News
Search All News
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Office Hours
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pmClosed Sat. and Sun.
A Legacy Across Borders
Michael Tusiani, brother of Lehman College Professor Emeritus Joseph Tusiani, delivers remarks.
September 29, 2026
A Legacy Across Borders
An evening remembering Joseph Tusiani’s life and lasting influence.
The Lehman community, joined by members of the Tusiani family, came together to celebrate the life and legacy of acclaimed poet and Lehman College professor emeritus Joseph Tusiani. The evening, part of “Crossing Seas, Building Communities: Albanian and Italian Migrations and Diasporas,” included a special look at the Professor Joseph Tusiani Collection, housed in the Leonard Lief Library.
Guests toured the collection with curator Marguerite Zappa, a former student of Tusiani’s, before gathering for remarks and personal reflections on the professor’s work.
“The event captured the essence of the man, his masterful works, and remarkable achievements,” Zappa said.
Watch Marguerite Zappa discuss the Tusiani Collection on CUNY TV’s Italics.
The symposium brought together scholars, students, and community members to explore the history of Albanian and Italian migration to The Bronx. Co-organized by Lehman College, Fordham University, and the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, the program highlighted the experiences and connections of the two communities.
For Lehman students in attendance, the gathering offered a chance to reflect on those histories and their relevance today.
“It was an incredible honor to learn about someone who, not only was so academically talented and accomplished, but also made a significant impact on his community,” said student Francesca Verzivolli. “I walked into the event not knowing too much about Professor Joseph Tusiani and left having a great admiration for him and his contributions to the Italian-American literary community.”
Reflecting on her work with the collection, Zappa added, “Curating the professor’s works was, and continues to be, a tremendous gift, an enriching experience, and a master class about this Renaissance man, whose genius embraced all the arts!”
The Tusiani Collection preserves his work across five languages and is available for study and research.