Iona University Commencement Features Inspiring Keynote from Emma Hayes, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team Head Coach

81st annual Commencement ceremony recognizes nearly 900 undergraduate and graduate students in the Class of 2025

May 16, 2025

Commencement News

New Rochelle, N.Y. (May 16, 2025) – Iona University honored the Class of 2025 at its 81st annual Commencement ceremony on May 16, 2025. The event took place on Iona’s New Rochelle campus, celebrating the achievements of nearly 900 undergraduate and graduate students with thousands of guests in attendance. To watch the full ceremony, please visit the Commencement website. 

Commencement Keynote 

Emma Hayes, head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team who led the USA to Olympic gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics, delivered the keynote address and was awarded an honorary degree. Hayes previously served as head coach of Iona’s women’s soccer team from 2003 to 2005, a transformative time for both the program and her career.  

“I've said this many times: That my experience here at Iona was one of my greatest, for many reasons,” she said. “Iona will forever be in all of our hearts and I'm so grateful for everything not just this campus, but this community, has provided.”

Speaking with wit and wisdom, Hayes shared insights into her path from arriving in the United States with little more than a backpack and a dream to pursuing her passion for coaching at the highest levels and defeating Brazil in Paris to take home Olympic gold. 

Encouraging graduates to take risks and follow their hearts, she added that success – which is nonlinear – often begins in moments of discomfort and uncertainty. 

“Prepare yourself for the failures ahead… but embrace the discomfort in it all,” she said. “Nothing can beat human connection and our ability to bring the best out of each other.

“So, never stop asking questions; curiosity is so underrated. And never stop learning. The growth mindset, for me, isn’t just a line in a book somewhere; it’s something that allows us to open all those pathways to keep being the best version of ourselves. And mostly, be kind to each other,” she concluded. “You will always get out of this world what you put into it.”

Presidential Address

Iona President Seamus Carey, Ph.D., opened by congratulating the Class of 2025, saying they are well prepared for a career and a life that will impact many others.

Drawing applause from the graduates, Carey also observed that the ways in which humanity acquires knowledge have been radically transformed in recent years by tools such as ChatGPT and other forms of generative artificial intelligence (AI). 

“While there are many advantages to the easy access to knowledge AI affords, there are also risks – threats, in fact, to the thought, presence, and sense of purpose that will ultimately define your place in the world,” Carey said. “What can you do to protect yourself against these dangers? The most important advice I can give you is to pay attention: especially, pay attention to your attention.” 

Highlighting that the Christian Brothers founded Iona with an understanding that education is the path to freedom, Carey added that the values which will guide graduates are human values, and those are beyond the reach of any algorithms. 

“As overwhelming as the power of AI and technology may seem, remember that the answers it can deliver so effortlessly are not the end of any story, but only the beginning of the next chapter – for knowledge and for you,” Carey said. “It’s how you live with questions rather than answers that will determine the character of your life.”  

From the Class of 2025

Olivia Murillo ’25, outgoing president of the Student Government Association, delivered welcoming remarks, reflecting on the shared journey of the Class of 2025 and the meaningful connections that shaped their college career. 

“We have embraced challenges, adapted to change, and supported one another in ways that make me incredibly proud to be part of this graduating class. Through our late-night study sessions, campus events and shared victories, we have built a legacy that will inspire future Gaels for years to come,” she said. 

“Iona has taught us that college is not just about checking off assignments and attending lectures,” Murillo continued. “It’s about embracing the full experience, engaging with our professors and peers, and creating lasting connections that will carry us forward.” 

Murillo left her peers with a message of encouragement: “Be intentional about your choices, and you will create a future that is fulfilling and meaningful.”

Undergraduate Commencement speaker Sherquan Dailey ’25 delivered a powerful message of resilience and service.

Reflecting on the Class of 2025’s unique journey, as the first to return to Iona post-pandemic, he commended his peers for “trailblazing” through adversity with commitment, tenacity and a shared sense of community.

“For me, Iona has always been about service,” Dailey said. “Through service leadership, I discovered purpose; through purpose, I impacted campus; and with the support of campus, we promoted and embraced community.”

Dailey, who served as a Resident Assistant and president of the Black Student Union, credited several faculty mentors for helping shape his journey and especially noted the impact of his study abroad experience in Ghana.

“That experience from Ghana reinforced a common yet important phrase: ‘Education is power,’” he said.

“Education isn’t just something we receive; it’s something we use. It’s a tool for self-protection, a weapon against ignorance, and a force for change in a world heavily burdened with challenges. So, to my fellow graduates, never stop learning. Never stop questioning. Never stop seeking truth.” 

Representing the graduate student body, Celine Lewandowski ’25MBA spoke from her experience balancing full-time work at Morgan Stanley while pursuing her MBA with a double concentration in Business Analytics and Information Systems. In a heartfelt reflection, she urged her fellow graduates to rethink how they approach time and success.

“I challenge you to take back your time and in doing so, owning your future,” she said. “Success is not measured by speed, but by authenticity and purpose.”

Lewandowski encouraged the Class of 2025 to pause, realign, and live intentionally. Quoting entrepreneur Sahil Bloom, she left graduates with a reminder of the power of small beginnings.

“You are one action away. It doesn’t matter where you are today. It doesn’t matter how deep in darkness you find yourself. You are just one action from being in a better place tomorrow. You are one action away. So just begin.” 

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

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.