Inserra Endows Gift to Name Italian American Studies Chair at Montclair State University
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MONTCLAIR, NJ – Lawrence R. Inserra, Jr. has made a commitment to support a major gift to name the endowed chair in Italian and Italian American studies at Montclair State University, President Dr. Susan A. Cole announced today. The chair will be named in honor of Mr. Inserra's parents, Theresa and Lawrence R. Inserra, Sr.
"All of us at Montclair State are grateful to Mr. Inserra for his gift, which will be a lasting tribute to his parents," said Thomas J. Haynes, Jr., MSU's vice president for University Advancement. "His significant contribution also will serve as a challenge gift that will be matched by other gifts to reach our goal of $1.25 million needed for the Italian American Studies chair. I would also like to thank the past presidents of UNICO National for all their hard work: Frank Tidona, John Alati, Frank Caperino, Joseph Coccia, Jr. and Michael Mariniello; and current president Anthony Braico," added Dr. Haynes. "They have supported our joint campaign for this Italian Studies chair in every possible way and the University is very grateful. All of them have kept this campaign as a priority because they saw the importance of it."
UNICO National, the largest Italian American service organization in the United States, has partnered with Montclair State University in raising $1.25 million to establish an endowed chair in Italian and Italian American studies at MSU. "Thanks to the wonderful support offered by UNICO National, the addition of an endowed chair will support continued growth in scholarship, education and community outreach," Dr. Cole said.
"Montclair State University is uniquely positioned to support an endowed chair in Italian and Italian American Studies," Dr. Cole added. "MSU already offers a major, minor and teacher certification in Italian, and these programs have grown steadily and have been enriched by our programming, such as our Summer Institute at the University of Siena and our Italian Film Festival." MSU has the fourth-largest Italian program in the United States, according to the Modern Language Association. "When this chair is established, it will assure the stature and distinction of Italian and Italian American Studies at Montclair State University in perpetuity," said Dr. Cole.
Lawrence R. Inserra, Jr. is President of Inserra Supermarkets, Inc., which was founded in 1954 by his grandfather, Patsy Inserra. Under the guidance of Inserra's father, Lawrence Sr., Inserra Supermarkets, Inc. expanded to include eight stores. By 1981, the chain nearly doubled to include 14 stores. Today, Inserra Supermarkets owns and operates 22 ShopRite supermarkets in Bergen, Passaic, and Hudson counties in New Jersey and in Rockland County, N.Y. It is one of the largest and most modern supermarket chains in the Metropolitan New Jersey-New York area.
In addition to his family business accomplishments, Inserra provides leadership to a number of community and other business organizations. He is an active member of the Greater Mahwah Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Board of Directors of the Wakefern Food Corporation, the Central Bergen Federal Credit Union, the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, the Hackensack University Medical Center and the Mahwah Education Foundation. He is a resident of Ramsey.
The endowed chair will be housed in MSU's College of Humanities and Social Sciences. "Additional support from UNICO members will enable the holder of the endowed chair fully to integrate scholarly pursuits of the highest caliber and top-level teaching in Italian American studies," said Dean of the College Dr. Mary A. Papazian. "Of equal importance, the professorship will also help to establish and maintain a public program of Italian American Studies that will strengthen and solidify MSU's position as a center of a dynamic program in issues related to Italian American culture."
UNICO National, founded in Waterbury, Conn., by Dr. Anthony P. Vastola in 1922, numbers 6,000 members nationwide who work to support charitable, educational, scientific and literary projects while promoting Italian heritage and combating negative stereotyping. Its web site is www.unico.org.
Montclair State University is currently in the midst of its $50 million Campaign for the Second Century. The campaign culminates in 2008, Montclair State's centennial. Montclair State is New Jersey's second-largest and fastest-growing university. It offers the advantages of a large university -- a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum with a global focus, a broad variety of superior graduate programs through the doctoral level, and a diverse faculty and student body -- combined with a small college's attention to students. More information on the University is available on its web site at www.montclair.edu. Montclair State is New Jersey's second largest and fastest growing university. It offers the advantages of a large university--a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum with a global focus, a broad variety of superior graduate programs, and a diverse faculty and student body--combined with a small college's attention to students. More information on the University is available on its Web site at www.montclair.edu.MSU is located at the intersection of Valley Road and Normal Avenue in Montclair. The campus is one mile south of the junction of routes 3 and 46, 14 miles west of New York City.
March 6, 2006
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