How Iona University Helped Yanira Barrientos ’25, ’27MA Discover Her Passion for Speech-Language Pathology
New Rochelle, N.Y. - Yanira Barrientos ’25 is turning her calling into a career at Iona University, where her passion for speech-language pathology has only deepened since becoming a Gael.
Especially interested in the clinical aspect of the field, she sees herself pursuing a career working with children as well as young adults who have speech disorders.
“I got to visit the speech clinic at Iona and learn about all the amazing opportunities available here,” said the Queens, N.Y., native. “I had the most amazing time, and the rest is all history.”
Outside the classroom, she has also made the most of her Iona experience. She is currently president of the Gael Guide program, which gives campus tours to prospective students. Additionally, she serves as a Resident Assistant in North Hall and as a member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. These experiences have helped her grow both personally and professionally.
After graduating from Iona's Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology program this spring, she plans to pursue a two-year master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Following her studies, Barrientos hopes to work as a licensed speech -language pathologist in a school setting, eventually transitioning to private practice.
“Iona is one of the few colleges with a working clinic, and as undergraduates, we have an advantage in terms of hours for graduate school and resumes,” she said. “It truly feels like I'm achieving a childhood dream here at Iona. The incredibly supportive environment has equipped me so well, and I'm confident I'll succeed in my future endeavors.”
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 nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 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 Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, 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 5 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 recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. 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.