Iona University’s Lucas Haddad ’24 ’25MBA Secures Full-Time Position at EY
This summer, Haddad gained invaluable internship experience at Ernst & Young, one of the Big Four accounting firms, building a bright future in accounting
New Rochelle, N.Y. – With a natural affinity for numbers, Lucas Haddad ’24 ’25MBA was drawn to a career in accounting, a spark ignited by John DeMelis, his first accounting professor at Iona University and interim dean of the LaPenta School of Business.
Haddad’s academic journey has been complemented by hands-on experience through internships at PwC and Ernst & Young (EY), where he has delved into tax and audit roles. Looking ahead, he is thrilled to launch his career with EY, where he has secured a full-time position.
“I chose Iona because of the exciting prospects it presented,” he shared. “The proximity of Iona to New York City opened up potential future opportunities and after my first visit to campus, I knew it was the perfect fit for me.”
As a member of the Iona Men's Swimming & Diving Team and Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Haddad has thrived both in and out of the classroom. Haddad has also leveraged the alumni network through the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Program.
“I was paired with Jim Oates, a former UBS executive, who has significantly impacted my early career development,” he shared. “Jim’s guidance on interview preparation and his insightful advice have been instrumental in shaping my career trajectory.”
Throughout his time at Iona, Haddad has cultivated strong leadership skills, both in the pool and in the classroom.
“The leadership skills I’ve developed here are invaluable,” he said. “Whether leading in my sport or during group projects, I’ve grown significantly. I’m confident these experiences will benefit me greatly in my future career.”
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.