Senator Golden Honored By Brooklyn College For Support Of Center For Italian American Studies

At a ceremony on November 13, Brooklyn College honored New York State Senator Martin J. Golden for his generous support in issuing a $10,000 grant for the College’s Center for Italian American Studies. The funding, which was made available through a Member Item allocated by the State Senate, will be used to launch new courses and to provide additional resources to Brooklyn College’s students and faculty. Additionally, the ceremony served as a rededication of the Center following its move to its current 1212 Boylan Hall location, according to Christoph M. Kimmich, President of Brooklyn College.

Two new awards for undergraduates in Senator Golden’s name were created by The Center. Shawn Simpson-Smith, a senior from Park Slope, received an award for academic excellence, and Charles Mandracchia, president of the Italian-American Student Union and a senior from Bensonhurst, was given an award for leadership.

“Support from Senator Golden and from President Kimmich has made it possible for us to continue to provide our students with this invaluable resource and gateway into the Italian American culture,” said Professor Geri DeLuca, Chair of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Italian American Studies. “We welcome students, faculty and the community to explore the wealth of information we’ve compiled in our new facilities in Boylan Hall.”

Senator Golden added, “Brooklyn College takes great pride in the many diverse cultures that make up its campus. I’m proud to lend my support to The Center as it not only provides a great service to the students and faculty but also opens its doors to the community -- exploring one of the borough’s most accomplished cultures.”

Brooklyn College’s Center for Italian American Studies, founded in 1972, provides a social setting where Italian American students can meet and hold extracurricular activities. The Center supports research in Italian American Studies and offers counseling, tutoring, internships, noncredit courses of cultural interest for adults, and information about study abroad programs. It also strives to establish and maintain a close relationship with the Italian American community by sponsoring cultural events, lectures, conferences, exhibits, and films related to Italy and the Italian American experience.

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