Iona University Announces Key Leadership Appointments to Drive Continued Growth
New Rochelle, N.Y. – Iona University is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan G. Fiore as its new general counsel, as well as the promotion of three key members of its senior leadership team to help drive the University’s continued growth and strategic initiatives.
“I am pleased to welcome Susan to Iona and to announce these key leadership appointments as we continue to advance Iona’s mission and achieve our institutional goals,” said Iona President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “Together, their expertise will be critical to meeting the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
Susan G. Fiore, General Counsel
Fiore brings diverse legal experience in higher education, having served most recently as executive legal counsel, labor designee and chief of staff to the president and leadership team of Bronx Community College within the City University of New York (CUNY). She has also served as town prosecutor for the Town of Mamaroneck since 2003.
In addition, she has provided legal and business counsel to a national not-for-profit organization, Phoenix House Foundation, managing complex health care matters across twelve states. She has a strong background as both a prosecutor and trial attorney in private practice and public service, including with the New York County District Attorney’s Office. Her expertise spans litigation, employment issues, intellectual property, education, health care licensing and HIPAA compliance.
Fiore completed her LLM in Intellectual Property/Information Technology Law from Fordham Law School. She earned her JD degree from New York Law School and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Muhlenberg College.
“I am honored to join Iona University at such a pivotal moment in its growth,” said Fiore. “I look forward to working collaboratively with President Carey and the leadership team to help strengthen Iona’s impact on its students, faculty and the broader community.”
Key Leadership Appointments
In addition, Iona is pleased to share that key members of the University’s leadership team will be taking on expanded roles to help drive the University’s strategic growth.
Mary Clare Reilley, Chief of Staff and SVP for Marketing & Communications
Mary Clare Reilley, who joined Iona University in 2018, has assumed an expanded role as chief of staff while also serving as senior vice president for University Marketing & Communications. Over the past year, Reilley has taken on increasing responsibilities in overseeing key initiatives for President Carey. In this new role, she will work in tandem with the senior leadership team and President’s Cabinet to ensure that strategic initiatives are meeting established goals and timelines. Reilley will also represent the Office of the President at both internal and external meetings.
“I am honored to take on this new role, especially as the University continues to grow in important ways,” said Reilley. “Iona is on an upward trajectory. It is both a joy and a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated team in supporting President Carey’s vision.”
MaryEllen Callaghan '05MBA, SVP for Graduate Admissions and Board Secretary
A dedicated member of Iona since 2002, MaryEllen Callaghan has excelled in building a strong team and developing key relationships to enhance and redefine graduate programs in alignment with market demands. Now, she will continue to focus on driving the success of Graduate Admissions, a critical priority for the University, while also maintaining her role as Board secretary. In recognition of her exceptional service to the University, Callaghan was awarded the prestigious Br. Arthur A. Loftus Award in 2024.
“Having built a fantastic Graduate Admissions team, I look forward to continuing to work with the extraordinary faculty and academic leadership at Iona University to advance student opportunities in graduate studies.”
Michael Smeriglio, SVP for Facilities & Campus Operations
With a strong background in facilities and construction management, Michael Smeriglio has made significant progress handling campus operations and construction across Iona’s New Rochelle and Bronxville campuses. This includes recent renovations to New Rochelle’s dining hall and academic advising spaces, among many other projects.
Prior to joining Iona in 2022, Smeriglio spent 29 years in a senior leadership role at Stamford Hospital, where he acted as co-chair for the hospital’s $450 million facility master plan, which added 750,000 square feet to the main campus. This experience has been instrumental in the development of the University’s NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences.
“Having been part of Iona for the past two years, I am proud of the progress we’ve made in enhancing our campus facilities,” said Smeriglio. “I am excited to take on a greater leadership role as we continue to evolve, and I thank everyone on my team for their continued great work.”
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 is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” 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 NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. 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.