Josephine Rizzo

Josephine N. Rizzo (M.S.Ed., Reading and Language Arts, Duquesne University, 2015) is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a proud mother of two Duquesne University graduates. Luke, BS in Business Administration 2021, is employed in the medical industry in Colorado.  Sophia, a former member of the Duquesne Woman's Soccer Team, BS in Business Administration 2022, is employed in the sports industry in Pittsburgh while currently pursuing her MBA at Duquesne. Josephine is a first-generation Italian American, a 1993 BS, Elementary Education, Point Park College graduate, a certified Academic Life Coach, CLC, and currently enrolled in Duquesne University’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program.

Josephine serves as Duquesne’s Pennsylvania Acts (ACT 101) advisor and a reading specialist supporting undergraduate students through the Michael P. Weber Learning Skills Center and the Gussin Spiritan Division of Academic Programs. Additionally, she is an adjunct instructor, teaching undergraduate students, Strategies for Academic Success and Pathways to Success courses. She also instructed a master’s level course for the School of Education, Literacy, Language, & Literature II. 

Josephine is the published co-author for Ohio State University’s Buckeye football team’s 2nd & Seven Foundation, which co-created the Expanded Enrichment online resources to complement The Hog Molly’s character-building book series. 

During the 30 years before joining Duquesne, her practicum experience includes teaching middle and elementary school for Pittsburgh Public Schools, Peters Township School District, The Diocese of Pittsburgh, and as a subcontracted instructor for The Carnegie Science Center, The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and Junior Achievement. Josephine has also been a curriculum writer, compiled Poetry Pleasure, a poetry teaching resource, and was a forensics speech and debate coach and judge. 

Also, a philanthropic activity she enjoys is being the creator of Book Bling Bookmarks, which donates the net proceeds to schools to support extracurricular events. Josephine is passionate about teaching and has a rewarding educational career. She continually strives for excellence in herself to make a difference for her students and the world around her.