Tommy Byrnes, a criminal justice major at Iona University from Brooklyn, New York, has turned his academic experience into an opportunity with the United States Marine Corps. Byrnes, who is set to graduate in 2026, was first drawn to Iona after visiting his sister on campus.

“I visited my sister at Iona and was able to see what the campus was all about,” Byrnes said. “It immediately made me realize what kind of successful person Iona could turn me into.”

Byrnes is active in several student organizations, including the rugby team and the Irish dance team. He also serves as president of Iona’s Gaelic Society. These activities have helped him develop leadership skills that he says are preparing him for his future career.

This past summer, Byrnes completed an internship as a Marine Corps officer candidate. He plans to serve as an officer after graduating.

“In my internship, candidates were held to a higher standard than they were in regular civilian life,” Byrnes shared. “They are responsible for demonstrating leadership, maintaining physical readiness, and exemplifying discipline.”

“I will start my eight-year contract as an officer and use my degree and knowledge that I have gained from Iona to go out and be the best Marine Corps officer I can be.”  

Byrnes credits Iona University with teaching him about service.

“Iona is more than just a university where you come to get your degree and then go home,” he said. “Iona is a family that will always have your back and support you through every walk of life.” 

Iona University was founded in 1940 as a private Catholic institution by the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. The university operates campuses in New Rochelle and Bronxville, both located north of Manhattan. With nearly 4,000 students enrolled and over 55,000 alumni worldwide, it offers undergraduate degrees across liberal arts, science, business administration, as well as graduate programs including Master of Arts, Master of Science, MBA degrees and advanced certificates.

The university’s LaPenta School of Business holds accreditation from AACSB International—a distinction achieved by only six percent of business schools globally (https://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation). In recent years, Iona has received recognition from national rankings such as The Princeton Review (https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/best-colleges), The Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/rankings/college-rankings/best-colleges-2025), Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/) and U.S. News & World Report (https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/iona-university-2722). Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce ranked an Iona degree among the top six percent nationally for long-term return on investment (https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/collegeroi2022/).

In July 2021, Iona established the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences at its Bronxville campus through collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (https://healthsciences.iona.edu/about-us/newyork-presbyterian-iona-school-of-health-sciences.html). Additionally, connecting with its Irish heritage, the university opened a new campus in County Mayo on Westport House Estate.

On July 1st 2022 , reflecting growth in academic offerings ,Iona officially changed its status from college to university .