Iona University senior Michelle Chuchuca '24 recently presented her research at the University of Pennsylvania’s 15th annual McNeil Center for Early American Studies conference. Her study, titled "Women and Gender Roles in Revolutionary America," examined how the gender roles of women were transformed during the American Revolution.

Chuchuca's participation was facilitated by Iona’s Institute for Thomas Paine Studies (ITPS), under the guidance of Dr. Nora Slonimsky, ITPS director and associate professor of history, and Dr. Michael Crowder, public historian. "The McNeil Center not only allowed us opportunities to analyze primary documents but also make connections with other experts in our field of study," said Chuchuca, a political science and history double major. "I am truly grateful because I got to have first-hand experience in how professional conferences work, and it allowed me to play a part in it."

During the conference, Chuchuca connected with fellowship mentors and other experts in early American history. Her experience included participating in a student-led panel and networking sessions with scholars from across New England. "My fellowship mentor gave me so many different ways in which I can further develop my paper and new perspectives I hadn't previously considered," said Chuchuca.

Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private institution located just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With campuses in New Rochelle and Bronxville, New York, Iona enrolls nearly 4,000 students and boasts an alumni base exceeding 50,000 worldwide. The university offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science, business administration, as well as various master’s degrees and advanced certificate programs.

Iona has been recognized by The Princeton Review’s 2024 national list of “The Best 389 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” ranking #66 overall and #8 among Catholic schools nationally. Its LaPenta School of Business holds AACSB International accreditation—a distinction awarded to just six percent of business schools globally—and its on-campus MBA program has been named a “Best Business School for 2023” by The Princeton Review.

In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences on its Bronxville campus. Additionally, reflecting its growth and academic prestige, Iona transitioned from college to university status on July 1, 2022.