Iona University Announces Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Admired scholar and innovator in student success, Tricia Mulligan, Ph.D., will serve as Iona’s chief academic officer
NEW ROCHELLE & BRONXVILLE, N.Y. — Following an international search, Iona University today announced the appointment of Tricia Mulligan, Ph.D., as provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. Mulligan’s appointment is effective Feb. 27, 2023.
Joining Iona in September 2002, Mulligan’s first role was assistant professor of political science and international studies. She rose through the ranks, becoming the inaugural associate provost for strategic academic initiatives in 2015, and then the inaugural vice provost in 2021. Mulligan continued to build on Iona’s student recruitment and retention efforts, faculty support and academic growth, and in 2022, was appointed interim provost. In this role, she has been responsible for the annual academic budget and over 400 employees.
“Tricia has been an invaluable member of the Iona community over the years,” said President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “Her leadership and guidance have been key in Iona’s continued success. We are thrilled to officially welcome her as our new provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, where she will continue driving the academic momentum at Iona. Thank you to our search committee and all involved in the search process.”
Among her many accomplishments, Mulligan spearheaded several initiatives to support student success campuswide. Notably, she secured over $3.56 million in grants for academic and student support programs, such as the federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) and McNair programs. She also co-created the MOSAIC mentorship program, developing a sense of community for students from diverse backgrounds; launched Iona’s first honors task force to reimagine the honors curriculum; created the role of the interim provost for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging; developed new undergraduate and graduate programs to help meet market and employment demands; and implemented Gaels360, a software tool used as an early alert system to identify potential at-risk students and facilitate support and intervention.
Moreover, Mulligan consistently championed faculty development and support. She facilitated faculty development funding proposals and awards each semester; developed a streamlined process for faculty to propose new projects; and closely collaborated with campus partners during the COVID-19 pandemic, pivoting students to hybrid, mixed-mode and remote learning. All the while, Mulligan maintained various faculty positions, teaching courses in political science, Iona’s Columba Cornerstone class, and more.
“I am honored to serve as Iona’s new chief academic officer,” Mulligan said. “Iona is my home, and I consider the chance to engage with students as they develop their own individual pathways to be a great privilege and sacred responsibility. I am excited to be leading, collaborating and partnering with such a dedicated, motivated and caring community of faculty and staff as we continue to elevate the Iona experience for all.”
Widely celebrated in academia, Mulligan has received several awards including the Dr. Carol S. Russett Award from the New York State American Council on Education/Network of Women Leaders in Higher Education; the Exceptional Educator and Community Leadership Award from the Huguenot and New Rochelle Historical Association; and many more. She also served as a board member of Edmund Rice International, which works in partnership with other faith-based groups on the promotion of peace and justice around the world.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in political science and Spanish from the College of the Holy Cross, Master of Science in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Ph.D. in political science from George Washington University.
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.