The inaugural Center for Italian Culture Conference on Italian Studies, sponsored by the Center for Italian Culture (CIC), will take place at Fitchburg State University on Saturday, March 21 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Hammond Hall’s Main Lounge, 160 Pearl Street.
The conference is open to the public. Fitchburg State students are encouraged to attend and to register online.
The conference will feature 21 scholars from across Massachusetts, as well as Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and even from Italy, representing both public and private universities, who will be on campus to present their research and discuss their scholarship.
Participants from Fitchburg State University include: Acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Franca Barricelli, Professor Rala Diakite Cocco (Humanities), Associate Professor Yasser Derwiche Djazaerly (Humanities), Professor Daniel Sarefield (Economics, History and Political Science), Professor Donald Tarallo (Communications Media), Professor Teresa Fava Thomas (Economics, History and Political Science), and history graduate student Richard Whitehead.
"The inaugural CIC Conference on Italian Studies is more than just an academic gathering; it is a profound celebration of the Italian spirit through the lens of our university motto, Perseverantia,” said Sarefield. “By bringing together 21 distinguished scholars from across the Northeast and Italy, we are creating a premier forum to explore how steadfastness has shaped Italian history, from the ancient world to the modern Italian-American experience. We are particularly proud to offer our students and the Fitchburg community a front-row seat to this high-level scholarly exchange, fostering a deeper, interdisciplinary appreciation for a cultural legacy that continues to endure and evolve."
This conference aims to advance the CIC’s core mission: encouraging the understanding and appreciation of all aspects of Italian language, history and culture. The scope of presentations spans the full spectrum of Italian and Italian-American scholarship, including ancient, contemporary and the Italian experience in the New World.
The wide-ranging concept of Perseverantia, meaning perseverance or steadfastness, serves as the central theme for the inaugural event. Attendees are invited to explore persistence, constancy and related concepts across all disciplines within Italian Studies.
The conference promises to be a premier forum for scholarly exchange, offering attendees an unparalleled opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives on Italian history, art, literature, and cinema. This interdisciplinary gathering will showcase a broad spectrum of research, fostering a deeper understanding of Italy’s rich cultural legacy.