Elizabeth Riccio ’26 Elevates Her Digital Production Skills with Fox News
New Rochelle, N.Y. – Lights, Camera, Action! On stage, Elizabeth Riccio ’26 dazzles audiences with her dancing and singing skills. Behind the scenes, she manages the technical aspects of production. Riccio is fully immersing herself in digital production all over campus — from creating short films for fun to assisting professor Giuseppe D’Aloisio in capturing content for Iona Athletics. Through these experiences, she’s not only honing her skills but also preparing for a successful career at Iona University and beyond.
In fact, Riccio is not the first in her family to attend Iona. “I would be the 21st degree in my family,” said the Harrison N.Y. native. Following in the footsteps of her parents, aunts, and uncles, Riccio is forging her own path. She has even gained invaluable experience through an internship at Fox News in the technical operations department.
“From shadowing the stage manager on set to helping cue in SOTs with the technical director, I’ve been given invaluable experiences of learning how large and significant of a team is required for network television,” she said.
“Iona is committed to connecting students with real-world experiences and keeping the community alive. I instantly realized how at home I felt here. There was never a moment where I felt like a statistic, and I was excited to be around the faculty who emulated drive and passion.”
Riccio thanks Dr. Jeanne Zaino, a political science professor at Iona, for introducing her to this opportunity.
Her favorite spot on campus is the TV studio, a place where her creativity comes to life. As vice president of Iona University’s Television Club, communications chair for Iona Players, and media assistant for the Media & Strategic Communications Department, she has countless opportunities to tell stories. Riccio believes “everyone has their own story to tell, and if I can help anyone add their perspective to the world, I think the world will be all the richer for it.”
Most notably, Riccio interned for Bruce Beck, an Emmy Award-winning lead sports anchor for NBC 4 New York, and executive in residence at Iona through his Sports Broadcasting Camp.
When reflecting on her time at Iona, she credits Professor D’Aloisio, who has left a profound impact on her college career.
“Most of the practical skills I know came directly from him whether that be in the classroom, working with me one-on-one, or pushing me to be in situations that force me to grow and learn. His generosity with his time and talents is an invaluable asset to the Media Department and the University as a whole.”
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.