Above: Riley Iasiello, middle, walks with friends and teammates on campus.
Read time:
Riley Iasiello doesn’t hesitate when she sees a great opportunity. Case in point: In the final seconds of the second overtime period of the Code Blue game against Salisbury State last week, Iasiello launched a 75-yard sprint down the field, finding Caroline Hughlett for the game-winning buzzer beater and lifting the top ranked Captains to yet another win.
“I think we had about 600 fans there supporting us during this Code Blue game, including many other athletes, faculty, and residents from Newport News,” Iasiello said. “The culture of athletics is so supportive here. It was just an amazing team win.”
That big play wasn’t the first time Iasiello trusted her instincts to make a big move. Just a few months into her freshman year at Queens University of Charlotte she realized the private institution wasn’t a great fit for her. But transferring was a daunting decision. She worried she’d be walking away from her high school goal of playing field hockey at a high level. She also knew she’d leave behind a generous scholarship and hard-earned spot in the starting lineup. But Iasiello trusted her gut that a change was necessary. For her, happiness meant a different type of college experience. One that offered a better balance between athletics, campus life, and academic opportunities.
“My former college was a special place, and I’m grateful for the opportunity they gave me, but at the end of the day it wasn’t what I wanted out of my college experience,” Iasiello said.
Although the New York native was certain she would leave, she didn’t know where she was heading. One visit with her family to Christopher Newport brought it all into focus.
“It was the middle of summer, so campus was quiet,” Iasiello recalled. “But every single person we met smiled and made us feel so welcome. Everyone in the Transfer office, Coach (Carrie) Moura, the student giving the tour, were all so open and kind and proud to share what makes Christopher Newport different. I left that day thinking I can totally see myself here.”
That feeling of belonging only grew stronger when she attended Transfer Student Orientation, where President William Kelly offered some advice that made a lasting impression on her: “Don’t ever refer to yourself as just a transfer.”
“What President Kelly said that afternoon has really stuck with me,” she said. “It’s so hard to transfer to a new school and start over, but hearing the President say that, and then later have him show up at our games and talk to us and get to know us by name, it showed me that this place really values relationships and its students."
Iasiello is now a junior studying biology, with plans to be a pediatric nurse. She admits balancing the demands of athletics and academics isn’t always easy, but she’s not afraid to push herself.
“I’m a competitive athlete, so being challenged is something I welcome and I’m drawn to. But the biology program here is no joke. Thankfully my professors are really supportive and ready to help. There are times I’ve gotten back late from away games and felt like I was struggling but they helped me to stay on track,” she said.
October 20-24 is National Transfer Student Week, which celebrates the contributions transfer students make to campus, and builds awareness of the common transfer barriers students encounter. Iasiello has this advice for other students who are considering transferring:
“Make a list of what really matters to you,” Iasiello said. “Academics, athletics, the kind of community you want. Then be open to opportunities. It will help you end up at a place as special as Christopher Newport.”