New dean announced for Italian American Institute

Queens College was looking for a scholar with a vast background to head the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute. They found the man they were looking for in Professor Anthony Julian Tamburri, who was selected to be the new dean after a national search, effective August 15.
Professor Tamburri is a Professor of Italian and Comparative Studies as well as Associate Dean for Research, Graduate and Interdisciplinary Programs at Florida Atlantic University.
“I am delighted that our search has produced an individual who possesses the outstanding scholarly and administrative experience required for this important position,” said Queens College President James Muyskens, who co-chaired the search committee with CUNY Trustee John J. Calandra, son of the late State Senator for whom the Institute was named after.
“The Calandra Institute is one of a kind,” observed Professor Tamburri. “It has played a significant role for Italian Americans in general and in the intellectual world as, among other things, a type of ‘think tank.’ We are now at the next intellectual stage of affairs for Italian Americana. I am flattered and honored to be given this challenge and opportunity as the Institute’s dean.”
Holding undergraduate and advanced degrees in Italian, Tamburri earned a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley (Spanish minor); an M.A. from Middlebury College; and a B.S. from Southern Connecticut State College. At Florida Atlantic University, he served as chair of the Department of Languages and Linguistics from 2000-2003, and was subsequently promoted to the Associate Dean position. Before moving to Florida, Professor Tamburri served at Purdue University for 13 years, achieving full professorship as a Professor of Italian and Comparative Literature.
A prolific author, Professor Tamburri has published many books in English and Italian, including To Hyphenate or not to Hyphenate: the Italian/American Writer: Or, An Other American?; A Reconsideration of Aldo Palazzeschi’s Poetry; and A Semiotic of Ethnicity: In Recognition of the Italian/American Writer, just to name a few. He has also edited scores of Italian American articles and journals and is the co-founder of the non-profit Bordighera Incorporated, which owns Bordighera Press and publishes two national journals on Italian American literature and culture.