Iona University Students Share Transformative Experience Traveling the World
Iona students traveled to London, Milan and Rome for an enriching and adventurous study abroad experience
Students from the LaPenta School of Business visited Rome and Milan.
When it comes to opportunities to gain real-world experience, Iona University students are first in line – this time internationally. Recently, 15 students traveled to London, England, and 24 students traveled to Italy, making stops in Rome and Milan, for a memorable and transformative study abroad experience and adventure. Iona students had the chance to explore new cultures, form long-lasting connections, gain confidence and independence and broaden their perspective on life.
Students enrolled in Iona’s creative nonfiction course traveled to London to visit destinations discussed in their coursework, including Shakespeare’s Globe, Kensington Gardens, London Bridge and much more. In addition, they had the chance to enjoy a show, visit markets and take day trips outside of the city. Students also had the opportunity to venture off and explore the city on their own.
“My professor really emphasized that we were not in London to become tourists, but to become travelers, and immerse ourselves in the culture,” said Elijah Williams ’23. “To do that, I would wake up every morning and take a walk or jog with people in Kensington Gardens.”
Iona's study abroad programs encourage students to immerse themselves in the culture.
Students in Iona’s LaPenta School of Business kicked off their adventure through Italy by touring the city of Rome and taking a cooking class where they learned how to make pasta from scratch. They also watched a professional soccer match and got an exclusive tour of the Vatican from the former communications director.
“The former communications director worked at the Vatican for over 40 years, so we learned a lot about the brand and things that you wouldn’t hear on a typical tour or read on the internet,” said Cristian Angelori ’23. “So many new things were introduced to me and it ended up being the highlight of my trip.”
The group also attended lectures at the POLIMI School of Management in Milan and toured the Milan office of WPP, a leading advertising agency. Students also met with the chief research officer of GroupM, a top media investment company, and creative director at Ogilvy, an advertising, marketing, and public relations agency.
In addition to making valuable connections and taking part in memorable cultural experiences, students also formed long lasting connections with their peers.
“On our last night in Milan, while we were walking back to our hotel, I overheard one of my classmates say that even though the trip was ending, he felt like he made lifelong friends. And to me, that was a very powerful and nice way to close out our trip,” Angelori said.
Hear from students about their study abroad experiences
Learn more about how study abroad has impacted these students and the lessons, memories and friendships they took from their experience.
Study Abroad Experience: London, England
Study Abroad Experience: Rome & Milan, Italy
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.