Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, (a Bronx native) received his doctorate in Sociology and Education from Columbia University, and in addition, holds three Masters' degrees in Sociology, Social Studies and Counseling. He is also nationally certified as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor.

In 1984, he was appointed Director of the Italian American Institute of The City University of New York which was renamed the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute after the late State Senator John D. Calandra in 1987. In 1995, the Calandra Institute was afforded the status of a full university research institute through Queens College/CUNY. As of March 1, 1999, Dr. Scelsa was named Dean of the Calandra Italian American Institute and appointed full Professor. In October 2000, Dr. Scelsa was named acting Vice President for Institutional Development at Queens College, CUNY.

As a graduate student at The City University of New York, Dr. Scelsa held the position of Vice Chair for Legislative Affairs of the University Student Senate. Today, he is a Board Member of the Columbia Club, the Coalition of Italo-American Associations, Italian Heritage and Culture Month Committee, Commission for Social Justice/Order Sons of Italy in America, Regional Board of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, Italian Apostolate of the Archdiocese of New York, Bronx Columbus Day Parade Committee, Advisory Board Member of the Italian-American Legal Defense & Higher Education Fund and a member the Higher Education Scholarship Committee of the Columbus Citizens Foundation and NIAF's Scholarship and Grants Committee. He is also Chairman of NIAF's Education Institute. Dr. Scelsa is active in many other Italian-American organizations and causes.

Dr. Scelsa is Executive Producer and Host of ITALICS: The Italian-American Magazine which is co-produced by the Calandra Institute and CUNY TV. Now in its thirteenth season and seen on cable stations throughout the United States.

Dr. Scelsa has authored and edited several books and has written various articles and reports on ethnicity, pluralism and education, notably the report on the Italian-American High School Student Drop-Out Rate in the New York City Schools (New York Times, May 1, 1990). In 1997, Dr. Scelsa contributed an essay entitled, "The 80th Street Mafia" in the National Italian American Foundation's newly published book, Beyond the Godfather, in which 23 Italian American writers share their real life experiences. Dr. Scelsa was the historical consultant for A&E's documentary, The Italians In America which premiered worldwide on October 11, 1998. Dr. Scelsa is considered an expert in Italian-American affairs, teaches and lectures extensively in Italian-Americans Studies and specializes in Italian-Americans and Civil Rights. He is often quoted in the media in the U.S. and abroad (NY Times, Daily News, Newsday, NY Post, FoxNews, NY1, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, A7E, History Channel, WLIW, WPIX, America Oggi, Il Sole 24 Ore, Il Messagero).

In 1992, Dr. Scelsa filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, Scelsa v. CUNY in United States District Court, on behalf of the Calandra Institute and the Italian American community against The City University of New York for discrimination against Italian Americans. This case was settled in 1999. This landmark case marked the first time Italian-Americans were successful in bringing a class suit under United States Civil Rights statutes.

Dr. Scelsa has received numerous awards and in 1992, he received the rank of Cavaliere of the Order of Merit (Knighted), from the Republic of Italy and in 1997 received the rank of Ufficiale from the Order of Merit of Savoy for his work in the Italian-American community. In 1997, Dr. Scelsa received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Dr. Scelsa is listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who Among Italian Americans. In 1999, he received the Governor's Award for Excellence from Governor Pataki and on June 1, 2000, Italian National Day, he received the recognition from the Consul General of New York for outstanding achievements.

On Columbus Day 1999, Dr. Scelsa, as Dean of the Calandra Institute and Dr. Philip V. Cannistraro, Distinguished Professor of Italian American Studies, spearheaded, along with the New York Historical Society, a four-month long exhibition entitled, The Italians of New York: Five Centuries of Struggle and Achievement. The exhibit is the powerful story of the impact of the Italians of New York that has never before been told.