Dr. Patanè has served the New York City educational community in numerous capacities for well over fifty years. He was first appointed to the staff of Columbia University in 1950 where he subsequently earned his B.A., M.A. and Doctorate degrees in Art History and Archaeology. He was appointed to the Art Department at Brooklyn College, working with legendary artist0-educators such as Jimmy Ernst, Ad Rinehardt, Burgoyne Diller and Mark Rothko.
Paul served on the N.Y.C. Bureau of Art as Education Liaison to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he initiated the first programs for the blind and physically challenged.
He was featured in a documentary film, in which he demonstrates classroom strategies and techniques in teaching learners with special needs. The educational focus is to encourage among teachers the pedagogical utilization of an interdisciplinary approach to teaching, relating the humanities to the visual arts.
Dr. Patanè was professor of Art History and Archaeology at Fordham University for well over thirty seven years. He was a recipient of many awards and citations of honor for professional excell3ence from political leads, academic and professional organizations, Phi Beta Kappa National gold medal and Fordham University's "Bene Merenti" Award. In 200, he was invested by Cardinal O'Connor as a Knight of the Holy Seplicure of Jerusalem, elevated to Commander with Star in 2002 and to the rank of Knight of the Grand Cross by Cardinal Egan in 2005. The Italian Government gave Dr. Patanè the honor of "Cavliere of Merit" in 2004.
Dr. Patanè continues to serve our schools as a member of the Chancellor's Advisory Board and the Board of Education's Patanè Center for the Arts and Education is named in his honor.
Dr. Patanè serves on the Board of Trustees of The School Art League of New York and the executive boards of numerous colleges and universities. He has been elected to serve on the Advisory Board of the Academy and the Italian Cultural Center at St. John's University.
The NYAPE is honored to have Dr. Paul Patanè as a life-long member who has contributed greatly to the richness of our heritage.