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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE BOOK
Dr. Maria Lombardo was born in Calabria, Italy and
migrated to the U.S. in 1960. She attended Girls Latin
School in Boston; received her BS Degree from
Bridgewater State College with a scholarship from the
Veterans of Foreign Wars and, with full scholarships,
attained her Master’s Degree from Northeastern
University and her doctorate in Reading and Bilingual
Education from Boston University. Her dissertation won
second place in the National Association for Bilingual
Education Award competition.
After obtaining her doctorate, she served as a
Language Coordinator and Assistant Professor at
Boston University; worked as Education Director for
the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) in
Washington, D.C., and was a Consultant/Evaluator for
the U.S. Department of Education. In her most recent
role, she consulted for Cambridge Public Schools and
served as the Project Coordinator for a federally
funded teacher training program at the University of
Massachusetts, Boston.
Over the span of her career, Dr. Lombardo spearheaded more than 45 Holocaust related conferences and
presentations, often serving as the keynote speaker. This work led her to write and publish “A Camp
Without Walls,” a story based on her father’s experience who as a member of the Italian resistance in
WWII was enslaved in a Nazi slave labor camp. In addition to numerous articles, her other notable
publications include
Making a Difference in Education
Moving Forward in Education
Resource Guide to Studying in Italy
Scholarship Opportunities for Italian American Students
The Construction and Validation of Listening and Reading Components of the English as a Second
Language Assessment Battery
Her accolades include the “Educator of the Year Award” from the Association of Italian American
Educators; an “I Migliori” Award by the Pirandello Lyceum Society; the Raoul Wallenberg Award;
and the highest award for Italian women, the “Marisa Bellisario Mela d’Oro,” for her work in
promoting the Italian language and culture in the United States.
Additionally, Dr. Lombardo was appointed as a representative for the Region of Calabria, and was
appointed by both President Clinton and President Obama to serve as a Board Member and Chair of
the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation. She was also on the Board of Directors for the
National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW) and selected to partake in a U.S.
Education Delegation to China.
Dr. Lombardo’s work at the NIAF included conceptualizing ideas for programs, writing proposals,
and acquiring funding.
Competitive Grant Funded Programs (PDF)
In her career as an educator, Dr.
Lombardo had the opportunity to work
with renowned personalities in
awarding scholarships and grants, and
in conducting language and culture
programs, including STEM education
through the Christopher Columbus
Fellowship Foundation and the
National Italian American Foundation.
Dr. Lombardo and the Hon. Sonny Bono,
California Representative to U.S. Congress.
Dr. Lombardo with the Hon. Barney Frank,
Massachusetts Representative to U.S. Congress.
Dr. Lombardo with Jesse Jackson.
Dr. Lombardo, Chair of the Christopher Columbus Fellowship
Foundation, with members of the Foundation honoring astronaut
John Glenn on Capitol Hill.
Dr. Lombardo with Caroline Kennedy at John F. Kennedy
Presidential Library and Museum.