Iona College Campus Community Gathers for Inspirational Address at Fall Convocation

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New Rochelle, NY (September 13, 2012)  The Iona College campus community came together on Thursday afternoon for the annual fall convocation in the Christopher J. Murphy auditorium. President Joseph Nyre addressed a large crowd of faculty, students and staff and shared a multitude of information including an overview of this year’s initiatives to help shape the future of Iona College via the five-year strategic plan. The initiatives included but were not limited to: addressing affordability; advancing retention and graduation strategies, enhancing academic distinction and the Iona student experience, bolstering institutional infrastructure, sharing the Iona story, and launching the comprehensive fundraising campaign.

 “All of you are so vital to our success in elevating the College,” said Dr. Nyre. “We as the Iona family, will work together to achieve our future.”

Dr. Nyre introduced the keynote speaker William Underwood, president of Mercer University who gave an enlightening talk on “Preparing Students for the Obligations of Citizenship.” President Underwood described the importance of convocation and the coming together of community. “This is an especially good metaphor for what is desperately needed in our nation.” He added “The mission of places like Iona is perhaps more important today than ever before in our nation’s history.”

Other highlights of Convocation included a processional led by an Iona Piper, Student Government Association President Jaclyn Shearer’s invocation, Provost Brian Nickerson’s overview of the upcoming middle states review, and the presentation of faculty awards by Dr. Jeanne Zaino, interim dean for the School of Arts and Science and Dr. Michael Jordan, chair, philosophy department and chair of faculty senate.  

Each year awards are presented to an adjunct, junior and senior faculty member selected by their peers in recognition of excellence in teaching and professional achievements. This year’s honorees were Patricia Cohen, MA, adjunct professor, Dance, Department of Fine and Performing Arts; the junior faculty award was presented to Andrew Griffith, assistant professor, accounting department; and the senior faculty award went to Victor Stanionis, PhD, professor of physics whose career has spanned over 50 years at Iona College.

Dr. Zaino presented President Underwood with some parting mementos including a necktie designed with the Iona logo. A good natured bet was waged between both presidents whose division I basketball team would win if they play one another in the November 2012 Paradise Jam contest in St. Thomas. It was suggested that the president of the losing team will wear the college necktie of the winning team. In a collegial spirit of goodwill and fun both presidents agreed.

Convocation concluded with a reception in Memorial Park, Ryan Library.

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Founded in 1940, Iona College is a four-year private, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers and American Catholic higher education. It is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona offers 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.

For questions or more information please contact:
Dawn Insanalli
Public Relations Office
Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801
Office: (914) 637-2726
Fax: (914) 637-2711
dinsanalli@iona.edu