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Chirico, Donna

Chirico, Donna

Professor

Behavioral Sciences

Phone: 718-262-2687
Office Location: AC-4D05
Email: dchirico@york.cuny.edu

Field research is Ladakh, northern India studying moral and spiritual development constitutes the foundation for Professor Chirico's present research exploring the nature of transcendent imagination as it relates to aspects of psychological development. One connection is the role of the imaginative process in educational attainment among Americans of Italian decent; A central goal of this work to is to come to understand the function of esoteric or transcendent imagination as it relates to personal development, attainment of valued goals, and the formation of personal identity. (Here is a recent piece on Italian American identity:http://www.i-italy.org/node/13090.) Professor Chirico is also an expert in the application of statistical analysis in sports who explores the use of statistical paradigms in sports betting and choices made by fantasy sports league participants. (Here is a recent interview on the topic: https://www.york.cuny.edu/student/yorktv/audio/chirico-krfc-radio/view.)

Office Hours

DayTime
Open hours: Tuesdays9:00-10:00 am
Or By Appointment, please email DChirico@york.cuny.edu

Education

DegreeInstitutionFieldDates
EdD Columbia University Teachers College Religion and Education 2000 
MS Fordham University at Lincoln Center Counseling Psychology 1980 
BA York College of The City University of New York Psychology 1979 

Areas of Expertise

  • Development of Transcendent Imagination
  • The Influence of Ethnicity on Identity, with a focus on the Italian Diaspora
  • Educational Attainment Among Nontraditional College Students
  • Statistics in Sports

Publications in Field Of Expertise

Articles

Chapters

Refereed Proceedings

Other

Presented Papers, Lectures, and Exhibitions and Performances

  • "Caring for the Caregiver" February 15, 2007: Workshop presented at the Church of the Presentation, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
  • "Unity of Existence" May 18, 2013: Celebration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda Conference.
  • "Italian Identity: The NEXT Generation" October 3, 2014: Invited panelist to participate in a constructive dialogue exploring the transformation of Italy and Italian culture today. The symposium was sponsored by ILICA, the Italian Language Inter-Cultural Alliance.

Professional Honors, Prizes, Fellowships

  • Citation of Honor, Office of the Queensborough President: 2016.
  • John D. Calandra Institute for Italian American Studies Faculty Fellow: Spring 2009.
  • John D. Calandra Institute for Italian American Studies Faculty Research Consultant: 2011-present.
  • John Templeton Foundation, Model Course in Religion and Science Program, finalist: .
  • Order of the Sons of Italy in America, Career Achievement Award: 2017.
  • Who's Who in America: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.
  • Who’s Who Among American Teachers: permanent listing.
  • Who’s Who Among Italian Americans, National Italian American Foundation: current.
  • Who’s Who in Theology and Science, John Templeton Foundation: current.
  • York College Alumni Association, Distinguished Alumnus Award: .
  • York College Student Government Award for Excellence in Teaching: .
  • York College Student Government Service Award: .
  • York College Student Government Annual Appreciation Award: .
  • York College Women’s Center Citation, Recognition for Support of Women’s Issues: .

Grants-In-Aid

  • New York Council for the Humanities Mini-Grant, Breezes from Andalusia: Dance, Spain and the Jews” - Performed by the Avodah Dance Ensemble. 1993: $1000.
  • New York Council for the Humanities Mini-Grant, Writing Awareness Week. 1994: $1000.
  • CUNY Faculty Development Grant, Voices in the Wilderness: The Role of Spiritual Development as part of the University's Mission. 1995: $1000.
  • York College Auxiliary Board, Slavery in the Modern World. 2002: $450.
  • York College Auxiliary Board, The Healing Power of Music. 2006: $500.
  • John D. Calandra Institute for Italian American Studies, Faculty Research Consultant, Grant-in-Aid. 2011-2012: $9000.
  • Department of Education, STEMConnect. 2017-2023: 350,000.
  • , . : .

Other Professional Activities and Public Service

  • American Association of University Women, Member: current.
  • American Italian Historical Association, Executive Committee, Treasurer: current.
  • American Statistical Association, Member: current.
  • American Psychological Association: Division 52, International Psychology, Member: current.
  • American Statistical Association, Statistics in Sports Division, Member: current.
  • Association for the Sociology of Religion: current.
  • Book Reviewer, Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries: .
  • Book Reviewer, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion: .
  • Book Reviewer, World Psychology: .
  • Editorial Board Member and Peer Reviewer, Italian American Review: current.
  • Columnist, il Bollettino, Newsletter of the John D. Calandra Institute for Italian American Studies: .
  • Comitato di New York of the Societa Dante Aligheri, Advisory Board: current.
  • Consultant, Learning in the Real World Project sponsored by the Center for Ecoliteracy, University of California at Berkeley: .
  • Consultant, Statistical textbook development in Psychology for Wadsworth and Prentice-Hall Publishers: .
  • Counselor, pro bono, Beth Israel Methadone Treatment Center: .
  • Italian Language Inter-Cultural Alliance, President: .
  • Judge and/or Chief Judge, Annual York College Science and Math Exposition: current.
  • Judge and/or Chief Judge, Rohm and Haas Invitational Science Fair: .
  • Judge and/or Chief Judge, York College Junior Science and Humanities Symposium: current.
  • Judge, Ursula Gielen Global Psychology Book Award, presented by Division 52 of the American Psychological Association (International Psychology): .
  • Mathematical Association of America, Member: current.
  • Mentor, Teachers College Columbia University Alumni Network: current.
  • Mentor, Fordham University Alumni and Student Mentoring Program: .
  • Mentor, York College Summer Bridge to Science Program: 2010, 2011, 2020.
  • National Italian American Foundation: current.
  • National Organization of Italian American Women, National Board of Directors, Secretary: .
  • Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society: current.
  • Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Member: current.