Director Newsletter

As Director of the “Joseph and Elda Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America” the impression I have is that the Board of Advisors with its new members has enjoyed a renewed spirit of support and involvement from the administration and various faculties of the university.

This of course is critical as we attempt to broaden and deepen our relationships through collaborative programming first here at the university and then beyond.

To my knowledge the Institute is unique in the higher education community of New Jersey and in most schools nationwide that offer Italian language and heritage education to their respective student bodies. While the Institute remains an entity separate from those academic departments that formally provide course offerings in language and culture, its mission to promote awareness of the cultural heritage of Italians and Italian Americans through collaborative program initiatives closely parallels the work of the teaching community.

Having focused, meaningful and enduring programmatic relationships within the professional educational communities locally, regionally and statewide is a fundamental requirement and asset that must be nurtured both ideologically and materially as the Institute seeks to grow and be recognized.

In the ensuing months efforts will be concentrated on seeking collaborative projects, programs and actions that define the reciprocal value between the educational goals, objectives and aspirations of departments and faculties within the university and those of the Institute. This is the first step towards achieving the future broader growth and development regionally and statewide that will attract support for the Institute

Subsequent to the proposals and realization of needed collaborative programs and services must be the planning and implementation of development efforts to acquire both financial and human support to both maintain and expand the work of the Institute. Investment in and the coordinating and consolidation of resources that exist both internal and external to the university, need to be considered in partnership to achieve this end.

It is my belief that the educational outreach programs to our emerging adult community both at the university and elsewhere can best be met through collaboration first at the intramural level and then through other schools, community and public service organizations.

Robert Freda, Ed.D.