Iona College to Celebrate Outstanding Alumnae at Awards Gala

Fifty years ago, Iona College, a traditionally all-male institution, began welcoming female students into its full-time student body. To commemorate this historic moment, Iona kicked off a dynamic yearlong slate of events to celebrate “50 Years of Women at Iona College” and to honor its over 24,000 alumnae. A key event will occur on April 3, when Iona presents the 2020 Legacy Award and 2020 Women of Achievement Awards to notable alumnae for their career accomplishments and contributions to their communities. The event will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

“Women have had a profound and positive impact on Iona College over the past 50 years,” said Seamus Carey, Ph.D., president of Iona College. “Today, women represent 52 percent of our student body and they continue to forge new paths both personally and professionally through their intellect, leadership and dedication to service. As we recognize our alumnae’s accomplishments, it is a wonderful reminder of how an Iona College education gives our students the tools they need to succeed today and in the future.”

At the event, the 2020 Legacy Award will be presented to JoAnn Mazzella Murphy ’98H, an Iona College trustee and co-chair of the Student Development and Mission Committee of the Board. In 1998, Mrs. Murphy received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for her dedication and support of the arts and cultural events at Iona. She is chair of the Iona College Council on the Arts and a 2006 recipient of the Brother Driscoll Award for Heroic Humanitarian Service. Mrs. Murphy was vice chair of Country Bank, the broker-owner of Ellinghouse & Stacy, and a former art and antiques gallery owner.

Distinguished alumnae who will receive the 2020 Women of Achievement Award include:

· Cathy L. Cogan-Kelly ’81, Senior Director, Global HR Operations, PepsiCo

· Theresa A. Gottlieb, Esq., ’78, Senior Trial Attorney, Bronx District Attorney’s Office

· Flory Netsch Hiatrides ’83, ’86MBA, President, Treehouse Consulting

· Jennifer L. Hohman ’90, Global Chief Marketing Officer, FCB

· Anna Filipkowski Houlihan, MD, ’77, Pediatrician, Morris Heights Health Center

· Eileen Ivers ’87, ’19H, Grammy Award Winning Fiddler

· Rita C. Mabli ’74, ’76MBA, President and CEO, United Hebrew of New Rochelle

· Catherine A. Vitali Mayus, Esq., P.C., ’72, Comprehensive Coaching Specialist for ADNY, Catapult Learning, LLC

· Catherine R. McCabe ’85, Senior Managing Director (retired January 2020), TIAA

· Amy Torigian Parise ’03MST, on behalf of Butterflies from Jodie, Jeanne Morris (posthumously) and Jeanne Torigian ’74 (posthumously)

· Caress A. Penelton ’87, Executive Director for Global Technology Infrastructure, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

· Ingrid N. Thompson-Sellers, Ph.D., ’95MS, President, South Georgia State College

· Margaret C. Timoney ’89, ’92MBA, CEO, Heineken USA

The gala will feature a special performance by Grammy Award winner and alumna Eileen A. Ivers ’87, ’19H, and entertainment by Chris Brown ’78 and The Bookends Band. For additional event information, please visit: https://www.ionaconnection.com/ScholarshipGala.