Sam Iannone, a second-year business administration major, holds many titles: president of Beta Theta Pi, Northeastern social media ambassador, Husky Ambassador and, most recently, Mayor of Huntington Avenue.
“I love Northeastern so much, so it feels awesome to be a representative of the school,” Iannone said. “It gives me the platform to connect with other students, which I really, really love.”
In September 2024, Iannone donned his signature red suit to emcee the class of 2028 convocation, kicking off the semester as a figure of school spirit before being elected the mayor last November.
Crowning a student as mayor of Huntington Avenue is a tradition that dates back to 1950. According to Northeastern’s Center for Student Involvement website, “The Mayor is meant to exemplify Northeastern’s mission statement and bring about engagement. They are the student with their ear to the ground informing students of what is happening around campus!”
As mayor, Iannone has the ear of Northeastern’s leaders and the opportunity to bring more school spirit to Northeastern.
“I’m talking with some of the higher up people [at Northeastern] about speaking at some alumni events,” Iannone said. “I already do some emceeing and hosting for Northeastern, but they’ve asked me as mayor to come speak at a couple events like that.”
In December, Iannone spoke at Northeastern’s Board of Trustees meeting where he, along with three other students, shared insights with trustees about the role of the Northeastern Social Media Ambassador Program in advancing the university’s brand.
Although Iannone was the winner out of five candidates in the running for mayor, he said he plans to work with all of them to carry out the duties that accompany the title.
Jason Singer, a fourth-year business administration major who also ran for the position, called the group that will work with Iannone “fantastic.” In addition to Singer and Iannone, who Singer described as a “quarterback” for social media at Northeastern, the team is composed of another fourth-year student and Misha Ankudovych, a third-year data science and economics combined major who is involved with NU Doghouse.
“Everybody has this perspective that can create something really amazing,” Singer said. “My hope is that we each have our own perspectives and that we really work together closely.”
Iannone has also reached out to former mayors to get their perspective on how to play a positive role in school spirit. Jacob Hagopian, a 1968 graduate of the D’Amore McKim School of Business and former Mayor of Huntington Avenue, said the position looked very different in the 1960s.
“The mayor at that time ran around in a tuxedo and top hat,” Hagopian said. “The tuxedo and top hat that was available at that point was in pretty tough shape and didn’t fit well, [so] one of my first efforts was to fundraise to buy a new tuxedo. … I walked around campus for three days wearing a wooden barrel held up by leather suspenders and a sign saying, ‘Please donate, the mayor needs a tux.’”
Hagopian added that his role as mayor continued the pre-existing school spirit at Northeastern, including working with cheerleaders and being present at sports games.
“In general, I think school spirit is important and I think most people want to be proud of the school they attend,” Hagopian said.
In addition to Iannone’s role as mayor, he is also a rhythm section leader for the pep and jazz bands and member of the Mosaic Entrepreneurship Organization and Husky Startup Challenge.
Despite a packed extracurricular schedule, one of Iannone’s roommates, Josh Lustig, a third-year business administration and game design combined major, said “Sleep is the most important thing to [Iannone] — he sleeps really late everyday.”
“I think it’s because he becomes so effective at all the later classes he does,” Lustig said. “And any activity he does, he’s fully charged up for anything.”
Lustig described Iannone as charismatic, outgoing and charming, with “an addictive personality.”
“He’s a very good public speaker. I think that’s one of his best qualities, and he knows that,” said Josh Barde, a third-year data science and business administration combined major and Iannone’s other roommate. “He tries to find positions that suit that, which is awesome. The Mayor of Huntington kind of aligns with those other things.”
Iannone says his goals include event planning for spirit rallies, working with NU Doghouse to promote school spirit at sports events, and working with alumni to build a stronger connection with the Northeastern community. While he has been elected mayor, Iannone said his role will look different than Hagopian, and he will need the help of others to build school spirit.
“School spirit is an overarching thing of everyone feeling included, everyone feeling excited, everyone rallying behind something central,” Iannone said. “So I would just encourage people to go to sports games, encourage your friends to go to sports games and feel excited about Northeastern. … Embrace it and that’ll make your college experience awesome.”
