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Regina Peruggi stands out as a key figure in American higher education. She led three major New York institutions, doubled college enrollments, and boosted financial health during her tenures.
Born in the Bronx, she rose from teaching roles to presidencies while navigating a high-profile marriage to Rudy Giuliani. Her work focused on access and community impact.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Regina S. Peruggi |
| Date of Birth | c. September 1, 1946 |
| Age (2025) | 79 |
| Profession | Educator and College President |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed (est. $1–5M from career) |
| Nationality | American |
| Notable Roles | President, Marymount Manhattan College (1990–2001); Kingsborough Community College (2004–2014) |
| Family | Parents: Salvatore Orestus Peruggi, Anna Marie Fink; Ex-husband: Rudy Giuliani |
You start life in a place that shapes you. Regina Peruggi grew up in a middle-class family in the Bronx during the post-World War II years. Her father, Salvatore Orestus Peruggi, and mother, Anna Marie Fink, raised her in a tight-knit Italian-American home.
The Bronx offered a mix of urban energy and community ties, which later influenced her focus on diverse student bodies.
Peruggi attended Roman Catholic parochial schools. These early years built her sense of discipline and service. She knew Rudy Giuliani from childhood—they were second cousins through family lines.
This connection would play a role later, but her youth centered on education as a path forward. By her teens, she aimed for college, a goal not every Bronx family chased in the 1950s and 1960s. At age 21, she earned her first degree, setting the stage for a career in teaching and leadership.
Her family provided stability. No siblings are noted in records, but the emphasis on values stuck with her. Peruggi often credits her parents for instilling a work ethic that carried her through decades of public service.
Education opened doors for Peruggi. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the College of New Rochelle in 1967. This small women’s college in Westchester County stressed social justice, aligning with her Bronx roots. Sociology taught her to see systems—poverty, inequality—that she later tackled in education.
She built on that base. Peruggi completed a Master of Business Administration at New York University in the early 1970s. NYU’s urban campus suited her drive. Then came a Doctor of Education from Teachers College at Columbia University.
This advanced degree honed her skills in administration and policy. By 1974, she held credentials that few women in education matched.
These years formed her approach. The 1960s Kennedy era inspired her, as she noted in interviews. She saw public service as a call to action. Early jobs reflected this: Peruggi worked as a drug abuse counselor in a state jail and taught at elementary and college levels.
These roles exposed her to real challenges—adult learners, underserved groups—that defined her presidencies. You can trace her success to this foundation: practical experience plus rigorous training.
Peruggi’s path took her from classrooms to corner offices. In 1974, she joined York College in the City University of New York system. CUNY’s public mission matched her goals. She coordinated programs in Washington, D.C., after a move with Giuliani, then returned to New York as an associate dean in 1986.
There, she specialized in adult education, helping non-traditional students earn degrees.
Her big break came in 1990. At 43, Peruggi became president of Marymount Manhattan College—the first lay leader in its history. She served 11 years.
Enrollment stood at 1,200 when she arrived. Peruggi doubled it to over 2,400 by 2001. She fixed finances through targeted fundraising—recruiting business leaders to the board.
Classrooms got computers; new centers launched, like the Samuel Freeman Center for Science Education. The college named a room after her in 2003. Her focus on diversity and outreach turned a struggling school into a vibrant urban campus.
In 2001, Peruggi shifted to green spaces. As president of the Central Park Conservancy for three years, she raised funds for restorations. The group restored 80% of the park under similar leadership. She appeared on PBS’s Back to the Floor, showing hands-on work. This role blended her education skills with public good.
Peruggi returned to education in 2004 as Kingsborough Community College’s first female president. Over nine years, enrollment hit records—over 15,000 students. The school earned a Finalist with Distinction spot for the 2013 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
She retired in 2014 at 65, leaving a model for open-access learning. Her tenures show a pattern: grow access, stabilize budgets, serve communities.
Peruggi’s private world stayed low-key. She married Rudy Giuliani on October 26, 1968, after knowing him since childhood. As second cousins, their bond started familial. The couple had no children. They separated in 1975 amid career demands—Giuliani in law, Peruggi in education.
By 1982, Giuliani filed for separation. The civil divorce was finalized that year; a Catholic annulment followed in 1983, citing their cousin relation. Peruggi moved forward quietly, focusing on work.
Post-divorce, she avoided public drama, unlike Giuliani’s later marriages. Today, at 79, she maintains privacy. No records show remarriage or family expansion.
Service defined Peruggi beyond paychecks. She joined boards like the American Red Cross of Greater New York and Silver Shield Foundation, aiding police families. As chairperson emerita of the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children, she supported global aid efforts.
At the GreenPoint Foundation and Center for Redirection Through Education, she backed workforce programs. In Brooklyn, she served the Economic Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce.
These roles extended her education focus—helping refugees and ex-offenders retrain. Her 2006 New York State Senate Woman of Distinction award recognized this commitment. You see her impact in stronger communities, one board meeting at a time.
Public figures like Peruggi keep finances private. No Forbes lists or filings detail her wealth. Estimates from career paths suggest $1–5 million. Presidencies paid $200,000–$300,000 annually in the 2000s, per CUNY data. Board roles added stipends.
Post-retirement, pensions and consulting likely sustain her. Unlike Giuliani’s public finances, hers stay off-radar. Focus on her value: lives changed through education, not bank balances.
Peruggi leads a grounded life in retirement. Based in New York, she likely resides in a modest urban home—Bronx ties suggest Brooklyn or Manhattan. No luxury estates appear in records. Her routine favors reading, park walks (from Conservancy days), and family time.
Philanthropy fills her days. She champions lifelong learning, as seen in American Council on Education roles. At 79, health keeps her active in boards like Silvercrest Center for Nursing. Simple pleasures—coffee in Central Park, mentoring young leaders—fit her profile. No flashy hobbies; her style prioritizes purpose over show.
Regina Peruggi changed how New York educates. She opened doors for thousands—doubling enrollments, winning prizes, restoring parks. Her story proves steady leadership beats headlines. From Bronx student to college shaper, she built access for all. Aspiring educators take note: focus on people, results follow.
