From the President

To the Iona Alumni Community,

On September 26, Iona hosted a conference on “The Future of Teaching:
Writing, Reading and Thinking in the AI Age.” The event, which drew
educators across every level of schooling and from four states, was sponsored
by our new Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning, established to promote
pedagogical innovation and faculty development. John Warner, a nationally
renowned authority on teaching and writing, delivered the keynote address
after a day of visiting with faculty and students. Reflecting on his time on our
campus and our AI initiatives, Warner wrote: “Iona is far ahead of most schools
in the country. You should be tremendously proud of what you are building.”

One of the approximately 300 attendees, a high school teacher in the area,
shared, “Along with several colleagues who attended, I found the sessions
illuminating. I feel blessed to have Iona in my backyard. I caught a glimpse
into the caliber of instruction, the culture of collaboration and collegiality,
and the caring values of Iona as an institution of higher learning. Iona not
only stays true to its founding mission but also prepares students for a world
shaped by the presence of AI.”

I share these comments because they capture well what we emphasize every
day at Iona. We recognize the importance of forward-looking inspiration in
the age of AI, but we also understand that the core values on which Iona was
founded are enduring and remain more essential than the course materials
students will master or particular skills they will develop. As articulated in
Iona’s founding documents, the goal of an Iona education is to cultivate a
shared sense of responsibility for the common good, the knowledge and skills
to achieve professional success, and a refined taste for the higher virtues.
These principles of education were at the heart of St. Columba’s monastery
and Edmund Rice’s schools for the marginalized children in Waterford; they
guide all we do at Iona today.

We do not do this work alone. The collaboration that was on display at our
conference extends beyond our classrooms and campus to our community—
especially to our alumni community. This is nowhere more evident than in our
Gaels Go Further Mentoring Programs, a flourishing initiative that connects
students with alumni mentors who generously share their insights, guidance,
and professional networks. Along the way, lasting relationships are built
through which students gain awareness of new career paths, the confidence
to pursue them, and the skills to be successful. Now entering its fifth year, the
results speak for themselves. From top-tier internships and job offers to graduate
placements and lifelong friendships, Gaels Go Further has transformed lives.

Recognizing that caring relationships are at the heart of what makes Iona
unique, we are investing in physical spaces that facilitate healthy patterns
of interaction. In New Rochelle, we recently cut the ribbon on a new dining
hall and student lounge in the LaPenta Student Union. These indoor spaces
complement the Murphy Green, bringing added vibrancy to the center of
campus. On the other side of East Hall, work has started on a new Upper Green;
twice the size of Murphy Green, it will create a space for digital-free activities
and foster face-to-face engagement. At the start of the semester, we welcomed
our first cohort of residential students to our Bronxville campus when we cut
the ribbon on Bohm Hall. All of these physical spaces are not only aesthetically
appealing—they also enrich the educational experience for each of our students.

As you turn the pages of this magazine, you’ll see what Catholic education
looks like at Iona in 2025. We are carrying forward our enduring values while
pursuing bold initiatives, animating our past by embracing our future. As you
read, I hope you will feel the momentum and take pride in knowing that the
Iona you’ve helped to shape continues to thrive.

Sincerely,
Seamus Carey, Ph.D.
President, Iona University