At Iona University, Leo Lopez ’27 Shapes His Future in Occupational Therapy
Bronxville, N.Y. – For Leo Lopez ’27, the decision to attend Iona University was driven by his passion for both health care and innovative design.
Currently pursuing a master’s degree in occupational therapy (OT), Lopez believes that Iona’s approach aligns perfectly with his own background and interests, providing him with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed.
“Iona provides not just an education, but an environment where you can truly grow,” said the Brooklyn, N.Y., native. “The relationships I’ve built here and the access to faculty, facilities, and support systems have been invaluable in helping me make the most of my time as a student.”
Lopez’s interest in OT began to take shape during his observation hours at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell, where he gained firsthand experience in hand therapy. It was here that he discovered his passion for splint making, a skill that combines functionality with the art of design to help improve patient health. This experience not only deepened his enthusiasm for hand therapy but also strengthened his desire to pursue a future in the discipline.
“The craft of splint making is attractive to me because it is a very functional and meaningful form of design that directly contributes to the betterment of an individual's health,” he said.
In addition to his academic pursuits, he has also joined the Iona Running Club, where he connects with fellow students while maintaining his physical and mental well-being.
Moreover, Lopez has already gained practical experience by working part-time as an aide at physical therapy clinics, where he collaborated with OTs.
He is grateful for Dr. Laureate Olson, professor and program director of the Occupational Therapy Department, who he says, “has been a positive and supportive influence,” throughout his Iona journey.
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.