Iona University’s Meghan Bernardy ’26 recently reflected on a week-long study abroad experience in Oświęcim, Poland. The program combined classroom knowledge and real-world exploration, focusing on World War II themes, including a visit to the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camps.

“Studying abroad and getting to learn from different cultural standpoints has always been an important factor in my education,” said Bernardy, a speech-language pathology and audiology major. “My mother, since I was young, always made the idea of traveling a must to expand cultural awareness and my own personal growth.”

Dr. Elena Procario-Foley, Jewish-Catholic studies professor, led the trip in cooperation with the Centre for Dialogue and Prayer. During their stay in Poland, students visited the Auschwitz State Museum, toured historical sites, and heard first-hand accounts from a Polish child survivor of Auschwitz.

“Witnessing the evidence of human suffering first-hand provided a strong feeling of empathy,” Bernardy said. “This experience educated me with a greater awareness of the consequences of discrimination and also the importance of advocating for marginalized communities.”

Bernardy emphasized the significance of education and remembrance of history to prevent its recurrence. “This was not just an academic pursuit; it was a deeply felt journey that touched on the very core of my being,” she stated.

“This trip broadens global perspectives and fosters personal reflection and growth. As I move forward, these lessons and experiences will shape my actions, guiding me to live a life committed to education, remembrance, and the promotion of justice and human dignity,” she added.

Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private Catholic institution located 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With nearly 4,000 students enrolled across its New Rochelle and Bronxville campuses, Iona offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science, business administration as well as several advanced degrees.

Iona has received recognition in prestigious rankings such as The Princeton Review’s national list of “The Best 389 Colleges” for 2024 and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America.” Its LaPenta School of Business is accredited by AACSB International. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences on its Bronxville campus.