Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning
A Keystone of Institutional Commitment
Iona’s Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning (GCTL) is a catalyst for educational growth in people, pedagogy, and programs—a vibrant hub for institutional innovation, faculty development, and the promotion of student success.
As Iona meets the opportunities inherent in an evolving educational landscape, we continue to evolve with it and incorporate rapidly emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence into the classroom.
Iona’s mission-driven dedication to the transformative powers of teaching and learning continues to remain paramount and is reflected in this exciting initiative. Founded in 2024 through the generosity of Marc Gabelli and the EMG Madonna Foundation, the GCTL advances Iona’s leadership in Catholic education both on campus and off.
Leading the Way in Teaching Innovation
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. Tom Chatfield, British author and tech philosopher, explores humanity’s evolving relationship with technology as part of the Presidential Speaker Series on November 12, 2024.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
25 Yonkers school leaders completed the University’s AI@Iona micro-credential program, culminating with a recognition ceremony in Yonkers on April 9, 2025.
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.
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.
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.
Shannon Vallor, Ph.D., author of “The A.I. Mirror: How to Reclaim Our Humanity in an Age of Machine Thinking,” with Dr. Tricia Mulligan and James Mustich after delivering the culminating Driscoll Lecture in the Presidential Speaker Series on April 22, 2025.
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.
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.
I want to make sure my students have the ability to use [AI] as a tool and use it as a refinement of their learning – to provide study guides, to expedite their preparation process, to continue to learn from their experiences; it’s really beneficial.
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.
Open to students with and without prior teaching backgrounds, this 30-credit program provides academically rigorous, spiritually rich experiences for early career professionals exploring a vocation in Catholic education.
Utilizing a cohort-based model, students complete the program within 2-3 years by taking 15 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.
Our first pair of Certa Scholars have been placed in local high schools:
- Melanie Erikson, Cardinal Spellman
- Gabriella Khan, Salesian High School
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.
For me as a teacher, I’m always looking for ways to change things up, to do something different. The goal is to have students interested, to ignite wonder. I just find that the items we’ve been shown today, they’re not just different, they’re fun. It’s also lovely to have a very wonderful instructor [Iona’s Rob Kissner]. I think because he’s an educator, he’s as passionate as I am – which just breathes new life into me wanting to be right back in the classroom with these new ideas…I think professional development is so worthy and it makes you refreshed and excited to do your job, especially when you’re given new tools.
Jeffrey Saviano '89, "Winning the AI Race: Where Strategy Meets Governance and Ethical Intelligence"
Tom Chatfield, Ph.D., "Our Relationship with Technology"
D. Graham Burnett, Ph.D., "Exploring Attention"
Shannon Vallor, Ph.D., "The Virtues in the Age of Machine Thinking"
GCTL In the News
