Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning
Three Years of Innovation and Collaboration
As the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning (GCTL) enters its third year, it continues its work as a vibrant hub of innovation, collaborative inquiry and thought leadership at Iona University. Thanks to the vision and continued generosity of Marc Gabelli and the EMG Madonna Foundation, the GCTL has become a force both on the Iona campus and, through its AI@Iona Outreach efforts, in schools and districts in the surrounding area.
Through the Gabelli Center and its initiatives, Iona is shaping the future of transformative education while remaining anchored to our core values.
Leading the Way in Teaching Innovation
Through the GCTL’s fellowships, workshops, symposia, Iona faculty are exploring critical issues in contemporary education and creating mission-based, forward-thinking pedagogical initiatives, then sharing them in GCTL-sponsored conferences.
The Future of Teaching
Meeting the Challenge of AI-Aware Education
FALL 2026 CONFERENCE
Friday, September 25, 2026
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future challenge for educators—it is a present reality reshaping how students learn, how teachers teach, and how institutions define their purpose. As AI systems become increasingly capable of synthesizing information, solving problems, writing essays and performing complex tasks, how can teachers ensure fundamental skills are developed in their students? How do they foster the engagement, trust, and human connection essential to both teaching and learning?
"Iona takes its mission seriously – to develop human beings.
Its approach to AI is not oriented around speed and efficiency… but around extending human capacity and creativity. And I think it’s just a great model for how places should be thinking about tackling these problems."
-John Warner, award-winning author of "More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI."
Celebrating the Future of Catholic Education
Iona University proudly hosted a ribbon cutting and blessing ceremony for the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning on Friday, September 26 with more than 50 invited guests and campus partners gathered outside the newly dedicated space to celebrate the transformative impact of Catholic education and the important work underway.
The Gabelli Center is shaped by the vision of Marc Gabelli, exemplifying his longstanding commitment to Catholic education. Its work is made possible through the generosity of Mr. Gabelli; his mother, Elaine Madonna Gabelli, a longtime Catholic elementary school teacher; and the EMG Madonna Foundation, which is committed to supporting and strengthening the future of Catholic schools.
Dr. Christine Hardigree, right, and Cardinal Hayes High School educators delve into teaching and learning with artificial intelligence as part of Catholic Schools Week on January 24, 2025.
Shannon Vallor, Ph.D., acclaimed technology ethicist and philosopher of artificial intelligence, presents the culminating Driscoll Lecture in the Presidential Speaker Series, speaking to a capacity audience in Romita Auditorium on April 22, 2025.
Yonkers educators engage in discussion in GaelVentures as part of an AI@Iona micro-credential program on November 19, 2024, exploring the integration of artificial intelligence into classroom instruction.
Dr. Tom Chatfield captivates a full house in Romita Auditorium as part of the Presidential Speaker Series, discussing humanity’s co-evolution with technology on November 12, 2024.
Iona University kicks off the inaugural Presidential Speaker Series with Jeffery Saviano ’89, a partner with EY Consulting and a member of EY’s emerging technology strategy practice, on October 16, 2024.
Dr. D. Graham Burnett, a professor of history at Princeton University, speaks on the crisis of attention in the digital age as part of the Presidential Speaker Series. His talks were given on February 26 and 27, 2025, in Bronxville and New Rochelle, respectively.
Iona University Professor Aakash Sapru, Ph.D., guides Bronxville educators through the AI@Iona micro-credential program on January 20, 2025, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills needed to leverage AI tools both in the classroom and beyond.
Iona University collaborates with the Bronxville School District to advance education in the era of artificial intelligence through the AI@Iona micro-credential program.
25 Yonkers school leaders completed the University’s AI@Iona micro-credential program, culminating with a recognition ceremony in Yonkers on April 9, 2025.
Rob Kissner, clinical lecturer at the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, leads an AI@Iona session at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx on January 24, 2025.
Dr. D. Graham Burnett, a professor of history at Princeton University, center, delivers the first of his lecture on Iona’s Bronxville campus on February 26, 2025. Pictured in the Sommer Center left to right: James Mustich; Dr. Tricia Mulligan; Dr. Burnett; President Seamus Carey, Ph.D.; and Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin.
Iona University Leads the AI Conversation on FOX5
Iona University's Rob Kissner recently appeared on FOX5, offering his expertise on the impact of artificial intelligence in education. The segment explored the opportunities and challenges AI presents for students and teachers, showcasing Iona's commitment to being at the forefront of technological innovation.
“It comes down to teaching students responsibility,” Kissner explained. “Responsibility over the information they take in and the responsibility for how they represent themselves with the information they put out into the world.”
Through the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning and the initiatives we are advancing among our faculty, students and community partners, Iona remains at the forefront of providing a transformative education inspired by our core values. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence compels us to reexamine how we teach and learn, presenting an extraordinary opportunity for educators to engage students even more deeply as we prepare them for lives of professional achievement, meaning and purpose.
Navigating AI in Higher Education: Iona Faculty Publish National Op-Ed
Iona University faculty made national headlines with the publication of a powerful new op-ed exploring the role of artificial intelligence in higher education.
Authored by Christine Hardigree, Ph.D.; Rob Kissner, MBA; Christy Solorio, Ph.D., RN; and Ivy Linton Stabell, Ph.D., the article – featured in the USA Today Network – showcases Iona’s thoughtful, mission-driven approach to the evolving educational landscape.
From left to right: Christy Solorio, Ph.D., RN; Ivy Linton Stabell, Ph.D.; Christine Hardigree, Ph.D.; Rob Kissner, MBA.
The Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning is a vibrant hub for institutional innovation, faculty development, and the promotion of student success.
Throughout the academic year, GCTL sponsors workshops, seminars and speaker series.
The Teaching and Learning Hub is a focal point for conversation, shared resources, and technological support.
With the establishment of the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning, Iona has a permanent home for faculty, librarians, technologists, and student support specialists to come together to share their ideas, passions, and contributions to our mission of teaching and learning, not only regarding generative AI, but all types of pedagogies, techniques, and practices.
Gabelli Certa Scholars Program
The Gabelli Certa Scholars Program provides Catholic schools in the tri-state area with a pipeline of well-prepared, passionate educators committed to teaching in K-12 Catholic schools.
Utilizing a cohort-based model, students complete the program within 2-3 years by taking 12 credits each year while working or teaching in an urban Catholic school. As they work towards their master’s degrees, students receive free graduate tuition and an immersive experience of teaching and learning through partnerships with Catholic schools in the region. With the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning, the program further drives Iona's commitment towards Catholic educational excellence in the New York community.
Explore Iona’s graduate education programs
For more information about the Gabelli Certa Scholars Program, please contact MaryEllen Callaghan, mcallaghan@iona.edu.
Faculty Fellows
As part Iona’s commitment to faculty development, the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning is proud to sponsor a number of Presidential Fellowships each year to fund research and innovation on various major topics, with associated grants to additional faculty in support of these pursuits.
As educators, we must accept this new reality and evolve in tandem with a new technology that will undoubtedly shape our world in many ways. Thus, we need to start thinking about AI as a tool to support our students' educational journeys and not an evil device used to cheat.
What AI is Teaching Students—and Why It’s Important for Teachers
D. Graham Burnett, Ph.D., "Exploring Attention"
Tom Chatfield, Ph.D., "Our Relationship with Technology"
Jeffrey Saviano '89, "Winning the AI Race: Where Strategy Meets Governance and Ethical Intelligence"
Shannon Vallor, Ph.D., "The Virtues in the Age of Machine Thinking"
As we navigate the transformative impact of artificial intelligence, this groundbreaking initiative between Iona University and Yonkers Public Schools represents a pivotal moment in education. By equipping our educators with the tools and knowledge to integrate AI into their classrooms, we are empowering them to prepare our students for a future driven by innovation and technology. This partnership underscores our commitment to fostering equity, creativity and excellence in education for all.
