Iona Students Reflect on a Summer of Culture, Connection & International Communication in Barcelona, Spain
New Rochelle, N.Y. - This summer, Iona University students took their learning overseas with an impactful study abroad experience in Barcelona, Spain. Through the lens of international mass communications, students explored how culture shapes the way people experience and interpret the world – lessons they connected to first-hand experiences throughout the city.
From studying with Dr. Bob Petrausch and exploring international marketing, to walking the historic streets of the Gothic Quarter and learning how to cook paella, students fully immersed themselves in the culture, curriculum and community of Barcelona.
Hear from Alina Denaut ’26 and Natalie Aversano ’26 as they share how this immersive journey deepened their understanding of global communication, inspired personal growth and brought their studies to life in unforgettable ways.
Learn more about study abroad and service-learning opportunities here.
A Journey Beyond the Classroom
Alina Denaut ’26
“I’m incredibly grateful to Iona University for the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain. By exploring the streets of Barcelona, I experienced the culture first-hand and connected classroom concepts to the real world.
“I explored iconic landmarks from Park Güell and the Sagrada Familia to Casa Batlló and the Gothic Quarter. My month-long stay introduced me to a world of learning, culture and exploration. Along with 10 other Iona students, we studied international media.
“Dr. Petrausch taught us that culture is how individuals experience and interpret the world. I appreciated Barcelona's tight-knit community, which encouraged an outdoor and family culture. The streets were always brimming with music, people, and life.
“From trying new foods to interacting with locals, Barcelona taught me that learning isn’t just in the classroom; it’s always in your grasp. I believe Iona really strives to connect students to the real world by offering hands-on opportunities, such as their study abroad program. This experience broadened my perspective, both professional and personal.”
Natalie Aversano ’26
“We studied at Residencia Universitaria Barcelona UNIHABIT Ciutat Vella while taking International Communications, an elective course for media and strategic communication majors. Throughout the class, we explored the field of international public relations and gained a deeper awareness of global marketing and advertising strategies, particularly as seen throughout the vibrant city of Barcelona.
“Our first excursion, Spanish 101, helped us learn beginner Spanish, which made us feel safer and more comfortable interacting with locals.
Together as a class, we visited some of Barcelona’s most iconic sites, including the Gothic Quarter, the Picasso Museum, La Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, immersing ourselves in the rich cultural and artistic history of the region.”
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 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 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 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. 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.