The May 2025 Donna Distinta Award goes to Ms. Marie Palladino. Palladino is the Head of Education at New York City’s Italian American Museum, the first museum in the United States dedicated to Italian American history and culture.

She received her Master of Arts in Museum Education from Tufts University in 2017, and Bachelor of Arts in Italian Studies and Art History from the University of Rhode Island in 2010. She has dedicated much of her career to developing educational resources including programs, curriculum, and exhibits on Italian American culture and history.