Alesandra Payne '24 discovered she had ADHD later in life. Today, after serving as president of the Neurodiversity Club at Iona University, she is an advocate and ally for others navigating their neurodivergent journeys. "The Neurodiversity Club was created to form a community for neurodivergent students to interact with each other in a safe, nonjudgmental environment," said Payne, who recently graduated as an Honors psychology and speech pathology double major with a minor in neuroscience. "In this space, everyone can be who they are and fully express themselves without holding back."

Payne shared her experiences along with five other student panelists at Iona’s 4th annual Neurodivergent Student Panel. Held in April during Neurodiversity Awareness Month in partnership with Iona’s Counseling Center, the event attracted over 100 attendees eager to learn more about the neurodiverse experience and partner as allies.

"I hope people will leave the panel with a better understanding of what it’s like to be a neurodiverse person in a neurotypical world, and that they will be encouraged to learn and develop empathy for people who have differences from them," Payne said.

The Neurodiversity Club is an outgrowth of the Counseling Center’s Dolce Postgraduate Fellowship, founded by Iona Board of Trustees member Andrew J. Dolce ’57, ’19H. Ali Swoish, Ed.M., LMHC, previously served as a Dolce Fellow and is now assistant director of the Counseling Center. One of her early achievements was working with students to establish the Neurodiversity Club and launch the student panel.

"There is no greater joy for me than watching neurodivergent students find belonging at Iona," Swoish said. "Working towards an accessible and inclusive campus environment takes constant effort, and what these students have accomplished throughout their undergraduate journeys will carry forward in Iona's campus culture for years to come."

Payne has participated in the panel all four years and has witnessed its growth in attendance, reflecting ongoing support for neurodivergent programming across campus.

"I have really appreciated seeing the audience grow and become more diverse," said Payne. "I am very passionate about neurodiversity awareness and education, and I love that neurodiverse students have a safe space to discuss their experiences and for the Iona community to learn and ask questions."

Fellow panelist Ethan Moskowitz '24 echoed Payne’s sentiments about sharing his insights as a student with autism.

"I hope people will take away from the panel that we are all different and deal with different things," he said. "It’s a very special event, and we have seen great growth every year at neurodiversity events all over campus."

Moskowitz added he has grown tremendously during his time at Iona thanks to resources like CAP (College Assistance Program) and ASO (Academic Support Office), events on campus, internships such as one with ESPN, membership in TV/radio clubs, mentorship roles through Gael Chat courses teaching social skills necessary for effective communication across various settings.

"Being a mentor for people with disabilities in the Gael Chat course was key to boosting confidence—for others' as well as my own," Moskowitz noted. "Through these opportunities I've made lifelong friends who I've been able to connect with about my life story which I've never had space to do before."

Swoish remarked on visible transformations among participants: “For Alesandra and Ethan especially there is visible confidence when they step into an unmasked version of themselves.”

Founded in 1940 by Edmund Rice Christian Brothers tradition—now recognized globally—Iona University offers numerous academic programs within Schools like Arts & Science; LaPenta School Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Health Sciences; Hynes Institute Entrepreneurship Innovation while maintaining prestigious rankings nationally/internationally including The Princeton Review Wall Street Journal/College Pulse listings among top institutions annually since changing status from College-to-University July last year reflecting growing program prestige aligned Irish heritage expanding abroad new County Mayo Ireland Campus alongside existing New Rochelle Bronxville campuses close proximity Manhattan NYC area total enrollment nearly 4000 alumni base exceeding 50000 worldwide emphasizing values justice peace service commitment small class sizes engaged professors diverse learning community fostering excellence.

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