Iona University Showcases Student Scholarship at Annual Scholars Day
New Rochelle, N.Y. – Academic excellence took center stage once again at Iona University. The 16th annual Iona Scholars Day celebrated the depth and diversity of student research. This year’s event featured nearly 200 projects across a broad range of disciplines, including chemistry, business, nursing, political science, sports media, education and more, reflecting the passion, rigor and creativity of the Gael community.
“Congratulations to our students for their hard work and for all they’ve created along the way,” said Iona President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “Their dedication reflects deep attentiveness and presence, which are pillars of the Christian Brothers approach to education. This is especially important in a world where digital technologies offer instant answers but have the potential to distract us from deep engagement with our work. Iona Scholars Day represents the very best of an Iona education.”
Attendees also enjoyed an insightful conversation between distinguished alumnus Matthew Caiola ’05, CEO of 5W Public Relations, a top 10 independently owned PR firm in the U.S., and student anchor Elizabeth Riccio, class of 2026.
Caiola shared his career journey and valuable advice to current students sharing, “Take risks and be okay with making mistakes. Hard work beats talent every single time.”
Throughout the day, students enjoyed the opportunity to share their work with their peers and others across campus.
Celebrating Academic Excellence
Aaliyah Morales ’25 is studying arts leadership with a concentration in dance; she channeled her passion for movement into a powerful presentation.
Her research focused on creating a trauma-informed movement program that merges yoga with Latin dance. Inspired by the emotional challenges many faced during the pandemic, Morales saw the potential for movement, especially joyful, rhythmic forms, to serve as a healing modality.
“I want to create a space where women feel safe to express themselves,” she said. “Even if they don’t participate in every movement, they’ll still feel empowered and in control, that’s key when someone has experienced trauma.”
Initially enrolling at Iona to study criminal justice, Morales soon realized her true calling was in dance, something she’s been doing since the age of 3.
“Dance has always been a form of stress relief for me,” said the Bronx, N.Y., native. “If it helps me, I believe it can help others, too.”
Her ultimate goal? To launch a community-based program that blends Latin music’s upbeat energy with the gentle, healing nature of yoga, offering not just movement, but also connection, empowerment and joy.
Olivia Delgado ’25 is passionate about understanding human connection and how we might be losing it in our digital age.
“My thesis looks at how the overuse of social media and the isolation of the pandemic have diminished social awareness and empathy,” she said. “Empathy is a powerful part of what makes us human; it helps us connect and grow.”
Delgado’s research was inspired by a TikTok video she came across, in which a woman vulnerably shared her struggles, only to be mocked in the comments.
That moment sparked a bigger realization. “It made me reflect on how much our communication has changed since COVID. Even little things like how we walk past each other or speak to someone in distress feel different now.”
Her academic journey at Iona has been deeply shaped by both her love of literature and her dedication to service. She’s participated in and is now leading a mission trip with Camp Friendship in Mississippi, working with foster children.
“Getting to meet people, hear their stories, and just be present – that’s where empathy is built,” she said.
She credits Iona’s strong sense of community for allowing her compassionate spirit to thrive.
“This is a place that fosters empathy,” she said. “Whether it's through service, academics, or campus life, we’re encouraged to connect with each other and with the world.”
Honors student and political science major Sherquan Dailey ’25 developed a powerful, poetic exploration of student life and emotional well-being.
Inspired by his experience as a resident assistant, Dailey’s thesis draws from real-life interactions with students and the complexities resident assistants face while offering tools for support and understanding.
Through 24 deeply personal chapters, he uses poetry and reflective writing to provide a voice for students navigating identity, anxiety, trauma and growth - particularly those who may struggle to express what they’re feeling.
Receiving the highest honor for his research, Dailey plans to publish the project, with hopes of starting here at Iona to ensure the community he’s supported can benefit from the work he created.
“I wanted to create a resource that helps students feel seen,” said Dailey. “Something that gives students and RAs alike a space to reflect, process and feel supported.”
Learn more about Iona Scholars Day here.
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.