Il Postino Fall 2024
Below you'll find Dr. Vettore's introduction to the Fall 2024 issue of Il Postino, the Graziadio Center's semesterly newsletter. To read the rest of this semester's issue, visit the Il Postino tumblr page!
A letter on what's new at the Graziadio Center
Dear Friends of Il Postino,
Welcome back to the 2024-25 Academic Year!
The semester has just started, but things are already moving full speed at the Graziadio Center. However, before delving in what lies ahead, a few words about the recent past, whose impact on our future cannot be underestimated.
During the summer, more than forty students (from both CSULB and San Pedro High School) spent four full weeks studying Italian at Campus L’infinito in the Marche region. This summer study abroad program in Recanati was once again very successful and was in fact one of our largest groups to ever go. While July is usually the month of choice for most of our students, this time, some of them opted to go in June and some in August. Our Graziadio Center Program Assistant, Diego Brol Batres, accompanied the June and July cohorts and provided them with guidance during their stays. Also, four students were participating in this study abroad for their second time: a testament to the strength of this program, and to how much students love it. Both returning and new students made the best of their time there and are now back to studying Italian at CSULB.
Speaking of returning students, Lesly Valtierra rejoined us after spending a semester at the Università Ca’ Foscari Venice, where she took a variety of courses on Italian literature, history, and culture and thoroughly enjoyed her time there. You will be able to read her thoughts about her experience in the next issue of Il Postino.
We have to re-mention Venice because Italian BA student Antonina Campbell has been selected as our first ever CSULB recipient of an Erasmus+ grant for her fall semester mobility in Venice! Antonina will study Audiovisual Translation and Italian Literature and will have the opportunity to take a course in the nearby lovely city of Treviso. Congratulazioni e in bocca al lupo, Antonina!
The Italian program has admitted a new Master student, Ananna Ahamed. Ananna earned a double BA in History and Comparative Ancient Civilizations. She wrote her senior thesis in history on Italian Americans’ resilience in WWII and her honor thesis on child abuse in Greek mythology and poleis. She is also the recipient of the CLA Equity Scholar Program scholarship for the Fall 2024 semester. You will read a full profile of Ananna in the Spring issue of Il Postino.
Instead, in this issue, you will be able to find interviews featuring Dr. Clorinda Donato, recently MA graduate Diana Aizenstein, and one of our current students of Italian, Aylin Saavedra, who went back to Recanati this summer. Dr. Donato’s multifaceted academic career and joyous desire to learn is bound to inspire students and colleagues alike, while Diana and Ailyn’s insights on their careers as MA and undergraduate students will certainly resonate with our current and past students.
Our graduates and undergraduates are often looking for a more hands-on approach to learning and using the Italian language. For this reason, we are closely working with two Italian American associations to secure funds that will allow our students to participate in paid internships during the academic year. This way, they will not need to worry about missing income.
Finally, the Graziadio Center is also working to create a new series of events to celebrate Italian American Heritage Month. Some of the events that you will be able to enjoy this semester include:
A joint presentation entitled “Italian Neo-realism and Satyajit Ray” featuring Dr. Pravina Cooper (Comparative Literature) and me. It will be held via Zoom, at 6:00 PM on October 3rd.
A talk featuring independent scholar Luisa Del Giudice, PhD, who will present her latest book, In Search of Abundance: Mountains of Cheese, Rivers of Wine, and Other Gastronomic Utopias on October 24 at 3:30pm, in-person.
A screening of Director Daphne di Cinto’s short film Il Moro. Di Cinto will join us for an in-person Q&A session on November 12th following the screening.
We will provide more specific details of these events soon; please check your inbox and your social media accounts for updates.
All the best for a serene and productive Fall 2024 semester!
A presto,
Enrico
