When Pamela Agnone ’83 first visited Long Island University, she felt something click. Growing up on Long Island, she wanted a strong local university with a respected business program, and her high school guidance counselor pointed her toward LIU. But it was the warmth of the students and faculty—and the beauty of the campus—that sealed her decision.
“I decided LIU was a place where I could learn and grow,” Agnone said.
As a management major, Agnone thrived in the university’s collaborative environment. One defining memory was a product marketing class where she and her teammates developed a new dietary supplement and pitched it with a full business plan, complete with pro forma P&L. The presentation felt like a modern-day Shark Tank episode. Their team won the competition and earned an A on the assignment, cementing her belief in the power of preparation and teamwork, a mindset she still brings to her leadership today.
“The importance of collaboration is a mindset I bring to my leadership role at UNFCU,” she said.
Through a co-op program, Agnone landed her first role as a teller at Dime Savings Bank while still taking classes at LIU. She steadily rose through the ranks in consumer and mortgage lending, later joining Long Island Savings Bank as First Vice President of Lending. In 1998, drawn to its global mission, she joined the United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU) as Vice President of Lending.
“I credit my career in financial services to LIU,” Agnone said.
Over more than 27 years, her role expanded to include retail services, marketing, and international operations. She traveled extensively as UNFCU opened offices in Europe and Africa and co-founded the UNFCU Foundation, where she now serves as Board Chair. Last June, she became UNFCU’s first female President/CEO, guiding the institution through a period of transition while maintaining strong financial performance and record member satisfaction. Today, UNFCU oversees $10.2 billion in assets and has more than 260,000 members in over 200 countries and territories.
“Working for an organization with purpose—where world events lead to learning something new every day and with a mission that aligns with my personal values—has been incredibly fulfilling,” Agnone said of her 27-year tenure at UNFCU.
Her advice to students? “Believe in yourself. Dream big and go for it. Learn something new every day.”
