Podcast appearances and mentions of Joseph V Scelsa

  The Italian American Museum, is set for a grand reopening of a brand new facility this spring in its new home in where … Read More

Join Bob as he interviews Dr. Joseph Scelsa the founder and president of the Italian-American Museum to be completed in Oct 2021. Professor Joseph V. Scelsa, (a Bronx native) received his doctorate in Sociology and Education from Columbia University Teachers College, his dissertation topic being “Constructive Pluralism”. In addition, he holds three Masters’ degrees in Sociology, Social Studies and Counseling. He is a licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York State.In 1984, Prof. Scelsa was appointed Director of the Italian American Institute of The City University of New York which was renamed the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute after the late State Senator John D. Calandra in 1987. On March 1, 1999, Prof. Scelsa was named Dean of the Calandra Italian American Institute and elevated to Full Professor. In October 2000, Dr. Scelsa was named acting Vice President for Institutional Development at Queens College, CUNY and on July 1, 2005, he was appointed Vice President for Outreach and Cultural Affairs at Queens College, CUNY. Prof. Scelsa as Dean of the Calandra Institute created and served is Executive Producer and Host of ITALICS: The Italian-American Magazine which is co-produced by the Calandra Institute and CUNY-TV; seen on cable stations throughout the United States. In 2001, Prof. Scelsa founded the Italian American Museum and currently serves as its president.Prof. Scelsa has authored and edited several books and has written various articles and reports on ethnicity, pluralism and education, notable the report on the Italian-American High School Student Drop-Out Rate in the New York City Schools (New York Times, May 1, 1990). In 1997, Prof. Scelsa contributed an essay entitled, “The 80thStreet Mafia”in Beyond the Godfatherpublished by the National Italian American Foundation. Prof. Scelsa was the historical consultant for A&E’s documentary, The Italians in America. Prof. Scelsa is considered an expert in Italian-American affairs; he teaches and lectures extensively in Italian-Americans Studies and specializes in Italian-Americans and Civil Rights. Italian Marketplace LLC Online tee shirts, hoodies and more for ItaliansSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30519446)

In this episode of The Italian American Podcast, we visit the Italian American Museum in Little Italy, New York City. Founder and Director Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, Ph.D. talks about what Italian immigrants went through and how he is trying to recreate that experience so our generation can experience it. Also, my grandmother will end the episode with a touching story of how her father got lost on his first day of a new job in New York. Episode Guest: Dr. Joseph Scelsa, Ph.D. is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Italian American Museum in the heart of New York City's historic Little Italy. Dr. Scelsa is a fountain of knowledge about Italian and Italian American history and a leader in sharing this knowledge with the world. However, his impressive academic background is not confined to the study of the Italian American experience. Dr. Scelsa estimates that about as many non-Italian-Americans as Italian-Americans have come to the museum and enjoyed it immensely, which he thinks is wonderful. He explains, "People want to be able to be in touch with their past. And even if it's not their past, so many people are entering, learning about other people's past, seeing what America was like before. The more we understand ourselves, the more we understand each other."

Bobby speaks with Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, founder and president of the Italian American Museum located on Mulberry Street at the heart of Manhattan’s Little Italy. The consummate academic, Dr. Scelsa has many degrees and distinctions – a doctorate in sociology and education from Columbia, plus a long career as director of the Italian American Institute developing a variety of courses for the City University of New York. The museum is host to numerous exhibitions. For more information please call (212) 965-9000 or visit www.ItalianAmericanMuseum.org.