Iona College President Named to City & State’s 2021 Higher Education Power 100
President Seamus Carey, Ph.D., selected for his innovative leadership and swift decision making amid the COVID-19 pandemic
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Iona College President Seamus Carey, Ph.D., has been named to City & State’s 2021 Higher Education Power 100, a list of New York’s most influential chancellors, presidents and deans of colleges and universities, as well as public officials and philanthropists. Those highlighted in the annual Power 100 are noted not only for their leadership and service within their own institutions, but also for their exceptional efforts shown beyond the classroom as they seek to make the state a better place.
“Thank you to City & State for this recognition,” Carey said. “The past year was unlike any other, and I know my colleagues can attest to the challenges. But as we persevered at Iona, we also innovated. I look forward to continuing to create new solutions for our students and communities. It is through education that New York will continue to lead.”
City & State noted Carey’s innovative first two years serving as president at Iona, listing him at No. 60. Among other achievements, he was recognized for overseeing the launch of Iona’s new Bachelor of Science degree program in nursing, as well as two new undergraduate degrees in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial leadership.
Under Carey’s leadership, Iona was also credited for the swift decision to close campus in March 2020 due to its proximity to the COVID-19 outbreak in New Rochelle, quickly shifting all instruction online. In August 2020, Iona also became one of the first colleges to reopen. By implementing rigorous public health protocols and regular surveillance testing, Iona was able to conduct a successful in-person, on-campus living and learning experience for both the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters.
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 is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2024 national list of “The Best 389 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” 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 NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. 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.