Brian Baldwin ’25 Shares How Swimming, Mentorship and Hardwork Have Shaped His Path at Iona University
New Rochelle, N.Y. - Brian Baldwin ’25 has embraced every opportunity at Iona University. As captain of the men’s swimming & diving team, Baldwin credits Iona’s personalized learning environment for fostering his well-rounded growth and providing resources along the way.
“The accessibility of professors has been invaluable, as they are always available to offer guidance, support and mentorship,” he said. “Iona’s tight-knit alumni community has created valuable networking opportunities, offering connections and career support that will benefit me well beyond my time on campus.”
After following the guidance of his professors, Baldwin enrolled in the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Program. Through this initiative, Baldwin earned an internship at Brown Brothers Harriman, a private investment bank in Jersey City, N.J.
“I appreciated the hands-on learning experience and the chance to meet many new people,” said the Brooklyn, N.Y., native. “The internship inspired me as I entered my senior year, motivating me to make the most of my final year of college before graduation.”
For Baldwin, Iona is more than a university; it is a shared family experience.
“It is a unique and special experience to have attended Iona alongside both my brother and sister. My older brother, Sean Baldwin ’24, and my twin sister, Kate Baldwin ’25, are also proud Gaels,” he said. “Keeping my family close has always been important to me, and Iona has truly been our home for the past four years. It was not the plan for us all to attend college together, but I wouldn't change a thing.”
Now, as a candidate for valedictorian and recipient of the Roth Memorial Medal for Excellence in Business Administration, Baldwin is preparing to launch the next chapter of his career.
The finance major is eager to work as a financial analyst, investment analyst or in wealth management, feeling confident that Iona has provided him with all the tools he needs to succeed in the future.
While Baldwin’s professional aspirations are in finance, he has also left his mark on the swimming & diving team. The team captain is a four-time MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) podium finisher, a former school record holder and has qualified for the National Invitational Championship all four years at Iona.
“I believe the best way to lead is by example, showing my teammates what it takes to succeed both in and out of the pool. I try to set the standard through my actions, hoping to inspire others to push themselves to be their best,” he said.
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 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 5 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 recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” 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 one of the nation’s top hospitals. 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.