Dr. Donna Chirico, professor of Psychology at York College, recently appeared on the “Arthur Aidala Power Hour” (AM 970) to discuss the 50th anniversary of Italian Americans being recognized as an affirmative action group at the City University of New York (CUNY).
Chirico joined Dr. Anthony J. Tamburri, dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute at Queens College, CUNY, for a wide-ranging conversation with host Aidala about the history and ongoing impact of the designation.
The John D. Calandra Italian American Institute — named in honor of the New York State senator who championed its creation — was founded in 1979 with the support of then-CUNY Chancellor Robert Kibbee. The institute is dedicated “to documenting and preserving the Italian American experience through research, higher education advocacy, and cultural programming” within CUNY.
During the broadcast, Chirico and Tamburri expressed concern that the university appears to be doing less to recruit Italian American students, faculty, and staff. They also noted that many Italian American families continue to bypass CUNY in favor of private institutions, particularly Jesuit universities such as St. John’s and Fordham.
Chirico also mentioned the forthcoming book, “Educating America and the
Contributions of Italian Americans, for which she is the senior editor, will further explore the community’s role and representation in academia.
Chirico and Tamburri’s segment begins approximately 33 minutes and 30 seconds into the broadcast.
Mar 16, 2026 10:41 AM