Kerri Shea ’23, ’24MA: Translating a Passion for People into a Career in Public Service
Kerri Shea ’23, ’24MA
Kerri Shea '23, '24MA has always believed that the best way to serve her community is to tell its stories. Today she is taking that passion and the skills developed from her time at Iona onto a statewide stage.
Just two years after completing both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Public Relations at Iona University, Shea has been named Communications Director for New York State Sen. Siela Bynoe. Within her role, she manages media relations and serves as a key liaison between her senator and the press, putting her at the intersection of policy and the people it affects most.
A lifelong resident of the communities represented in her district, Shea was drawn to public relations by a desire to amplify the causes and people she cares about most. At Iona, she transformed from a student who once struggled to speak up in class into a confident communicator, a journey she credits in large part to the University's honors program and its emphasis on public speaking and civic engagement.
What do you love most about what you’re currently doing?
"Iona broke me out of my shell professionally and personally."
The thing I love most about my current position is how much I get to learn and who I get to meet every day. I meet so many people in these communities I grew up around, and seeing how often people come together for events or to learn about new topics over a weekend is so inspiring. I am also able to be more aware of the current state of our town and what we are working on to better the community. I love being a part of bettering the county that I was raised in and raising awareness for movements that I believe in.
Why did you decide to study Public Relations?
I always loved being able to tell people's stories and raise awareness for the things that matter to me, which drew me to Public Relations. In this new position, I get to do just that.
How did Iona prepare you for where you are today?
When I got to Iona, I was barely able to speak in my classes as I constantly doubted my abilities. As I moved through the honors program and worked toward my thesis presentation, I was given exposure to public speaking that I never believed I could do. Iona broke me out of my shell professionally and personally, and I believe without the curriculum I completed and the amazing friends I made there, I wouldn't be able to accomplish what I have so far.
What advice do you have for current Iona students?
One of Shea's fondest memories is her study abroad experience in London.
There are endless opportunities in the communications field. Trying out different sectors is part of the journey to finding what's right for you, and when you do find the right position that you're passionate about, the work feels rewarding. I never thought I was capable of getting to this position, but the more I challenge myself, the more I find I can do.
What’s your fondest Iona memory?
I have endless amazing memories at Iona that I think about all the time. I was a member of the Honors Program, ASL Club, and the Ionian. One of my favorite things has to be our class trip to London. I had never traveled much before, and experiencing one of my dream locations with my best friends is something that will live with me forever.
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 2026, 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.