Banner Image: Iona Bronxville’s Feth Hall, center, serves as the main administrative building for the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences.
National Rankings Affirm Impact of Iona Education
Iona has once again earned spots in prestigious national rankings that highlight its academic distinction and strong return on investment for students and families.
Most recently for 2026, Iona has been recognized by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others as one of the nation’s best colleges. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report continues to recognize Iona as one of the top schools for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranks an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment.
“Iona is a school on the rise and the momentum continues as the University once again gains national recognition. We continue to invest in the things that matter most, including world-class facilities, extraordinary faculty and staff and the personalized support that empowers every student to succeed,” said Kevin O’Sullivan, senior vice president for Enrollment and Student Affairs. “It is incredibly rewarding to see national publications and peer institutions recognizing what we’ve long known: an Iona education is truly transformative in shaping confident leaders, fueling professional success and proving that Iona deserves a place on the national stage.”
Upper Green to Cultivate Purpose, Community
A rendering of the Upper Green, which encourages the lona community to grow in faith, contemplation and connection.
Work is underway on Iona’s latest campus enhancement, the Upper Green.
Following the renovation of the new dining hall and student lounge alongside the construction of the Murphy Green, the Upper Green will serve as an outdoor companion to the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning, aimed at building community through interpersonal engagement.
The Upper Green will be anchored by the Blessed Edmund Rice Chapel and provide stunning views overlooking Mazzella Field and the LaPenta School of Business. As a reminder of the importance of resting from screens, the Upper Green will also include a contemplative garden directly across from the chapel entrance.
“As with all of our recent campus enhancements, the focus here is on creating a space that brings students together around a shared sense of purpose and community,” said Iona President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “As teaching and learning undergo seismic shifts with the exponentially increasing power of digital tools, it is imperative for us to cultivate our capacity for independent thinking and attention. The Upper Green will provide outdoor space conducive to this work.”
Iona Develops Innovative Healthcare Degree to Meet Growing Need
Photo: Tricia Mulligan, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.
Iona proudly developed a new Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership & Innovation, designed to equip leaders with the business, technology and entrepreneurial skills needed in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.
The degree is a collaboration between the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, the LaPenta School of Business and the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, bringing together expertise in health care, business and innovation to deliver a one-of-a-kind interdisciplinary program.
Positions in the field of medical and health services management are expected to grow by 28 percent nationwide over the next 10 years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Depending on the region, growth could be as high as 42 percent or greater.
“The health care industry is rapidly evolving and requires forward-thinking leaders who can balance strategic decision making with patient-centered care,” said Tricia Mulligan, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “This new program, suitable for health care professionals and business leaders transitioning into health care leadership, provides a powerful blend of academic rigor and real world application, ensuring graduates are ready to lead with confidence and impact.”
Hynes Institute Wins National Model Program Award
The Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation has earned the prestigious 2025 Model Program Award for Small Institutions. Presented at the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) annual conference in Las Vegas, the award recognizes institutions that provide bold, high-quality educational programs. In addition, Dr. Christoph Winkler, endowed professor and founding program director of the Hynes Institute, was inducted as a USASBE Justin G. Longenecker Fellow—the organization’s highest honor.
“The accomplishments of the Hynes Institute are truly remarkable,” said Jennifer Capps, Interim CEO of USASBE. “Creating a matrix of opportunities that allows an entire campus to engage in entrepreneurial development is no small task, but it is one that Iona University has done so well. Their students are gaining the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to be the change makers, innovators, and creators of the future.”
Founded in 2017 with a $15 million gift from James ’69, ’01H and Anne Marie Hynes, the Hynes Institute empowers students across the University to sharpen their entrepreneurial leadership and creative problem-solving skills through curricular, co-curricular and community-engaged programs. It is housed in a modern, 3,800-square-foot, co-working space above Spellman Hall, offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as minors and advanced certificates.
“We are honored to receive this award, which is a testament to the dedication and impact of our team over the past seven years,” said Dr. Christoph Winkler. “Our students continue to inspire us as they develop their entrepreneurial mindsets, create businesses and take on real-world challenges.”
The Hynes Institute stands as a hub of creativity and collaboration at Iona.
Bringing the Founding Era into the 21st Century
Thomas Paine’s quill and writing set from the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies on display in Ryan Library.
Iona is pleased to announce its first book publishing series, “From Pamphlets to Podcasts: An Institute for Thomas Paine Studies Series.”
Created in partnership with the University of Virginia Press, the endeavor brings the spirit of Paine’s “Common Sense” and the founding era into the 21st century. Books in this series will advance a new and innovative approach to scholarship on the contests over knowledge making and the pursuit of informed, democratic citizenship in Paine’s time, and about the relevance of these processes in our own time.
“For some time, the ITPS has considered how best to take Thomas Paine’s principles, amongst which included accessible communication, thoughtful connections between the past and present, and the importance of learning and knowledge to everyone, regardless of their background, and put them into practice,” said Iona’s Dr. Nora Slonimsky, History Department chair and ITPS director. “Thanks to this opportunity, we have the chance to consider these ideas in real time.”
New Dean, Elite Distinctions for LaPenta School of Business
Photo: Dean John DeMelis walks alongside a LaPenta School of Business student.
John L. DeMelis, MBA, CPA, has taken the helm as dean of the LaPenta School of Business. DeMelis previously served as interim dean from July 1, 2023, and brings extensive experience in both academia and professional accounting to his role.
Throughout his 32-year career at Ernst & Young, DeMelis held various leadership positions, most notably as partner in the firm’s professional practice group. He was also instrumental in shaping the firm’s learning and development programs, ensuring the professional growth of auditors across the Americas region.
Separately, the LaPenta School of Business also earned reaccreditation by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review again recognized Iona’s MBA program as a “Best Business School” and U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate business.
Olympic Gold Medal Soccer Coach Delivers Commencement Keynote
Photo: Emma Hayes ’25H delivers an inspiring Commencement keynote address.
Emma Hayes ’25H, head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team who led the USA to Olympic gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics, delivered an inspired keynote and was awarded an honorary degree at Iona’s 81st annual Commencement ceremony this past May.
Hayes served as head coach of Iona’s women’s soccer team from 2003 to 2005, a transformative time for both the program and her career.
“I’ve said this many times, that my experience here at Iona was one of my greatest, for many reasons,” she said. “Iona will forever be in all of our hearts and I’m so grateful for everything not just this campus, but this community, has provided.”
Dan Geriot Leads New Era as 16th Head Coach of Men’s Basketball
Photo: Iona introduces Dan Geriot as the 16th head coach of men’s basketball.
A new era of Iona men’s basketball is underway with Dan Geriot as head coach.
Geriot joined the Gaels after spending the last nine seasons on the coaching staff of the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
LeBron James, Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love and others took to X to congratulate Geriot and Iona when the news broke. Iona also hired its first-ever general manager for the program, Craig Moore, to continue growing the program.
“Iona has a strong basketball tradition and history of success, and I look forward to being part of it,” Geriot said. “Our goal is to build a team that plays hard, competes at the highest level, and makes our fans proud.”
Transforming Pain into Purpose
Photo: Molly Guillaume ’25 with faculty at the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences during her white coat ceremony.
In the days before her high school graduation, Molly Guillaume ’25 was picking out two dresses—one for her diploma ceremony and another for her mother’s funeral.
A student at New Rochelle High School at the time, Guillaume had already lost her father to a terminal illness. She spent much of her childhood as his caretaker.
Then, in June 2021, COVID-19 took her mother, a dedicated nurse who had fought on the front lines through the pandemic. At 18, she was alone. But she refused to be defeated.
Instead, she enrolled at Iona University to pursue nursing, not just to follow in her mother’s footsteps, but to forge her own path forward in the field. What she found at Iona was more than an education—it was a second home. She proudly walked across the stage in May as a graduate of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences.
“Iona has given me a newfound family,” she said. “Through everything that I went through, I’ve been blessed with people who aren’t even related to me but that care so much. That’s why I tell people: family is what you make of it.”
Guillaume’s inspiring journey resonated widely, garnering hundreds of thousands of views across social media and earning coverage on ABC, CBS News and other outlets.
Freshman Saves Life, Wins Citizen of the Year Award
Photo: Sofia Wyllie ’28 wins New Rochelle Citizen of the Year Award for her heroic actions.
As a motorcyclist lay bleeding on North Avenue, Sofia Wyllie ’28 sprinted into action.
She immediately saw the man’s leg was severely injured and recognized arterial bleeding. This was a critical situation, requiring quick thinking. So, with shorts underneath, she removed her sweatpants and fashioned them into a makeshift tourniquet twisting the legs as tightly as possible and tying them above the bleeding.
“He was going to bleed out. I had to do something,” recalled Wyllie, a trained lifeguard from Long Island, N.Y.
In recognition of her extraordinary response, the New Rochelle Police Department honored Wyllie with its Citizen of the Year Award, presented in front of 200 people at the Greentree Country Club earlier this year.
“I don’t feel like a hero,” she said. “I was just an instrument in God’s plan. God had me walk into the accident because He knew I could help.”
Iona Contributes Over $250M in Annual Economic Impact
Photo: Aerial shot of Iona’s New Rochelle campus.
Iona contributed an impressive $254.9 million to New York State’s economy and supported 1,700 jobs both on campus and beyond, according to a new economic impact report from the Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities (CICU).
The findings underscore Iona’s pivotal role in the local and state economy, driven by a series of transformational campus improvements and strong enrollment growth.
“Having a strong institution of higher education like Iona University at the heart of our community is essential to driving economic vitality,” said Iona President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “From creating jobs to equipping students with the skills they need to lead and innovate, Iona is making a measurable difference. A thriving higher education industry is not only critical to New York’s future but is also a cornerstone of our shared success.”
Iona Tennis Returns, Expanding Opportunities in Bronxville
Iona is bringing back men’s and women’s tennis as both NCAA Division I and club sports, marking the 25th and 26th varsity teams in its expanding athletics lineup.
Both DI programs last competed at the varsity level in 2003. Tennis is set to begin MAAC competition in the 2026-27 academic year, with planned renovations to the existing indoor and outdoor tennis facilities in Bronxville. Club tennis, meanwhile, is underway.
With its location just miles from tennis landmarks like the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and USTA Eastern Section headquarters, Iona is well-positioned to grow its tennis footprint and recruiting pipeline. The revival also honors the University’s tennis legacy, which dates back to 1953 and includes MAAC titles and Hall of Fame coaching.
“The University’s location in a tennis-rich region and access to dedicated facilities allow us to reintroduce a program with deep roots in our history,” said Director of Athletics Matthew Glovaski. “We are excited to support this revival and look forward to the positive impact it will have on our student-athletes and broader community.”
Iona tennis returns with new indoor and outdoor facilities in Bronxville.
No Food Left Behind
Photo: Iona’s Food Recovery Network springs into action to rescue surplus food.
Students are addressing the issues of food waste and food insecurity across campus, helping to recover and donate surplus food.
Launched through the Deignan Institute for Earth and Spirit, the Iona chapter of the Food Recovery Network has rescued hundreds of pounds of food—and counting.
“The Food Recovery Network encompasses my passions for sustainability, social justice and food insecurity while creating meaningful change within a community,” said Ian Smith ’28. “It is a passion I hope will only spread along our greater Iona community as well as to other institutions.”
Jim Robinson, religious studies professor and director of Iona’s Deignan Institute for Earth and Spirit, has served as the group’s faculty advisor since its founding, saying, “As a new organization, the response has been amazing. Our student leaders have really taken this forward in incredibly powerful ways.”
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