History

Established in 1999 to honor the John Carroll alumnus and Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland, the Anthony M. Pilla Program in Italian American Studies is unlike any other in the nation. It stands out as the only program of its kind in the U.S. that focuses on an interdisciplinary undergraduate liberal arts approach, which emphasizes an understanding of the meaning of family, its heritage, and the role of spirituality in one's life. Students are able to choose a concentration in Italian Studies in addition to taking courses that carry a Catholic Studies designation. The program examines the achievements of Italian and Italian American intellectual history, culture, literature, philosophy, and religion.

Initial gifts from the Northern Ohio Italian Americans (NOIA) and the Boler Challenge Grant in 1997 made the program possible. Since that time, many alumni and friends of the university have supported our program's mission through their generosity. The endowment for the Pilla Program now stands at $1.5 million. Supporters of the program will be working to increase the endowment to ensure the legacy of Italian American Studies at John Carroll.