Unhappy in her job at the time, Eliana J. Cruz ’26 decided to study for the LSAT and apply to attend law school. “It was a long time coming, with each path my career took, I became more interested in the law. Finally, I decided to finally take a leap of faith. At the same time, I switched careers and became a paralegal. To me, it made sense that if I was working, I should work directly with attorneys while attending law school.”

Eliana’s background also inspired her to push herself and her education further. “I come from a big multi-generational, multi-cultural Latinx family from the Bronx. I’m privileged to say most of my family has attended and graduated from college. We were inspired by my grandfather. He immigrated to The Bronx with his parents and small children, he did not have a high school diploma to his name. I dedicate all my academic accomplishments to him. All my degrees are his, too.”

Eliana chose the FLEX JD program at Haub Law because she knew she would receive a quality legal education in New York while working at a job she enjoyed and provided her with an income. “The FLEX JD program allowed me to have it all and not have to fall into debt. When I graduate, I will be competing for jobs I want in the City I call home.” While balancing working and attending law school has had its challenges, Eliana is steadfast in her belief that it is well worth it. “My paralegal work has been paramount in gaining experience that will land me a job after graduating. I am actively applying what I learn in class, while networking with some of the top attorneys in my field. It’s a win-win. And the Haub Law community is tremendously supportive. I feel a true sense of camaraderie. I know if my classmates can do it, I can do it.”

As a FLEX JD student, Eliana has not yet participated in clinics or externships, however, her most recent career move has her as a Legal Operations Manager at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. “This position has fueled my interest in media and intellectual property law; however, transactional law is where my passion is now. I enjoy the technical aspects of it.” Prior to her position at Lincoln Center, Eliana was a Foreclosure Defense Paralegal at New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG).

Notably, Eliana also co-founded NYC Celebrates Women, a non-profit group dedicated to Women of Color Entrepreneurs. "The non-profit was co-founded by a friend and former manager of mine. We saw that the services offered by WOC owned businesses in our neighborhood were of exceptional quality, but lacked the investment and marketing needed to compete with other businesses at the level they wanted to. So, we created an organization as a platform for these women to connect and grow as entrepreneurs."

Despite her busy schedule, Eliana likes to stay active. “I swim whenever I can. I also paint, draw, and write in my free time.” Outside of work, Eliana has also had some of her writing published and her art featured in different galleries across Westchester.

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Camden Robertson ’23, Peace and Justice Studies, was awarded the 2023 Best Undergraduate Thesis of the Year by the Peace and Justice Studies Association for her work “Extinction Rebellion: A Case Study of Nonviolent Climate Activism.”

Robertson was presented with the award at the Peace and Justice Studies Association Annual Conference, held from September 14–17 at Iowa State University. Robertson’s work was a case study on Extinction Rebellion NYC, an environmental movement using nonviolent civil disobedience to advocate for government action. Through ethnographic data and interviews, Robertson explored “the human capacity to resist forces of social, economic and political power and demand action in the face of crisis.”

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Several Dyson faculty members and students also presented at the conference. Associate Professor of Peace and Justice Studies Emily Welty, PhD, and students Dante Dallago ’24, Peace and Justice Studies, and Kalina Walaski ’24, Peace and Justice Studies, presented as part of a panel on Peacebuilding and the Arts.

Welty and Robertson were also joined by Assistant Professor Garrett FitzGerald, PhD, and Peace and Justice students Mikayla Meachem ’24 and Natale Maclay Tijerina ’26 on a panel on Intersectional Approaches to Peace and Justice.

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is proud to announce that Professor James Toomey was awarded the 2023 Goettel Prize for Faculty Scholarship for his article, “Property’s Boundaries” published by Virginia Law Review (109 Va. L. Rev. 131 (2023)).

The Goettel Prize was created in 2004 to encourage and recognize outstanding scholarship by members of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University faculty. Each year, members of the tenured and tenure-track faculty are invited to submit their work for consideration (on an anonymous basis) by a selection committee of outside reviewers. This year's committee consisted of three distinguished law school professors: Professor Andrea Schneider of Cardozo Law, Professor Ed Snow of University of South Carolina School of Law, and Professor D. Theodore Rave of The University of Texas at Austin School of Law.

Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Operations and Professor of Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, Emily Waldman, noted, “Since joining our faculty last year, James Toomey has continued to establish himself as an exciting new scholar writing at the intersection of bioethics, health law, private law theory, and elder law. In his prize-winning article, "Property's Boundaries," he brings together questions of bioethics and property by analyzing how to think about ownership rights in body-related things like cells, genes, organs, embryos, and more. Do I own, for instance, the information in my genes? What about my blood cells themselves? These questions are becoming more pressing than ever before, in light of new scientific research and developments, and Professor Toomey provides a thoughtful and pragmatic framework for how courts should approach these types of questions. We are very proud to see his work recognized by our distinguished panel of external judges."

“I am deeply honored that “Property’s Boundaries” has been selected by this year’s committee for the Goettel Prize. This piece sits at the core of my scholarship in bioethics and private law theory, and was a lot of fun to write, bringing together sources in philosophy, psychology, and legal theory to address one of the most difficult and persistent questions in bioethics,” stated Professor James Toomey. ““Property’s Boundaries” also took my thinking in generative new directions—laying the foundations for a forthcoming collection of essays I’m co-editing with Professors Marietta Auer, Henry Smith, and Paul Miller, called Reinach and the Foundations of Private Law (Professor James Toomey draft contribution to Reinach and the Foundations of Private Law), and my paper “Evolutionary Anamnesis,” in the journal Biology and Philosophy.”

Professor James Toomey joined the Haub Law faculty as an Assistant Professor of Law in 2022. He teaches Property, Contracts, Health Law in America, and Wills, Trusts and Estates. Professor Toomey’s scholarship focuses on health law, bioethics, private law theory, and elder law, and his work has been published or is forthcoming in a number of leading journals including the Virginia Law Review, the Washington University Law Review, the Indiana Law Journal, the North Carolina Law Review, the Harvard Journal on Legislation, the Elder Law Journal and the Journal of Law and the Biosciences. Prior to joining the Haub Law faculty, Professor Toomey was a Climenko Fellow & Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School. Before that, he clerked for Judge Stanley Marcus on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Professor Toomey holds a JD, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and a BA, summa cum laude, from Cornell University.

The Lubin Link Podcast

Leo Krkuti '17 knows good pizza—not just because he's a native New Yorker, but because he comes from a family of successful pizzeria owners. On this episode of The Lubin Link, Leo discusses how his marketing degree helped him open his own pizzeria, Traditas Pizza, and how he received a raving review from an A-list celebrity.

This episode was recorded on September 18, 2023.

• Listen to Leo on Spotify
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• Listen to Leo on Anchor

Tune into the Lubin Link podcast to hear how guests went from go-getting Lubin students to successful entrepreneurs, social media mavens, directors, CEOs, and beyond. They offer their best tips to students and share how you can make the most out of your #LubinLife.

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Anastasia Khanukov

Class of 2024

Bachelor of Arts in Economics

How did you become interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics?

I was very interested in politics and international relations but also knew that the state of a country’s economy is paramount, so I decided to focus on economics and research topics that affected the population. This includes labor markets, geopolitical conflicts, and even movements concerning feminism.

How were Dyson or other faculty members instrumental in your personal and/or professional journey?

The Economics department on the New York campus has been nothing but supportive and informative. I have taken a variety of classes, ranging from behavioral economics to statistics, and this diversification of topics has opened doors to many research opportunities for me. Moreover, the Economics faculty, including professors Shostya, Weinstock, and Baruch, have provided me with endless mentorship and furthered my path to graduate school through my undergraduate research. With their help, I have had many opportunities to grow and gain knowledge, serving as a foundation for both future academic endeavors and a career.

What internships have you had?

I had an internship at the New York City Council, one obtained through a class that focused on economics and Latin American politics. I also had the opportunity to work for the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration, and Customs Enforcement (ICE), assisting attorneys with their trials and engaging in country research and client documentation. This allowed me to focus on research on humanitarianism in developing nations. In addition, I worked for the International Rescue Committee, focusing on Ukrainian refugees and their well being. In my role, I provided translation services and helped with job searches and career networking. This is a clear example of how economics impacts the lives of so many, and, as a Ukrainian-American, it was important for me to help these individuals get back on their feet.

What activities and organizations have you been involved with as a student?

I am currently vice president of the Economics Society and have had the privilege to work with wonderful executive board members and develop close relationships with faculty and staff. In addition, I was a part of Model United Nations, which allowed me to represent the Republic of Mozambique and compete on the Pace University team. We received multiple nominations and awards at this competition.

I was also selected to be a part of the 2023 class of the United Nations Academic Impact and Millennium Campus Network (MCN) Fellowship, a semester-long global program through which I will work with my Pace student colleagues on projects that advance the UN’s sustainable development goals.

The Economics faculty have provided me with endless mentorship and furthered my path to graduate school within my undergraduate research. With their help, I have had many opportunities to grow and gain knowledge, serving as a foundation for both future academic endeavors and a career.

What challenges have you overcome and are proud of? What inspires you?

My biggest challenge has been balance. It is difficult to get into a rhythm when you have school, internships, and a social life to balance. However, by establishing a routine, I was able to feel more at ease within such a busy schedule. This has allowed me to not only take on challenging classes, but also work during the school year.

My parents inspire me every day. As a first-generation American, I had to figure out a lot of things on my own, as my parents were born in Ukraine and came to the United States as refugees. Their struggles did not stop them from succeeding, so I look up to them every day as they are such a supportive system for me.

What are your plans after graduation?

I want to go straight to graduate school so I can gain more academic knowledge and focus on my own research, primarily surrounding international politics and humanitarian issues. Later, I would like to pursue a doctoral degree. Thanks to my Economics degree, I am open to a range of diverse career choices and areas of specialization.

What advice would you give to students?

My biggest advice to students is to use all resources available to you. At Pace, we are provided opportunities for career assistance, mentorship, research positions, and a diverse range of clubs and organizations to participate in. The faculty, administration, and staff are here to help you, so make use of their expertise. Not only will this guide you through challenging semesters, but also allow you to expand both your academic experience and resume.

A record 30 Pace University students have been named to the United Nations Academic Impact Millennium Fellowship Class of 2023, including 22 students from the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences.

Students accepted into the UN Millennium Fellowship program launch individual or group semester-long projects relating to one or more of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, 17 objectives focused on bettering our world. The program connects Fellows to their campus cohort, as well as to other Fellows across the globe.

The 30 Pace students selected for the Class of 2023 are among 4,000 Millennium Fellows from more than 260 campuses across 38 nations—only 9 percent of more than 44,000 applicants were accepted.

Pace has developed a tradition of participation in the Millennium Fellowship, and former Fellows have left a lasting impact on Pace and the surrounding communities. Previous projects have focused on combatting food insecurity on campus, improving access to menstrual products, providing classroom mental health toolkits, and letter-writing campaigns as a source of global connection.

The Dyson students selected for the Class of 2023 are:

• Aidann Gia Bacolodan ’25, Political Science
• Harrison Bakst ’24, Psychology
• Pamella-Rayelle Barais ’25, Political Science
• Isabella Yasmeen Birjandi ‘26, Behavioral Neuroscience
• Jackson Blackburn ’24, Communications
• Austin Chappelle ’26, Environmental Science
• Layne Davis ’25, Peace and Justice Studies and Political Science
• Anastasia Khanukov ’24, Economics
• Ryan Kwon ’26, Film and Screen Studies
• Ellisa Lecointe ’25, Biology
• Lily Lockwood ’23, Undecided/Exploring (Dyson)
• Lilah McCormack ’25, Digital Journalism
• Louisa (Lulu) Moquete ’24, Mathematics
• Kelly Ng ’26, Biology
• Margaret Pereira ’25, Peace and Justice Studies
• Alexis Pickering ’26, Political Science
• Gianna Rotunno ‘26, Undecided/Exploring (Dyson)
• Saloni Shah ‘24, Economics
• Laila Shakir ‘26, Psychology
• Marianna Visbal ’26, Political Science
• Emily Whitehill ’24, Communication and Media Studies