded to students who have declared a major in Italian and have demonstrated proficiency in the target language. The scholarships will go to deserving students who are at varying points in their course of study at Montclair State University, from the first semester of language study to graduating majors.

The Coccia Institute thanks the following donors for
sponsoring the 2007 scholarships:

The Coccia Foundation - Sicily Study Abroad Grant
The Coccia Foundation - Italian Language Grants
Maria Manzetti - Sicily Study Abroad Grant
The Passaic Valley Chapter of UNICO National - Sicily Study Abroad Grant



Joseph & Elda Coccia Awarded Honorary Degrees

"Time has left you with indelible memories, great relationships and an education second to none."
- Joseph Coccia

Richard Gigliotti, former dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, hoods Joseph and Elda Coccia upon the couple receiving an honorary degree at the College's convocation on May 15. "This is a milestone in our life that neither one of us...had the opportunity to achieve," said Joseph Coccia, who, with Elda, founded the Joseph and Elda Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America, located on campus.

"We consider it a privilege to be here today, to stand with several hundred students whose challenges over the past four years seemed, I'm sure, to be overwhelming at times," Joseph said. "But today you are graduates, and all that is in the past."

Joseph encouraged the students to use the critical thinking skills they learned at Montclair State to "make decisions that will determine the course of your individual lives."

He also left them with this advice: "Make every decision as if it will be reflected in tomorrow's headlines. If those envisioned headlines are acceptable, then you can be confident you made the right choice."

The Coccias with MSU President Susan A. Cole and Board of Trustees member Scott Williams.

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About Us

Mission Statement

Mission
The COCCIA INSTITUTE at Montclair State University actively advances the growing interest in Italian and Italian American fields of study, both among scholars and the public at large. The mission of the Institute includes both academic components and public outreach, with a specific focus on the historical and contemporary interplay of Italian culture and society with American culture and society.

The Institute works collaboratively with other regional and national organizations in the common cause of promoting an understanding of the important links between the peoples and cultures of Italy and America.

Vision
The Coccia Institute will be recognized as the premiere entity supporting the growth of "emerging adults" as they learn to appreciate and contribute to Italian-American culture. We will also be known as a national and international Center of Excellence and a "go to" resource for current information and programming on a host of Italian and Italian-American issues and interests.

The Institute will become a self-supporting entity that stimulates interests in and encourages preservation of Italian and Italian-American culture and heritage. We aim to measure our progress and achieve this vision within five years. We will focus on three strategic areas as we work towards completing the following major goals:

Education
Alone or in partnership with other universities, organizations and individuals, the Institute organizes, and conducts educational programs for people of all ages and interest levels. Among these educational initiatives are lectures, conferences, seminars and symposia for groups ranging from school age children to the general public and scholarly audiences.

The institute also works with Montclair State's Sprague Library and others to further develop their collections of books, videos, films and other materials relating to Italian and Italian-American studies. These collections represent an important resource for teachers, students, researchers and others who are interested in exploring Italian culture and heritage.

Outreach
The work of the COCCIA INSTITUTE extends beyond the Montclair State University campus. The Institute, for example, stays in touch with a national network of scholars in the field of Italian and Italian-American Studies and serves as a conduit for sharing information and resources.

The Institute maintains a list of speakers who can address organizations and school groups. Chose for their expertise on topics related to Italian and Italian American culture, they come from the worlds of academia, business, arts, sciences, and beyond.

Building on the foundation of Montclair State's successful partnerships with New Jersey school districts, the Institute reaches out to teachers to help them enrich their own classroom and school-based activities.

Annual contests and competitions are designed to draw student entries from throughout New Jersey and beyond.

The Institute also welcomes opportunities to act as a resource for Italian American organizations and to explore possible partnerships and collaborations.

Cultural Programming
The COCCIA INSTITUTE offers cultural programming for the general public that educates as it entertains. Film festivals, art shows, musical and theatrical performances feature the work of Italian and Italian American artists and are designed to expose the larger community to Italian and Italian American culture.

Research
Significant aspects of Italian and Italian American culture and experience continue to await exploration and interpretation. There are many ways in which the COCCIA INSTITUTE may lend assistance to scholars who are adding to that body of knowledge. Support may be extended, for example, through research grants or by providing space for art exhibits, artifact displays and new collections.

About the Director

Robert A. Freda, Ed. D Director Joseph and Elda Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America

 

Ed.D. - Rutgers the State University - Intercultural Relations and Ethnic Studies.

Robert Freda has served in a variety of positions during his forty five year career in education. Most recently he was the first Executive Director of the NJ Italian American Heritage Commission and Executive Director of the The National Conference of Christians and Jews NJ region. During his service as a former Superintendent, principal, teacher and co-adjunct faculty member at various institutions of higher education he co authored among other pieces of legislation The New Jersey Bilingual Education Act of 1972 and co produced with New Jersey Network the video documentary The Italian Americans in New Jersey.

 

 

 

 

Dedication Ceremony

October 8, 2003

Speakers: Richard Gigliotti Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences	Susan A. Cole President, Montclair State University	Antonio Bandini Counsul-General of New York
Mayor Robert Russo, Montclair	Rosa Chiariello Senior, Communication Studies and Italian	Cav. Joseph Coccia, Jr.
Plaque Unveiling

Advisory Board Members

Cav. Joseph Coccia, Jr., Founder
joseph.cocciajr@verizon.net

Robert A. Freda, Ed. D, Director

Mr. Rudy Valli
Chairman of the Board

Advisory Board Members - Montclair State University

Claire F. Taub, Interim Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Dr. Linda Levine, Chair Spanish/Italian
levinel@mail.montclair.edu

Dr. Andea Dini, Dept. Spanish/Italian

Dr. Nancy Carnevale, Dept. History
carnevalen@mail.montclair.edu

Ms. Elisa Coccia

Dr. Mary Ann Re
maryannere@iahi.rutgers.edu

Mr. Ralph Contini

Mr. Mario Milleli

Marcella LoCastro