At Iona, Jaiden Houston ’25 Blends Love for Entrepreneurship with Law
New Rochelle, N.Y. – Jaiden Houston ’25 found his fit at Iona University by nurturing his entrepreneurial spirit and legal aspirations.
Houston, who juggles a sneaker restoration company and a clothing brand, is also gearing up for a future in law. Recently, he served as an intern for the LAWbound program through Latino Justice which provided vital insights into the legal profession. Building upon his skillset, he also secured an internship as a legal intern at the law offices of Christie L. Mcevoy- Derrico, P.C.
When it comes to his entrepreneurial acumen, he attributes the development of his strong business skills and network to the GaelVentures incubator, an intensive six-week program.
“I’ve built many valuable professional connections during my time at Iona, which I’ll carry with me long after graduation,” said the Bronx native and Pelham Preparatory Academy graduate. “The Iona community is close-knit and the support from alumni has been incredibly helpful in my journey.”
Further demonstrating his entrepreneurial skillset, Houston earned first place and won $1,000 in the Mid-Hudson Regional Business Competition’s Software and Services track.
At Iona Scholars Day, he even presented a prototype of a new app he developed called Mind Mirror, a revolutionary mental health platform designed to empower individuals on their wellness journeys.
Notably, Houston also collaborated with the Mayor of White Plains on a project aimed at boosting workforce development opportunities in Westchester County.
Looking forward, he plans to continue expanding his businesses while preparing for law school.
“Iona University has equipped me with essential skills in entrepreneurship, project planning, criminal procedure, social and behavioral research, legal research, criminology and criminal investigations,” said the criminal justice major and entrepreneurship & innovation minor.
“These skills have laid a strong foundation for both my legal career and entrepreneurial endeavors,” 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.