Front of Verrazzano Hall
In celebration of 鱨’s 75th Anniversary and Italian American Heritage Month, 鱨’s School of Education invited the community to take a closer look at a familiar campus landmark, Verrazzano Hall, and the Italian history it represents. The presentation, led by SOE Dean Eric Martone, took place at 鱨’s Westchester campus on October 13, 2025 — a holiday long recognized as Columbus Day and now observed as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
“History is always changing. History is subjective,” said Martone. “The events themselves don’t change, but the type of meaning we ascribe to those events of the past is something else.” Martone illustrated how the Italian-American experience in the United States reflects this evolution, tracing its roots from nineteenth-century New Orleans, where many Italians first arrived, to today. He described how early immigrants faced discrimination, exclusion and racial violence — most notably the 1891 New Orleans lynching, the largest in American history, which drew national attention and nearly sparked war with Italy.
Despite these hardships, Italian Americans preserved their traditions and identity through resilience and cultural pride. Their story, Martone noted, mirrors many others in the broader American experience: striving for belonging while holding onto heritage.
Martone went on to explore the evolution of Italian-American identity, from the origins of Columbus Day, which grew out of the response to that 1891 tragedy, to World War II persecution, when Italians in the US were required to register as enemy aliens, and finally to the rise of ethnic studies in the 1970s and the founding of Italian American Heritage Month.
“The goal of these months is to not have to have these months,” Martone said, emphasizing that awareness and inclusion should eventually be ingrained in how history is taught and understood.
He then turned to 鱨’s own connection to this history through the establishment of the Verrazzano Institute in 1976, named after the . Originally inspired by the vision of Verrazzano College, the institute found a permanent home at 鱨 under the leadership of Professor Thomas Vesce. In the 1970s, Dobbs Ferry was home to one of the largest Italian-American populations in Westchester (approximately 85%), and many 鱨 faculty were already deeply engaged in local and cultural history, making 鱨 an ideal setting for an institute that linked heritage, education and community. It was housed in the historic Allen Mansion, which was renamed “Verrazzano Hall” in 1976 to commemorate the Institute’s launch.
Attendees reflected on the event’s impact and insight. “I actually learned what the origin of Columbus Day was,” said Peter Camodeo, first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student. “As half Italian, half Puerto Rican, I really found this to be insightful.”
“I hope they took away knowledge about the Italian-American community and the history, which some of my students from my assessment class said resonated with them as students of color,” added Jack Simons, associate professor, counseling. “They didn’t know much about the history and the challenges that Italian Americans faced as immigrants here in the United States.”
As Martone concluded, the audience was reminded that the story of Verrazzano Hall is more than a name — it’s a symbol of 鱨’s connection to global heritage and its continued role in celebrating a diverse community. “For me, in terms of the big picture, at 鱨 we really celebrate this focus on diversity, being involved in the community, having initiatives that are reflective of who our students are and who the community is that we’re serving. This really represents 鱨’s efforts to do that.”
Learn more about 鱨’s 75th anniversary celebrations at .
Italian dignatories (2 papal dignataries and Dr. Michele Martone) meeting with former 鱨 president Donald Grunewald and Dr. Thomas Vesce, then head of the Verrazzano Institute.