April 1, 2026

College announces B.S. in Pizza Studies, DIII Bocce Team

Mahwah, NJ – Ramapo College of New Jersey is taking a deep (dish) dive into the study of pizza, a delicious aspect of New Jersey culture that residents and scholars can really sink their teeth into. 

The College, in the northwest corner of Bergen County – where pizzerias, slices and debates over toppings have long been a staple of Jersey life – is opening New Jersey’s first and only institute solely dedicated to the interdisciplinary exploration of pizza. 

“The opening of the Center for Pizza Studies in Mahwah is a momentous occasion for the College, and a slice of something special for the Mahwah community,” said Mahwah Mayor James Wysocki. “Our residents and students have long known that Mahwah has some of the best pizzaiolos and pizza parlors in the state. Now this center will truly put our township on the culinary map.”

The Center for Pizza Studies will open today, April 1, at noon with an official ribbon cutting on Ramapo’s picturesque campus. The Center – located in B-114 in the College’s academic complex – is designed to be a hub for scholars to engage in cutting-edge research into all aspects of pizza from the importance of pizza to the New Jersey culture and beyond to ways to future-proof the food for generations to come.

Pizza is a vital and delicisous slice of Ramapo College culture.

The ribbon cutting will be immediately followed by the Center’s inaugural faculty lecture series. Faculty from across the College will host engaging mini-lectures examining pizza through the lenses of science, business, social science, humanities, and the arts. Students, faculty and staff are invited to come for the lecture and stay for the slice. 

Professor of Italian Dr. Rosetta D’Angelo will lecture on The History of Pizza: From Ancient Times to Modern Global Domination. “The history of pizza and how it has grown into a multimillion dollar global market, is fascinating. It involves so many different countries from ancient Egypt to China to Italy to the United States,” said D’Angelo, also advisor to the Italian Club. “One of my favorite aspects about the history of pizza is how it brings people together. Eating pizza is an opportunity to sit down with friends and family, share a meal and connect.”

The launch of the Center for Pizza Studies brings with it big opportunities for current and prospective Roadrunners. In an unprecedented move for New Jersey state colleges and universities, Ramapo students will be able to major in Pizza Studies. Ramapo’s new Bachelor of Science in Pizza Studies is most certainly BS. 

“Pizza consumption continues to rise across New Jersey and beyond, and with it so too does the need for graduates who can thoughtfully engage in everything from sustainable sourcing and quality production to the sensitive social dynamics of who gets the last slice,” said Ramapo College President Dr. Cindy Jebb.

The full undergraduate degree combines hands-on learning with coursework in biology, history, marketing, psychology, and more. From the science of dough to the psychology of comfort food, the program offers a slice of something for everyone. Graduates of the Pizza Studies program will be uniquely prepared to pursue careers at the intersection of food, business, culture, and community—where analytical thinking meets excellent taste.

“I’ve dreamed about learning everything there is to know about pizza for years, and I am so thankful that Ramapo College is giving me the opportunity to turn my dream into a reality,” said Leonard “Leo” Lanzone ‘28, a business management major from Rockaway, NJ, who produces and stars in popular food reviews on Instagram. “I am going to seize this chance and take up a double major. Combining business management with my passion for pizza will sure to rocket me toward a bright and delicious future.” 

In line with the new Center and major, Ramapo’s Department of Athletics is expanding. Starting in Fall 2026, Roadrunners will be able to participate in a new Division III athletic team: bocce. (Interested students can try out for the team on the Grove today.) Bocce originated in Italy as a game of strategy, skill, and a little luck. The sport, that can be played with a slice in hand, is easy to learn, low-impact and a social way to bring people together.  

The Center for Pizza Studies thanks AI for creating the first-rate Bocce court for Ramapo’s newest DIII team.

April Fool’s Day also unites people  – and is an amazing opportunity to sprinkle joy,  levity and parmesan cheese around campus while enjoying scholarship, fun … and pizza.

Celebrate All Day

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Try out for the Ramapo Athletics Bocce Team in The Grove (weather permitting).

12 p.m.: Witness history as Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki and Ramapo College Vice Provost Joyce Shim cut the ribbon to officially open New Jersey’s first and only Center for Pizza Studies at noon in B-114.

12:15 – 3:00 p.m.: Enjoy the inaugural faculty lecture series: where pizza is grounded in scholarship in B-114. Come for the lecture. Stay for the slice. Get a limited-edition Center for Pizza Studies cup (while supplies last). Seating for each faculty talk is limited.

• 12:15 p.m.: Dr. Joy de los Reyes, assistant professor of marketing, will present: The Perfect Topping: Building a Brand Strategy for New Jersey’s Newest Academic Center.
• 12:45 p.m.: Dr. Kathleen Lynch, associate professor of neuroscience, will present: The Neuroscience of Comfort Eating.
• 1:15 p.m.: Dr. Rosetta D’Angelo, professor of Italian, will present: The History of Pizza: From Ancient Times to Modern Global Domination in B-114.
• 1:45 p.m.: Dr. Nate Otjen, assistant professor of sustainability and environmental studies, will present: We Are What We Wheat: Sustainable Flour and Artisan Pizzas.

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Play Plinko and enter to win a $50 gift card to Sonny and Tony’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant in Mahwah. The winner will be announced on the RCNJ Instagram.

All Day: Grab limited-edition specialty food and beverages! Visit Common Grounds for a Tiramisu Vanilla Latte topped with mascarpone sweet foam and a ladyfinger or an Italian Ice Frozen Lemonade. Or hit up Dunkin’ to grab a Center for Pizza Studies or limited edition pizza studies logo donut or a frozen limoncello.

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