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December 13, 1999
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Aurelio Chizzoniti, commissioner of Immigration and Emigration from Calabria, Italy, has arranged for the Calabrian government to fund a cultural and educational student exchange between Montclair State University and the Dante Aligheri University in Reggio Calabria. Chizzoniti was on campus Nov. 22 when he met with Gregory Waters, vice president for Institutional Advancement, and AnnMarie DiLorenzo of Biology to discuss the exchange. This summer DiLorenzo led a Global Education Center-sponsored trip to Magna Graecia in Southern Italy. She also led a faculty trip in 1996, with the assistance of Peter Caruso, president of the Federation of Calabrese of North America, to Calabria, where MSU representatives were guests of then President Giuseppe Nistico.
"The purpose of this visit was to begin a dialogue between our university and universities in the region of Calabria," DiLorenzo said. "Southern Italy is filled with rich historical treasure, but poor in opportunity for young people. Recently there has been more optimism about reviving these attempts to forge links with Southern Italy."
This recent exchange opportunity is open to students of Calabrian ancestry for a three-month study session at the Dante Aligheri University. "The Commission hopes to rekindle a better understanding of the culture and historical riches of Calabria in the minds and hearts of young people whose families no longer live in the region," DiLorenzo said. The exchange starts next semester and will continue three times a year (fall, spring and summer) for two years. Interested students can contact the Global Education Center or DiLorenzo for more information.