The Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America

05/27/2026

By NYPL Staff: "The New York Public Library today announced the acquisition of the professional and personal archive of Gay Talese, the pioneering journalist, bestselling author, and leading light of the New Journalism movement. The collection documents in scrupulous detail over 80 years of Talese’s life and career, from his earliest high school bylines to his most influential works of reportage, including his groundbreaking Esquire article 'Frank Sinatra Has a Cold.'"

Read the full article below:

The definitive archive spans 80 years and provides unprecedented insight into the life and work of the New Journalism pioneer. 

04/30/2026

REMINDER: Please join Mark Rotella, Director of the Coccia Institute in conversation with bestselling author Adriana Trigiani on WEDNESDAY, May 6th from 7:00-8:30pm. This is a co-sponsored event with the Coccia Institute and the Montclair Literary Festival.

See details and tickets below:

La Dolce Vita Just in Time for Summer and Now in Paperback! Beloved New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani brings us The View From Lake Como, a novel about one woman’s quest to build her own life before it’s too late.

 You will not want to miss this event at 7:00pm on Wednesd

03/30/2026

Attention Montclair State University students interested in Study Abroad programs! Please join professors Gina Miele and Mark Rotella for "Montclair in Italy: Folk Magic, Food, and Cultural Narratives in Rome, Naples, and the Mediterranean."

Program Overview:
Italy is one of the most mystically charged places in the world, and its mysteries run deepest beneath the surface. This Fall Break program pulls back the layers to reveal a hidden world where the sacred and the secular intertwine. In Naples, saints perform miracles, healers remove the evil eye, and the cuisine reflects centuries of cultural memory. In Rome, ancient ritual and culinary tradition have shaped the city for millennia. The volcanic island of Ischia and the dramatic villages of the Amalfi Coast invite students into their storied landscapes. This is Italy experienced from the inside, tasted, witnessed, and written into memory. Whether drawn by folklore, religion, cuisine, or generational interest, students will leave with a richer understanding of Italy and the narratives that continue to animate it.

More information here: https://montclair.studioabroad.com/_portal/tds-program-brochure?programid=60011

03/26/2026

𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑰𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑲-𝟏𝟐 𝑳𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒔:

The Director of the Coccia Institute is delighted to announce the 2026 Coccia-Inserra Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Teaching of Italian (K-12). Recognizing the importance of acknowledging and motivating excellence in the teaching of Italian, the Coccia family and Lawrence Inserra, Jr., have established this significant award.

The recipient of the Coccia-Inserra Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Teaching of Italian (K-12) will receive a $5000 prize for the academic year 2026.

We strongly encourage full-time language teachers certified in Italian who are teaching a minimum of two classes of Italian at the K-12 level to apply!

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑:

The application will be split into two rounds, where teachers will submit materials from Section A-Section I by Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 at 11:59pm via this Google Form submission: https://forms.gle/d8XH35A8WHpvLvNK7

Our panel of judges will review and evaluate all of the preliminary applications. As part of their review, the judges will select the three top applicants and invite them to arrange a Zoom call with the Coccia Institute Program Assistant, Chiara Cardone, for a live observation of their Italian class. Once notified of their successful preliminary submission, the finalists are encouraged to arrange a Zoom meeting as early as possible with the Coccia Program Assistant, and no later than Monday, June 1st. The winner and runner-ups will be notified by mid-June. Our nineteenth annual Teaching Italian Symposium will take place on Friday, October 16, 2026 at the University Hall Conference Center at Montclair State University. The Coccia-Inserra Teaching Award will be unveiled on this occasion.

If you would like additional information or have any questions, please feel free to contact Professor Mark Rotella, Director of the Coccia Institute, at [email protected] and Chiara Cardone, Coccia Institute Program Assistant, at [email protected] OR [email protected].

03/26/2026

Please join Mark Rotella, Director of the Coccia Institute in conversation with bestselling author Adriana Trigiani! This is a co-sponsored event with the Coccia Institute and the Montclair Literary Festival.

La Dolce Vita Just in Time for Summer and Now in Paperback! Beloved New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani brings us The View From Lake Como, a novel about one woman’s quest to build her own life before it’s too late.

 You will not want to miss this event at 7:00pm on Wednesd

01/26/2026

Last chance to purchase tickets for tomorrow’s game! Don’t miss out on Italian Heritage Night with the New Jersey Devils! 🏒🇮🇹

🔗 Get your tickets here: https://engagement.montclair.edu/e/2026-nj-devils-italian-heritage-night

𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑰𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚, 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 New Jersey Devils 𝒉𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒚! 🏒🇮🇹

The Coccia Institute invites you to the 3rd Annual NJ Devils Italian Heritage Night at the Prudential Center for an evening you won’t forget.

With your $50 ticket, you’ll enjoy a lineup of exclusive experiences, including:

• A post-game photo on the ice to commemorate the night
• A limited-edition Italian Heritage Night T-shirt
• Group recognition on the Jumbotron—don’t miss your moment in the spotlight
• The fan-favorite Premio sausage eating contest (bragging rights included!)
• Live musical performances by Italian American entertainers, showcasing vibrant talent and culture

🔗 To purchase tickets, please visit this link: https://engagement.montclair.edu/e/2026-nj-devils-italian-heritage-night/

01/08/2026

𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑰𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚, 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 New Jersey Devils 𝒉𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒚! 🏒🇮🇹

The Coccia Institute invites you to the 3rd Annual NJ Devils Italian Heritage Night at the Prudential Center for an evening you won’t forget.

With your $50 ticket, you’ll enjoy a lineup of exclusive experiences, including:

• A post-game photo on the ice to commemorate the night
• A limited-edition Italian Heritage Night T-shirt
• Group recognition on the Jumbotron—don’t miss your moment in the spotlight
• The fan-favorite Premio sausage eating contest (bragging rights included!)
• Live musical performances by Italian American entertainers, showcasing vibrant talent and culture

🔗 To purchase tickets, please visit this link: https://engagement.montclair.edu/e/2026-nj-devils-italian-heritage-night/

01/05/2026

📣 𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝑹, 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒎! Join the Director of the Coccia Institute, Professor Mark Rotella, and Professor Kathryn Lancioni this May-June for a three-week study abroad trip to Bologna, Italy!

In past years, students have visited the offices and factories of Lamborghini, Gucci, FIAT, and Furla, among others. While based in Bologna, students will travel to Modena and Milan, and places in between. No knowledge of Italian is necessary; space is limited.

🔗 For more information, please visit this link: https://ieimedia.com/bologna-2026/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPI-55leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeiMjLO7l3inm__sOALxb1zrYHZWDw6BEfv86WP239b3jdNDgij6vpJGoqb-k_aem_u6BeenGaT2DMQLIYkTGQdg

12/22/2025

🇮🇹✨The Coccia Institute was proud to co-host the 57th Annual Italian American Studies Association Conference from November 6-8 at Montclair State University!

The three-day event brought together scholars, writers, artists, and community leaders from across the country for panels, presentations, and conversations exploring Italian American history, culture, identity, and contemporary issues.

We are grateful for the opportunity to support a space that uplifts research, dialogue, and community within Italian American Studies.

❤️🤍💚Thank you to everyone who joined us!

12/18/2025

🇮🇹✨ On Friday, October 17th, the Coccia Institute proudly hosted Teaching Italian XVIII: “Toolkit Italiano — Building Innovative Pathways to Success”!

The day began with welcome remarks from:
🎙️ Enza Antenos, Symposium Chair, Montclair State University
🎙️ Mark Rotella, Director, Coccia Institute
🎙️ Fatma Mili, Interim Dean, CHSS
🎙️ Kathleen Loysen, Chair, World Languages & Cultures
🎙️ Daniele Castellani, Ufficio Scuola del Consolato Generale di New York
🎙️ Margaret Fontana, Executive Director, NJ Italian Heritage Commission

The Coccia-Inserra Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Teaching of Italian (K-12) was presented to Benedetta Liccardo (La Scuola International School, San Francisco), by Andrea Baldi (Panel Chair; Professor of Italian, Rutgers University), Elisa Coccia (President, Coccia Foundation), and Mark Rotella (Director, Coccia Institute). 🎉

Participants also engaged in dynamic workshops led by Elda Buonanno Foley (Brunswick School, CT/St. John’s University), Daniela Bisello Antonucci, Diana Maria Zoino (Cresskill High School, NJ), and Alessandra Savarese (Arthur L. Johnson High School, NJ) — exploring creative ways to inspire and empower Italian learners! 🇮🇹📚

Following this, Dr. Enza Antenos moderated a lively panel discussion featuring the workshop facilitators, joined by Amanda Seewald, Executive Director of JNCL-NCLIS. 💬

A heartfelt grazie mille to all our speakers, panelists, and the incredible volunteers who made the event a success. 💫