Iona University and Cardinal Hayes Educators Delve Into Artificial Intelligence During Catholic Schools Week
Over 50 educators received hands-on AI training from Iona faculty
Bronx, N.Y. – Educators from Iona University and Cardinal Hayes High School recently came together during Catholic Schools Week to kick off the latest AI@Iona artificial intelligence micro-credential program. Iona faculty led presentations to approximately 50 Cardinal Hayes educators, delving into real-world classroom applications for AI, ethical considerations, best practices and more.
Amy Hosseinbukus, a Cardinal Hayes social studies teacher, said professional development opportunities are so valuable, making teachers feel refreshed and excited to do their jobs – especially when they are given new tools such as AI.
"For me as a teacher, I’m always looking for ways to change things up, to do something different. The goal is to have students interested, to ignite wonder. I just find that the items we’ve been shown today, they’re not just different, they’re fun,” she said. “It’s also lovely to have a very wonderful instructor [Iona’s Rob Kissner]. I think because he’s an educator, he’s as passionate as I am – which just breathes new life into me wanting to be right back in the classroom with these new ideas.”
AI@Iona, an initiative of Iona’s Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning, aims to foster community partnerships and equip educators with the skills and knowledge necessary to integrate AI into their classrooms.
Annjulie Martinez, who teaches anatomy and physiology as well as nutrition at Cardinal Hayes, said she uses ChatGPT to come up with new lesson plans to engage her students. She understands students are using AI, she said, but she wants to make sure they are using it in the right ways.
“I want to make sure my students have the ability to use it as a tool and use it as a refinement of their learning – to provide study guides, to expedite their preparation process, to continue to learn from their experiences; it’s really beneficial,” Martinez said. “I want to teach them how to use it as a tool, not just as a scapegoat or a crutch.”
Iona launched its AI@Iona Outreach program this past fall with the Yonkers Public Schools, the third-largest school district in New York State. Since then, the Bronxville Union Free School District has also signed on as a partner, with sessions underway.
The program consists of five interactive workshops, culminating in a micro-credential for those who complete the sessions. With more schools set to join, Iona remains committed to advancing AI literacy and strengthening collaboration among educators, particularly in keeping with its mission of faith and service as a leading Catholic institution.
“Collaboration is at the heart of what we’re doing at Cardinal Hayes and other K-12 schools,” said Tricia Mulligan, Ph.D., Iona provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “It’s about sharing knowledge and inspiring teachers in their work with students, while also learning from those interactions; hearing how K-12 teachers implement these strategies provides valuable insights into how we engage with our students and faculty at Iona, as well.”
To learn more about Iona’s new AI micro-credential program for educators, please contact the Office of the Provost at (914) 633-2602 or provost@iona.edu.
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.