Professor Vincent Cannato is one of the History department’s all-stars. From introductory surveys, two- and three-hundred level 20th century American courses plus graduate offerings, Professor Cannato is truly someone who brings depth and experience to this campus.
At 37, Cannato, an Armonk, NY native, is a graduate of Williams College and Columbia University, and recently received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent grant-making government agency founded to promote research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.
Cannato cites the student body as the reason why UMass Boston is the place for him.
“It’s truly amazing to have such a diverse mix of students,” Cannato says smiling “If it wasn’t for the them, I don’t think the campus would be what it is-a great place to work and learn,” he continues.
For his fellowship, the professor will spend most of the next year preparing a text that chronicles the lesser-attended stories behind the creation and use of the immigration facility at Ellis Island.
“I love history, I have since I was a child… to take all these pieces of peoples lives and assemble them in a way that helps us to understand what has come before-well, that’s my passion,” says Cannato.
According to his students, Cannato infuses his love of history into his classes.
“[Professor Cannato] is why I love coming to school here, he is someone who works us to the highest levels possible-he refuses to short-change us on our future and that is the most important thing at this school, ” says one student.
During his state of the university address, Interim Chancellor Keith Motley commended Professor Cannato’s NEH fellowship, citing his work on campus as demonstrative of the benefit of a UMB faculty that remains active in both teaching and scholarship.
The professor enjoys the campus and the community at-large and pitches in wherever he can.
Fresh from manning a table at the Study Abroad Fair, and fielding questions about the History department’s new program in Verona, Italy, the traveled professor reflects on his foreign experiences.
“I love all cities, but if it is not in America, I would love to be in Rome,” he says.
It is love for this city and its collision of peoples and cultures that attracted the dapper professor to the Boston area.
“It came down to Boston, New York, and Washington. I went with Boston, and I am glad I did, ” says Cannato of his decision to teach at UMB.
Professor Vincent Cannato will be on sabbatical for a year, but check your course-selection manuals, because his name next to a class guarantees greatness.
Cannato Quick Facts
Three Favorite Movies: The Godfather, anything by Alfred Hitchcock, and Diner by Barry Levinson.Three Favorite Books: The Power Broker (about Robert Moses and the creation of modern day New York) by Robert Cara, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and J. Jacobs’ The Life and Death of a Great American City.Three Favorite Musicians: Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole.Three Favorite Sports: Yankees baseball, Giants football, and Cannato’s golf.Hobbies: Reading.Special Items: Cannato was a disc jockey at his university and though he cites the great standards, he believes that all forms of music are good (it also shows how smart he really is).