Il Postino Spring 2026
Below you'll find Dr. Vettore's introduction to the Spring 2026 issue of Il Postino, the Graziadio Center's semesterly newsletter. To read the rest of this semester's issue, visit the Il Postino tumblr page!
Dear Friends of Il Postino,
Welcome to the Spring 2026 issue of our newsletter.
Before and after the winter break, Diego Brol Batres worked tirelessly to recruit as many students as possible for our Summer Program in Recanati, Italy. We are happy to report that 31 students have enrolled so far! They will spend four weeks—most of them in June, some in July—learning the language while taking full advantage of being fully immersed in Italian culture.
The new year has also brought us an increase in the number of minors and credential students. Alongside them, two transfer students will join us as majors next semester.
Speaking of majors, Yashaira Gonzalez-Ledesma and Giovanni Sciacqua are graduating this semester with a B.A. in Italian. Yashaira completed an internship last semester at Marlena on 2nd Street, where she learned to make ravioli and tagliatelle by hand under the guidance of a chef trained by the renowned Evan Funke. Giovanni combined his studies in Italian with his minor in International Business to present a joint project, with Yashaira, on Italian manufacturer Olivetti at the 38th Annual CSULB Student Research Competition. They received third place in the competition. Congratulations to both, and best of luck on your future academic and life endeavors!
Another Italian major, Alondra Rueda, was accepted into the CSULB Exchange Program and is spending her Spring semester in beautiful Venice at Ca’ Foscari University, where she is taking four courses in Italian literature, history, and art. She is enjoying her time abroad, has found a good housing situation, and is very happy with her courses.
Club Italia has a new lineup of officers: Isabella Borgese will remain as club president while the new vice-president will be Maya Haughawout. New Italian minor, Lucas Schaefer, will be secretary and Italian minor Martha Martinez is the new treasurer. Lastly, Alexa Clement will remain social media manager.
The club has resumed hosting the weekly Tavola Italiana and is preparing a pasta-themed event for the beginning of next semester.
For this issue of Il Postino, we are pleased to feature interviews with program assistant Diego Brol Batres, the aforementioned Giovanni Sciaqua, club president Isabella Borgese, and alumna Lourdes Renteria. Each interviewee brings a unique story, and we are grateful to share their reflections and enthusiasm in these pages. Thank you for your contribution to Il Postino. Your interviews will inspire our students and friends alike by offering a deeper look into your multifaceted careers.
The Graziadio Center hosted and co-sponsored several events last semester. Alongside Victoria Ambruso’s presentation on regional Italian culinary traditions and Dr. Giuliana Muscio’s lecture on her documentary on Italian American tenor Enrico Caruso, the Center also co-sponsored Poetry, Translation, and Creative Imagination with Spanish author Antonio Róma, organized by Dr. Daniel Herrera-Cepero in November.
This semester, we are co-sponsoring an event organized by Dr. Daniela Suarez, who invited one of Latin America’s most renowned writers—Mexican author Yuri Herrera, whose many books have been translated into Italian—to visit our campus.
Actress, director, and producer Daphne Di Cinto will join us virtually for a screening of her short film Il Moro, followed by a Q&A.
Environmental expert Larry Rich of the City of Long Beach Office of Climate Action & Sustainability will give a presentation on sustainability and climate change in our city and California.
Finally, Dr. Silvia Mazzini, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Art Theory, Institute for Doctoral Studies in Visual Arts, will present “The Poor, the Weak, the Creative: Eco-Political Strategies in Agamben, Vattimo, and Negri.”
This is all for now—happy Spring Break to everyone!
A presto,
Enrico
