A first generation college student from Beloit, Wisconsin, Iona College’s eighth president, Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. earned his B.A. in psychology in 1991 from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. Prior to attending the University of Wisconsin, he served in the U.S. Navy. He went on to earn an M.A. from the University of Missouri, and an Ed.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. Dr. Nyre then completed post-doctoral fellowships at Harvard Medical School and the University of Kansas.

Dr. Nyre went on to practice psychology in academic, clinical, and private practice settings. He served in a faculty capacity at the University of Kansas, Baylor University, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Illinois at  Chicago. Dr. Nyre also served administratively in higher education, public education and hospital systems. In addition to a nationally recognized program of research, he founded: partial hospital programs, a private practice, the Noll  Medical Pavilion, Noll Dental Clinic, the Children’s Healthcare Partnership, Central Illinois DD Dental Advisory Commission, The Autism Program of  Illinois Service Network, and the Kansas Psychology Training Consortium in clinical, school, and counseling psychology.

Prior to his appointment at Iona College, Dr. Nyre served as president and CEO of the Hope Institute for Children and Families since 2003. In his eight years as Hope’s leader, Dr. Nyre led the Institute to national prominence through teaching and training, research and public policy development, program development, increasing partnerships and networks, raising significant private and grant funds, and by developing state and federal legislation.

Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. is a man of deep faith dedicated to a life of family and service. He and his wife, Kelli, have three young children: Hadley, Henry and Charlie. He is the College’s first non-Christian Brother to serve as president.