Guidance and Growth: A Gaels Go Further Mentorship Success Story
Logan Balsan ’25, a mentee in the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Program, finds value and mentorship beyond the classroom.
At Iona University, the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Program stands out as a bridge between students and alumni, creating lasting connections that fuel career ambitions and personal growth. Through this mentorship program, current students gain direct access to alumni mentors who bring real-world experience and industry insight to their academic journey.
For current mentee Logan Balsan ’25, a senior accounting major and president of the Italian Culture Club, and his mentor, Stephen Semenza, CPA, ’84, owner of The Pawfect Brew and former chief financial officer of Evolution Markets Inc., Gaels Go Further has been a rewarding experience beyond the classroom. Please enjoy their reflections belo.
To learn more about the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Program or to get involved, please contact Matthew Ricker ’18, ’24 MA, assistant director for Student-Alumni Engagement, at mricker@iona.edu or (914) 633-2033.
Logan Balsan ‘25
“Since freshman year, my academic advisor pushed me to enroll in the Gaels Go Further program. In my senior semester, I decided to enroll and it has been a great experience. My mentor, Stephen, has provided valuable insight and guidance as I prepare for my full-time job with BDO come January 2025. Stephen was a controller of a brokerage firm for 15 years, served as a VP of Goldman Sachs, and now runs his own coffee company, The Pawfect Brew. He has experience as a CPA, which I am pursuing as an accounting major.
Throughout my time in the program, Stephen has supported both my academic and extracurricular priorities. Recently, Steve generously provided coffee from his business for the Cannoli & Coffee fundraiser hosted by the Italian Culture Club in celebration of Italian-American Heritage Month.
Funny enough, during the program, we found out we were distantly related through a mutual cousin. This further family connection, found through networking within the program, has made the experience more memorable. I recommend this program to all Iona students – you never know who you’ll meet or the opportunities that will come your way through networking with Iona alumni!”
Learn more about Logan’s Iona journey here!
Steven Semenza ‘83
“I joined the Iona University Mentoring program to give back in a small way. Iona was instrumental in shaping my career, and with many years of experience in accounting and finance, I can offer valuable guidance and advice to current Iona students. The program is very rewarding and a fantastic way for alumni to maintain their connection with the University. My mentee Logan is bright, involved with clubs and other activities, and is getting ready to start his accounting career.
When Logan informed me about his Cannoli and Coffee fundraiser, I saw it as an opportunity to put our mentorship into action. Several months ago, I launched an online coffee company, The Pawfect Brew, and provided our Italian Roast coffee for the event. Interacting with the students during the fundraiser was great, and it further underscored the significance of the mentorship program.”
Learn more about the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Program 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 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.