Visa CEO & Grammy-Award Winning Violinist to Headline Iona College Commencement
Graduation Ceremonies to Be Held on May 18 at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater.
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Two Iona College graduates who have achieved global success and reached the pinnacles of their respective fields – one in business, and the other in music – will be the Commencement speakers at the College’s 2019 graduation ceremonies, Iona College President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D., announced today.
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. ’80, ’81MBA, chief executive officer of Visa, Inc., and Eileen Ivers ’87, a Grammy Award-winning violinist, will speak at this year’s commencements on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
“Both Al Kelly and Eileen Ivers are admirable examples of Iona’s mission to move the world through the power of education,” said President Nyre. “We could not be prouder of their success or more excited to have them address the Class of 2019.”
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. ’80, ’81MBA
Kelly joined Visa as chief executive officer in 2016. Previously, he was president of the American Express Company, where he held a number of high-level positions during his tenure there. Kelly also served as chairman, president and CEO of the 2014 NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee, and was the chairman of the 2015 Papal Visit Committee for NYC. He also worked at the White House from 1985-1987, during the Reagan administration, as manager of information systems, and at PepsiCo from 1981 to 1985 in strategic planning.
Kelly is active in numerous philanthropic endeavors, including as trustee of the New York Presbyterian Hospital and of Boston College, and as a member of the finance council for the Archdiocese of New York.
A Westchester native, Kelly majored in computer science as an undergraduate, and received his MBA from the College.
Eileen Ivers ’87
Eileen Ivers, who was dubbed “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin,” by the New York Times, is currently one of the world’s preeminent Irish fiddlers. Her list of accomplishments includes a Grammy Award, an Emmy nomination, and headline performances with the London Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops and over 40 orchestras across the world.
She was the original musical star of Riverdance, nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, and All-Ireland Banjo Champion. She has collaborated with Sting, The Chieftains, Patti Smith and Al Di Meola, and performed before royalty and world leaders.
Ivers was a founding member of Cherish the Ladies and has performed on movie soundtracks including Gangs of New York and Back to Titanic. Her recording credits include over 80 contemporary and traditional albums and numerous movie scores. Her 2016 album “Beyond the Bog Road” reached number one on the Alt-Country Roots Music Chart.
A Bronx native, Ivers majored in mathematics and graduated magna cum laude from Iona University.
Kelly will address undergraduates at 11 a.m., and will receive a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). Ivers will deliver her address to graduates students at 3:30 p.m., and will receive a Doctor of Arts (DA).
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.