By Mary Marvin, Mayor of Bronxville

Oct. 30, 2024: This is a long overdue conversation on my part to update you on the status of our very treasured Village partner, friend and neighbor, Iona University.

The following is a compilation of the most frequently asked questions by our Village Trustees, residents and folks I chat with on our streets as so many deeply care about the success of our wonderful educational institution. President Carey very graciously agreed to answer every question proffered.

How are your admissions numbers?

We have just enrolled Iona’s largest and most academically impressive freshman class in over 20 years. Since 2019, new student enrollment is up over 45%.

How is your financial outlook?

Our financial position is very strong. The endowment has grown significantly, and we have very little debt. Notably, most of our recent projects, including those on the Bronxville campus, were complete without taking on new debt. These projects include upgraded to the Kelly Center for Health Sciences, Feth Hall, Stein Hall, the turf field, two gymnasiums, multiple locker rooms, science labs and our performing arts spaces. So importantly, our financial resources to debt ration remains very strong.

What are your future goals for the Bronxville campus?

Our primary goal is to continue growing our academic programs within the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences. We will explore further enhancements to existing campus facilities, such as renovating the baseball field to accommodate our Division I Program.

How many students are on the Bronxville campus?

No students live on the Bronxville campus, but close to 500 students study there as part of the health sciences programs.

What are they studying? What degrees are they studying for?

Students in Bronxville are primarily pursuing the health sciences. They are studying for bachelor’s degrees in Nursing; Health and Wellness; Social Work; and Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology. In addition, at the graduate level, students are pursuing master’s degrees in Communication Sciences & Disorders; Nursing Education; Nursing Healthcare Organizational Leadership; Marriage & Family Therapy; Mental Health Counseling; and Occupation Therapy.

What is happening with the dormitories and the baseball field?

We do not have immediate plans for the dormitories. As for the baseball field, we are preparing a proposed site plan to be considered by the Village regarding renovations.

Are the students enjoying the Bronxville campus and is there more that Bronxville can do to make it even more welcoming?

Students tell us the Bronxville campus feels like home. Their studies are rigorous, so they especially appreciate that the campus has a quieter, more holistic atmosphere. When you are pursuing challenging degrees in the health sciences, that kind of space is especially important; in fact, that was intentional in our design of the Kelly Center for Health Sciences.

The Iona community is so appreciative of the warm welcome form the Bronxville community, and there is great alignment on our shared values. We certainly invite the community to engage with our upcoming speaker series, sporting and theatrical events, and other opportunities on campus such as health fairs, the Iona Family Therapy Center and other resources. The new Bronxville Café’ is also open to the public, and word around campus is that they make the best omelets. We are also always open to exploring opportunities for our students to engage in local service projects or internships, so please do not hesitate to reach out if you think Iona students could assist in good work taking place in and around the Village.

Have the nursing program and the Kelly Center met or exceeded expectations?

Iona’s nursing program is one of the university’s most sought-after programs. It has exceeded expectations for undergraduate enrollment, and we continue to add more advanced degrees to keep up with demand. For instance, Iona now offers master’s degrees in Nursing Healthcare Organizational Leadership, and Nursing Education to help graduates rise as leaders in the field and help to support future generations of nurses.

Bronxville residents are keen on learning about new strides in modern medicine. Might there be a chance for Bronxville residents to sit in from time to time on a class?

We just launched a new lecture series exactly for this purpose. We invite the Bronxville community to join us for engaging discussions as part of our “Symposium on Health and Well-Being,” which is organized through the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Science on our Bronxville campus.

We just held our first lecture on October 1 in the Sommer Center with a focus on AI in Healthcare and how it is shaping the future of medicine. We filmed the lecture and it is available to view on YouTube for anyone who may be interested.

The next Symposium lecture is scheduled for December 5 in the Sommer Center. The topic will be the social determinants of health.

Residents interested in joining classes can also look at our “Learning in Retirement at Iona University” program. This is another tremendous opportunity to engage in a wide array of courses, guest lectures and other programming at Iona. Information can be found on our website.

Are you pleased with the security and safety of the campus?

Absolutely. We have an experienced Campus Safety team staffed 24/7, even though the campus is really only in use during class times or during sporting, performing arts or other events. There are no residential students on campus.

Are there any events that Bronxville residents might attend?

This year we are especially excited to invite the Bronxville community to attend our new Presidential Speakers Series, launched to foster conversation with world-class speakers about the nature and value of education. Most notably in Bronxville on February 26^th, D. Graham Burnett, a Princeton University historian of science, will join us to explore the topic of attention and how it influences and informs our lives.

The community should also be aware that the Iona Family Therapy Center, which is located on our Bronxville campus, offers affordable therapy services to individuals, children couples and families. Anyone interested can learn more on our website.

Bronxville residents are also always welcome to join us at any sporting events, theatrical and musical performances.

How can Bronxville help Iona succeed and grow?

As we shape future programming and events in Bronxville, we look forward to soliciting input from the community as to what would best serve. We also invite members of the community to reach out to us to discuss ways to collaborate on service-learning projects, internships and/or volunteer opportunities.

Lastly, each April, Iona hosts its annual gala in New York City, honoring success. We look forward to sharing news about this year’s honoree very soon – including his Bronxville connection – and we welcome the Bronxville community to join us for what us always a special evening.