Iona University’s Hynes Institute Wins 2025 Model Program Award
New Rochelle, N.Y. – The Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Iona University is proud to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Model Program Award -Small Institutions at the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) annual conference in Las Vegas, NV.
The USASBE Model Program Award recognizes institutions that provide bold, high-quality educational programs designed to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs. This recognition reflects the Hynes Institute’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation, creativity, and leadership in its students.
"Congratulations to the Hynes Institute team on this recognition,” said Iona President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “To be truly innovative, we believe in providing students with opportunities to apply what they’re learning in real-world settings. The Hynes Institute is our flagship program for achieving this. It integrates curriculum, courses, and students into real-life situations where they actively engage with communities. Through this work, they make a tangible impact while gaining valuable, hands-on experience along the way.”
After being selected as a finalist, the Hynes Institute pitched its case and ultimately was chosen for the top award in its category, competing against other top institutions from across the country.
Jennifer Capps, Interim CEO of USASBE, praised the institute's achievements, stating, “The accomplishments of the Hynes Institute are truly remarkable. Creating a matrix of opportunities that allows an entire campus to engage in entrepreneurial development is no small task, but it is one that Iona University has done so well. Their students are gaining the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to be the change makers, innovators, and creators of the future.”
Through a diverse range of undergraduate, graduate, and minor programs, students acquire practical skills and hands-on experience, equipping them to become impactful change-makers and effective problem-solvers in today’s rapidly evolving job market.
“We are honored to receive this award, which is a testament to the dedication and impact of our team over the past seven years,” said Dr. Christoph Winkler, endowed professor and founding program director of the Hynes Institute. “Our students continue to inspire us as they develop their entrepreneurial mindsets, create businesses, and take on real-world challenges.”
Founded as an interdisciplinary entrepreneurship program, the Hynes Institute serves students across the University through experiential learning and community-engaged practice.
“This prestigious recognition highlights the institute’s innovative, comprehensive, and student-centered approach to entrepreneurship education,” said Shorouq Almallah, USASBE Chair, Board of Directors. “By actively involving students in the institute’s work and operations, they are not only fostering entrepreneurial mindsets but also preparing the next generation of leaders to create real impact. This award is a well-earned recognition for the excellence of the Hynes Institute team, faculty, and students."
“The Hynes Institute is doing incredible work,” added Krystal Geyer, USASBE 2025 Awards Committee Chair. “The breadth of their partnerships with the community, high schools, and a variety of other populations is impressive and sets the standard for entrepreneurship centers everywhere.”
About the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Founded in 2017 with a $15 million gift from James ’69, ’01H and Anne Marie Hynes, the Hynes Institute empowers students to sharpen their entrepreneurial leadership and creative problem-solving skills through curricular, co-curricular and community-engaged programs. Located in a new, state-of-the-art co-working space in the heart of campus, the
Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy.
For more information about the Hynes Institute please visit 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.