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Supporting Southern: Rita Landino, '64
WHEN SHE JOINED THE SOUTHERN FACULTY IN 1966, Rita Landino, ’64, quickly realized how tough it could be as a woman in the male-dominated world of academia.
“I had to deal with a lot of skepticism about women’s abilities,” says Landino. She recalls female colleagues who were labeled “too ambitious” simply for “trying to be the best people they could be.”
The experience, shared with many women who were breaking barriers at the time, fueled her determination to create positive change for women on campus. And for much of her 35-year career as an educator and counselor at Southern, Landino did just that.
She played a key role in launching the university’s Women’s Center in the 1970s, providing resources and support for victims of sexual assault. She also co-founded Committee W, a union-based advocacy group for female faculty members.
For the retired educator, the dedication of the Rita Landino Rotunda was a powerful validation of those efforts — and not just because her name is now immortalized in Engleman Hall.
“I was meeting so many women in leadership positions at Southern [at the Nov. 7 dedication ceremony],” says Landino. “I was pleasantly surprised by that.”
She mentioned her observation to Southern Interim President Sandra Bulmer, who told her many other women have assumed leadership positions on campus and at universities around the state.
“That warmed my heart,” Landino says.
Coming from a working-class, Italian American family, Landino credits Southern with helping her grow as a student and educator. She launched her career as a junior high school teacher in Hamden, Conn., but soon joined Southern’s faculty. She taught first-year English composition before switching to a counseling role, where she left a legacy of support for sexual assault victims and early safe spaces on campus for LGBTQ+ students.
While teaching at Southern, Landino pursued a master’s in English at Wesleyan University. She also holds a 6th year certificate in counseling psychology from Fairfield University and a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut.
Since her retirement in 2001, Landino has remained committed to Southern, funding scholarships for aspiring teachers and providing generous support for the SOAR (Support, Opportunities, Access, and Resiliency) program and student services. She also provided financial support for the wooden sculpture that is part of the SCSU Sandy Hook Remembrance Garden.
For Landino, the rotunda that now bears her name holds special meaning. She remembers it as a popular gathering spot for students and faculty. “Whenever you wanted to meet with someone before or after class, you would say, ‘I’ll see you at the rotunda,’” she recalls.
Landino always admired the rotunda and was impressed that even as the building underwent renovations, designers took care to preserve its beauty and character.
“They didn’t change the mid-century art deco look of it. They put up those beautiful wooden walls to enhance the beauty of the space and modernize it a bit,” she says.
When asked to explain why she gives, Landino mentions a graduation speech by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, who called Southern a place that honors and celebrates the American Dream.
“I wanted to maintain that tradition at Southern in the best way that I could,” she says.
