Opportunitas:  The History of Pace University by Marilyn Weigold

In 1906 two brothers from Ohio, Homer and Charles Pace, borrowed $600 to start up a one room business school in New York's financial district. Homer, a CPA, prepared the accounting textbooks; Charles, a lawyer, wrote business law texts. There were 13 students in the first class, which was held in rented space in the old Tribune building on New York's fabled "Newspaper Row." Year by year Pace Institute, as it was known, grew larger and more comprehensive an academic institution until, in 1947, it became a college. A quarter century later Pace was granted university status by the New York Board of Regents.

The growth of Pace, from a narrowly focused urban facility into a multi-campus university in New York City and suburban Westchester County, and of the personalities who dedicated their lives to the school, are brought vividly to life in this fascinating and most quintessential American success story.

Dr. Marilyn E. Weigold is a Professor of History at Pace University and Assistant Chair of the Department of Social Sciences. She is the author of books in the fields of Public Works History and Local and Regional History. Her articles have appeared in the Dictionary of American Biography, The New York Times, NAHO (New York State Museum Quarterly), and The History Teacher.

Dr. Weigold is well-known for her in-service courses and workshops she conducts for school districts in the metropolitan area. She is equally well-known for her slide lectures for community and educational groups and consulting assignments in Public Works History for government agencies and museums. Her honors include a grant from the Rockerfeller Archive Center of Rockefeller University, a Herbert H. Lehman Fellowship from the New York State Board of Regents, the Pace University Kenan Award for Outstanding Teaching, and the Golden Tomahawk Award of the Westchester County Historical Society.