The next generation of Secret Service agents are being recruited right here in Westchester County thanks to a special collaboration with Iona University. The private institution, which operates a 45-acre campus in New Rochelle and a 28-acre Bronxville campus, announced its partnership with the United States Secret Service earlier this week.
The partnership will bring campus-wide recruitment sessions for both Iona students and college students throughout the Hudson Valley to New Rochelle. Having this available will help expedite the hiring process for individuals who have a desire to pursue a career in the Secret Service.
The program kicked off this week when a U.S Secret Service agent spoke to six criminal justice classes at the university. They informed the students about the possible career opportunities within the agency as well as qualifications that need to be met and specific job tasks. The students also got to hear firsthand accounts of agents’ experiences in the Secret Service, paired with advice to help interested students understand the tough enrollment process.
To assist students through the stringent process, The Gerri Ripp Center for Career Development will offer guidance from start to finish.
“The Secret Service is excited to partner with Iona University as we work to recruit the next generation of Secret Service agents, officers and professionals,” says Patrick J. Freaney, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service’s New York Field Office. “Our goal for this partnership is to provide students with the insight and information they need to jumpstart a career with the Secret Service.”
Applications for seniors opened on January 1 and, for additional information, students can visit USAjobs.gov or alternatively reach out to the Career Center. For underclassmen who foresee a future in the Secret Service and are eager to prepare, they can use these resources to learn about the agency’s requirements and policies early on in their career journeys.
“We are excited to partner and serve as a recruiting hub for the Secret Service and see it as a great fit for some of our students and the agency. We look forward to seeing the placements that will come from this partnership overtime,” says Matthew Cardin, assistant vice president for Enrollment Management and Career Initiatives at Iona University.
The Secret Service will head back to the Iona campus this spring to host more recruitment sessions and administer interviews, written tests, and fitness exams. Students who are not enrolled at Iona University but wish to participate are welcome to visit Iona University’s New Rochelle campus.
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