Mayor of New Rochelle Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month at Iona University
New Rochelle, N.Y. - The Mayor of New Rochelle, Yadira Ramos-Herbert, recently joined the Iona University community in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, sharing insights from her career journey along with advice for students as they chart their paths forward.
During her visit, Gaels first gathered at the Latin American Fair, which featured engaging presentations and served as an introduction to Iona’s new interdisciplinary Latin American minor. Attendees enjoyed lively music and delicious cuisine, highlighted by performances from Bailando Con Sazón and instrumental performances led by Dr. Adam Rosado.
Following the fair, Mayor Ramos-Herbert spoke to Iona students during the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s semi-annual E-Talk Speaker Series, which showcases speakers from diverse backgrounds and industries over two days.
Inaugurated in 2024 as the 24th mayor of the City of New Rochelle, Mayor Ramos-Herbert is the first woman and person of color to serve the people of the Queen City of the Sound.
At Iona, she shared her inspiring journey, insights on leadership, and commitment to community development.
“There is an opportunity to energize the downtown area of New Rochelle and support small businesses along the way,” said Mayor Ramos-Herbert. “Our goal is to position New Rochelle as a destination for people to enjoy. As we think about economic opportunity, small businesses are at the forefront of this.”
When reflecting on how her heritage shapes her decision-making, she shared, “As an Afro-Latina, I leverage my bilingualism and represent my Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage in every meeting. I understand the immigrant experience, and I take pride in bringing this diverse perspective to the table.”
Adding a piece of career advice, she imparted her wisdom to attendees, “You have so much time to chart your path. As Mayor, there are many opportunities to support entrepreneurship. If social justice is something you care about, urban planning or helping small business owners, then consider government at some point in your trajectory.”
This initiative is part of the Hynes Institute’s ongoing dedication to community engagement and mentorship in collaboration with the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging. Learn more about the Hynes Institute 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 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 is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” 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 NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. 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.