From Student Leader to Trustee: Iona University Appoints Lucille Bootman '17 to Board of Trustees
Iona University alumna Lucille Bootman '17, newly appointed to the Board of Trustees.
Iona University today proudly announced the appointment of Lucille Bootman ’17 to its Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2026. A passionate advocate for the Iona community, Bootman brings both deep institutional knowledge and a dynamic career in strategic communications to her new role. Since 2022, she has served as the Young Adult Trustee, a role that gave her firsthand insight into the Board’s impact.
“We are delighted to welcome Lucille in this new capacity as a member of the Board of Trustees,” said Iona President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “As a young alumna who has remained actively engaged with the University, she brings an important perspective and a genuine passion for supporting our students and strengthening the future of Iona. We are grateful for her dedication and look forward to the many contributions she will make as a Trustee.”
Since graduating from Iona in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Communications, Bootman’s career has centered on storytelling—shaping narratives that connect, engage, and inspire. She began at Biosector 2 through their graduate trainee program, where she built a strong foundation in public relations and social media while working on campaigns with meaningful real-world impact. After three years, she joined Edelman, one of the world’s leading PR agencies, where she managed client accounts, led teams, and navigated the challenges of working through a global pandemic, an experience that sharpened her leadership.
Bootman is a passionate advocate for the Iona community and brings both deep institutional knowledge and a dynamic career in strategic communications to her new role.
While at Edelman, Bootman pursued an MBA at Boston College, before joining Prosek Partners, where she split her time between New York and Boston. There, she had the opportunity to build and scale the digital team from the ground up, demonstrating strategic vision and a talent for cultivating high-performing teams. Following the completion of her MBA, she joined Apollo Global Management, where she currently leads corporate social strategy.
“I’m proud of the progression of my career, particularly the opportunities I’ve had to build teams, lead with impact, and continue growing as a strategic communicator,” Bootman said.
Her foundation was built at Iona. As a student leader, Bootman served as Vice President of Gamma Lambda Rho, where she honed her ability to collaborate across diverse backgrounds and take accountability for the success of a group. A defining moment in her undergraduate experience came in a Public Relations course, when a guest speaker from a major agency sparked a clarity of purpose that has guided her ever since.
“That experience crystallized my interest in public relations and set me on the path to pursuing a career in agency work,” she said.
As an alumni mentor in the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Programs, Bootman helps fellow Gaels feel supported, connected and proud.
In her post-graduation experience, Bootman has also served as co-chair on the Maroon and GOLD Council, a young alumni group, and as an alumni mentor in the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Programs.
As a Trustee, Bootman is focused on elevating Iona's story and deepening its connection with students, alumni, and the broader community. She is especially passionate about enhancing the student experience, from the moment students arrive on campus through graduation and into their alumni journey, ensuring every Gael feels supported, connected, and proud.
That commitment is rooted in a relationship with Iona that has never faded.
"The community has kept me connected, along with a strong desire to give back to a place that has given me so much," she said. "The values of the institution continue to resonate with me and shape how I approach both my personal and professional life.”
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.