Iona University Garners Attention for New “Education in Real Life” Program, Bridging the AI Gap Between Classroom and Career
As artificial intelligence continues to assume a prominent role in the world, Iona University remains committed to providing its students with the means to succeed — both on campus and into their careers.
This is evident in the University’s announcement of “Education in Real Life,” a four-week summer program that offers students the opportunity to explore how human creativity, reason, and technical skill converge by working directly with both faculty and industry leaders in energy, construction and hospitality.
In a conversation with Fox 5 reporter Richard Giacovas ’13, Iona President Seamus Carey, Ph.D., noted that while education and work are bigger than AI, the new program will be instrumental in positioning students for future success—both personal and professional.
“We are excited that our students are going to get a leg up on the future of work and what that means for them and their lives,” Carey said. “They will have a leg up on the way these industries are evolving because they will be working directly with industry leaders who are exploring these questions for themselves.”
Joining in on the conversation with Giacovas, “AI in Real Life” club co-founder Cy Abbot ’28 expressed enthusiasm for the program for the possibilities it provides to students.
“We want to bridge the gap between education and AI,” Abbot said. “We want to use AI as a tool, not just as a replacement for the education that you need.”
Abbot has already applied for the program and is hopeful to be selected as part of the inaugural cohort.
Joining in on the discussion, both News 12 and WPIX highlighted Education in Real Life, featuring the program as part of its coverage on how Iona is responding to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. The hits highlighted Iona’s proactive approach to preparing students for an evolving workforce, emphasizing the University’s focus on pairing emerging technology with creative thinking, ethics and hands-on industry engagement.
ABOUT EDUCATION IN REAL LIFE
Through coursework, conversation with industry leaders, small-group activities and site visits, students will examine how AI and other digital technologies are rapidly reshaping planning, performance and workforce needs. At the same time, students will connect industry knowledge with the reading of texts relevant to the themes raised by consideration of energy, building, hospitality, and the world they shape.
The first group of industry partners includes Eos Energy Enterprises; Consigli Construction Co., Inc.; Union Square Hospitality Group; Wyndham Hotels and Resorts; and legendary Westchester restaurateur John Crabtree. Learn more here.
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.