Meet our Board
The N.O.I. Foundation is committed to fostering the love of the Italian language and culture within the Detroit Italian Consular Jurisdiction. We continue to create meaningful opportunities for younger generations to engage and embrace the rich legacy of Italy through strategic initiatives, community partnerships, and cultural programming support and led by our incredible Board of Directors. Learn more about each of our board members below.
Tonino Corsetti – President
Carmen De Lorenzo – Vice President
Carmen De Lorenzo is the Coordinator of the Italian Program at Michigan State University, where she has worked for two decades, teaching Italian and French at all levels. Dedicated to inspiring students through language, culture, and global engagement, she leads MSU’s Education Abroad program in Ferrara, Italy, encouraging transformative learning experiences beyond the classroom.
Carmen also serves as a board member of the Italian American Club of Lansing and, in 2025, was appointed Vice President of the N.O.I. Foundation, reflecting her commitment to promoting Italian heritage and community leadership.
Raffaella Medoro-Naurato – Acting Executive Director
Raffaella Medoro-Naurato is an experienced Italian educator and consultant with over 25 years of teaching in Michigan at institutions such as Wayne State University, Michigan State University, University of Detroit Mercy, and Father Gabriel Richard High School. Originally from Italy, she holds a Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Wayne State University, a Piano Performance degree from the Conservatorio “L. Perosi” in Campobasso, and a teaching diploma from the Istituto Magistrale “Isabella Gonzaga” in Chieti.
In addition to her academic career, she founded a fashion consulting business in 2009, combining her passion for Italian culture and personal style.
Favorite Italian superstition: Never place bread upside down.
Beth Savastano – Recording Secretary
Beth currently lives in Plymouth, Michigan with her husband. Beth has been generous in donating her time to many foundations in the area and her passion for Italian culture, language and food allowed her to develop a special love for the N.O.I. Foundation. Beth is looking forward to her next cup of cappuccino and sfogliatella in Napoli, the birthplace of her maternal grandfather and her father-in-law.
Favorite Italian saying: Allora and Tutto Passa
Lisa Bica Grodsky – Board Member
Lisa has been a dedicated member of the N.O.I. Foundation since 2004 and has been an active member of the Italian American community since her teen years. She started Italian language studies as part of the Italian Study Group of Troy and was a member of their Youth Folk Dancing Ensemble. She went on to found the FIERI Metro Detroit Chapter in 1999.
Funniest Italian Language Memory: When visiting Italy as a teen, she tried to say, “Vivo in una città del Michigan vicino Detroit,” but she mispronounced città so badly that a boy in the piazza laughed and asked if she meant Cheeta, the chimpanzee from the Tarzan movies! Safe to say she hasn’t mispronounced città since.
Andrew Varilone – Board Member
Andrew currently lives in Northville, Michigan, with his wife Grace and their two daughters, Anna and Jane. He works as a licensed professional engineer at SmithGroup, a national architecture and engineering firm based in downtown Detroit. He has been actively studying the Italian language since 2022.
Favorite Italian word (and food): Prosciutto!
Robert Marcarelli – Board Member
Robert currently lives in Michigan with his lovely wife of 39 years, Linda. He has a background in Financial Planning and is the Director of Mission Advancement for an order of Dominican Sisters. He and his wife, Linda, have 8 children together and 4 grandsons. One of his daughters even lives in Naples, Italy.
Italian Figure (Past or Present) that Robert would like to have dinner with: Dante
Francesca Colloredo – Board Member
Francesca currently lives in Columbus, Ohio, but was born in Milan, Italy and spent many years in New York City. She has a background in Fashion Marketing and found her passion in teaching after her two sons were born. Francesca has taught Italian and Italian Cinema at Ohio University and has even translated literature and scholarly texts.
Favorite Dish: Risotto Milanese, of course.
Sandra Williams – Board Member
My name is Sandra Williams, a proud daughter of Italian immigrant parents, Alessandro and Giovanna DeRosa and mother to my incredible son, Joshua Williams.
I have chosen to be involved in the Italian community for many reasons other than celebrating our magnificent culture. I have found it important to celebrate our traditions, support Italian events and businesses, encourage the teaching of the Italian language in and out of schools and demonstrate to our future generations the beauty of community and unity.
I have had the pleasure to serve as a board member and hold positions with various organizations both in and out of college. With my involvement in Fieri, a national organization of students and young professionals, I was encouraged to join forces with the NOI Foundation, of which I currently serve as Treasurer. The NOI Foundation has been incredible in its dedication and financial support to serve the young students of Michigan and Ohio and promote the Italian language, and I am honored to be a part of it.
I thank God for all of the wonderful people I have had the pleasure of meeting, working with and learning from, and hope that we continue to exemplify the beauty of our culture and language in the years to come.
Dino Bruce – Board Member
Dino Bruce is a second generation Italian American with roots in Southern Italy. He spent over 20 years working in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles as a marketing executive, and since relocating back to Detroit, has been helping to promote the charitable foundation and language program at the Italian American Club of Livonia.
In his spare time, he enjoys watching classic Italian cinema and his favorite film is Una Giornata Particolare (A Special Day). Starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni, this simple story of two people spending the day together on the eve of WWII is a telling tale of the times, life, and love that still resonates.
Anthony Di Tommaso – Board Member
Anthony is a proud Italian American living in the Youngstown, Ohio area. The son of an Italian émigré to the US, Anthony has followed his roots back to Molise, Italy and the province of Campobasso. An electrical engineer by training, Anthony has helped support Italian language development in the Youngstown area for over twenty years.
Favorite Italian word: meravigliosa
Antonella Iacobone – Board Member
Antonella currently lives in Westerville, Ohio with her husband of 33 years, Angelo, and they have two boys, Rocco and Giuliano. She has taught Italian at St. Francis DeSales High School for 15 years. Antonella has been a member of the board of the N.O.I. Foundation since 2024.
Favorite Italian City: Alvito, her family’s hometown
Isabella Savastano Durante – Board Member
Isabella is a proud Italian American with a background in nonprofit event fundraising and a passion for preserving Italian culture for future generations. As a newly added board member, she is eager to utilize her experience and stewardship to help the NOI Foundation continue to grow.
Isabella resides in Plymouth, Michigan with her husband and three daughters. In her spare time, she enjoys expressing her art through graphic design or recharging by being outdoors soaking up the sunshine.
Favorite Italian Phrase: La Vita Bella
Gino Gaudino – Board Member
Gino is a proud Italian-American living in Michigan with his wife and three children. His parents are from the Lazio region south of Rome, steeped in ancient history and timeless landscapes.
As an international captain for a major airline, Gino frequently pilots flights across the Atlantic to favorite European destinations like Rome and Milan, keeping him closely connected to his heritage.
Among all Italian dishes, Gino believes that nothing compares to his mother’s homemade ravioli.
Gino holds a deep appreciation for Italian culture, particularly the cherished philosophy of “Il dolce far niente” — the sweet art of doing nothing, savoring life’s simple, unhurried moments with joyful idleness and presence.
Anna Castaldi – Board Member
Born and raised in Rome, Anna Castaldi Roselli is a passionate advocate of Italian culture and heritage. In 1996, she founded Roma Sposa Atelier, a luxury bridal and evening fashion house that introduced authentic Italian craftsmanship and design to the American market.
For over 15 years, she has supported the Festival della Canzone Italiana – New York edition and has been actively involved with leading Italian cultural organizations in the United States. Her lifelong commitment to promoting Italian language, culture, and community strongly aligns with the mission of the NOI Foundation.