Dyson College of Arts and Sciences News

Dyson Professor Matthew Aiello-Lammens speaks with News12 following a retaining wall collapse in Yonkers, explaining how saturated soil and hydrostatic pressure—combined with freeze-thaw cycles—can place significant stress on retaining structures.

By blending real-world research with student collaboration, Economics Professor Veronika Dolar, PhD, is helping the next generation of economists explore inequality and its impact on opportunity.

From undergraduate research to doctoral study, Tinuade McClish ’23 turned her passion for psychology into a clear path forward. Through faculty mentorship, hands-on research, and a close-knit campus community, Pace University helped launch her journey to a PhD.

In USA Today’s story on actor Hudson Williams, Melvin Williams, associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University, noted that while celebrity journalism often seeks intimate details, “celebrities and non-celebrities do not owe the public a confirmation or explanation about their sexual orientations.”

Dyson Professor Melvin Williams speaks to USA Today discussing emerging Gen Z slang like “aura farming” and “clip farming,” explaining how coded language reflects younger generations’ deep reliance on digital platforms to shape identity and social life.

Dyson Professor Marcella Szablewicz pens an op-ed for MS NOW applying moral panic theory to the public reaction surrounding the Epstein files. She argues that moral panics historically target marginalized “folk devils” and hinge on exaggerated threats—conditions that do not apply to scrutiny of powerful elites.

In Newsday, Dyson Philosophy Professor James Brusseau, who researches AI in higher education, weighs in on a closely watched case involving an Adelphi University student who successfully challenged an AI-related plagiarism accusation. Professor Brusseau underscores the broader implications for academic integrity policies, highlighting the need for transparent standards and due process as institutions grapple with artificial intelligence in student work.

Dyson Professor Seong Jae Min writes a piece in The Korea Times comparing recent pro-democracy protests in South Korea with demonstrations in the United States over immigration enforcement. He examines how polarization, geography, and social cohesion influence the scale and impact of civic mobilization, emphasizing that democratic systems endure only when citizens step forward to defend them.

At the intersection of art and technology, Olivia Vella ’26 is building a career through visual storytelling. With support from Pace faculty and immersive coursework, the dual major landed a motion graphics internship at Madison Square Garden—where her work electrifies game-day experiences.