Chapman Italian Studies News

Zachary Nowak, researcher at Harvard University and Associate Director of the Food & Sustainability Studies program in Perugia, delivered an engaging and multifaceted talk to a group of students and community folks this week. The presentation explained the evolution of Italian cuisine in North America vis-a-vis processes of immigration and assimilation, and dynamics of cultural identity and economics, while responding to the audience’s actual experiences with the Italian/Italian-American culinary spectrum.

Psychologist Celia Ciacobbi (PhD, California School of Professional Psychology) engaged students of Italian in an interactive and fun workshop addressing challenges that Americans usually experience when living in Italy. While providing useful guidance and cultural information, the evening provided a great deal of language practice for students and community. Originally from Turin, Celia worked as counsellor at the Polytechnic University of Milan where she developed a keen understanding for how to best support American students abroad. Grazie mille Celia!

This week Ernest Miller was guest speak in “The History and Culture of Food in Italy”, an Italian Studies course taught by professor Francesca Paduano. Mr. Miller is a chef and historian who is very active in gardening, food preservation, and education in Los Angeles County with connections to Farmer’s Kitchen in Hollywood and Larchmont Charter School West Hollywood. Students had the opportunity to converse with him about a number of interesting issues including: preservation and innovation in food industry, romantic views vs. historical reality in branding and food culture, influences between Californian and Italian food production, and eating habits in Italy and the United States.

On Sunday, March 5^th, over 200 students and community leaders gathered for the Italian Studies Council’s conference Culture and Business: An Italian Perspective. The conference brought together innovative business leaders representing film, architecture, design, agriculture and other industries from California and Italy.

Dr. Daniele Struppa, Chapman University Chancellor, opened the conference and stressed the important role Italy has played through history in shaping philosophy, religion, arts, business and culture. Dr. Federico  Pacchioni, Musco Chair of the Italian Studies, introduced the keynote speaker Florindo Blandolino, Director of the Italian Trade Commission, who provided an insightful overview of Italy’s economy and emphasized its focus on quality that has provided Italy with a competitive edge in many industries from technology to food and fashion. Conference co-chair and Italian Studies Council executive board member, Joseph Baird, served as moderator for the panel of speakers which included: Timothy O’Connell, CEO, Investor and Entrepreneur, H-FARM Ventures; Jari Ognibeni, Co-Founder and CEO, Industrio; Ilaria Mazzoleni, Principal, IM Studio Milano/Los Angeles; and Victor Laruccia, Executive Director, San Diego Italian Film Festival.

The program concluded with Emanuela Panebianco, Executive Director of Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West, inviting guests to a networking reception with Italian companies represented. Special thanks to our partners: Consolato Generale d’Italia Los Angeles; Instituto Italiano d’Cultura; Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West Los Angeles (IACCW); Italia Enit – Agenzia Nationale di Turismo; L’Italo-Americano; Fondazione Italia; and Patrons of Italian Culture.

The Italian Studies Council is a philanthropic group whose goal is to bridge higher learning in Italian Studies with the possibilities and needs of the community locally and abroad. The Council aims to support Italian Studies at Chapman and raise students’ awareness regarding the potential applications of their studies in various areas of cultural, artistic, and business entrepreneurship. For more information regarding the Italian Studies Council, click here.

Students of Italian and community gathered in the balcony of Beckman Hall to learn about Vicky Carabini’s magnificent olio d’oliva, which she produces with the help of her family in their farmhouse in Southern Tuscany. Students heard a first-hand account of the phases, tools, and challenges in the making the oil, and also had an unforgettable taste of what true olive oil is like. Grazie Vicky per la tua visita!

Below the Carabini family in Italy (Michael, Vicky, Cristina, and Annamaria), and Vicky sharing her passion with students at La Serata.

You’re invited to take part at an exciting symposium and reception on March 5th, Culture and Business: An Italian Perspective presented by Chapman University Italian Studies Council.

It will bring together innovative business leaders who are working at the crossroad of Italy and America to share stories and engage with new challenges and ideas. Join us for a series of presentations with distinguished speakers representing film, architecture, design, agriculture and other industries from California and Italy.

This event is free and open to the public (but an RSVP is preferred) and will take place at Chapman University in Beckman Hall, Room 404 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by a networking reception and lunch refreshments.

Special Guests:

Florindo Blandolino, Director of Italian Trade Agency
Florindo Blandolino is the director of the Los Angeles office of the Italian Trade Agency. The Agency is entrusted with promoting the internationalization of Italian companies, fostering bilateral trade relations, and attracting foreign investments. Its offi ces abroad operate as Trade promotion section of Italian embassies and consulates, and assist and advise directly Italian companies on their eff orts to enter onto the U.S. market or invest in it. Before joining ITA, he worked as the Secretary of the Council of Ministers of E.U., as the Secretary General of the Italy Japan Business Group, and cooperated with international law firms in the fi eld of competition law.

Joseph Baird, Principal, Investor & Entrepreneur at Northwood Advisors
Joe Baird is Principal and Chief Innovation Offi cer at Northwood Advisors. He combines a background in finance, management consulting and analytics to help companies drive improvements in their decision making. He has worked with Global 100 and Middle Market companies around the world for the past twenty years. He also mentors entrepreneurs and is an angel investor in Europe and in the US. Joe has roots in Piemonte and is very active in the redevelopment of his family’s village, which is increasingly a center of education as well as a regional sustainability model. He sits on several boards involved with technology, food & sustainability and Italian-American business incubation. He calls home both Southern California and Northern Italy.

Victor Laruccia, Executive Director of San Diego Italian Film Festival
Victor Laruccia is the Executive Director of San Diego Italian Film Festival and former fi lm professor at Brown University & UCSD. Deeply passionate about cultural diversity and communications, Victor also worked in the fi elds of Telecommunications, Video and TV production, and as producer of documentaries and educational fi lms. Born in Chile to Italian parents, he was raised in Western Pennsylvania, and attended Yale and University of Maryland prior to UCSD. Key interest (after family) is promoting cultural diversity.

Ilaria Mazzoleni, Principal at IM Studio Milano/Los Angeles
Ilaria Mazzoleni is an architect and the founder of IM Studio Milano/Los Angeles and faculty at the Southern California Institute of Architecture. Her conceptual work has been published globally, and her built work can be found in Italy, California, and Ghana. Ilaria has gained attention in the fi elds of sustainable architecture and biomimicry. Her professional and academic investigation relates to sustainable architecture on all scales of design with a research focus on biomimicry, where innovation in architecture and design is inspired by the processes and functions of nature. Ilaria leads NATURE, ART and HABITAT, a summer residency program in the Taleggio Valley near Bergamo that aims to unfold and display a sensitive type of culture that relates to nature as a source of inspiration and a measure of available resources.

Timothy O’Connell, CEO, Investor & Entrepreneur at H-FARM Ventures
Timonthy O’Connell is an Entrepreneur & Investor with more than 20 years of experience working with leading International companies and innovative start-ups. Currently, he manages the accelerator program at H-Farm ventures, Italy’s leading early stage venture group. He also represents Europe on the Advisory Board of the Global Accelerator Network. Timothy is also the Co-Founder and President of Vinitaly Wine Club, Europe’s leading online Italian wine shop; General Partner at Expand Partners, strategic consulting fi rm; and Board member of Seattle based Zooppa.com, market leader in creative crowd sourcing.

Emanuela Panebianco, Executive Director at Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West
Emanuela Panebianco is the Executive Director at Italy- America Chamber of Commerce West, a governmentlicensed organization that fosters bilateral trade between Italy and the Western United States. IACCW supports Italian companies gain market access and create brand value. It also promotes their integration of young professionals through its internship program. Prior to joining the Chamber, Emanuela worked with domestic and international executive teams in key marketing and development leadership roles in addition to coaching entrepreneurs on how to execute on their missions.

Jari Ognibeni, Co-founder & CEO Industrio
Jari Ognibeni is an entrepreneur and investor who strongly believes in the Italian ecosystem as the better place to develop a technological product in key sectors such as industrial automation, agri-food, medical, fashion, or automotive. He is co-founder of Industrio, the fi rst Italian hardware accelerator and incubator, which promotes and supports the most promising hardware startups in Italy.

For more information, please contact – Federico Pacchioni at pacchion@chapman.edu.

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Open to all who want to improve their language skills, learn about the Italian culture, share their talents, speak with native speakers, and socialize with members of the local community and other students!