Spotlight on Seamus Carey, President of Iona College

Seamus Carey. Photo by Ben Hider

By Staff

Feb. 3, 2022: Seamus Carey, President of Iona College since 2019, grew up in the Bronx, played three sports (basketball, baseball, and Irish football), and worked on the weekends in construction. He was recruited to play basketball at Vassar.

Carey describes his Vassar education as "a transformational" experience. The professors were "fantastic," and his philosophy professor became a lifelong friend. It was at Vassar that Carey became excited about school and dedicated to his studies. He graduated with an Economics degree and headed off to the University of Dublin, where he studied philosophy. He then got his Ph.D. in philosophy at Fordham. "The content of philosophy gives you a different perspective on the world and people," says Carey, "it trains the mind to think and communicate well."

While in the Ph.D. program at Fordham, Carey taught philosophy as an adjunct professor and upon graduating, then taught full-time as a teaching fellow. He found the interaction with students rewarding, and it affirmed his aspiration to pursue a career in higher education. After Fordham, Carey taught for two years at the New Jersey Institute of Technology before joining the Philosophy Department at Manhattan College, where he became the chair of the department.

After nine years at Manhattan, he moved on to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., where he became the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. As dean, he revised the curriculum and added new academic graduate programs. The new curriculum included first-year seminars that were modelled on the St. John’s Great Books program. In his third year, he enrolled in a year-long program for future leaders in higher education. Upon graduation from this program, Carey became President of Transylvania College in Kentucky, where he served for five years.  

He was then offered the opportunity to move back to the New York area and become President of Iona College. Carey describes this job as an excellent fit given its legacy inherited from the Irish Christian Brothers, a history of successfully educating first-generation students, and its spirit of innovation to prepare for future success.

Upon arriving at Iona, Carey recognized the need to innovate. He set out to add new academic and non-academic programs to enhance the student experience. Iona added a new nursing program, club sports and additional performing arts. These initiatives led to an increase in enrollment of more than 30% over the past two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, defying national trends in higher education.

In order to adequately accommodate new student programming and an enhanced student experience, Iona looked to expand its campus footprint. Carey had established a strong working relationship with President Nunes of Concordia College. When it became evident that Concordia was not sustainable, Carey sought to carry forward the mission of both schools by acquiring the campus for Iona.

In July 2021, Iona purchased the 28-acre campus of Concordia College, increasing Iona’s campus footprint. Soon thereafter, Carey announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which will be principally located on the former Concordia campus. This new school is supported by a $20 million gift from NewYork-Presbyterian. The NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences will offer a new vision for collaborative health care education, modern workforce development, and community care.

Iona will undertake a major renovation of the library building to create a state-of-the-art home for the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences. Plans for use of other buildings on the Bronxville campus are ongoing.  

To accommodate club sports and varsity practices, Iona hopes to turf the soccer field and make minor upgrades to the athletic facility.

Carey, who lives with his wife, Noreen, in New Rochelle, also looks forward to engaging with the local community. "We know there is a long-standing, important relationship with the community of Bronxville," he said, "and we look forward to deepening that relationship."

 "This is an exciting time," he says, "there are great things ahead."

 

 

 

Adult Education Directory

Bronxville Adult School

About the Bronxville Adult School & Contacts

The Bronxville Adult School is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in 1957 and chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. The School "offers all adults of Bronxville and surrounding communities the opportunity for personal growth through life enhancing skills and provides cultural, intellectual and recreational stimulation at a nominal cost."

The Bronxville Adult School
(914) 793-4435
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.bronxvilleadultschool.org

Bronxville Public Library

Bronxville Public Library

The Bronxville Public Library traces its origins back to 1875, when it was a small lending library housed in a room attached to the “Bronxville Model School.” The Library was officially chartered in 1906 and moved into the Village Hall Building. The needs of the library grew with the town and, in 1942, a new standalone building was erected, which is where the Library is today. Over the years, the Library was renovated and expanded to meet the needs of the community.

The Library has wonderful resources for adults and children and offers a comfortable and relaxing environment. The Library also houses a fine art collection, consisting principally of Bronxville painters and sculptors.

The Library offers special events, art exhibitions, and programs for adults, young adults and children.  All events are open to the public, unless otherwise indicated.

The Bronxville Public Library
914-337-7680
201 Pondfield Road (Midland Avenue & Pondfield Road)
http://bronxvillelibrary.org/

Concordia College

Concordia College Adult Education

Concordia College was founded in 1881. It is a four-year, co-educational liberal arts college located in Bronxville. Concordia's Accelerated Degree Programs are designed to give you the skills to be competitive in your chosen career or in graduate school. 

Concordia College - New York
171 White Plains Road
Bronxville, New York 10708

Sarah Lawrence College

Sarah Lawrence College 

914-337-0700
1 Mead Way
Bronxville, New York 10708

Adult Education Recent Articles

Newsletter

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

MyhometownBroxnville reserves the right to monitor and remove all comments. For more information on Posting Rules, please review our Rules and Terms of Use, both of which govern the use and access of this site. Thank you.

The information presented here is for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to present accurate information, myhometownBronxville, LLC, does not in any way accept responsibility for the accuracy of or consequences from the use of this information herein. We urge all users to independently confirm any information provided herein and consult with an appropriate professional concerning any material issue of fact or law. The views and opinions expressed by the writers, event organizers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of myhometownBronxville, LLC, its officers, staff or contributors. The use of this website is governed by the Terms of Use . No portion of this publication may be reproduced or redistributed, either in whole or part, without the express written consent of the publisher.

Copyright © 2009 myhometownbronxville.com, All rights reserved.