Iona University Announces Naming of New Mehmel Green

Newly designed green space honors benefactors Bob Mehmel ’84 and Barbara Mehmel

April 7, 2026

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Iona University is proud to announce that its newly designed upper green will be named the Mehmel Green in recognition of a generous gift from Iona Trustee Bob Mehmel ’84 and his wife, Barbara Mehmel.

Anchored by the Blessed Edmund Rice Chapel, the Mehmel Green reimagines a former industrial area and creates a beautifully landscaped and vibrant green space. Featuring sweeping views of the City of New Rochelle, Mazzella Field and the LaPenta School of Business, the Mehmel Green further unifies campus by connecting to the Murphy Green and the newly renovated LaPenta Student Union in the heart of campus.

“The Mehmel Green deepens Iona’s commitment to fostering community throughout the educational experience,” said President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “Thank you to Bob and Barbara for their dedication to Iona and the values that continue to be at the heart of an Iona education. We are incredibly grateful for the generous gift that has allowed us to create the Mehmel Green.” 

The Mehmel Green features walking paths, seating areas and a contemplative garden across from the chapel entrance, creating a natural extension of student life. Whether gathering with friends or simply rejuvenating between classes, the new green will elevate the campus experience while significantly expanding Iona’s available outdoor space.   

“My wife Barbara and I are thrilled to support the upper green initiative, which will continue the momentum of transformational projects that are creating meaningful spaces that will connect and unify the Iona community,” said Mehmel. “This gift recognizes my gratitude to Iona for providing a high-quality education that gave me the confidence, knowledge and skills to adapt and thrive in a competitive world.” 

“I would also like to recognize one of Iona’s great alums, Bob LaPenta,” Mehmel added. “I was fortunate to work for and gain Bob’s trust early in my career.  As I reflect on that life-changing experience, it was a remarkable period of learning and personal growth. It’s a full-circle moment to reconnect with Bob as fellow Trustees and grateful Iona alums.” 

A seasoned public company executive, Bob Mehmel currently serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Griffon Corporation, a diversified management and holding company. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Iona in 1984, and has remained an engaged alumnus and Trustee, supporting the University’s mission of opportunity and transformation for new generations of Gaels.  

The naming of the Mehmel Green builds upon a period of significant momentum and growth at Iona, particularly around campus spaces that build community and support holistic student development. Recent projects include the new dining hall, student lounge and meeting space in the LaPenta Student Union in New Rochelle; the newly renovated Bohm residence hall in Bronxville; and the growth of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences and the Kelly Center for Health Sciences, among many other highlights. Together, these enhancements advance Iona’s strategic focus on fostering student success while cultivating a vibrant campus life.

“As we stand at the forefront of shaping a modern, Catholic education in the age of AI, spaces like the Mehmel Green are essential,” Carey said. “They remind us that while we embrace innovation in our classrooms, the heart of Iona will always be the human connection—students and educators who learn, question and grow together in a spirit of faith, service and deep shared belief in the transformative power of education.” 

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 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. 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.