Dr. Joseph E. Nyre will be appointed as Iona College’s new school president replacing Brother James A. Liguori,
according to James P. Hynes, Chair of the Board of Legal Trustees. Nyre was unanimously appointed by the Board of after examination of over 60 candidates.
Iona is a school looking to reach national prominence. Nyre will take over the presidency in June after Liguori retires on May 31. Nyre will be the school’s first lay (non clergy) president.
Liguori decided to step down from his 17-year tenure as President after the Marle Thornton embezzlement scandal. Thornton is accused of embezzling $850,000 from the schools funding over a 10-year period.
Nyre resides in Springfield, Ill., with his wife Kelli and three young children. He is currently the President and CEO of the Hope Institute for Families and Children.
Nyre grew up in Beloit, Wis., after he graduated high school he enlisted in the Navy He then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin, his master’s from the University of Missouri and his doctorate and post doctoral appointments from the University of Kansas. Nyre also had post doctoral appointments at Harvard Medical School.
Iona’s new President also spent time as a psychologist in the Lawrence, Kansas Public school system, Director and Assistant Research professor at Baylor University and a Co-Director of Medical Coping at Harvard Medical School.
