Topic - Iona Forever (100)

Iona College Celebrates $154 Million Iona Forever Fundraising Campaign (News 2971)

ptascio — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 13:54:14 +0000

Iona College Celebrates $154 Million Iona Forever Fundraising Campaign (News 2971) ptascio Mon, 09/20/2021 - 09:54 Iona College Celebrates $154 Million Iona Forever Fundraising Campaign "True to our past, committed to our future" September 20, 2021

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Iona College is proud to announce the successful completion of its $150 million fundraising campaign, which paved the way for transformational changes across campus and directly supported student scholarships, faculty enrichment and innovative new programs.

Launched in 2015, the Iona Forever campaign promised to:

support accessibility and affordability through scholarships;
attract, develop and advance a faculty that would provide a world-class academic experience;
enhance support for academic centers and institutes; and
responsibly develop campus infrastructure to provide the best learning and living environments.

On September 19, 2021 – Iona’s 81st birthday – the College celebrated the fulfillment of those promises and the conclusion of the most successful campaign in Iona’s history.

“For decades, Iona has carried forward the educational vision of Blessed Edmund Rice, preparing students to become leaders in their communities and in their professions,” said President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “The work we do would not be possible without the generosity and steadfast support of our incredible alumni, friends and family.”

“As Br. Rice understood, education is the most powerful means of personal liberation, especially for first-generation students,” Carey continued. “These gifts made to Iona not only impact the lives of students; they impact families for generations to come.”

The Iona story began with one person, Blessed Edmund Rice, whose faith, generosity and vision gave rise to a network of academic institutions and an educational philosophy that extends beyond the classroom to enrich every facet of a student’s life. In 1940, Iona College opened its doors with a mission to open new paths to economic and social advancement for the next generation of New York’s working class – a mission that continues to present day.

Paul J. Sutera, senior vice president for Advancement & External Affairs, offered his gratitude to the more than 15,000 individuals, corporate and foundation partners who contributed to the campaign.

“Looking at the impact Iona Forever has had on our students, faculty and campus is both exciting and humbling,” he said. “From student scholarships, faculty enrichment and cutting-edge degrees to new buildings, modern infrastructure and engaging student programs, the impact of the Iona Forever campaign can be seen and felt all across campus thanks in large part to our 50,000-person alumni network.”

On September 19, 2021 – Iona’s 81st birthday – the College celebrated the fulfillment of the most successful fundraising campaign in Iona’s history.

"These gifts made to Iona not only impact the lives of students; they impact families for generations to come." - President Seamus Carey, Ph.D.

TRANSFORMATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Kevin Anzurez ’19 is just one of countless students whose lives have been transformed by the Iona Forever campaign. For Kevin, attending college seemed like an unattainable dream. As a high school student, he didn’t even consider applying as he knew it was financially impossible for his hardworking parents who had emigrated from Mexico. Ready to give up, he was planning to work with his father in construction or join the military. “Then, an Iona alumna visited my high school and encouraged me to apply, saying there might be scholarships available. For the first time, I felt a spark of hope that I could attend college.”

Through the assistance of an endowed scholarship, Kevin began his Iona journey. He took leadership roles in the Hispanic Organization for Latin Awareness and the Computer Science Club, among other positions. Kevin graduated from the LaPenta School of Business with a degree in information systems in 2019 and quickly launched his career as a financial services representative and credit union teller.

“I am extremely grateful to all the donors who made my scholarship possible. I am very proud to be the first in my family, and extended family, to earn a college degree. It is with great pride that I plan to provide my family with a more prosperous life.”

Meanwhile, for Tiara Griffith ’20, the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation was the first stop along her journey to landing a dream job at Facebook. Made possible by the historic efforts of the Iona Forever campaign, the Hynes Institute enabled Tiara to serve as founding president of the Entrepreneurship Club, participate in the Iona Innovation Challenge and even study abroad at the European Innovation Academy in Turin, Italy. She was also one of two students selected to be on the search committee to assist with finding the Hynes Institute’s founding director. “The Hynes Institute quickly became a second home to me, and as a commuter student, I spent a lot of time there,” she said.

The culmination of these experiences allowed dreams to become reality for Tiara when she accepted a full-time position at Facebook. She currently works as a rotational product manager, collaborating with a cross-functional team consisting of engineers, data scientists and product designers to ideate and develop new features for Facebook and its family of products. "I am so excited to be working at Facebook,” she said. “The journey to this point was very long and challenging, but I am grateful to all of the people that helped me get to where I am today."

IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS:

$154 million in total commitments. This does not include the recent $20M gift from the NewYork-Presbyterian partnership
$53 million endowment support for student scholarships, faculty and programs
$40 million in learning and living infrastructure projects
$34 million annual giving providing funding for financial aid, student clubs/programs and faculty enrichment
$27 million in foundation and government grants to support research and special projects
15,260 alumni, friends, parents, foundations and corporations contributed to the campaign
28 donors contributed gifts of $1 million or more
$2,105 average gift
280% increase in endowment ($52.5 million to $200 million)
45 new endowed scholarships providing access to opportunity for students
4 new endowed faculty positions
94 alumni and friends included Iona in their estate plans, sustaining Iona’s mission for years to come.

IMPACT AROUND CAMPUS:

North Avenue Residence Hall (2016)
South Hall renamed Hales Hall (2017)
New Multimedia Digital Lab and Radio Booth (2017)
Cornelia Hall Lab renovations (2020)
Mazzella Field resurfaced (2017)
Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (2019)
Hynes Institute Endowed Professor (2017)
Arrigoni Hall of Fame and Hynes Athletics Center renovations (2019)
LaPenta School of Business (2020)
Murphy Green (Spring 2022)
Occupational Therapy and Nursing Programs launched (2019, 2020)
Kathleen Deignan, CND Institute for Earth and Spirit established (2019)
JoAnn Mazzella Murphy ’98H Arts Center (2021)
Gardiner Endowed Assistant Professor of History (2018)
Dolce Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship (2017)
Board of Trustees Endowed Professor of Chemistry (2012)
Charles F. O’Donnell, Ph.D., ’60 Endowed Lecture Series (2017)
Hank ’58 & Peggy Vosswinkel Mission Endowment (2020)

Over 15,000 alumni, friends, parents, foundations and corporations contributed to the campaign which raised $154 million in total commitments.

Among other exciting projects, the Murphy Green is slated for completion in Spring 2022.

ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of over 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools for 2025,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.

Ali Swoish, Dolce Fellow (News 2965)

ptascio — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 15:35:05 +0000

Ali Swoish, Dolce Fellow (News 2965) ptascio Tue, 09/14/2021 - 11:35 Ali Swoish, Dolce FellowShe Forever Changed the Lives of Iona Students September 14, 2021

Through the Iona Forever campaign, the Iona College Counseling Center created the Dolce Postgraduate Fellowship with the goal of addressing the complex needs of Iona students who are neurodivergent. The College’s current fellow, Ali Swoish, quickly made impactful and lasting strides within the program.

Serving as a part of the clinical team at the Counseling Center, one of Ali's early achievements was working with a nonspeaking autistic student to initiate the first Neurodiversity Club on campus. She also hosted a panel discussion for neurodivergent students to share their very personal stories, inviting others to examine campus culture and consider how Iona approaches neurodivergent experiences.

"With my own self-advocacy and my own neurological differences, I get to advocate for students on campus and teach them to build on their strengths and allow them to grow in ways I never believed possible during a pandemic," she said. "It’s more than I could have imagined myself doing right out of grad school, handling both community and campus care."

As supervisors and hosts of the fellowship, the Counseling Center supports Ali to do campus-wide outreach and training as well as clinical work. Her goal is to reach the entire campus as well as individual students, as she offers training and program opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to understand and support neurodivergent peers.

"I got to step into an advisor role so early in my career," she said. "It has been powerful partnering with clubs, RAs, students and faculty to promote awareness and shift campus culture."

Ali also teaches a small group seminar called Gael Chat. This innovative course uses an evidence-based experiential model to help neurodivergent students engage in social and emotional skill building, including forms of expression, environmental awareness, body language, social signals, effective conflict resolution, self-enquiry and mindfulness skills. For the first time since the initiation of Gael Chat, the course is enrolled to maximum capacity for fall 2021.

Iona College to Celebrate Outstanding Alumnae at Annual Trustees Scholarship Award Gala (News 721)

ptascio — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:36:23 +0000

Iona College to Celebrate Outstanding Alumnae at Annual Trustees Scholarship Award Gala (News 721) ptascio Mon, 05/18/2020 - 16:36 Iona College to Celebrate Outstanding Alumnae at Annual Trustees Scholarship Award GalaApril 3, 2020 at 7 p.m. Cipriani 42nd Street, 110 E. 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. Grammy Award Winner and Iona Alumna Eileen A. Ivers ’89, ’19H to Perform.

JoAnn Murphy ’98H

March 6, 2020

April 3, 2020 at 7 p.m. Cipriani 42nd Street, 110 E. 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. Grammy Award Winner and Iona Alumna Eileen A. Ivers ’89, ’19H to Perform.

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - At the event, the 2020 Legacy Award will be presented to JoAnn Mazzella Murphy ’98H, an Iona College trustee and co-chair of the Student Development and Mission Committee of the Board. In 1998, Mrs. Murphy received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for her dedication and support of the arts and cultural events at Iona. She is chair of the Iona College Council on the Arts and a 2006 recipient of the Brother Driscoll Award for Heroic Humanitarian Service. Mrs. Murphy was vice chair of Country Bank, the broker-owner of Ellinghouse & Stacy, and a former art and antiques gallery owner.

Distinguished alumnae who will receive the 2020 Women of Achievement Award include:

Cathy L. Cogan-Kelly ’81, Senior Director, Global HR Operations, PepsiCo
Theresa A. Gottlieb, Esq., ’78, Senior Trial Attorney, Bronx District Attorney’s Office
Flory Netsch Hiatrides ’83, ’86MBA, President, Treehouse Consulting
Jennifer L. Hohman ’90, Global Chief Marketing Officer, FCB
Anna Filipkowski Houlihan, MD, ’77, Pediatrician, Morris Heights Health Center
Eileen Ivers ’87, ’19H, Grammy Award Winning Fiddler
Rita C. Mabli ’74, ’76MBA, President and CEO, United Hebrew of New Rochelle
Catherine A. Vitali Mayus, Esq., P.C., ’72, Comprehensive Coaching Specialist for ADNY, Catapult Learning, LLC
Catherine R. McCabe ’85, Senior Managing Director (retired January 2020), TIAA
Amy Torigian Parise ’03MST, on behalf of Butterflies from Jodie, Jeanne Morris (posthumously) and Jeanne Torigian ’74 (posthumously)
Caress A. Penelton ’87, Executive Director for Global Technology Infrastructure, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Ingrid N. Thompson-Sellers, Ph.D., ’95MS, President, South Georgia State College
Margaret C. Timoney ’89, ’92MBA, CEO, Heineken USA

The gala will feature a special performance by Grammy Award winner and alumna Eileen A. Ivers ’87, ’19H, and entertainment by Chris Brown ’78 and The Bookends Band.

Iona College Celebrates Next Chapter with Opening of the LaPenta School of Business (News 727)

ptascio — Tue, 19 May 2020 16:59:00 +0000

Iona College Celebrates Next Chapter with Opening of the LaPenta School of Business (News 727) ptascio Tue, 05/19/2020 - 12:59 Iona College Celebrates Next Chapter with Opening of the LaPenta School of BusinessRibbon cutting ceremony for new $38 million building honors Iona’s past, present and future in the City of New Rochelle. January 30, 2020

From left: Darrell P. Wheeler, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs; Hannah McGowan ’20, SGA president; Seamus Carey, president; Robert V. LaPenta ’67, ’00H, Board of Trustees member; and Andrew Dolce ’57 ’19H, Board of Trustees member.

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Building on its legacy and launching boldly into the future, Iona University has cut the ribbon on its new $38 million LaPenta School of Business.

Robert V. LaPenta '67, '00H, an Iona alumnus and Board of Trustee member, laid the foundation for the new building with a transformational gift of $17.5 million, the largest in Iona's history. Just 18 months after breaking ground, he said the project has exceeded all expectations.

"They put together a building that is going to be a beacon for the campus for the next 30 to 40 years to come," said LaPenta. "This great facility is going to attract talented students from across the country, as well as the highest quality faculty. I can't tell you how excited I am to be part of this amazing project."

Designed with an iconic blend of the original, brick façade and a sleek, glass addition, the new LaPenta School of Business doubles the building's academic space to more than 68,000 square feet, including:

21 classrooms with Bluetooth lecture podiums, touchscreen whiteboards, wireless projectors, reconfigurable workstations and video conferencing in three of the rooms;
An expanded LaPenta-Lynch Trading Floor with 27 desktop computers, 16 Bloomberg Terminals and a live, wrap-around stock ticker that can be seen throughout the building and even across the campus;
56 faculty offices that house all business professors under the same roof for the first time ever, in addition to administrative offices and conference rooms;
A 110-seat lecture hall featuring oak paneling for optimal acoustics, plus two drop-down projectors;
11 glass-enclosed, group study rooms; and
Eco-friendly features that enhance Iona's restoration of the original building, including LED light fixtures, daylight harvesting sensors, high-efficiency boilers, low-flow plumbing, a computerized building management system, and eco-friendly building materials selected throughout.

Stunning views of the Iona campus and the New Rochelle skyline flood the entirety of the building, with a central atrium serving as the main gathering space. Versatile furniture pieces and inviting accent walls create a modern look while maintaining a distinctly Iona feel. An outdoor terrace on the third floor, meanwhile, is ideally situated to take in the sun while studying or watching a sporting event on the field below.

"From the shores of the Isle of Iona to the hilltop upon which our new LaPenta School of Business overlooks the City of New Rochelle, Iona's legacy continues to be both our advantage and our future," said Seamus Carey, Ph.D., president of Iona University. "The LaPenta School of Business has ignited fresh inspiration as we focus on becoming national leaders in experiential and service learning, pedagogical and curricular innovation, and administrative efficiency."

Download video transcript.

Toward that end, the new building encourages what research suggests is absolutely essential for student achievement – the ability to interact and collaborate across disciplines, said Darrell P. Wheeler, Ph.D., MPH, ACSW, Iona University provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. The benefits are similar for faculty, he added, in that they now have additional opportunities to engage across departments, as well as common spaces to collaborate and innovate for student success.

"Just walking out of your office or out of your classroom, you're going to have what I like to call 'highly positive collisions.' Those are the things that facilitate innovation," Wheeler said. "This sets a new bar in Westchester and the region. This defines the caliber and the potential of a 21st century education."

Iona worked with industry leaders on the design and execution of the project, including Gensler, the architecture, design and planning firm; Pavarini North East Construction Co., the general contractor; and JLL, the commercial real estate, investment and project management firm, which oversaw the project development.

"We wanted the design of the new LaPenta School of Business to honor the rich history of the original building and Iona University, while also providing a modern environment that will propel students forward into successful careers," said Mark Thaler, Gensler Project Director. "The new facility offers abundant space for dynamic learning and collaboration that will train Iona's graduates for a workplace landscape that is changing faster than ever before."

"This sets a new bar in Westchester and the region. This defines the caliber and the potential of a 21st century education."

A Transformative Experience

While LaPenta's success and philanthropy have been remarkable, he credits his experience at Iona for setting the course. Growing up, he said, he was just like any other kid from Yonkers, surrounded by immigrant families from Ireland and Italy. He watched his father, John, work hard to bring home $45 a week from Sherwin-Williams, a paint company. His mother, Nancy, always had a loving meal on the table. Yet when his father passed with only a meager $90 a month pension, LaPenta was determined to avoid a similar fate.

“I said to myself, ‘What happened to my dad is not going to happen to me,’” he said.

What led LaPenta to Iona was a conversation he had while playing basketball at a local playground. He was about 15 or 16 years old, attending Lincoln High School in Yonkers, but he'll never forget the story. An older boy's father had passed away, and the family couldn't afford the college tuition. Saying college was critical for the boy's success, Iona showed compassion and offered him financial assistance to finish his studies.

“For me, that became what Iona was all about,” LaPenta said.

The new LaPenta School of Business doubles the building's academic space to more than 68,000 square feet and, among many other improvements, features 11 glass-enclosed, group study rooms.

LaPenta enrolled at Iona in 1963."It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," he said with a laugh, quoting from Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. He admittedly spent too much time socializing and not enough time studying, and he ended his first semester with a probationary 1.5 GPA.

"I got a letter from the school after my first semester, and let's just say it wasn't a congratulatory note," LaPenta joked. "My father got that note and I was working at a local food store at the time. The manager came to get me and he said, 'Your father is on the phone and you need to put earplugs in your ears.'"

The next semester, LaPenta refocused his energies and dedicated himself to his studies. He finished the semester with a perfect 4.0. That was his transformative experience, he said.

"Brother Power, the president at the time, called me and said, 'I've never seen anything like that before in my life,'" recalled LaPenta. "What that meant to me was, if you want to succeed, you have to keep your eye on the finish line and work hard to get there. That's the philosophy I followed the rest of my life."

LaPenta earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1967 from the business school that now bears his name. He said Iona's legacy of providing an Irish Christian Brothers education made all the difference.

"Iona gave me the keys to open a lot of doors that would lead me to success," said LaPenta, of Westport, Conn., founding managing partner of Aston Capital Partners, a private investment company specializing in military intelligence, homeland security companies and companies involved in green technology. "You can see it in the graduates – and I hire a lot of them. Iona graduates are well-rounded, passionate about success, willing to roll up their sleeves to get a job done, and they're ethical."

When LaPenta was 15 or 16 years old, Iona offered an older friend of his whose father had died financial assistance to finish his studies. This compassion "...became what Iona was all about,” LaPenta said.

A Campus Has Grown

Iona University opened its doors in 1940 with just nine Christian Brothers and six lay faculty greeting the first class. Their goal was to open new paths to economic and social advancement for the next generation of New York’s working class, a goal that is still very much engrained in the character of Iona University.

Iona's enrollment spiked following the end of World War II, yet it lacked the facilities to keep up. Turning to the Army, the College ordered huts that served as classrooms. Considering that 80 percent of Iona students in 1946 were veterans, the students felt right at home. But the College needed a long-term solution.

Good news came in 1952. After years of implementing recommendations from the Middle States Association, the worldwide leader in accreditation and school improvement, Iona University received its official accreditation. It was as though Iona had finally been given the green light to build a college campus.

When news reached Br. Patrick B. Doyle, one of Iona's founding faculty members and a revered classical scholar, he turned to Virgil's epic Latin poem, the Aeneid. Flipping to a passage about the construction of Carthage, he read: "O fortunati quorum iam moenia surgunt." It is a phrase that rings just as true for Iona today as it did then: "Oh, fortunate ones, whose walls are rising."

"The opening of the new LaPenta School of Business complements and enhances all the exciting innovations happening on the Iona campus, including the newly founded Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and the recently renovated Hynes Athletics Center," Carey said. "Iona University is well positioned for continued success and is fortunate for such a supportive and engaged alumni network."

Left to right: Iona College President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. and Robert V. LaPenta ’67, ’00H, Board of Trustees member.

See more photos from the ribbon cutting here.

Photos by Ben Hider

ABOUT ROBERT V. LAPENTA
Robert V. LaPenta has more than 40 years of executive management experience and is currently founding managing partner of Aston Capital Partners, a private investment company specializing in military intelligence, homeland security companies and companies involved in green technology. He also serves as chairman and CEO of Revolution Lighting Technologies and is a co-founder and investor in the new publicly traded defense and aerospace company, The LGL Group. Prior to these endeavors, Mr. LaPenta co-founded both L-1 Identity Solutions and L-3 Communications, which merged with Harris Corporation to create L3Harris Technologies Inc., the sixth-largest aerospace and defense contractor in the world. Also an avid participant in the sport of horse racing as an owner, LaPenta's horses captured wins in the last leg of the coveted Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes in 2008 with Da'Tara and 2017 with Tapwrit. Most recently in 2018, his horse, Catholic Boy, earned a win at the prestigious Travers Stakes in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. His horses have amassed over $50 million in racing and sire earning.

ABOUT GENSLER
Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 49 locations and more than 6,000 professionals networked across Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Founded in 1965, the firm serves more than 3,500 active clients in virtually every industry. Gensler designers strive to make the places people live, work, and play more inspiring, more resilient, and more impactful.

ABOUT PAVARINI
Pavarini North East Construction Co., LLC, located at 30 Oak Street in Stamford, Conn., is a full-service construction manager/general contractor services firm dedicated to providing outstanding client services and has achieved an excellent reputation in doing so. Founded in 1896, Pavarini is proud of our successful 124-year history providing construction management (CM) and general contracting (GC) services. Pavarini provides unsurpassed hands-on experience, innovative leadership and an aggressive approach to meeting all of our client's needs.

ABOUT JLL
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. Our vision is to reimagine the world of real estate, creating rewarding opportunities and amazing spaces where people can achieve their ambitions. In doing so, we will build a better tomorrow for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.3 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 93,000 as of September 30, 2019. JLL's Project and Development Services division helps clients through all stages of realizing challenging capital projects, with an emphasis on managing scope, cost, schedule and the mitigation of risk. JLL PDS first works with clients to define their project success criteria, then assembles the professional team required to deliver the project successfully to completion. JLL PDS has a diverse practice, accomplishing projects of all sizes, building types and serving many different industries. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated.

For Almost 50 Years, Iona College and Winged Foot Golf Club Have Been Raising Money for Scholarships (News 744)

ptascio — Thu, 21 May 2020 13:23:26 +0000

For Almost 50 Years, Iona College and Winged Foot Golf Club Have Been Raising Money for Scholarships (News 744) ptascio Thu, 05/21/2020 - 09:23 For Almost 50 Years, Iona College and Winged Foot Golf Club Have Been Raising Money for ScholarshipsThis year the Iona and Winged Foot communities raised over $250,000 in support of scholarships for Iona College students. October 7, 2019

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Nearly two hundred alumni and friends of Iona College gathered for the 46th Annual Board of Trustees Invitational at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., to enjoy a round of golf and to raise funds in support of scholarships for Iona College students.

The Winged Foot Golf Club and Iona College share a belief in the transformational power of education, and 46 years ago, the two established a partnership enabling deserving students, including Winged Foot employees and their families, to pursue their education at Iona College.

This year, the Iona and Winged Foot communities raised over $250,000 as they enjoyed a day on the links, a lavish lunch and dinner, and both live and silent auctions.

Iona University president, Seamus Carey, Ph.D., spoke on the significance of the role Winged Foot plays in the Iona University community and his appreciation of their long-standing commitment, saying, “I am honored to be part of a community that understands the power of education and its ability to develop character, broaden horizons and transform lives. The Winged Foot family and Iona University have been working together to change lives for more than 40 years, and I look forward to continuing our good work together.”

This year’s scholarship recipient, Khris-Annecia Lewis ’22, shared heartfelt gratitude with those gathered. “As a scholarship recipient, I was given an opportunity to not only receive an education, but reach my fullest potential as a young woman of color, as I explore a variety of career paths in the medical field,” Lewis said. “As an international Iona student, I have access to resources and opportunities to push me in the right direction of my envisioned future and career path, some of which I never expected could be possible.” Lewis also thanked the Winged Foot Club, as well as her father and sister, saying, “Winged Foot and Iona have actually been a part of my family longer than I have! My dad worked at this prestigious club long before I was born, while my sister is a proud 2005 alumna of Iona University. So as you can see, I’ve known since a very young age, I wanted to follow in my sister’s footsteps to be a part of the Iona legacy.”

2019 Iona College Trustees Award Gala Raises Funds for Student Scholarships (News 777)

ptascio — Fri, 22 May 2020 18:11:33 +0000

2019 Iona College Trustees Award Gala Raises Funds for Student Scholarships (News 777) ptascio Fri, 05/22/2020 - 14:11 2019 Iona College Trustees Award Gala Raises Funds for Student ScholarshipsThe 57th annual event raised more than $700,000 for Iona and its students and took place on April 12 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

From Left: Thomas A. Davenport, MD, FACS, '88, Ronald DeCicco '70 and Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D.

April 17, 2019

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The 2019 Iona College Trustees Scholarship Award Gala celebration once again honored outstanding alumni in celebration of the College's mission of service, scholarship and lifelong learning. The 57th annual event raised more than $700,000 for Iona and its students and took place on April 12 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City with nearly 500 guests in attendance.

Friends of Iona gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of the Iona College Legacy and Blessed Edmund Rice Humanitarian Award honorees. The Board of Trustees presented the Legacy Award to Ronald DeCicco '70, who served as CEO of Pershing LLC. The award is bestowed upon unique individuals in recognition of their lifetime accomplishments.

The Humanitarian Award, named to honor the founder of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, recognizes those who by their activities and service to others have reinforced Iona's identity as a College founded in the tradition of the Congregation of Christian Brothers and American Catholic higher education. Iona presented the Blessed Edmund Rice Humanitarian Award to Thomas A. Davenport, MD, FACS, '88, who, after graduating from Iona College, attended Yale School of Medicine and has used his gifts in medicine to serve others, particularly through active medical volunteerism in developing countries.

In addition, Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D., the eighth president of Iona College was celebrated in appreciation of his distinguished contributions in leading Iona College. President Nyre's eight-year tenure at Iona concludes at the end of June 2019 when he will assume the presidency of Seton Hall University.

"It is my distinct privilege to congratulate the honorees, Ronald DeCicco and Dr. Thomas Davenport," said President Nyre. "Ron and Tom are the living evidence of the transformational power of an Iona University education. We chose to honor them for tremendous careers and perhaps most importantly for how they have chosen to live their lives."

In accepting the awards, Mr. DeCicco and Dr. Davenport joined an impressive group of past honorees, including His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan '14H, Francis Cardinal Spellman, New York Governor Malcolm Wilson, U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and the New York Police Department, and the 15 Iona alumni lost in the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center.

"The Trustees Award Gala celebrates Iona University's tradition of dedication of academic excellence and service to the community," said James P. Hynes ’69, ’01H, chairman of Iona University's Board of Trustees. "The Board has selected Ronald DeCicco and Dr. Thomas Davenport because they portray and live the mission of our College. We are also honored this year to recognize the accomplishments of the eighth president of Iona University, Dr. Joseph E. Nyre, during his eight years of leadership."

2019 Iona College Trustees Scholarship Award Gala Honorees Announced (News 778)

ptascio — Fri, 22 May 2020 18:14:34 +0000

2019 Iona College Trustees Scholarship Award Gala Honorees Announced (News 778) ptascio Fri, 05/22/2020 - 14:14 2019 Iona College Trustees Scholarship Award Gala Honorees AnnouncedThe honorees include two distinguished alumni as well as Iona College's eighth president, Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. March 5, 2019

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Two distinguished alumni, a former finance executive and a renowned plastic surgeon, will be honored by Iona College at its 2019 Trustees Scholarship Award Gala on Friday, April 12 at Cipriani 42nd Street. The College’s president, Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D., will also be recognized for his years of service, the Board of Trustees recently announced.

“The Trustees Scholarship Award Gala is an opportunity for the Iona community to come together to celebrate our students, faculty and alumni who Move the World through their service and scholarship,” said President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. “Iona College is proud to recognize and honor these two unique individuals whose character and work reflect the Iona mission and exemplify the integrity, compassion and dedication of our founders, the Christian Brothers.”

Ronald DeCicco '70, retired CEO of Pershing, LLC, a global financial solutions firm, will be presented with Iona’s Legacy Award. The honor is traditionally bestowed upon exceptional individuals in recognition of their lifetime accomplishments. The award is presented as a symbol of what can be achieved in life.

Thomas A. Davenport, MD, FACS, '88 will be recognized with the Blessed Edmund Rice Humanitarian Award. The award recognizes those who, by their activities and service to others, have reinforced Iona’s identity as a College founded in the tradition of the Congregation of Christian Brothers and American Catholic higher education. It is named after Blessed Edmund Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers.

Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D., the eighth president of Iona College will be celebrated in appreciation of his distinguished contributions to Iona College. President Nyre's eight-year tenure at Iona concludes at the end of June 2019.

Past honorees represent a “who’s who” of prominent and successful leaders, including His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan ’14H, Francis Cardinal Spellman, New York Governor Malcolm Wilson, U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, former NY Yankee Mariano Rivera P’15, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, world-renowned Ice Bucket Challenge co-founder Pat Quinn '06, who raised over $220 million for ALS research and the New York Police Department, and the 15 Iona alumni lost in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.

Proceeds from the Trustees Scholarship Award Gala will support Iona College student scholarships.

For additional information, please contact: Iona College Office of Advancement & External Affairs at (914) 633-2093 or events@iona.edu.

ABOUT THE HONOREES:

RONALD DECICCO '70

Ronald DeCicco '70 spent more than 45 years at Pershing, a Bank of New York Mellon company where he was the firm’s chief executive officer and provided leadership for the Pershing family of companies in 23 locations worldwide until he retired from the role in early 2016. He remained with the company for two years an executive advisor. DeCicco also served as a member of Pershing’s Executive Committee and BNY Mellon’s Operating Committee.

Prior to his role as CEO, DeCicco was the chief operating officer of the firm, sharing leadership responsibility for all Pershing affiliates. He also was the chief administrative officer, with leadership responsibility for Operational Risk Management, Facilities, Global Security, People Services and Tax and Depository Balances. He also had administrative responsibility for Internal Audit, Legal and Compliance.

DeCicco joined Pershing in 1971 in the Client Service Department, worked in various roles and ultimately assumed leadership responsibility such as serving as head of Global Operations, Account Management, Client Service and Client Training. He is the former chair of Pershing’s Technology Priorities Committee.

DeCicco has served as a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) Operations Advisory Committee, which provides guidance and insight on securities industry operational trends and their potential impact on controls and regulation. The committee also provides input on the potential effect proposed FINRA rules may have on the industry and the barriers and costs to implementation.

DeCicco earned a BBA in Accounting from Iona University in 1970, and has also completed the Securities Industry Institute program, sponsored by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

THOMAS A. DAVENPORT, MD, FACS, '88

Thomas Davenport, MD, FACS, '88 is a board-certified plastic surgeon and has been a partner at Long Island Plastic Surgical Group since 2006. While Dr. Davenport has expertise in the full range of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, he specializes in treating complex wound problems, including wound care and burn reconstruction.

Davenport is the director of Microsurgery and Surgical Wound Care at NYU Winthrop Hospital in addition to serving as chief of Plastic Surgery. He has authored numerous articles and book chapters and lectured nationally and internationally on various aspects of plastic surgery.

Davenport received his MD degree from Yale University. He completed both his residency in general surgery and fellowship in plastic surgery in the Harvard University program at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Davenport pursued specialty training in cancer reconstruction and cosmetic surgery as a fellow at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and was awarded the prestigious Webster Fellowship in Pediatric Plastic Surgery. He completed his training during an additional fellowship in burn and accident reconstruction with Harvard University at the Shriner Burn Hospital for Children.

Davenport is actively involved in medical volunteerism and has traveled to perform reconstructive surgery and lecture on plastic surgery in numerous developing countries such as the Philippines, Peru, India, Nepal, Ecuador, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brazil, Bhutan, Nicaragua, and Mali. He continues his philanthropic work with ReSurge International (previously known as Interplast), having served as a board member and chairman of the Surgery Committee. ReSurge’s mission is to provide reconstructive surgical care and build surgical capacity in developing countries.

Davenport was a founding board member of Mission Restore, a nonprofit organization providing hospital support and surgical training to select countries devastated by war and poverty. He is on the board of the Nutritional Research Foundation.

Davenport received the Driscoll Award in 2008 and was a Cornelia Fellow in 2010, both awards of high achievement at Iona University.

JOSEPH E. NYRE, PH.D.

During his eight years as president, the College experienced remarkable successes including: new academic programs; the creation of the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation; a new core curriculum; funded new endowed professorships; and faculty distinction and innovation programs.

Additionally, Iona reduced its tuition dependency, substantially strengthened its fiscal health and expanded the footprint of the campus, culminating in two new residence halls and the recent groundbreaking for the LaPenta School of Business. Iona experienced record levels of fundraising, tripled the College’s endowment and funded record levels of student scholarships in support of college affordability.

A native of Beloit, Wisconsin, Dr. Nyre is a first generation college graduate who attained three advanced degrees and completed pre and postdoctoral studies at the University of Missouri, University of Kansas, and Harvard Medical School. He is widely respected for his program of research, state and national policy work, and leadership.

Iona College Names School of Business After Prominent Benefactor (News 814)

ptascio — Wed, 27 May 2020 19:34:01 +0000

Iona College Names School of Business After Prominent Benefactor (News 814) ptascio Wed, 05/27/2020 - 15:34 Iona College Names School of Business After Prominent BenefactorLaPenta School of Business named in honor of Trustee and Alumnus Robert V. LaPenta ’67, ’00H September 12, 2018

From Left: Dean William Lamb, Robert V. LaPenta ’67, ’00H, and President Joseph E. Nyre

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Iona University is pleased to announce the naming of its School of Business after Board of Trustee member, alumnus and benefactor Robert V. LaPenta ’67, ’00H. The College's AACSB accredited business program will henceforth carry the name LaPenta School of Business.

"Bob LaPenta represents the values and successes to which many Iona Gaels aspire," said Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D., president of Iona University. "It is with deep appreciation and in recognition of his indelible impact on the College that we are thrilled to reveal our School of Business will forever bear his name."

"I am truly honored for this distinction bestowed today. My time at Iona University and business degree prepared me well for success and for the ability to positively impact the lives and livelihoods of others," said LaPenta. "I look forward to seeing future students of Iona University receive a robust business education and grow into the future leaders and entrepreneurs of the world."

Like many of Iona's students, both past and present, LaPenta was the first in his family to attend college. He understood the power of a college education and the potential it had to transform his life. Through hard work, he went on to earn his BBA in 1967 from the School of Business which now bears his name. Armed with a vision, passion, innate motivation and an Iona education, LaPenta set out to Move the World, and took that same drive and commitment to his post-college work career, becoming a successful executive and philanthropist, renowned for his leadership experience in the aerospace, defense and electronics industries. LaPenta has more than 40 years of executive management experience and is currently founding general partner of Aston Capital Partners, a private investment company specializing in military intelligence, homeland security companies and companies involved in green technology. He also serves as chairman and CEO of Revolution Lighting Technologies and The Radiant Group. Prior to these endeavors, Mr. LaPenta founded L-1 Identity Solutions and co-founded L-3 Communications.

President Nyre and Robert V. LaPenta share a moment of congratulations.

Also an avid participant in the sport of horse racing as an owner, LaPenta's horses captured wins in the last leg of the coveted Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes in 2008 with Da'Tara and 2017 with Tapwrit. Most recently last month, his horse, Catholic Boy, earned a win at the prestigious Travers Stakes in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

A transformational gift of $17.5 million from LaPenta laid the foundation for the construction of a new School of Business building. A groundbreaking held on July 26, 2018, launched the eighteen-month build of the $37 million-dollar facility that will double the current academic space to more than 67,260 square feet and create a world-class learning environment for Iona's students. The renovated building and addition will feature large new classroom and lecture hall spaces, spaces for collaboration amongst students and faculty, and offices for all business faculty.

"Thanks to Mr. LaPenta and this new facility, for the first time in our history, we will be able to consolidate all of the business school’s activities, faculty, and staff in one location," said William B. Lamb, Ph.D., dean of the LaPenta School of Business. "This will dramatically improve the way our students, faculty, staff, and members of the community interact, collaborate and learn.”

"Bob LaPenta has been a loyal and staunch friend to his alma mater,” added Nyre. "As a member of the Board of Trustees, then in building the Robert V. LaPenta Student Union and the LaPenta-Lynch Trading Floor and in providing for additions to Ryan Library, with the largest gift in College history to build the new LaPenta School of Business building, and with his example of entrepreneurship and service, Bob LaPenta has time and again transformed and enriched the lives of students of Iona University."

Iona University's LaPenta School of Business offers high-quality academic programs in all aspects of business. Students develop broad knowledge and capabilities in general business concepts and develop a deep understanding of the area they choose as their major. The undergraduate business program consists of a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in one of seven business disciplines, including Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Management and Marketing. Each student in Iona’s BBA program completes a liberal arts core as well as a business core curriculum that is formulated to meet strict AACSB standards to impart knowledge; provide valuable learning experiences, including in areas of entrepreneurship and innovation; and foster student engagement. Iona's business graduate programs provide flexible plans of study and include ample electives. Students can take classes at their own pace. As of fall 2018, Iona has launched an exciting new MBA program which is more flexible, faster, and cost-effective and requires only 39 credits to attain the degree. In addition, the LaPenta School of Business offers three specialized Master of Science degrees.