Irene Nunnari

Bio

Irene Nunnari may have retired in 2009, but she continues to be an active presence on the Mount campus. She was born in Scranton, P.A., and graduated from Marywood University in 1963. Professor Nunnary then went on to earn a Master of Arts in Theatre from Villanova University. She taught for the Newburgh Dominican Sisters in Villa Caparra, PR at Academia San Jose prep school, and then came to MSMC in the fall of 1966, where she remained for the remainder of her 42 year career, achieving rank of Full Professor. She was instrumental in obtaining the Title III, SDIP Grant, which allowed the college to establish four majors: Communication Arts, Public Relations, Theatre, and CMA Combined, wherein students could pursue a major combining two of the above disciplines. While a full-time faculty member at the Mount, she served as division chair and oversaw the implementation of new programs, including the Public Relations major. Professor Nunnari established the Virginia Bourne Walsh Award in Communications in honor of her Mother. Further, she produced the first full scale musical (Anything Goes) presented at the Mount and accompanied by members of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. She often participates in alumni events, led an alumni virtual book club, and even occasionally teaches a course on Shakespeare. 

Degrees:
Bachelor of Arts in Drama, Marywood University, Scranton, P.A.
Master of Arts in Theatre, Villanova University, Villanova, P.A.
Master of Arts in English, SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz, N.Y.
PhD, New York University, New York, N.Y.

Specialization/Areas of Research Interest  
Theatre and Communications. Dissertation entitled "Major Productions of The School for Scandal on the Twentieth-Century New York Stage," presented the history of important professional productions of Sheridan's masterpiece from the 18th century to the 21st. Co-authored a musical version of the play, produced at the historic Provincetown Playhouse on MacDougal Street in New York's Greenwich Village.

Memberships and Professional Associations:
American Association of Retired Persons

Achievements/Awards:
MSMC Professor of the Year

Publications:
Produced over 20 plays at MSMC