Lorraine and Gordon Di Paolo at the 2014 Celestial Ball

It was originally referred to as the President’s Board Room, but thanks to a generous endowment to the CSI Foundation from Lorraine and Gordon Di Paolo, PhD, a popular Associate Professor of Management who has taught at the College of Staten Island since 1971 (starting at Staten Island Community College), the meeting space in Building 1A, Room 406 will be a modern meeting facility that will better serve the needs of the College community.

Renovations to what is now the Gordon and Lorraine Di Paolo Board Room will include furniture upgrades from the “performance environment” company Herman Miller, including Everywhere Tables, which offer a modular approach that can be arranged in multiple configurations based upon the needs of the specific events. The fine lines and refined aesthetic of the tables are complimented by the sleek silhouettes of 32 Eames Aluminum Management Chairs, a multipurpose chair with trim lines originally designed in 1958 that continues to complement interiors today.

State-of-the-art technological enhancements are also planned, including a new sound amplifier and speaker array, a wireless microphone system, and enhanced high-definition telecommunications functionality, all tied in to a powerful and unified AV processor unit controlled by a wall-mounted touch panel.

Beyond their support for this project, the Di Paolos have been major financial supporters of the College and its students for years, having established a number of scholarships and funds for School of Business, disabled students, the College, in general, and other critical initiatives. For their enormous contributions, they were honored in 2009 at the First Annual Celestial Ball with President’s Medals. Dr. Di Paolo also received a Dolphin Award this year for Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of the Full-Time Faculty.

Speaking of the much-needed makeover and the Di Paolos’ generosity, CSI Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Affairs Khatmeh Osseiran-Hanna said, “The campus community and the CSI Foundation are grateful for the incredible support that Gordon and Lorraine Di Paolo have provided over the years to the College and the School of Business. Now, thanks to their generosity, the President’s Board Room will be a state-of-the-art space where all College stakeholders can work together to propel the College forward.”