Iona’s LaPenta School of Business Students Explore Innovation at Mastercard
New Rochelle, N.Y. - Iona University's LaPenta School of Business students recently had an opportunity to visit the Tech Hub of Mastercard, the world's second-largest payment processing company. During the visit, students experienced cutting-edge technologies and gained invaluable knowledge from industry leaders.
“Mastercard was a great experience. I got to see first-hand the advancements the company makes each day,” said Miles Rivera ’28. “It was also nice to see Iona alumni from a variety of ages thriving at the company. They offered great advice on how to start my own journey in business.”
The day included a career panel with Iona alumni currently at Mastercard and a tour of the Mastercard Experience Center, where students observed the company’s advancements leveraging AI and innovative strategies for detecting fraud and cybercrimes.
Thank you to the alumni panelists:
- Karen Abbruzzese ’93, senior vice president of North American franchise and a member of Iona’s Board of Trustees
- Dennis Gamiello ’03, ’11MBA, executive vice president, global head of identity
- Amari Steward ’23, associate analyst, global B2B & product marketing
“This was a remarkable opportunity for our students to not only learn about emerging technologies but also to see how their Iona education can be applied in a real-world setting,” said Kyle Byrne ’15, ’20MBA, assistant director of student and alumni engagement. “We are grateful to Mastercard for providing our students with an insider’s look at the innovations driving the future of global payments.”
The visit to Mastercard's Tech Hub aligns with the University's commitment to delivering experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for success in their chosen fields. By connecting students with leading industry professionals, the LaPenta School of Business continues to foster a culture of academic excellence and career readiness.
Learn more about the LaPenta School of Business today!
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.