IAYL Young Professionals 2016

Alice Smyth

Alice is a 23-year-old born and raised in Yonkers, NY. In 2015, she graduated from Fordham University Rose Hill Campus (Bronx, NY) with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – Communications & Media and Marketing from the Gabelli School of Business. Alice volunteers her time and talents throughout Westchester County, singing and playing the harp at events, teaching music and religion. She is excited and proud to be a part of representing the McLean Heights neighborhood of Yonkers, NY – the “Emerald Mile” of McLean Avenue.

IAYL Young Professionals 2017

Jessica O’Hagan

Jessica was born in Astoria, NY and moved to Wyckoff, NJ, a small town in Bergen County. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Organisational Leadership through the Penn State World Campus in May 2017 and is looking to pursue a career in the corporate events industry. She was very excited to have been chosen for the Irish American Young Leaders People’s Choice Spirit Award. As a recent graduate, Jessica hoped she would finally be able to get more involved in the Irish American community and this opportunity is the perfect way to do just that! She looks forward to supporting the Irish American Young Leaders organization and helping to inspire young Irish Americans to explore their heritage and achieve their personal and professional goals.

IAYL Young Professionals 2018

Jessica Clary

Jessica enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2009 after graduation from high school. She graduated from State University of New York (SUNY) at Rockland with an Associates in Mass Communication in 2011 and went on to attend SUNY New Paltz completing her Bachelors in Digital Media Production. Jessica is proud to serve as a role model to young girls, to show them that they truly can do anything if they set their minds to it. 

Jim Mc Carron

Jim is such a fabulous Ambassador for Irish American Young Leaders. His talents in Art & History has come front stage. Cultural Director, Unateresa Gormley was proud to announce the recipient of the Inaugural Big Apple Feis & Fleadh “HERITAGE Award” to Mr. Jim McCarron in 2018. He is the perfect Ambassador for this inaugural project, as a teacher and educator, he will bring back a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Amanda Finn

Amanda is a competitive swimmer specializing in breaststroke and the Individual Medley events. She served on her High School Student Athlete Council and was Captain of her high school swim team. In 2018, she had the opportunity to attend the Celtic Irish American Academy as a representative of Irish American Young Leaders and hopes to return in the future as a camp counselor.

IAYL Young Professionals 2019

Miranda Stinson

Miranda is a writer and editor originally from the Midwest. After college, she lived in Dublin and then in Belfast, where she worked for Paddywagon Tours and was an active member of the literary scene. Through the Irish American Young Leaders, Miranda won a scholarship to study at the Irish Famine Summer School in Strokestown, County Roscommon, where she got to know some of the world’s leading Famine scholars.

IAYL Young Professionals 2022

Caroline O’ Sullivan

Caroline, a 22-year old recent graduate from the University of Notre Dame, is thrilled to have been selected as the 2022 Irish American Young Leader. Her Irish roots stem from her parents who both hail from Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry.

Caroline’s passions include international politics, female empowerment in developing nations, and advocating for individuals with disabilities. She will be traveling to Ireland to foster closer ties with leaders, thinkers, partners, and institutions that are shaping our world. She will also be documenting her visit through all the IAYL social media sites and websites. Carolyn will be helping to empower emerging entrepreneurs, promote U.S. business models, encourage job creation, and build lasting and sustainable networks of young entrepreneurs and business and social leaders across the globe. 

Our Young Professional leaders travel domestically and internationally to understand first-hand the issues, people, events, and trends that influence our world.