Iona University Honors Class of 2026 at 82nd Annual Commencement Ceremony

Keynote speaker D. Graham Burnett, Ph.D., Urges Graduates to “Fight the Good Fight” in Defense of Human Connection and Attention

May 15, 2026

Commencement News

New Rochelle, N.Y. — Iona University honored the Class of 2026 at its 82nd annual Commencement ceremony on May 15, 2026. The event took place on Iona’s New Rochelle campus, celebrating the achievements of more than 900 undergraduate and graduate students with roughly 6,000 guests in attendance. Tricia Mulligan, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, served as the master of ceremonies. To watch the full ceremony, please visit Iona’s Commencement website.

Presidential Address

Iona University President Seamus Carey, Ph.D., opened his remarks by congratulating the Class of 2026, praising graduates for carrying forward the traditions of Iona and the Christian Brothers through their academic achievements, campus leadership and service to others.

Reflecting on the idea that digital technologies seem to be accelerating change faster than ever, Carey reminded graduates that while innovation can often feel unprecedented, history shows that earlier generations also experienced periods of profound transformation. He urged students not to lose sight of the deeper human values that connect us in such times, drawing on Iona’s centuriesold educational heritage.

“We are surrounded by more information than ever — more headlines, more updates, more noise. And if we are not paying attention, that constant stream can disconnect us from our past, from our traditions, from the deeper sources of meaning that ground us,” he said. “That’s why what you’ve received here at Iona matters so much.”

“Our tradition stretches back to the year 563, when Columba founded a small monastery on the island of Iona, off the coast of Scotland. From that small place came an educational tradition that has influenced the world for centuries — built on three simple principles: presence, compassion and liberation,” Carey continued. “They’re simple to name — but not always easy to live. Each requires intention. Each can be diminished by the distractions that compete for our attention every day.”

Encouraging graduates to remain attentive to the inward dimensions of life, Carey closed by reminding graduates that the values and traditions entrusted to them through their Iona education should not be taken for granted.

“The rich tradition of which you are a part is not something that simply continues on its own,” he said. “As one writer put it, ‘Tradition is not reproduced. It is thrown, and it is caught. It lives a long time in the air.’ Now it’s your turn to catch it — and to carry it forward.”

Commencement Keynote

Princeton University professor and author D. Graham Burnett, Ph.D., delivered a thoughtprovoking address that challenged graduates to view their education not simply as an achievement, but as a lifelong practice of humility and human connection. His remarks were both heartfelt and humorous, drawing the audience in from the outset.

Burnett anchored his speech in a medieval parable about a learned dervish who corrects a hermit’s prayer — only to discover the supposedly ignorant hermit was actually so earnest in his devotion that he could walk on water. The story became a meditation not only on the dangers of hubris but also on the importance of respect.

His address culminated in a passionate warning about the modern “attention economy,” which Burnett described bluntly as “human fracking.” He urged graduates to resist digital isolation and “fight the good fight” to protect and defend authentic human connection.

“The human frackers want us glued to our devices so they can cash in on our eyeballs and trap us in unhealthy patterns — digital addiction, overwork and anxiety. If that learned dervish were walking along the shore today, I wonder if he’d even hear the hermit. He’d probably have his earbuds in. And the earnest hermit? He never would have walked on water. He would’ve Googled the prayer, gotten distracted by a Snapchat notification and forgotten why he picked up his phone in the first place. That’s kind of a joke — but also kind of not,” he said. “Graduates of 2026, may you, in your earnest strivings, walk on water in the years ahead.”

Upon receiving an honorary degree, Burnett continued a family legacy at Iona that spans 25 years. In 2001, Iona awarded an honorary degree to his mother, Dr. Claire L. Gaudiani ’01H, who served as the eighth president of Connecticut College from 1988 to 2001. The moment carried added poignancy as Burnett reflected on his mother’s passing 18 months ago while also acknowledging his 5-month-old daughter in the audience — a touching recognition of both legacy and continuity across generations.

FROM THE CLASS OF 2026

Valedictorian Elizabeth Riccio ’26: On Courage and Community

Digital media major Elizabeth Riccio ’26 brought encouragement and gratitude to the Commencement stage as she reflected on the people and experiences that shaped her Iona journey. A student deeply involved across campus — from sideline reporting with ESPN+ to performing with the Iona Players — Riccio framed graduation not as an ending, but as an invitation to keep growing and taking risks.

At the center of her address was a simple but powerful message inspired by her father’s advice. “Growing up, my dad always told my brothers and me what he called the 11th commandment: ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get,’” she said. Building on that lesson, Riccio offered her own version to the graduating class: “If you never try, you’ll never achieve.”

Speaking candidly about perfectionism and fear of failure, Riccio encouraged graduates to embrace uncertainty rather than avoid it. “We are afraid to fail, to flop, to be embarrassed and that deters a lot of people from trying in the first place. How will you know if you don’t begin?” she said. “We are capable of amazing, extraordinary things if we put our minds to it, are willing to put ourselves out there and are willing to try.”

Her remarks also served as a tribute to the Iona community that supported her growth — professors, mentors, classmates, friends and family members who shaped her experience both personally and professionally. She offered especially heartfelt thanks to her parents, her twin brother Dylan Riccio ’26, a Division I diver who also proudly crossed the Commencement stage, and her older brother, who traveled home from Coast Guard deployment to attend the ceremony.

“Iona would not be Iona without these people, these moments, these memories that we will hold on to for life,” said Riccio, one of more than 20 in her family to earn an Iona degree. “I am constantly in awe of all of the people who surround me today and I’m so incredibly proud to be a part of this Class of 2026.”

Krisna Rivera ’26: On Leadership and Understanding

Krisna Rivera ’26, outgoing president of the Student Government Association, delivered a deeply personal and globally minded address centered on empathy, community and the responsibility of leadership. Reflecting on her experiences both on campus and around the world, Rivera challenged the Class of 2026 to become “the generation that bends the status quo, with love and passion in our hearts.”

Rivera spoke movingly about her internship at the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence, where she encountered letters from Americans facing hardship and uncertainty.

“I realized something that changed me deeply: Leadership is not abstract. Policy is not distant. These decisions, these systems, impact real people, real lives, every single day,” she said. “I walked into that experience proud to represent Iona in every room I found myself in, but I came back to campus with a different mindset. I came back understanding that my time here was never just about earning a degree. It was about preparing to show up in the world with purpose.”

Her remarks returned repeatedly to the importance of listening and embracing discomfort as a path toward growth. She especially reflected on a recent study abroad experience in Dominica, where a visit to the Alpha Centre, a school for neurodiverse and disabled children, transformed her understanding of community and belonging.

“It reminded me that community is not just about gathering with people who are like us; it’s about breaking down the invisible barriers that keep us apart,” she said. “So as you leave here today, I challenge you all to not just carry this mindset, but to live it. Be curious when it’s uncomfortable. Be open when it’s inconvenient. Be willing to grow when it would be easier not to. Because in a world that too often chooses division, choosing understanding isn’t passive — it’s leadership. It’s courage. And it’s a lifelong commitment to learning.”

Michael Angarano ’26MBA: On Perseverance and Moral Fiber

Graduate Commencement speaker Michael Angarano ’26MBA reflected on the quiet perseverance that defined the Class of 2026, grounding his remarks in the idea of “moral fiber” — the unseen resilience required to balance careers, family responsibilities and academic ambition all at once. Speaking of family, his remarks at the podium also came as a surprise to his loved ones, opening his address with a lighthearted touch.

Recalling a moment early in the MBA program when exhaustion nearly overtook him, he described stepping out of class late one evening only to see lights still glowing throughout the LaPenta School of Business. “Some were studying quietly. Others were working through assignments together. A few looked just as tired as I,” he said. “And in that moment, something shifted for me. I realized none of us were doing this alone.”

His speech emphasized that the sacrifices made by graduates were not just obstacles, but experiences that shaped the perseverance and character of the graduating class.

Drawing on a quote from the late Tupac Shakur — “I’m not saying I’m going to change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world” — he urged graduates to recognize the ripple effect they will have in the world.

“What we accomplished here is not the finish line. It is the foundation for everything that comes next,” he said. “So, as we leave here today, let’s continue to fight the good fight. Keep showing up when things feel uncertain. Keep pushing forward when the path isn’t clear. And keep believing — no matter how long the road may be — that a change is going to come. And the people who will bring it are sitting right 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.