Iona University Announces the A. M. Hynes Performing Arts Center
Generous support from James P. Hynes ’69, ’01H and Anne Marie Hynes will transform the Sommer Center into a vibrant new home for the arts in Bronxville
“I got so much from what I was given, and that’s why I’ve always felt strongly about giving back.”
BRONXVILLE, N.Y. — Iona University is pleased to announce plans for the A. M. Hynes Performing Arts Center, transforming the Sommer Center on its Bronxville campus into an enhanced home for music, dance and other forms of artistic expression.
Made possible through the generosity of James P. Hynes ’69, ’01H and Anne Marie Hynes, the project represents a significant investment in Iona’s growing performing arts programs and the continued renovation of the University’s 28-acre Bronxville campus.
“This is an exciting next step in Iona’s growth and our commitment to providing a transformative education,” said Iona President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “I want to thank Jim and Anne Marie for their steadfast support of Iona. Their generosity continues to create new opportunities for students to pursue their passions both inside and outside of the classroom, while at the same time extending the spirit of community that defines Iona.”
A Vibrant New Home for the Arts
The A. M. Hynes Performing Arts Center will enrich Iona’s performing arts offerings, which include both academic and extracurricular opportunities in music, theater, dance, Irish dance, instrumental and vocal ensembles. The new space will also deepen the University’s roots in Bronxville, creating new opportunities to welcome local audiences and organizations for performances, programs and special events.
The project will expand the venue from its current 316-seat capacity to 450 seats. It also will introduce a new performance stage along with enhanced systems for lighting, production and sound. Previously, Iona upgraded the center’s rehearsal spaces and faculty offices and installed a state-of-the-art dance studio.
In discussion recently from their Greenwich, Conn., home, Jim and Anne Marie said the new space reflects their deep appreciation for the role the arts play in a well-rounded education. Their transformative support has also included establishing and expanding the Hynes Athletics Center and launching the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, both supported by record-breaking gifts at the time.
“Music has been a wonderful part of my life,” Anne Marie said. “It brought experiences, friendships and opportunities that I never would have otherwise had. Jim and I are thrilled to see this new chapter come to life in Bronxville.”
Growing up in the Bronx, Anne Marie sang both in the Archdiocesan Chorus of New York and in her high school glee club. As a student at the Academy of Mount Saint Ursula, scholarships allowed her to further develop her talent. Over time, she went on to perform at Carnegie Hall, the World’s Fair, St. Peter’s Basilica and even on The Ed Sullivan Show. Music remained an important part of her life as a student at the College of New Rochelle, and today, she is still active with the Greenwich Choral Society. Jim experienced that sense of camaraderie as part of the Iona Players, working primarily on lighting and stage crew while occasionally stepping onstage himself.
While neither thought of pursuing the arts professionally, those early experiences remained a constant source of inspiration throughout their careers. A pioneering entrepreneur, Jim built three successful telecommunications companies that would transform the very fabric of information sharing around the world. After her initial career in the telecom industry, Anne Marie earned a law degree and has focused her efforts on both domestic violence issues and Medicare and health counseling. Both credit the arts with expanding their circles and enriching their perspectives—and that, they believe, is precisely the point.
“An Iona education is about developing the whole person; the performing arts are a wonderful way to do that,” said Jim, who has also devoted decades of service to the Iona Board of Trustees, including serving as chairman from 2008 to 2020. “Students may not pursue the arts professionally, but continuing something they love helps them find friends and become part of a community—and that helps them in the classroom, too.”
Expanding the Iona Experience
Since acquiring the 28-acre Bronxville campus in 2021, Iona has continued to invest in new facilities, programs and opportunities that enrich the student experience.
The campus is home to the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences, which offers a full range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in the health sciences. Beyond the classroom, Bronxville has also become a growing hub for Iona’s Division I Athletics teams and club sports programs. Campus enhancements have included two gymnasiums, a turf field, weightroom, four indoor tennis courts and other training facilities, in addition to the Cafe at Bronxville. Soon, Iona baseball will call Bronxville home with a renovated field, and last year, Iona welcomed its first residential students to an updated Bohm Hall.
The A. M. Hynes Performing Arts Center will build upon that momentum. Construction is expected to begin in March 2027, with completion anticipated by December 2027.
“I know the arts bring a different flavor into your day-to-day and expand the way you see the world,” Anne Marie said. “I got so much from what I was given, and that’s why I’ve always felt strongly about giving back.”
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.