You’ve probably seen Connor Morgan ’21 around the NYC Campus. As a communication studies major, he’s eagerly immersed himself in student life by taking on a wide variety of jobs, most notably as a cinematographer for Pace’s University Relations (UR) department. He was even named the Student Spirit Award Winner for 2019—and he has some serious Setter pride. Initially, though, he wasn’t so certain about applying to Pace. That changed pretty quickly.

“It wasn’t the spaces, the residence halls, or my major that [...] attracted me to it. It was the people I met,” Morgan said, having attended a PaceBound event when he was still in high school. “Every professor I spoke to, member of staff I passed by, and every student I had any kind of interaction with truly seemed so happy to be here. For me, Pace was the only place I saw myself truly succeeding.”

He nearly left mid-semester in his first year, however, when his small business began to take off. Morgan is an exceptionally gifted cinematographer, having launched 18 Mile Media when he was still in high school. But one last-minute decision “would literally change my life,” he told us, explaining that he applied to be an Orientation Leader—ten minutes before the deadline. Needless to say, Morgan was accepted. “It has opened up an incredible amount of doors for me, [and] it’s how UR found me and how I got so involved on campus,” he said.

Since then, Morgan has held numerous positions on the NYC Campus. He’s been a Pace Abroad Leader (PAL) tour guide, an Educational Media technician, and most recently, as a cinematographer for UR. “They had been working to introduce President Krislov, who was entering his second year here, to the Pace Community in a fun and light way. That’s where I came in.” Morgan worked on several videos since, including an ongoing five-part Pace Path campaign highlighting the program’s many unique opportunities. The internships portion was published just last spring.

“It’s my first time taking the lead on a large-scale project like this,” he enthused. Morgan is not only the cinematographer on the Pace Path campaign, but also a producer. Of all his projects with the University, he noted the Convocation 2019 video as one of his favorites to make. “It was so much fun to make, and really got the Class of 2023 ready for a fun two days. It was exciting to see how many parents and students spoke about it after it debuted.”

These days, Morgan is incredibly busy. His wedding videography business is booming, and it’s quite different compared to the work he does for Pace. “Weddings fall into a category [that] I like to call ‘event coverage,’” he explained. “You [can] have an idea of what you want to make in the editing room, but all you can really do is shoot the best you can and nail everything on the first try. There are no retakes on the wedding day.” He spends time crafting the narrative after he works a wedding, whereas for Pace, “it’s a little more lax. We can make our talent feel comfortable, and we have a pretty solid idea of what the final product will look like before we even start shooting.”

We’re certain Morgan’s diverse skill set and inspiring enthusiasm will lead him to endless opportunities in the future. He’s even giving back by awarding scholarships to other students, something he’s passionate about because “I wanted to give back to my high school by sharing just a little bit of my success, and to let them know that no matter how big they get, the community will always support them.”

Ever since Gabriela Wojcik ’21 transferred to Pace in her junior year, she’s seized every opportunity of interest to her on the NYC Campus. From Welcome Center tour guide to Tau Sigma National Honor Society vice president to her internship at a talent agency to her supervisor job in the Six Flags entertainment department, Wojcik sees her Communication Studies major and Arts and Entertainment Management minor as the perfect marriage of all her experiences. “I would love to work in the creative field [in] any capacity. Having as much knowledge as possible and as many opportunities and options as possible [...] once I graduate has always been incredibly important to me,” she told us.

That’s part of what drew her to Pace. “Looking back [on] the entire situation now, I learned an insane amount of important life lessons by making the decision to attend my previous school,” Wojcik explained.

It was during an internship in her sophomore year that she started considering a transfer to Pace, especially since a few of her fellow interns were also current students. “Right off the bat, I loved the fact that Pace’s [NYC Campus] consisted of one main building and a few surrounding ones in the area,” she told us, noting that the prime location in the heart of the Financial District also helped. So she applied, got in, and the rest is history. “I couldn’t stop smiling and was constantly being told that I was ‘glowing.’ It was at that point that I realized I had finally made the right decision for myself and my future,” Wojcik said.

She got involved the moment she moved on-campus, but then, that wasn’t unusual for her. Wojcik has worked in several different capacities: food service, performance, management, human resources—you name it, she’s probably had that job. “I am somebody who wants to try and do everything all at once,” she enthused. “I rarely ever say no to an opportunity [...] because I truly believe that life experience and knowledge are irreplaceable.”

As the vice president of the Tau Sigma National Honor Society, Wojcik is a representative for other transfer students who come to Pace looking for a new venture. “I would say that the most rewarding part about being a member of Tau Sigma is not only being able to feel included in the Pace Community, but also being able to help new members feel included and welcome as well,” she explained. To be clear, it wasn’t always easy for Wojcik. She acknowledged that, “It can sometimes be frustrating and difficult to find your place in a new school as a transfer student,” but joining Tau Sigma provided opportunities to meet others “who have been in your shoes and can guide you through life as a transfer student at Pace.”

Wojcik is also a first-generation American who grew up in an entirely Polish family, something that is incredibly important to her. “My first language was actually Polish and I speak it fluently,” she told us. “I wouldn’t trade my background and heritage for the world. It is a huge part of who I am today.”

Currently, she is considering quite the list of potential careers: film, talent management and casting, fitness, or even social media. “If I am being 100% honest, no matter how much it may seem like I have everything figured out, I do not have an ideal career in mind,” Wojcik said. Her advice to fellow students, though, and particularly other transfer students, is to “try everything and see what suits you, brings you joy, and lights your soul on fire.” Those are some wise words.

Join us for National Transfer Student Appreciation week as we celebrate incredible transfer students like Wojcik who are continuously pushing the envelope and helping to guide others, too. We’re so excited to see what career she lands in. They’re sure to appreciate her skills and experience, not to mention enthusiasm!

Vivian Ng ’20 is a computer science major on the NYC Campus. She’s worked as a student assistant for Seidenberg for more than two years, was an intern at the New York Road Runners nonprofit, and even received a grant for her research into augmented reality and its positive uses for high school students with autism. With all the incredible work that she’s doing at Pace, choosing a college must have been a walk in the park.

Not exactly.

“After multiple unsuccessful open houses and campus tours, Pace was actually my last stop,” Ng explained to us. “Right away, I could tell that Seidenberg was different than the other schools. It was much smaller and the community was tight knit, just the way I liked it.” There, she got the chance to meet Dean Jonathan Hill, DPS, and Assistant Dean of Recruitment and Retention Stephanie Elson.

“I was so nervous that I couldn’t even make my way over to some of the faculty lingering around, but Dean Hill walked right up to me with a warm smile and introduced himself. He handed me one of his business cards and the nervousness I was feeling dissipated.” She took that opportunity to ask questions about Seidenberg; what on-campus jobs they offered, the student-teacher ratio, and more. “He personally took the time to answer them all. Everything about Pace was screaming out to me and I knew I had to attend the school.”

So what convinced her to pursue a major in computer science? Social media, of course!

“Funnily enough, Tumblr brought me into the world of computer science and web development, which is what I would like to pursue as a career after I graduate,” Ng said. “When the social media platform was still at its peak [in] popularity, I experimented with editing theme codes and found that a few lines of code easily changed what I was looking at.” And when she showed up to take her first class in computer science, it became clear pretty quickly that she’d made the right choice.

That class was called “Mathematical Structures for Computer Science” taught by Francis Parisi, PhD, and it left a profound impact on Ng. “A big part of why it left such a large impact on me was because Dr. Parisi went above and beyond to help my peers and I understand a subject that at times was difficult to grasp.” She explained that taking advantage of a professor’s office hours was also key in understanding of the course material.

“I think of Seidenberg as a second home because everyone is like family,” Ng went on. She has attributed her work as a Seidenberg student assistant as the most rewarding experience she’s had at Pace thanks to those strong relationships. But it wasn’t always this easy. “One of the biggest challenges that I had to overcome when I first started was working in such a fast-paced environment. I remember being so overwhelmed with the tasks that were assigned to me, but everyone was very welcoming and helped me adjust quickly.”

Just recently, Ng took on the impressive task of applying for—and ultimately being awarded—funding for the esteemed Undergraduate Student-Faculty Research Program, along with Professor Jim Lawler, DPS. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would get the opportunity to conduct research with a professor during my time here as a student,” she said. The two worked closely with a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing advanced technological resources to students with learning differences.

“Virtual reality has yet to make its mark on education, especially for students with learning differences. It hasn’t even scratched the surface yet.” This often made gathering evidence very difficult, Ng explained. “After I completed my research, I realized that there were people out there who did what I had to do for an entire year, on a day-to-day basis as a career. It was one of the most educational and humbling experiences that I got to be a part of.”

With all her accomplishments here at Pace, Ng had very straightforward advice for anyone looking to do the same: “Take risks, be proactive, and don’t be afraid of what may lie ahead.”

Blake Rozelle ’20 has always had an artist’s eye for detail. He first fell in love with filmmaking when he was still in middle school thanks to his grandmother. “We made a lot of fun videos together, and it was like a side activity,” he told us. It’s when Rozelle got to high school that he started getting serious about filmmaking. “Teachers began to compliment my work, and I started going to film summer camps. I learned more with experience, and starting doing my own side projects and movies.”

Now, Rozelle has his own YouTube account filled with videos like a behind-the-scenes look into what it’s like on the set of his many projects. (Spoilers: it takes a lot of work and patience.) He’s also the president of WPAW, Pleasantville’s official radio station, an assistant in Pace’s Media Lab, and owner of BR Productions, a self-run business offering Rozelle’s filmmaking skills for a variety of events.

“I like the process of watching an idea turn into production, which eventually turns into a final product,” he said. “Film allows any story to [come] true. I like that it is a combination of the arts and technology, which have always been my favorite fields.”

It was only natural that he would pursue a digital cinema and filmmaking degree—but how did he choose Pace? “I felt like I would get more of a personal experience coming to this school versus other ones,” Rozelle explained. “I was also impressed by the film department’s [...] space and equipment. I still think those same thoughts today; I don’t feel like just another student at a school. I really get to know my professors and peers.”

Of all the classes he took, we weren’t surprised to hear Rozelle’s favorite was the one taught by Professor Maria Luskay, EdD. It’s called “Making the Documentary,” where students get to be involved in creating an actual documentary film. They’re part of every step of the process, even getting to travel abroad. “It was the most involved class I had ever been part of,” Rozelle said, having worked on Puerto Rico: Hope in the Dark last year in the wake of Hurricane Maria. “There was a lot of dedication [necessary] to pull everything off, and it was certainly worth it.”

Although his official roles were camera/gimbal operator and assistant editor, Rozelle—and his entire class—wore many, if not all hats during production. “We literally created a story in front of our eyes,” he said, and went on to detail a particularly impactful moment while on location.

“My group and I were filming an interview, and the man we were interviewing took us on a trip. After a long drive, the man showed us a house that had completely toppled over. It was upside down, near the bottom of the mountain. That was the most impactful thing that I personally saw while there—seeing all of a person’s belongings just destroyed. We passed so many signs from people asking for help [who] hadn’t had electricity for literally six months.”

Rozelle is currently very busy as WPAW’s newly elected president, a role he’s slowly worked his way up the ranks to obtain. He started out as a general member, eventually became treasurer, and then received a promotion as DJ manager. “I really care about WPAW, and wish that more people knew about it,” he told us. “Having a radio station on campus is wonderful and should be used more. Everyone learns from the people that did the job before them. I was taught how to DJ from the original manager, and now I am here a year later teaching others how to do it.”

And he could certainly teach a whole lot of people what he knows. Rozelle also runs his own business, having taken on a variety of commissioned work over the years; from shooting a wedding to music videos to commercials to—yes, this is real—a rave. “I find that you won’t get work unless you are looking for it,” he advised. “By just reaching out, I got a few projects [booked] and planned more for the future.”

In the meantime, Rozelle is keeping up with his hobbies outside of making movies. His mother runs a dance studio, and he’s taken dance lessons since he was just two years old. Also? “I played piano, saxophone, drums, sang, acted, and did karate all for more than 10 years,” he told us. With as many new projects as he takes on, it makes sense that he’s always on the go!

If Rachel Skopp-Cardillo ’20 had an IMDb profile (and she should), her list of credits would be long. She’s a digital cinema and filmmaking major on the Pleasantville Campus, former assistant director for PaceDocs, recent associate producer at Fusilli Films, and even an intern at PBS Kids, among many other roles. She’s also an event director and staff writer for Her Campus and attended the Women’s Convention on behalf of CCAR last year. This rising filmmaker is one busy student!

She was still in high school when she started interning for Linda Simensky, the senior director of programming at PBS Kids. “I thought it was interesting to see people creating and producing educational children’s shows [without] an education degree or background [in] working with children,” Skopp-Cardillo told us, explaining that many of the people she worked with had graduated with communications or film degrees. That unique experience inspired her current aspiration: to one day work in the same capacity—with a graduate degree in education to boot. “I hope to one day make children’s educational television programming for kids with learning differences like me.”

That was a huge factor when it came down to what college Skopp-Cardillo chose. “Out of all the universities I toured at, Pace didn’t make me feel like a number. They made me feel like I was a person and not just a statistic.” She met with the Office of Student Accessibility Services to make sure they could accommodate what she calls her superpowers. “I have learning differences like ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, auditory processing, and short-term memory processing.”

Eager to make her mark at Pace, she jumped in with both feet by taking Producing the Documentary, a class taught by Professor Maria Luskay, EdD. They traveled to Puerto Rico last year to document the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, an experience that left a lasting impact on Skopp-Cardillo. “The news wasn’t really paying attention to this topic,” she told us. “We reported a power outage in San Juan before NBC News sent out an alert. You constantly had to be on top of your game.” These were all lessons she said couldn’t be learned in the classroom, as unpredictable and ever-changing as they were.

Despite how challenging the job was, Skopp-Cardillo persevered. “For me, being the first assistant director meant sleeping was just a suggestion—but having ADHD helped me juggle and multitask my responsibilities.”

Filmmaking also runs in her family. Her mother, Lauren Cardillo ’80, is an award-winning filmmaker too. For the past five years, they’ve been working together on Learning to Fly, a documentary about a swimmer based in their hometown of Alexandria, VA. “Her name is Cassidy Bayer, and we’ve been documenting her journey to try making the 2020 Summer Olympics for the past five years.” The mother-daughter duo will be launching a Kickstarter soon!

“I love film so much because it’s a visual story,” Skopp-Cardillo told us. “Writing a story is hard for me to do, and I sometimes have a hard time processing when reading a story. Film has a way of connecting with the audience that no book or article can. Film brings stories to life—and I love being a part of that.”

She does write, however—and exceptionally well. Skopp-Cardillo signed up as a contributor for Her Campus after seeing their panel at the 2017 Women’s Convention that she attended thanks to CCAR. “The panel was about how women both should not be afraid to write and should create a safe place for [other] women to feel confident in writing,” she said. Her articles cover topics from women in film, women film history, society awakenings, and women history stories. Check them out!

Did you know she’s a third generation Pace student, too? Her grandmother, Irene Maruzzella Cardillo, graduated from Good Counsel College in 1951 with a degree in chemistry. For those who don’t know, Good Counsel is now Pace’s Law School. As for her mom? “She gave the Commencement speech at the 1980 graduation ceremony. She was also [the] Editor-in-Chief of New Morning,” Skopp-Cardillo said, which was Pace’s then-student newspaper. Talk about awesome legacies!

Precious Hose ’20 is all about campus involvement. She’s a student assistant at the Environmental Center (who got to introduce President Krislov to the animals on an exclusive tour), peer educator for Pace FIRE (Fighting Ignorance, Racism, and Rape Through Education), peer leader for UNV 101, student representative for the Middle States Accreditation Study, and much more. With all those titles under her belt, you’d think Hose had her sights set on Pace from the get-go. That wasn’t the case.

“Even though Pace wasn’t my first choice, it became one of the most important choices I’ve made,” Hose said, describing how she was initially drawn by the Criminal Justice program and ideal location of the Pleasantville Campus: a small town feel close to major cities. It was the Pace Community, however, that really solidified the decision for her. “[Everyone] is so welcoming and the diversity of our student body made me feel unique, but connected. There’s always an event happening on campus and I love that the faculty and staff always have their office doors open.”

It was her major (you guessed it: criminal justice) that Hose already felt very strongly about. “I was always fascinated by crime from a young age,” she told us. “I believe [everyone] has rights even if a person commits a criminal act. Most people don’t commit an act of crime because they have a desire to do so.” Wise words. She hopes to one day become an attorney specializing in criminal law.

Several of the faculty members in the Criminal Justice Department have since left a huge impact on her; namely, Professor Robert Matarazzo, Associate Professor Margaret Fitzgerald, and Lecturer Maryellen Martirano. “Their lectures are not really lectures,” Hose explained. “They engage the students by turning the lesson plan into a life lesson for us to think beyond what was taught in class. One day, I hope I can lead by example as they do for me.”

Hose is certainly leading by example for her peers. She’s taken advantage of almost every leadership opportunity at Pace since she arrived. From Orientation Leader to Pace FIRE educator to president of the Freshman Honor Society to senator for the Criminal Justice Society, the list goes on! What motivates her to get so involved on campus? Hose answered with a question of her own. “There are so many people that have helped me get to where I am today. Why not pay it forward and help other students like the first-year version of me find their way around Pace?”

Why not indeed.

She had a chance to do just that when she addressed the incoming class of 2021 last year. Hose was chosen as the student speaker for Convocation. “To me, speaking in front of over a thousand people felt like an honor,” Hose said, who shared her story with all of them in hopes of inspiring her audience. “I have a lot of weight on my back as a first-generation student,” she continued, explaining how it was challenging to adapt to an entirely new culture and environment in New York. “[But] I found amazing friends, got involved on and off-campus, and valued the support my professors gave me.”

In her free time, Hose expresses her creativity by making jewelry and—get this—actual stained-glass lamps. Talk about art deco! She also collects shells at the beach. Sounds like a great way to unwind after a long day for this soon-to-be criminal attorney. We can’t wait to see where Hose goes next!

Mariah Simpson ’20 is part of the Business Honors Program, serves on the executive board for the Pace University Marketing Association (PUMA), is currently a Resident Assistant (RA) two years running, and even finds time to mentor young women at her church, Hillsong NYC. She’s also a major fan of the music industry—all the way back to her time attending numerous concerts during middle and high school.

That was when her friends began pointing out to Simpson that she frequently focused less on the performers and more on the goings-on backstage. “[I had] a fascination with the marketing of artists,” Simpson said. She wondered about everything from the production of a concert to how much money an artist made from a hit single.

When it came to researching colleges, she thought she had it all planned out. “I was obsessed with the city, and out of ignorance, I thought NYU was the only university that I would like. My mom ended up convincing me to tour Pace, and I fell in love the second I stepped on campus.” Simpson explained that her passion for the music industry and desire to break into that business perfectly aligned with the courses offered for arts and entertainment majors. “Pace gave me the incredible opportunity to do just that with a strong business background of core classes.”

As harmonious as Simpson’s interests are with her major, it’s her double minor in marketing and women’s and gender studies that really elevates her work to new heights. “I’m so passionate about intersectional feminism,” she told us. “I think it’s really cool to be an ally for others in the world of business. I hope to be able to write my senior thesis about gender inequality in the music industry and to highlight the alarming statistics about women being paid less than men for the same work.”

That passion to help her peers motivated her to pursue becoming an RA, not to mention her work as a mentor for PUMA and Hillsong NYC. Being a positive role model—particularly to first-year students—is very important to Simpson. “College can be extremely hard at times, and I Iove getting to serve as a resource to my peers,” she explained.

Currently, Simpson is interning at Viacom in the music licensing department, which means she mainly gets to work on shows at MTV such as the VMA’s, Catfish, and Are You the One? She’s also been involved with a few Nickelodeon shows as well; namely, everyone’s favorite SpongeBob SquarePants. “The company culture at Viacom is so fun,” Simpson enthused. This past Halloween, the entire office was transformed with spooky decorations and everyone dressed up. Talk about a fun place to work!

She’s also interned for Sony Music in retail marketing, noting that her favorite moment was getting to see the President of RCA Records present on the future of the music industry. “I’m a huge music industry nerd, so getting to listen to someone so important in the business talk about revenues, predictions, and statistics was the absolute best!” Simpson said.

When she graduates next year, she has high hopes of working at a major record label while volunteering her free time to help other women in the industry. We look forward to watching her take the industry by storm!

Roxana Saravia ’20—also known as “x0roxy” or just “Roxy” to her followers—always knew she wanted to attend college in New York City. Pace’s Lubin School of Business seemed a natural fit, especially since she’s been running her own personal brand for several years now. It’s no wonder she chose business management as a major. “I think management is so vital in any field you are in. If you can’t manage yourself, how can you manage others?” She said, going on to explain that, “I feel like I’ll be able to use what I learned in my business management courses [in] almost any field I go into.”

Saravia certainly has already. With a minor in fashion marketing, her skills in the industry are on full display over at her YouTube channel. One of her videos even inspired high schools to check out and ultimately apply to Pace. “It’s taken me some time to reach this level of confidence,” Saravia said, explaining that she was timid when she first launched her brand. “One of the biggest tips I can give someone else is to be confident in whatever you’re doing (even if you don’t know what you’re doing). Work as hard as you can because although you might not see growth right away, it will eventually pay off.”

Not only is Saravia adept at creating all kinds of digital content, having published a number of articles on The Odyssey in addition to her YouTube channel, she also makes a point to boost the work of other creators in several collab videos. “As someone who is always looking forward to the next project, it’s hard for me to take a step back and see how far I’ve come,” she explained.

That kind of motivation can be difficult to keep up for some people, but not for Saravia. “I feel like living in NYC is truly what motivates me,” she told us. “Every person I meet here is trying to accomplish their goals, and everyone is so driven. It’s a blessing and a curse; it definitely helps me stay motivated, but [it can] sometimes become overwhelming.”

Setting up lights, putting together a tripod, filming and editing videos—Saravia does it all and much more, which is something the team working on The Wendy Williams Show saw instantly. She’s a wardrobe intern now, an experience she calls “surreal.” In particular: “Attending the grand opening of the Daniel Wellington store in Rockefeller Center was definitely one of the best experiences of my life,” Saravia enthused. “So far, working at the show has been everything I’ve ever wanted.”

As for the future? Saravia is hoping to one day launch her own business venture. But in the short term, she’d like to pick up sailing lessons again—something not many people know she’s actually quite experienced in. “I took a sailing summer camp for two years and I miss it a lot,” Saravia told us. “I would definitely love to do it again sometime.” We’re sure she’ll continue to be at the helm of a successful brand, just as she is now.

Marquise Steward ’20 is all about ambition and succeeding in a competitive environment. It’s part of the reason why he always knew he wanted to go to college in NYC. “It was a dream of mine to live and thrive in [this city] while interning and working at the top companies of the world,” Steward told us. Naturally, he found his way here. “Pace really wants me to succeed, and will use every resource it has to do so. I felt it was a wise choice to attend.”

It was that ambitious, sometimes ruthless nature of advertising that initially sparked Steward’s interest in pursuing a major in advertising and integrated marketing communications. “You have to really work in order to make it in advertising,” he said. “If you slack, your competitors will come in and knock you off the top. [That] matched my competitiveness.”

Steward’s keen eye for leadership is exemplified in his current positions at Pace: President of the Residence Hall Association as well as President of the Pace University Marketing Association (PUMA). What keeps him motivated? “I am truly grateful to surround myself with many inspiring individuals who work for the same things I do. They motivate me to keep pushing boundaries and bringing the best ideas, events, and opportunities to Pace,” he said.

His tenure in these positions has provided Steward with a unique perspective into what makes a good leader and, in his opinion, it all comes down to valuing your team. “You can define the success of a CEO by the success of the employees,” he explained. “I try my best to take care of my members and give them the opportunity to exercise their greatest power: their voices.”

Recently, Steward had the opportunity to meet top representatives at a number of influential companies like Coca-Cola European Partners, FedEx, and The New York Times—all abroad. “This was a class that could not be replicated or translated in a classroom setting,” he said when discussing the marketing faculty-led study abroad course he signed up for, which took him all the way to London and Brussels.

Led by Professor Dennis Sandler, PhD, and Clinical Professor Paul Kurnit, the class enabled students the singular opportunity to meet with representatives and visit advertising agencies on-site. “It left a great impact on me because it helped me develop as a citizen of the world and a distinctive candidate in the job market,” Steward continued.

For all his many accomplishments including marketing internships at Aflac and Statista, Steward still struggles with accepting praise. “I never do something for the applause of others, but rather the satisfaction of the accomplishment,” he told us, detailing a moment on the job when two of his supervisors pulled him aside to let him know just how much they appreciated his hard work.

His bosses had some advice, too. “[Because] I often underplay or overlook my accomplishments, I was advised to soak in the moment and smell the flowers,” Steward said. “They encouraged me to really value my worth as an asset to the team and to celebrate the wins when they come. I now make sure to celebrate my victories and praise my team members to continue the cycle.” Needless to say, Steward will make an incredible boss someday. We’re excited to see where he ends up next!

Julia Fatum ’20 is all about science. She’s the vice president of the Chemistry Club, head science tutor at the Learning Center, and has conducted research with two professors—all leadership positions that have cultivated her relationship with both professors and her fellow students in the Science Department here at Pace.

Originally, she came to the NYC Campus with an eye on the forensic program, but it was the supportive environment she encountered here that really convinced her to put down roots. “I had peer leaders and tutors who mentored me. They helped me through my classes and were always there for anything I needed. I am grateful that I now get to do the same for others,” Fatum told us.

Fatum has always known she would be heading to medical school someday. “The human body is an extraordinary thing that we will never fully understand,” she enthused. “There will always be things to learn and medicine will never cease to advance.” Beyond her interest and skill in science, Fatum was also drawn to the medical field because it meant she would be helping people. “I have experienced a lot of trauma in my life, but I have always had people there to pick me up and help me through it. I want nothing more than to be that person for someone else. The best doctors are those that can comfort their patients and connect with them,” she said.

Professor of Chemistry and Physical Sciences, JaimeLee Rizzo, PhD, was one of Fatum’s many mentors who worked hard to connect with the students in her class. At first, however, Fatum was terrified to sign up for her two-semester organic chemistry course. “[It’s] feared by most science majors because it tends to be a ‘weed-out’ class. I was terrified to go, but when I was done, I was just sad that it was over,” she explained.

She did so well that Professor Rizzo invited Fatum to work on a research project with her—one that’s received quite a bit of attention. They’re experimenting with Manuka honey, aloe vera gel, and essential oils to create a natural and effective antibacterial remedy. “It was very interesting learning that these surfaces could be used for things such as enhancing wound healing and helping diabetes patients,” Fatum said.

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing, however. “When I began my research, the first problem I came across was that the honey would not mix with the essential oils,” she explained. “I had to consult the internet for a substance that would make the layer homogeneous, and that turned out to be aloe vera gel.” Fatum will be presenting her research along with Professor Rizzo at the American Chemical Society (ACS) in Orlando, Florida, this month.

If that wasn’t enough, Fatum is also currently raising money for a trip to Panama with Global Brigades. She wants to bring necessary medical care to underdeveloped communities who desperately need it, but also, to raise awareness about this very real issue. “Although it is extremely difficult to come up with the money to attend, I will do everything I can to raise the money for my part because their lives matter. I want to make sure they know there are people that care. I know that these trips greatly improve the quality of life and can help save someone’s life. I want nothing more than to be a part of this.” We’re so proud of everything she’s accomplished!