Ralph G. Giordano

"The board sent me their feedback on your WWI EQ essay. First,   I'd like to say it's one of the most well-researched essays I've seen for this database, and I appreciate your use of a diverse amount of print sources. Thank you again for contributing to our site! -- Rebecca Matheson, ABC-CLIO"

“Ralph is a smart, diligent, and quick-witted author who, in addition to his wonderful ideas, is completely open to suggestions. His friendly, easy-going attitude and speedy turnaround on projects made him extremely easy to work with, and made working at Scarecrow a pleasure.”
Renee Camus, editor.

“Thank you so very much for the copy of the book you sent to me. I was very touched by your dedication, to say the least -- Working with you and seeing your writing develop has certainly been one of the highlights of my career, and I'm so happy to have played a small part in your now-extensive publications list!” Debra L. Adams, Shoreline Writing Services, www.shorelinewriting.com

Ralph G. Giordano holds a license as a professional Registered Architect in the state of New York, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from the City University of New York-CUNY, and a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from the New York Institute of Technology. Mr. Giordano is an adjunct professor at Kean University and member of the Author's Guild who has published ten  books. He also edited a series "The American Dance Floor" for ABC-Clio, and has an additional book translated into French:

• Italian Culture in America: The Immigrants 1880 to 1930 From Discrimination to Assimilation (Academica 2023).
• Italian Culture in America: How a Founding Father Introduced Italian Art, Architectre, Food, Wine, and Liberty to the American People (Academica 2020).
• Pop Goes the Decades: The Fifties (Greenwood 2017).

• The Architectural Ideology of Thomas Jefferson (McFarland & Company 2012).
• La Danse Country & Western - Christian Rolland, ed. & trans. (Rolland 2011).

• Country & Western Dance: A History of Country & Western Dance from Western Swing to the Two Step (Greenwood/ ABC-CLIO 2010).
• Satan in the Dance Hall: The Rev. John Roach Straton, Social Dancing, and Morality in 1920s New York City (Scarecrow Press, 2008).
• Social Dancing in America: Fair Terpsichore to the Ghost Dance - Volume One: 1607 to 1900 (Greenwood 2006);
http://www.gale.com/reference/lawrence/200707/dancing.htm
• Social Dancing in America: Lindy Hop to Hip Hop - Volume Two 1901 to 2000 (Greenwood 2006); (Staten Island Advance Review at:
http://www.silive.com/columnists/fres/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1170588631291420.xml&coll=1
• Fun and Games in Twentieth Century America: A Historical Guide to Leisure, (Greenwood 2003).

One of his publications was translated into French: La Danse Country & Western (French Edition Publisher: Christian Rolland 2011).

In another publication he contributed three historical essays in:
• Historical Dictionary of the Gilded Age (M. E. Sharpe 2006). In 2024, he was prominently featured in the multi-award winning Documentary "Swing 46: the Last Swinging Supper Club" (dir. Jason Kolucki). Additonal film work occured with Fuzz on the Lens Productions including Prey Love Eat (dir. Michael Leavy 2012) and other film shorts.

In additon he served as Series Editor for the Greenwood / ABC-Clio Seven-volume Series The American Dance Floor - of the following titles:

• Country & Western Dance (2010).
• Disco Dance (by Lori Ortiz, 2011).
• Folk Dancing (by: Erica M. Nielsen, 2011).
• Hip Hop Dance (by: Mohana Rajakumar, 2012).
• Latin Dance (by: Elizabeth Drake-Boyt, 2011).
• Rock 'n' Roll Dances of the 1950s (by: Lisa Jo Sagolla, 2011).
• Swing Dancing (by: Tamara Stevens and Erin Stevens, 2011).

He has also contributed articles to several scholarly historical journals on various topics including Rosa Parks, Thomas Jefferson http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2001_summer_fall/architect.html, Cold War Culture, Swing music, Hip-hop, and the integrated use of popular Culture and History.

Mr. Giordano has a distinguished Record of Service to The College of Staten Island. In 2007 he was presented with the President's Dolphin Award for Outstanding Service and Contribution to the college. On the academic side, in January 2007 he was honored with a Faculty/Staff Appreciation Award presented by the Student/Athletes of the College of Staten Island for excellence in teaching. A similar award was granted by the Student/Athletes at Kean University. In 1995 he was inducted into the College of Staten Island "Hall of Fame" for outstanding Civic and Professional achievement. He was elected and served on many various leadership Committees for staff and faculty, including the College Council for Governance and Bylaws.
In May 2007, he was honored by the Council of the Arts & Humanities Staten Island (COAHSI) for outstanding contribution to the Humanities on Staten Island.

Throughout the years, he has also served in a volunteer capacity with many Staten Island organization fundraisers including, Snug Harbor Children's Jump-fest, the Broadway YMCA's Aerobathon, Fitness Fest and Invest In Youth Campaign, the Bill Welsh 5K Run for the New Dorp High School Track Team, the Staten Island Recreation Association, Relay for Life, and Making Strides for Breast Cancer Awareness Walk for the America Cancer Society. In October 2000, the American Cancer Society recognized him with a Five-year recognition for "Distinguished Voluntary Leadership in Saving Lives from Cancer."

He has presented papers and lectured nationally at:
• the American Studies Association in Hartford, Connecticut in October 2003; the Midwest Modern Language Association in Chicago, Illinois in November 2003; and at SUNY New Paltz, on the study of the nature and dynamics of the arts on the presentation of the issue of Domestic Violence through songs by contemporary female musicians such as the Dixie Chicks.
• February 2001 at The National Association of African-American Studies, in Houston, Texas he presented a study of racial prejudices through the use of song and film references titled: "That Ol' Man River, He Must Know Something!"
• The National Association of Hispanic and Latino Studies, in Houston, Texas February 2000 titled: "Hey Pachuco! That Zoot Suit Can Cause a Riot." A study of the stereotyping and racial defamation endured by Latinos in Los Angeles Zoot in 1943.
• The English Studies Conference at the University of Rhode Island in both October 2000 and October 1999 titled: "Hey Rosa Parks, You Have Made History!" A contemporary study of the Hip-hop references of Rosa Parks in song.
• The College English Association in Charleston, South Carolina in October 2000 on a study incorporating the use of popular culture to study the historical past to stimulate the learning process of current day college students.
• The New England Historical Association Fall Conference at Suffolk University, in Boston Massachusetts, October 1999 on "The Music of the Second World War: Sixty Years Later and Still Swinging!"
• International Conference West European Studies, at the University of Indiana in February 1999 titled: "Cold War Culture: Film, Fact, and Fiction. The Changing American Public Opinion of Josef Stalin from 1939 to 1949."

In March of 2007 he lectured at the Middle Atlantic American Studies Association at the University of Maryland in Baltimore County on "He's the Greatest Dancer! George Washington and the American Colonial Minuet," In April of 2007 Mr. Giordano spoke at the American Cultural Association / Popular Culture Association in Boston, Massachusetts, "Satan in the Dance Hall: Social Dancing and Morality in 1920s New York City," which is also the title of his next book project. In April 2007, Mr. Giordano was an invited guest speaker to discuss his book Social Dancing in America at the Spring Salon Talk at the City University of New York – CUNY Graduate Center sponsored by the New York-Metro American Studies Association.

Some of his architectural designs have earned Building Awards from the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce including Excellence Awards for Natural Beauty, Exterior and Interior Design, and an Excellence Award for ADA Accessibility for the Disabled. He is an advocate of combing scholarship with exercise as evidenced by his commitment as a recreational runner and has completed 19 New York City Marathons, most recently in 2024 and maybe more. One completion was a double in 2016 at both NYC and Philadelphia within two weeks. In 2013, he ran the NYC Marathon side-by-side with his son Jonathan, as he also did in 2008.

Interests include: "Education for All," Marathon Running, Social Dancing, Lindy Hop, Swing Music, Social History, Model Airplanes, and Grandparenting.