Marcella Leonetti-Tyler of Los Angeles Named NIAF Regional Vice President for the Far-West Region South

Marcella Leonetti-Tyler, executive director of public relations and marketing at California State University, Northridge, has been named the National Italian American Foundation's (NIAF) regional vice president for the Far-West Region South. The region encompasses the western section of the United States in addition to Alaska, Hawaii and Guam. "The NIAF Board of Directors is proud to appoint Marcella, an outstanding leader in public relations, to further strengthen the expertise of our Foundation," NIAF President Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq. said.

A 20-year member of NIAF, Ms. Leonetti-Tyler recently served as the Foundation's regional coordinator in Southern California. With an extensive history of community service, especially in the Italian American community, she was the Los Angeles County chair of the Columbus Quincentennial Committee, a member of President George W. Bush's National Columbus Celebration Committee and co-authored a Quincentennial cookbook.

She is one of the founders of the Historic Italian Hall Foundation in Los Angeles and currently serves on its board. Ms. Leonetti-Tyler is a member of the National Italian American Political Caucus, Sons of Italy, the National Organization of Italian American Women and the Italian Cultural Society. She received the San Fernando Valley Business Journal's "Women Who Mean Business Award" in 2003, the Phi Beta Delta "International Scholars Award" in 2005 and the "Excellence in Public Relations and Marketing Award" from her university peers in 2008. A long-time member of the Public Relations Society of America, Ms. Leonetti-Tyler was the recipient of the Joseph Roos Community Service Award in Southern California.

She also is active in League of Women Voters, Town Hall, Los Angeles, and World Affairs Council. In 2005, she was designated Cavaliere Ufficiale al Merito della Republica Italiana (The Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy) by the President of Italy. She also serves as a director in the American Society of Italian Legions of Merit. A resident of Sherman Oaks, Calif., Ms. Leonetti-Tyler is married to Richard Tyler, well-known Los Angeles public relations executive. They have four children. The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Americans of Italian descent. Visit www.niaf.org.