Schools

Nyre Inaugurated As 8th Iona President

The ceremony took place at the New Rochelle campus and was filled with color and pageantry.

Ushered in with bagpipes and drums, Dr. Joseph E. Nyre officially took office Friday as the eighth president of .

An audience filled with elected officials, family, friends and other college presidents saw Nyre accept the Presidential Medallion as the first non-Christian Brother to hold the top spot at the college since it was founded 70 years ago.

Nyre was named to the position in February, succeeding Brother James A. Liguori. He started at Iona in July.

New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson was one of the speakers who congratulated Nyre on the day of his inauguration.

Bramson said times such as these lend themselves to promises of renewal, which all too often do not endure.

"All of us have today a sense of hope and confidence that this is one of those rare occasions," he said.

Of the relationship between the city and the college, Bramson said, "There is far more we can do in concert than apart."

Fr. Leo O'Donovan, president emeritus of Georgetown University, said that Nyre did indeed belong at Iona College, adding that he also belongs to the faculty, the staff and, most importantly, the students.

"It's the belonging that's the rub," he said. "You belong first of all to the students. They will claim you best witness, they will take your time.

"Students always want more," O'Donovan said. "You are the president, you belong to them."

Because the previous seven presidents had been priests, it was naturally the first inauguration where the new president's wife was acknowledged, much less his children.

Nyre's wife, Kelli Nyre, read the Robert Frost poem The Road Not Taken, and one of his children—J. Henry Nyre—spoke on behalf of his father.

"He may not look it but he's really cool," Henry Nyre said.

As Joseph Nyre beamed in the background, young Nyre continued: "Dad, you have all of our support for all you do as president of the great Iona College."

Joseph Nyre said the occasion of the inauguration wasn't his alone.

"It is our inauguration," he said. "This is for all of us."

He said it was the college's responsibility to help its students pursue their passions and find gainful employment.

"New challenges will require us to focus even more on helping our students find meaningful and joyful careers," Nyre said, "careers they enjoy."

Nyre's entire inaugural address can be read by visiting www.iona.edu.


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