Alumni Who Lead

For 120 years, Pace University has prepared students not only for careers, but for lives of influence, leadership, and impact. From the earliest graduates of Pace Institute in lower Manhattan to today’s innovators shaping industries across the globe, Pace alumni have helped transform business, public service, health, technology, and the arts. Their stories reflect the same principles that guide the University today: rigorous academics, experiential learning, and a commitment to real-world impact.

As Pace enters its next chapter, these alumni represent a powerful throughline demonstrating how generations of Pace graduates have helped shape the very areas of excellence that will define the University’s future.

1910s

William B. Franke ’17
William B. Franke, a 1917 graduate of Pace Institute, went on to serve as the 55th United States Secretary of the Navy under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. At a defining moment in Cold War history, Franke oversaw efforts to modernize the Navy, including the expansion of nuclear-powered warships and other advanced technologies that reshaped U.S. defense strategy. His career stands as an early example of Pace graduates stepping into roles where public service, technological advancement, and national leadership intersect.

1920s

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Joseph Lubin ’21
Joseph Lubin, who earned his certificate in accountancy from Pace Institute in 1921, became a pioneering force in the accounting profession and co-founded the influential firm Eisner & Lubin. He later chaired the New York State Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners and helped shape professional standards for the field. Lubin remained closely connected to Pace throughout his life, serving as a trustee and benefactor. Today, the Lubin School of Business carries forward his belief that rigorous business education, grounded in real-world practice, opens doors to leadership in New York and beyond.

Gustav O. Lienhard ’26
After graduating from Pace in 1926, Gustav O. Lienhard built a career that led him to the presidency of Johnson & Johnson, helping guide one of the world’s most influential healthcare companies. Alongside his corporate achievements, he devoted decades of service to Pace as a trustee and supporter of the University’s growth. His legacy lives on through the Lienhard School of Nursing, which prepares future nurses and healthcare professionals to meet the rising demand for compassionate, highly skilled care.

1930s

Charles H. Dyson ’30
Financier, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Charles H. Dyson launched his career after graduating from Pace Institute in 1930, eventually becoming a prominent figure in both business and public economic policy. His commitment to Pace shaped the University for generations: Dyson served as chairman of the Board of Trustees and helped guide its academic expansion. The Dyson College of Arts and Sciences stands as a tribute to his belief that strong liberal arts foundations cultivate thoughtful leaders capable of navigating an increasingly complex world.

1940s

Walter Scherr ’49
Walter Scherr, who graduated from Pace in 1949, helped bring emerging communications technologies into everyday business practice. As Chief Financial Officer of Veeco Instruments and founder of Visual Sciences/Panafax, he played a pivotal role in introducing fax technology to the broader market—changing how companies exchanged information across cities, countries, and continents. Scherr’s work foreshadowed the rapid evolution of digital communication and the growing importance of technology within modern business.

1950s

Ian McDougall ’54
Born in Scotland and raised in a coal-mining community, Ian McDougall arrived in the United States as a teenager and graduated from Pace in 1954. He spent his career at Inco Limited, eventually becoming the company’s vice chairman and chief financial officer after starting as a messenger. Outside the boardroom, McDougall dedicated decades to youth soccer, co-founding Oceanside United and mentoring generations of young players. His life tells a story of perseverance, leadership, and the lasting value of community engagement.

1960s

James E. Healey ’64
James E. Healey built a distinguished career in corporate finance, ultimately serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Nabisco Holdings Corp. during a period of significant change in the global food industry. Over more than two decades in senior financial leadership roles, he helped steer strategy for major consumer brands. Healey later brought that experience back to Pace through service on the Board of Trustees, contributing to the University’s continued growth and evolution.

1970s

Donald L. Boudreau ’70
Donald Boudreau rose to become Vice Chairman of JPMorgan Chase and Chase Manhattan Corporation, where he served on both the Executive Committee and Management Committee. Over the course of his career, he helped guide one of the world’s most influential financial institutions through decades of change in global banking. His trajectory—from Pace graduate to Wall Street leadership—underscores the University’s deep ties to the financial and business communities of New York City.

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Maria Fiorini Ramirez ’72
Maria Fiorini Ramirez is a trailblazer in finance and a longtime leader in advancing women in the industry. As Founder, President, and CEO of Maria Fiorini Ramirez, Inc., she built a respected economic consulting firm while serving on the boards of major financial institutions including Metropolitan Commercial Bank and Security Mutual Life. A former Pace trustee and founder of the Maria Fiorini Ramirez Endowed Scholarship Fund, she has remained deeply committed to expanding opportunity for future students. Her career and philanthropy reflect the impact of Pace graduates in innovative business and financial leadership, as well as the power of mentorship and access in shaping the next generation.

James N. Fernandez ’78
James Fernandez spent more than three decades at Tiffany & Co., ultimately serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the iconic global luxury brand. During his tenure, he helped oversee financial strategy, operational growth, and international expansion as Tiffany strengthened its presence around the world. Fernandez’s career highlights how a foundation in business and finance can open doors to leadership roles within some of the most recognizable brands in the global marketplace.

1980s

Ivan Seidenberg ’81
Ivan Seidenberg’s career began with a pair of climbing spikes and a job as a cable splicer at New York Telephone. Decades later, he became Chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications, leading the company through the rise of wireless networks and broadband connectivity. Under his leadership, Verizon helped build the infrastructure that powers today’s digital world. The Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems now carries forward that legacy, preparing students for careers in fields ranging from cybersecurity to artificial intelligence.

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Rossana Rosado ’83
Bronx-born journalist and public servant Rossana Rosado ’83 has spent her career elevating voices and shaping public life in New York. She broke barriers as the first woman to serve as editor-in-chief, CEO, and publisher of El Diario, the nation’s largest Spanish-language newspaper, helping inform and empower Latino communities. Rosado later brought that perspective to public service, serving as New York’s Secretary of State and now Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, advancing policies that strengthen fairness, safety, and trust across the justice system—work that reflects Pace’s enduring commitment to civic leadership, law, and public service.

Rob Sands ’84
Rob Sands ’84, a graduate of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace, built a global business career as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Constellation Brands, the Fortune 500 company behind brands such as Modelo, Corona, and Robert Mondavi. Through strategic acquisitions and expansion, he helped transform the company into one of the most influential players in the global beverage industry. At Pace, Sands continues to help shape the University’s future as Chair of the Board of Trustees and a champion of the Sands College of Performing Arts.

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Andrea Stewart-Cousins ’86, ’08
Andrea Stewart-Cousins made history as the first woman to serve as Majority Leader of the New York State Senate, representing the 35th District since 2007. A Pace alumna twice over, she has also served as acting lieutenant governor and has become a leading voice for economic opportunity, equity, and community development across New York State. Her career reflects the powerful role Pace graduates play in shaping policy and advancing public leadership.

José Luis Castro ’88
José Luis Castro ’88 is a global leader in public health who currently serves as the World Health Organization’s Special Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases. As the founding CEO of Vital Strategies, he helped build a global public health organization dedicated to addressing some of the world’s most urgent health challenges. Castro’s work reflects the global reach of Pace graduates and underscores the university’s commitment to health, behavioral health, and community well-being on an international scale. Learn more about the Pace Center for Global Health that he leads alongside Professor Sonia Suchday, PhD.

1990s

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William “Bill” Janetschek ’93
Bill Janetschek built an influential career in global finance, serving as Chief Financial Officer and Partner at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), one of the world’s leading investment firms. During more than two decades with the firm, he played a central role in guiding its financial strategy and supporting its expansion into international markets. Today, Janetschek continues to shape the future of higher education as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at St. John’s University—a reminder that Pace graduates often carry their leadership from the boardroom into the institutions that prepare the next generation.

2000s

Tim Morehouse ’03
Tim Morehouse earned an Olympic silver medal in fencing at the 2008 Beijing Games and is a two-time U.S. National Champion. Rather than stepping away from the sport after his competitive success, he turned his attention to access and education. Through Fencing in the Schools, the nonprofit he founded, Morehouse has introduced thousands of students across the United States to the discipline, strategy, and confidence the sport encourages—bringing athletic opportunity and mentorship into classrooms that might not otherwise have access.

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Telfar Clemens ’08
Telfar Clemens reshaped the fashion landscape with his boundary-breaking label Telfar, built around the now-iconic principle: “Not for you—for everyone.” His designs challenge traditional ideas about luxury, gender, and accessibility, earning him two CFDA Accessories Designer of the Year awards and the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund prize. The Telfar Shopping Bag—sometimes called the “Bushwick Birkin”—has become a cultural symbol of inclusive fashion, demonstrating how creativity and entrepreneurship can redefine an entire industry.

2010s

Pedro Rivera ’12
Emmy-winning journalist Pedro Rivera ’12 brings the stories of New York to millions of viewers as co-anchor of ABC7’s Eyewitness News This Morning and Eyewitness News at 10. A Bronx native, Rivera has reported on major national events including the Sandy Hook tragedy, the Boston Marathon bombing, and devastating California wildfires. His work blends urgency with empathy—qualities essential to modern journalism and to the role media plays in helping communities understand the world around them.

Opal Vadhan ’15
Opal Vadhan has built a career at the highest levels of American government, working behind the scenes in some of the country’s most consequential political offices. A first-generation Indian American raised in Queens, she began with a White House internship before serving as Personal Aide to Vice President Kamala Harris and previously as Executive Assistant and Trip Director to Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton. Her path from Pace student to trusted advisor inside the halls of power speaks to the next generation of graduates shaping public life and national leadership.

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Cooper Koch ’18
Actor Cooper Koch ’18 has quickly emerged as a rising presence in film and television. His breakout performance as Erik Menendez in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (2024) earned both Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, marking an extraordinary early milestone in his career. A graduate of Pace’s performing arts programs, Koch represents a new generation of artists launching their careers from New York City onto national and international stages.

From the earliest graduates of Pace Institute to today’s rising leaders, these alumni show what can grow from a Pace education: curiosity, ambition, and a commitment to shaping the world beyond campus. One hundred and twenty years in, the story is still unfolding and the next generation of Pace graduates is already writing what comes next.