Education in Real Life: Iona Students Tour Company at the Forefront of Energy Innovation
Pilot cohort gains firsthand insight from leaders at Eos Energy Enterprises
Edison, N.J. (June 2026) — Students in Iona University’s Education in Real Life program recently visited Eos Energy Enterprises, a leading energy storage company at the forefront of energy innovation. The trip provided an immersive look into the research and development of the company’s pioneering battery technology, while at the same time reinforcing the importance of human connection in the age of artificial intelligence.
Guided by its mission to transform how the world stores and distributes power, Eos is advancing alternatives to traditional lithium-ion battery technology through its zinc-based energy storage systems. A recent visit to the firm's Edison, N.J., research and development lab provided students with a rare look at how this state-of-the-art technology moves from concept to implementation.
Throughout the day, students met with researchers, engineers and contributors from across the organization, exploring the company's approach to innovation and learning how emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence—are reshaping the energy sector. Students also toured active laboratories and testing environments, gaining behind-the-scenes insight into the research and development process.
“At Eos we are already using AI across engineering, operations and project delivery,” said Joe Mastrangelo, CEO of Eos Energy Enterprises. “Partnering with Iona is about making sure students learn to think and work in that environment now, so they graduate fluent in the tools that will define their careers.”
The visit reinforced a key lesson at the heart of Iona's Education in Real Life initiative: as technology continues to evolve, students who can combine technical fluency with strong ethical grounding, intellectual curiosity, communication skills and human discernment will be best positioned to thrive.
Chloe Marblestone ’28, a Media & Strategic Communications major with a concentration in public relations, said the visit was both interesting and informative.
“Hearing from leaders at Eos helped me better understand how important collaboration and communication remain in an AI-driven world,” she said. “Even as someone who doesn't necessarily plan to work in technology, it was exciting to see how companies like Eos are using AI as a tool while continuing to invest in their people and creating environments where employees can learn and grow together.”
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 2026, 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.