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State of the art stadium? Check. Big time sponsor? Check.

Completed in 2015, Pleasantville’s multi-sport stadium already has seen its share of great moments; it’s home to the emergent football and women’s soccer teams in the fall, as well as the nationally ranked men’s lacrosse and national championship-winning women’s lacrosse squad in the spring.

Now, the stadium finally has a naming rights deal worthy of its stature.

Prior to the 2023–2024 athletics season Pace’s Department Athletics and Recreation announced Northwell Health as its Official Healthcare Partner, a partnership which will continue for the next five seasons.

The exclusive partnership includes a medical services agreement, which connects Northwell Health and Pace Athletics through the Setters' athletic training and sports medicine department, as well as a marketing and branding component that includes naming rights to Pace University's multi-sport stadium–Northwell Stadium.

"This partnership accomplishes a great deal as it associates our Athletic Department with a top health care system in the region while ensuring our student-athletes will be receiving world class medical care from a team of elite doctors in the Tri-state area," remarked Pace Director of Athletics, Mark Brown. "Nothing is more important than the health and wellness of our students and this relationship fortifies this priority."

Nothing is more important than the health and wellness of our students and this relationship fortifies this priority.

Through the partnership, the team physician will be Victor Khabie, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon and Co-Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Northern Westchester Hospital and member of Somers Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Group. Dr. Khabie has a very accomplished resume when it comes to working with athletes—having worked with the LA Lakers, LA Dodgers, LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, LA Sparks and the USC Trojan football team.

"We are excited to partner with a collegiate sports powerhouse and look forward to bringing the expertise and compassion of New York State's largest health care provider to Pace Athletics," said Kevin Beiner, senior vice president and regional executive director of Northwell's Western Region. "It's through our two Westchester hospitals, Phelps and Northern Westchester, that we'll forge a pathway, both on and off the field, to build a healthier and stronger community and student body."

Nestled in a corner of the 16th floor of the iconic 41 Park Row, a building steeped in history, the Pace Study is a hidden gem. Erected in 1854 and later revamped in 1888, this landmark building was the original home of the New York Times and found its way into the hands of Pace College in 1951. Within its walls, the Study served as the workspace for Robert S. Pace, the second president of Pace University and son of co-founder Homer Pace. Nowadays, it's a haven for small, but significant University meetings.

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Situated on the University’s executive floor, tucked away amidst the ultramodern office spaces and well-lit hallways, is a living memorial to Pace’s rich history. Through the anteroom, adorned with a decorative plaster ceiling and an oil painting of Robert S. Pace, is the Pace Study—restored, curated, and well-cared for.

Though impressive at first look, it’s the little details that tell the greatest story. Look closely and you'll find a trove of treasures reflecting the diverse passions of Homer Pace, a number-cruncher by trade and an avid book collector and wordsmith at heart.

Special thanks to the Campus Planning and Facilities team, University Curator and Dyson professor Kim de Beaumont, PhD; and University Archivist Ellen Sowchek for providing context and information regarding the contents of the Pace Study.

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On October 22, the Pace University Department of Athletics inducted its Hall of Fame Class of 2023 during Homecoming Weekend at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, NY.

This year's class, the 20th enshrined class, was an all-female one, celebrating the long and storied tradition of standout women student-athletes on the heels of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX. The Class of 2023 includes: Lesly Sanchez Alvarez '18, the first field hockey player; Marta Anderson-Winchell '06, representing women's soccer and women's basketball; Shea Hansen '11, women's volleyball; and current head women's basketball coach Carrie Seymour.

The Peter X. Finnerty Leadership Award was presented to women's basketball alumni Elizabeth Hernandez '83. She was inducted into the Pace Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.

"I am so excited for this year's Hall of Fame class and what it represents for our institution. The circumstances surrounding this class, fresh off the 50th anniversary of Title IX is a testament to our institution's long-standing commitment to gender equity, remarked Director of Athletics Mark Brown. "Our women's teams have been paving the way nationally for many years, with field hockey at the NCAA Semifinals in 2018, women's basketball making the Elite Eight three times, and most recently women's lacrosse winning the 2023 Division II NCAA National Championship this past spring."

In addition to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, presented by Northwell Health, Wanda Maynard-Morris ’02 was presented with her award for being inducted into the Northeast-10 Conference Hall of Fame by Commissioner Julie Ruppert.

Want to recognize someone for their outstanding contributions to Pace Athletics? Make a Hall of Fame nomination.

Pace has long been at the forefront of providing students with whatever they may need to succeed—a mission that particularly applies to our neurodiverse students.

Thanks to innovative programs such as our Ongoing Academic Social Instructional Support program (OASIS), and faculty members such as School of Education Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for Special Education Jennifer Pankowski, EdD, the University doesn’t just talk to the talk when it comes to empowering our students.

This fall, Pankowski was awarded the NYSED Enhancing Supports and Services for Students with Disabilities for Postsecondary Success (SWDPS) Grant. Totaling $63,807, the grant ensures that students with disabilities at Pace will now have access to a range of expanded support services, including one-on-one meetings with social workers and academic coaches, adaptive technology for accommodations, and training for neurodiversity support in the Learning Commons.

“This grant allows us to take what we already know we’re doing really well and make it accessible to students across all three campuses,” said Pankowski.

“This grant allows us to take what we already know we’re doing really well and make it accessible to students across all three campuses.”

As Pankowski notes, the grant is helping the University better bridge the gap between the educational setting and the real world by providing students with accommodations that are appropriate for each student’s respective fields. Laptops designed for certification exams such as the bar exam or the CPA exam, for example, ensure a student can become familiar with the machine that they would actually be accommodated with when taking those tests. Pankowski believes this philosophy—empowering students to become comfortable with tools that don’t solely exist in a classroom—is incredibly important and is not always the norm at secondary and postsecondary schools.

“What happens very often students, are given all these accommodations that don’t carry over to college, grad school, the workforce; it becomes this learned helplessness and we want to squash that.”

The grant has also enabled Pankowski and the University to look for ways to continually make Pace a more accessible and fruitful place for students no matter their disability. An order of smart pens, for instance, will enable students who might otherwise have difficulty processing lectures to have a reliable resource alongside them.

“These smart pens will essentially translate the lecture live, which is really fantastic for students with dyslexia for example, or fine motor or auditory processing issues. We want these to be accessible without a hefty cost.”

Pankowski expressed additional excitement about the way in which this grant is opening up conversations with each school at Pace regarding their particular needs, helping increase accommodations that actually make an impact—as she notes, helping to expand upon and diversify what faculty and students know is already working, and change course when something is not. And by collaborating with the Learning Commons to engage in systematic workshop training, this initiative is helping neurodiverse students receive improved academic support.

All in all, this grant—and Pace’s continued commitment to empowering students with learning disabilities—is helping students reach their full potential not just as students, but as individuals ready to make an impact on the world.

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Stan Royzman, PsyD, is a 2016 graduate of Dyson’s School-Clinical PsyD program and supervising psychologist for Pace’s McShane Center for Psychological Services. He’s been a practicing psychologist for seven years, and his work primarily revolves around neuropsychology, psychotherapy, and advocacy.

Royzman, like many licensed psychologists who work with children, often makes use of games to connect with his patients and build rapport.

“Children communicate through play and they learn best by interacting with their environment. Therapists and counselors use games to build rapport, help children learn about and practice their social skills, and to grow more comfortable with expressing emotions.”

Over time, Royzman recognized a gap in the availability of games that foster social and emotional development. His aim as a psychologist is to enhance children's well-being, helping them develop skills for healthy relationships and emotion regulation.

"Children love games like Uno, Jenga, Catan, Connect Four…" he notes. "I found myself wishing for games that were equally as engaging but focused on social and emotional learning."

Royzman thus, saw an opportunity.

“I wanted to design a set of games that included all of the wonderful features that make physical games so enjoyable, but do so in a way that places social and emotional skills at the forefront.”

The result? After years of fine-tuning and collaboration, Royzman has launched Show and Spell—an inclusive set of three games for children ages five and above that emphasize emotions, nonverbal communication, social skills, perspective taking, and collaborative problem solving.

Through card decks, timers, dice, engaging images, and other familiar components, the games seek to reflect some of the most popular classics; but now with educational goals in mind. Furthermore, they are intentionally designed to be easily modifiable based on factors ranging from age to developmental needs, and are meant to assist parents, counselors, therapists, and educators in helping to meet their specific objectives. Due to the changing nature of education and supportive services during the past few years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Show and Spell is also designed to be compatible in a virtual setting.

I wanted to design a set of games that included all of the wonderful features that make physical games so enjoyable, but do so in a way that places social and emotional skills at the forefront.

He explains, "Psychological well-being starts with the ability to discuss emotions comfortably, interact with others in a healthy way, and manage daily challenges effectively. These games are meant to supplement the social and emotional goals that parents have for their children, and that therapists and educators have for the kids with whom they work."

His current focus is to distribute Show and Spell widely, seeking feedback for improvement and potentially laying the groundwork for additional SEL games. He emphasizes, "Games must be fun, irrespective of their social-emotional content. My objective was to create games where learning is baked into the fun, akin to making broccoli more appealing by covering it in chocolate and whipped cream."

Driven by his fondness for neighborhood toy stores, he has partnered with The March Hare, an enchanting toy store situated in Manhattan's East Village. Royzman remarks, "Children require spaces in their communities that ignite creativity and foster a sense of wonder. I hope that Show and Spell will make a positive contribution to this endeavor.”

Learn more about Show and Spell and join the mailing list to enter the monthly raffle to win a copy.

Reducing our collective carbon emissions is an increasing necessity. As a New York Metro area leader in environmental research and education—see our top-ranked Environmental Law program—Pace has a long history of supporting programs to further sustainability throughout its campuses; and as an institution, understands the importance of leading the way when it comes to supporting and implementing clean energy projects.

As the University undergoes a major renovation of One Pace Plaza, Pace has a rare opportunity to do just that, thanks in part to a major grant from New York State to reduce carbon emissions.

Pace was recently awarded $1,486,720 from New York State as part of the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Carbon Challenge, a competitive program that provides funding to large energy users such as manufacturers, universities, and health care facilities in New York State to support responsible energy initiatives. The funding will contribute to Pace’s reimagining of One Pace Plaza East via beneficial electrification and energy efficiency that will reduce total electricity consumption, part of a campus transformation that will include new academic spaces, a modernized residence hall, and a new state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center that will serve the performing and creative arts programs that are part of the Sands College of Performing Arts.

Pace’s Director of Energy and Resiliency Ryan McEnany, who was instrumental in securing the award, noted that the funding will play a major role in enabling Pace to reach important sustainability goals.

“We are extremely grateful to be selected for the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Carbon Challenge award,” said McEnany. “It is our goal to showcase Pace University’s commitment to sustainability nationally and to continue to reduce our carbon emissions, especially through the implementation of this project that will utilize beneficial electrification of our heating system.”

“It is our goal to showcase Pace University’s commitment to sustainability nationally and to continue to reduce our carbon emissions, especially through the implementation of this project that will utilize beneficial electrification of our heating system.”

Pace’s renovation of One Pace Plaza East was one out of 15 projects selected by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority that will reduce carbon emissions and greenhouses gases throughout the state. In short, it is a continuation of Pace’s ongoing sustainability efforts, which have already resulted in a 20% reduction in energy costs and a 26% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

"By bringing stakeholders from across the University together, we've been able to identify and apply for public grants that support the amazing work done here at Pace," said Jerry McKinstry, assistant vice president for Public Affairs and founder of the Grants Strategy Group. "I'm incredibly grateful for the time and effort that this group has dedicated so far, and eager for us to pursue other opportunities that support the University’s mission."

Ka’ramuu Kush is busy.

In addition to an active career as an actor, writer, and director (check out his IMDb page), Kush has had a long, successful career in teaching. After spending a decade as a faculty member at Howard University, Kush recently made the move back to New York—where his career in show-business began—to become an Associate Professor at the Sands College of Performing Arts.

How does Kush juggle it all? In his words, teaching the craft is energizing in-and-of-itself

“To see the students every day for class is just a lift,” says Kush. “No matter what’s going on in the world or in my life—when I see them and I know we have some work to do, or films to watch, it’s always a lift.”

Kush joined the Sands College of Performing Arts Faculty in Fall 2022, and has hit the ground running. He’s primarily teaching courses in the Acting for Film, Television, Voiceover, and Commercials BFA program, leveraging his considerable experience as a multi-hyphenate artist to impart both grounding theory and practical, actionable lessons to his students. Like many other instructors at Pace’s College of Performing Arts—and at Pace in general—Kush being a working professional in the very field that he is teaching adds an extra level of insight to the classroom setting.

“The students keep me fresh and buoyant and charged-up, so that when I go into the industry, I’m reminded of my purpose, why I’m doing it.”

Kush, furthermore, believes that his professional and teaching careers go hand-in-hand—that they symbiotically build off one another, and provide extra motivation for him to be the most focused and purposeful artist possible.

“The students keep me fresh and buoyant and charged-up, so that when I go into the industry, I’m reminded of my purpose, why I’m doing it,” notes Kush. “You have a number of eyes on you, and you’re making impression on young minds who will be carrying whatever it is you impart or show in terms of your work.”

In addition to teaching the craft, Kush also believes it is his duty to offer practical wisdom he found lacking when he was a student—spending time teaching his students about how to approach a career in the arts from a business perspective—to know their worth as an artist, to manage their money, to translate their skills into multiple income streams. Kush hopes that these lessons will eventually form the foundation of a course—one he believes is both under-emphasized in traditional performing arts schooling, yet absolutely necessary.

“We have this stereotype of the starving artist. Who said the artist had to starve?”

Although he’s only been at Pace for a short while, Kush’s outlook on both teaching and the profession—one that blends big picture thinking with meticulous attention to detail—is a unique combination that has already, and will certainly continue, to inspire performing arts students for years to come.

“Life is too abundant and fruitful to not be benefiting, especially as an artist—and as an artist, you’re responsible for a lot of that abundance and fruitfulness because you bring vicarious experiences to the masses—the plumber, the doctor, the banker, the elementary school teacher. They can see their experiences, their problems, and challenges reflected through you."