Dr. Leonisa Ardizzone, President
Dr. Ardizzone started her education career as a middle and high school science teacher working primarily with high-risk youth in Seattle, Ithaca (NY), and New York City. She holds a B.A. in Biology, an M.Ed in Science Education, and an Ed.D. in International Educational Development from Columbia University's, Teachers College. Her doctoral concentration was in Peace Education – an area that examines the root causes of violence and seeks to address them via education. The underlying values of peace education – planetary stewardship, humane relationships, and global citizenship – pervade every aspect of her work in education and she brings this perspective to the Salvadori Center.
Directly prior to joining Salvadori, Dr. Ardizzone was a tenure-track professor at Adelphi University and Fordham University. At both institutions she taught courses in educational philosophy, psychology and sociology, curriculum development, and science education. Dr. Ardizzone has published her work in Current Issues in Comparative Education, Peace & Change, and Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education. She has published chapters in four books and in 2007 SUNY Press released her book based on her work with NYC youth, Gettin’ My Word Out: Voices of Urban Youth Activists. Dr. Ardizzone recently completed a prestigious fellowship at the New School's Milano School of Public Policy - "The Tenenbaum Leadership Initiative". Dr. Ardizzone is also an accomplished jazz musician and mother to Rafaella.
