The Advisory Board of New York University's Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò supports the cultural activities of the Casa by the identification of cultural interests, the development of strategies for contact with the American and Italian cultural scene, and suggestions regarding financial support.

The members of the Board are prominent Italian and American personalities in the fields of culture, art, finance, and public service. Baroness Zerilli-Marimò was the Chairwoman of the Board from its inception until her death in 2015. Giorgio Spanu was elected Chairman on April 15, 2016.

 
 
CHAIRMAN:

Giorgio Spanu
Giorgio Spanu was born in Iglesias, Italy and currently lives in New York. After completing his studies at the University of Pisa in 1978, he moved to Paris where he held positions in marketing, software publishing & distribution. He was also the co-founder of IVAO, a company specializing in video images managed by computers. Since 1989, with his wife Nancy Olnick, he is the co-founder of the Olnick Spanu Collection focusing on Modern and Contemporary Italian Art, Murano glass, Ceramics, Design, and Art books. The activities of the Collection include the Olnick Spanu Art Program (OSAP), an annual art residency program for Italian artists in Garrison, NY, as well as the publication of books and production of films dedicated to contemporary Italian art, design, and architecture. He is a benefactor of several institutions including: Manitoga/The Russel Wright Design Center, Boscobel, Putnam History Museum, Garrison Institute, DIA Art Foundation, Scenic Hudson, LongHouse Reserve, National Audubon Society, The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), The Vignelli Center for Design Studies at Rochester Institute of Technology.
 
 
 
LEGACY MEMBERS:

Massimo Soncini
Massimo Soncini, brother of Baroness Zerilli-Marimò, received a BA in Political Science from York University in Toronto and his MBA in finance from New York University. He began his professional career in the export department of Cucirini Cantoni Coats in Milano, and shortly thereafter moved over to the automobile industry, holding various positions with Alfa Romeo and with Fiat. Since 1974, he has worked for various organizations in the finance industry, gaining progressively greater responsibilities. Currently, he is an independent portfolio manager and a member of the boards and/or managing director of several startup companies.

Maria Chiara Zerilli
Maria Chiara Zerilli is the daughter of Baroness Zerilli-Marimò, and currently resides in Switzerland.
 
 
 
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS:

Sebastiano Cardi
Sebastiano Cardi, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations. Prior to appointment as the Permanent Representative of Italy in September 2013, Mr. Cardi served as Deputy Secretary-General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome since 2010. Before that he was Deputy Chief of Mission at the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C., from 2007 to 2010. In August 2006 he was appointed Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister for reform of the United Nations Security Council. Mr. Cardi holds a degree in political science from the University of Rome.

Dean Thomas J. Carew
Thomas J. Carew is the Dean of NYU’s Faculty of Arts and Science. Since 2000, Dean Carew had been the Bren Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of California, Irvine. His research interests center on the behavioral, cellular, and molecular analyses of learning and memory, and information processing in identified neuronal networks. He is the author of over 150 scholarly articles, and his work has been published inScience, Nature, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Neuron, the Journal of Neuroscience, the Journal of Neurochemistry, and the Journal of Neurophysiology, among other peer-reviewed publications.

David Forgacs
Prof. David Forgacs is the Chair of the Department of Italian Studies at New York University and holds the endowed Guido and Mariuccia Zerilli-Marimò Chair in Contemporary Italian Studies. He earned both his M.A. in English and his M.Phil. in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Oxford (1975, 1977) and his Ph.D. in Philosophy at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa (1979). Previously, he taught at University College London, where he held the Panizzi Chair of Italian, established in 1828; before that he was at Royal Holloway University of London, where he was Reader in Film Studies, at University of Cambridge, where he was a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, and at University of Sussex.

Andrew D. Hamilton
Andrew D. Hamilton was named the 16th president of New York University in March 2015. He most recently served as the vice chancellor of Oxford University, the university’s senior officer, after an academic career that took him from Princeton to the University of Pittsburgh, and then to Yale, where he was named provost. Throughout his time in academic leadership positions, he has maintained his scholarly work, including an active research laboratory, and will continue to do so at NYU. A distinguished chemist and a Fellow of the Royal Society, Dr. Hamilton’s scholarly work lies at the intersection of organic and biologic chemistry. He received his PhD from Cambridge University, his master’s degree from the University of British Columbia, and his undergraduate degree from Exeter University.

Francesco Genuardi
Francesco Genuardi was appointed as Consul General of Italy in New York, covering the State of New York, the State of Connecticut and Bermuda in 2016. Prior to this appointement, he was Adjunct Consul in Buenos Aires (1998-2002), Representative to NATO (2002-2005) and worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He graduated from the University of Milan in 1991.

Armando Varricchio
Armando Varricchio was named Ambassador of Italy to the United States and presented his credentials to President Obama on March 2, 2016. Over the past two decades, he worked for the European Community, as a diplomat focusing on Italian-Asian relations and was Ambassador to Serbia. He graduated in Political Science from the University of Padua.
 
 

APPOINTED MEMBERS:

Stefano Acunto
Stefano Acunto received both his B.A. and M.A. in classical philology from New York University. He is the president of CINN Worldwide, Inc. Currently, Mr. Acunto sits as a Trustee of the College of Mt. St. Vincent and La Scuola d'Italia, New York, as well as the Chairman of the Italian Academy Foundation and the Westchester Opera Society. Mr. Acunto is the author of Westchester County and the editor of Giobbi Representative Works.

Mica Bagnasco Hadar
Actress and author Mica Bagnasco Hadar is native Italian, and graduated at the Bottega Teatrale of Vittorio Gassman in Florence. She moved to Manhattan in the early eighties, taking part in over twenty-five off Broadway productions and focusing, over the past decade, on one-womea shows. With her husband, she heads the Richard & Mica Hadar Foundation, established in 1993, which supports young artists and scholars by providing academic scholarships, mentoring and career guidance.

Giovanni Bazoli
Giovanni Bazoli is an Italian banker. He is chairman of the supervisory board of Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo and chairman of financial company, Mittel. He was professor of Administrative Law and Public Law at the Università Cattolica in Milan until retiring from his university career in 2001.

Matilda Raffa Cuomo
Matilda Raffa Cuomo, former First Lady of the State of New York, graduated cum laude from St. John's University's Teachers College. As First Lady, she established the New York State Mentoring Program, which evolved into Mentoring USA, a national nonprofit organization. Mrs. Cuomo is the editor of and contributor to The Person who Changed my Life, a compilation of over 75 Prominent Americans recalling their mentors. Currently, Mrs. Cuomo is involved with several prominent non-profit organizations including the American Cancer Society, the Lupus Foundation, and the National Italian American Foundation.

Isabella del Frate Rayburn
Isabella del Frate was born in Rome, Italy and currently resides in New York, where she is an art advisor promoting Italian and European art in the US. She also serves as president of the Murray & Isabella Rayburn Foundation, Trustee of the Strang Cancer Prevention Center, and member of the boards of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Save Venice, Inc., and Teatro alla Scala Foundation, USA.

Patrizia di Carrobio
Patrizia di Carrobio is the author of two Italian style classics: Diamanti: Una Guida Personale (Diamonds: A Personal Guide) and Conoscere i Gioielli: Come Sceglierli e Portarli (Knowing Jewels: How to Choose and Wear Them). An international dealer of precious gems and vintage jewelry for more than 30 years, she began her career at Christie’s in New York in 1980, quickly becoming one of the firm’s senior gem appraisers, and eventually heading the Jewelry Department. She serves on the boards of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas and the Limon Dance Organization. She also volunteers for Bottomless Closet, a non-profit group that provides training and professional attire to disadvantaged women for job interviews.

Marilena Citelli Francese
Marilena Citelli Francese holds a degree in archaeology and ancient literature and a diploma in interior architecture at the Camondo Museum in Paris. She has always been interested in the Italian artistic heritage and international relations and has organized many important events, exhibits and celebrations relating to Italian culture in different countries.

Katherine Duer LaGuardia
Katherine LaGuardia, M.D. is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Public Health physician with over 25 years of experience in the field of reproductive care and research, technology innovation, and non-profit program development. She is Chair of the Fiorello LaGuardia Foundation, and previously worked with the Rockefeller Foundation. Dr. LaGuardia formerly was Director of Women’s Health at Cornell from 1989-96 and Director of Clinical Affairs at Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals from 2001-10. In 2014, Dr. LaGuardia joined the de Blasio administration as a Special Advisor at the Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene.

Bunny Grossinger
Long active in community affairs, Mrs. Grossinger served as a New York State Commissioner of Tourism through two administrations. She also served on the New York State Job Training Partnership Council, the U.S. Congressional Tourism Caucus Advisory Board, and the Governors Economic Advisory Board, as well as, the Port Authority Gateway Task Force. In 1981 Mrs. Grossinger received the Travel Industry of America Award for Woman of the Year. In 1984 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Johnson & Wales University. Mrs. Grossinger is the 2002 recipient of the prestigious Hotel Sales Marketing Association International’s Winthrop W. Grice Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a graduate of Beaver (now Allegheny) College.

Frank J. Guarini
Frank J. Guarini represented New Jersey’s 14th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives for 7 terms beginning in 1978. He received his BA from Dartmouth and his JD and LLM degrees from New York University School of Law. He later pursued advanced studies at The Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands. In Congress, Mr. Guarini was a member of the Ways and Means and served on Taxation and Trade Committees and was involved in important initiatives including Free Trade Agreements with Canada, Israel, and Mexico, and Tokyo. He served on the Budget Committee and the chairman of the Task Force for Urgent Fiscal Issues. Currently he is chairman for John Cabot University in Rome.

Beatrice Holden Guthrie
For thirteen years, Beatrice Guthrie served as Director of Save Venice, Inc., an organization dedicated to the preservation of the art and architecture of Venice. She serves on the board of the Metropolitan Opera Guild, as an Advisory Director of the Metropolitan Opera Association, and was recently elected Vice Regent for the state of New York to George Washington's Mount Vernon.

Riccardo Kulczycki

Tao Kulczycki
Tao Kulczycki is an Italian artist currently based in New York. He obtained his MFA in Sculpture from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn (NY) in 2013 and his BFA in Arts, Performance and Digital Media from Kingston University (UK) in 2010. Kulczycki’s work can be summarized as a hybrid between the self, the surreal and the symbol reflecting present day life and our state of mind. His work involves modifying objects and their concepts.

Marylyn Malkin
Marylyn Malkin is the current President of the Women’s Committee at Lighthouse Guild, the leading not-for-profit vision and healthcare organization, with a long-standing heritage of addressing the needs of people who are blind or visually impaired, including those with multiple disabilities or chronic medical conditions.

Paolo M. Martino
Paolo Martino was born in Santa Ninfa Sicily and educated in Milan before moving to New York City in 1963. Here he continued his education, studying interior design at Parsons School of Design, and marketing, business, finance, and film at NYU. In 1968, he founded Paolo M., Inc., a full service salon specializing in hair coloring. He has also developed a full line of hair and skin care products under the label "PAOLO".

Antonio Monda
Antonio Monda was born in Velletri, Italy and currently resides in New York. He teaches in the Film and Television Department of NYU. He is the Director of the Rome Film Festival and writes for La Repubblica and has a column on the Italian edition of Vanity Fair. He has organized exhibitions for the Guggenheim, the Museum of Modern Art and Lincoln Center. Among his publications: "La Magnifica Illusione", "The Hidden God", "Do you Believe?" and the novel "Assoluzione". He is the co-founder and the artistic director of the Literary Festival "Le Conversazioni". He has directed the film "Dicembre", presented at the Venice Film Festival.

Federica Olivares
Federica Olivares received her degree in monetary policy from Milan State University and has studied economics in the US and international politics and economics at the Cini Foundation in Venice. She has been a management consultant for international consulting firms, and is the founder and CEO of the publishing house Edizioni Olivares. Ms. Olivares has served on various boards of commercial, publishing, and women's organizations, and since 1991, has been the president of the Fondation Européenne des Femmes.

Ennio Ranaboldo
Ennio Ranaboldo is the Chief Executive Officer of Lavazza USA, the North American subsidiary of Italy’s century-old Lavazza coffee company. Born in Turin, Italy, and a graduate of the local university, Ennio Ranaboldo has been employed in various capacities with the century-old Lavazza coffee company since 1990. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Lavazza’s North American subsidiary in 2000, and has held that position ever since. He is also the author of a book on J.D. Salinger, published by Mursia in 1999.

Salvatore M. Salibello 
Salvatore M. Salibello founded Salibello & Broder in 1978 and is the firm’s managing partner. Sal brings more than 40 years of knowledge and professional experience in public accounting to each of his engagements. Prior to founding Salibello & Broder, Sal spent 11 years with Big Four accounting firms where he specialized in providing distinct services to various types of organizations, particularly small businesses and middle market companies. Currently, he sits on the Board of Directors of three publicly traded closed-ended mutual funds for Gabelli Asset Management and Russ Berrie and Company, Inc. where he is the chairman of the audit committee. He has obtained the status of Cavaliere from the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy and held several positions on the Board of Directors of the National Italian American Foundation, and he is currently their Executive V.P. He received his undergraduate degree from St. Francis College and received a Master of Business Administration degree from Long Island University.

Nicola Tegoni
Nicola Tegoni is a Member of the Immigration and Nationality Law Practice Group of the New York law firm Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller LLP. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, and is on the Boards of the Malta Study Center, the Italian American Committee on Education, the Lorenzo Da Ponte Italian Library, and the Managers of The Galleria Condominium. A Knight of Justice of the Order of Malta, he is Counsellor of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the United Nations and responsible for the planning and organization of the humanitarian, religious, and social activities for the Order of Malta in the New York City area.

Vito Vincenti
Vito Vincenti earned his A.B and J.D. degrees from Columbia University. He has been a practicing attorney in New York City for over forty years and is the founding partner of Vincenti & Vincenti, P.C. His practice of law has engaged him extensively in international transactions, particularly the representation of Italian business entities, both public and private. He has served for over five years as the chairman of the Tiro a Segno Foundation, the founder of the Visiting Faculty Fellowship in Italian American Culture at New York University.