Iona University Welcomes Internationally Renowned Tech Philosopher Dr. Tom Chatfield for Presidential Speaker Series
Chatfield shared insights into our relationship with technology from prehistory to the age of artificial history
New Rochelle, N.Y. – Iona University recently hosted Dr. Tom Chatfield, British author, tech philosopher and educator, for an engaging conversation about humanity’s co-evolution with technology from the age of our earliest tools to the era of artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking in Romita Auditorium, Chatfield shared his sought-after insights on the ethical implications of digital technology, challenging the audience to ponder some of the biggest questions surrounding the rapid rise of generative AI.
Sponsored by the newly established Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning, the Presidential Speaker Series was conceived by President Seamus Carey, Ph.D., as a way to foster community-wide conversation sparked by the ideas of world-renowned thinkers on subjects relevant to education in the twenty-first century.
In his talk, Chatfield, author most recently of “Wise Animals: How Technology Has Made Us What We Are,” took the audience on a fascinating journey, drawing a clear line from simple tools used by our ancestors to the supercomputers we carry in our pockets. While he acknowledged the immense value of modern technologies, including AI tools like ChatGPT and others, he also raised important questions about the need for humanity to step back from technology to seek answers regarding meaning and value that are beyond the reach of machines.
Ahead of his keynote, Chatfield also sat down with James Mustich, Iona’s senior advisor to the president, for an in-depth podcast episode.
“It was a pleasure to talk with Tom and delve deeper into this rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and the implications it carries, especially in the realm of teaching and learning,” said Mustich. “We are grateful for the opportunity to share his expertise and inspiration with our community, and look forward to carrying the conversation forward in our work at Iona.”
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Learn more about the Presidential Speaker Series 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.