Iona Announces Naming of Kelly Center for Health Sciences

BCW Member Iona University has announced that the flagship building of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences will be named the Kelly Center for Health Sciences in honor of benefactors Alfred F. Kelly Jr. ’80, ’81MBA, ’19H, Chairman and CEO of Visa, and Peggy Kelly ’81, ’84MBA.

In making a $5 million gift to Iona, the Kellys said they are happy to invest behind the vision of President Seamus Carey, Ph.D., and his colleagues to help jumpstart the University’s new campus in Bronxville.“Giving today is increasingly about investing, and this felt like the right time, place and effort to invest behind,” the Kellys said in a joint interview. “It is an incredible feather in the cap of Iona University to be partnered with NewYork-Presbyterian and we believe it will lead to the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences being one of the top schools in these important fields of study.”

The nearly 32,000-square-foot Kelly Center for Health Sciences is set to open in January 2023. Located on the former campus of Concordia College, which Iona acquired in May 2021, the newly renovated building spans three floors and features the most modern equipment, spaces and amenities. Notably, the entire top floor is dedicated to recreating a hospital setting, complete with simulation labs, exam rooms and training equipment on the cutting-edge of the industry.

“I am so grateful for Al and Peggy’s incredible generosity in naming the Kelly Center for Health Sciences,” Carey said. “The knowledge and training that will emanate from this building will be transformative not only for our students and their families, but for the individuals and the communities they will go on to serve.”

The Kellys are keenly aware of the amazing things happening at NewYork-Presbyterian. One of their five children, Kaitlin, battled two bouts of cancer at the hospital, and Mr. Kelly has served on the Board of Trustees since 2005.

Dr. Steven Corwin, NewYork-Presbyterian President and CEO, congratulated the Kellys on the naming of the new building, adding his excitement for all that is still to come.

“The collaboration between NewYork-Presbyterian and Iona University will help to ensure that the next generation of health care professionals is highly skilled, well trained and compassionate in their care of others,” Corwin said. NewYork-Presbyterian is a BCW Member.