Iona University President Seamus Carey Named a 2026 Trailblazer in Higher Education by City & State
Recognition Highlights Leadership in Academic Innovation, Campus Growth and Student Success
Since becoming Iona’s ninth president in 2019, Dr. Carey has led a period of significant momentum and growth at the University.
Iona University is proud to announce that President Seamus Carey, Ph.D., has been named to City & State New York’s 2026 Trailblazers in Higher Education list, recognizing leaders who are helping to shape the future of higher education through innovation, vision and impact. According to City & State, this year’s honorees are distinguished by their ability to navigate a rapidly evolving landscape while advancing new opportunities for students and communities.
“Higher education isn’t as straightforward as it used to be,” the editors wrote. “This uncertain new environment favors the bold – administrators deftly adapting curricula to new realities, visionaries rebuilding and reshaping campuses, and academics tackling the toughest issues of the day. City & State’s Trailblazers in Higher Education features a select group of individuals in this arena who are already a step ahead.”
Since becoming Iona’s ninth president in 2019, Carey has led a period of significant momentum and growth at the University. Guided by Iona’s mission and the legacy of Blessed Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers, he has championed initiatives that expand opportunity for students while strengthening the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation and community partnerships.
The list features a select group of individuals who are “deftly adapting curricula to new realities, reshaping campuses and tackling the toughest issues of the day.”
Among the achievements highlighted by City & State are the transformation of Iona’s physical campuses, which include the renovation of a new dining hall and LaPenta Student Union; the launch of the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning; and the opening of Bohm residence hall in Bronxville, among other recent projects. The publication also recognized Iona’s leadership in artificial intelligence, including new academic initiatives and faculty-driven innovation, and touted the University’s growing partnerships across the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences. City & State also noted the University’s upcoming plans for a new media center, bringing together programs in broadcasting, podcasting, esports, drones and digital media.
“I am honored to be recognized, however this accolade is really a reflection of the extraordinary faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners who make Iona such a special place,” Carey said. “Together, we are building upon a proud tradition while embracing new opportunities to ensure our students graduate prepared not only for successful careers, but also for lives of meaning, purpose and service.”
Founded in 1940, Iona University serves over 4,000 students across campuses in New Rochelle and Bronxville, N.Y., and remains committed to providing a transformative educational experience rooted in faith, service, opportunity and the enduring power of education. The University has also been recognized among the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and others.
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.