Networking and resume building are key goals for all Iona students and those strong efforts pay off in the long run, as evidenced by the success story of Kyle Byrne, an Iona Alumni and current Assistant Director of Student and Alumni Engagement.  

Byrne graduated from Iona in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Media & Strategic Communication, with a concentration in journalism. He then went on to get his master’s degree in management in 2020.  

Upon getting his degrees, Byrne found himself back at Iona with a job as an Undergraduate & International Admissions Counselor and adjunct professor. Byrne teaches courses in entrepreneurship, public speaking and intercultural communication.  

Byrne then moved up from being an Undergraduate & International Admissions Counselor to becoming the Assistant Director of Student and Alumni Engagement.  

“I got all my jobs through Iona connections, which is great now because that’s my role now as the Assistant Director of Student and Alumni Engagement,” Byrne said. “My job is to basically get students connected with our business alumni.” 

Byrne was recently awarded the “40 Under 40” Rising Stars Award from The Business Council of Westchester, recognizing his work in the LaPenta School of Business. It’s a noteworthy award that the BCW gives out every year to the top 40 leaders in Westchester County under 40 years old and shows that the hard work Byrne is doing has paid off.

“The business school hired me because there was really a need to have someone so dedicated to helping our business students get connected and get jobs,” Byrne said. “I feel very rewarded because I started in admissions and the students I helped get into Iona; I am now helping them get jobs.” 

Byrne takes students on trips each semester to better help them understand the world of business as they explore places like the New York Stock Exchange and Bloomberg, to name a few. If students are interested in attending an event trip, they can join Byrne along with members of the Finance and Economics Clubs on their trip to the New York Federal Reserve Bank in the coming weeks. 

Byrne has years of experience and has gained a lot of wisdom during his ongoing time as an Iona faculty member and former student, while relaying advice back to students who need to hear it.  

“I would say my advice is to get involved and I know people say that all the time, but working with employers is so important because at the end of the day it is a competitive world out there,” Byrne said. “Think about it, you’re applying to jobs against others with leadership experiences and are club presidents, so it really does make a difference to get involved. “ 

If students are interested in reaching out to Byrne, they can do so by emailing him at @kbyrne.iona.edu or contacting his LinkedIn, which can be found by entering his name.