The Class of 2026 Takes the Leap

As more than 4,300 Pace University graduates prepared to begin their next chapter, one message echoed throughout Commencement: opportunity belongs to those willing to embrace uncertainty.

Across two days of ceremonies, award-winning journalists, accomplished alumni, distinguished jurists, healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs, and student leaders challenged the Class of 2026 to take risks, define success on their own terms, and seize every opportunity that comes their way.

Taking the Leap

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Award-winning journalist and Dateline NBC anchor Lester Holt opened the Main Ceremony with a rousing speech that reflected on all of the risks, setbacks, and unexpected opportunities that shaped his own path from aspiring broadcaster to one of the nation's most respected journalists.

Rather than offering a roadmap to success, Holt challenged graduates to embrace uncertainty. As he looked across the crowd of graduates waiting to turn their tassels and throw their caps, he asked, "How far a leap are you willing to make to realize your dream?"

Holt acknowledged that choosing the safe path can often feel like the logical one—but encouraged graduates not to let fear dictate their future. "Playing it safe seems like a smart strategy on the surface, but you will find yourself at moments where the reasonable choice feels unreasonable."

Playing it safe seems like a smart strategy on the surface, but you will find yourself at moments where the reasonable choice feels unreasonable.

Success on Your Own Terms

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Wednesday's undergraduate ceremonies continued that message through the experiences of distinguished alumni and industry leaders.

Pedro Rivera '12, Emmy Award– and LA Press Club Award–winning journalist and co-anchor of ABC7 Eyewitness News, returned to his alma mater to address graduates from Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, the Sands College of Performing Arts, and the School of Education. Reflecting on his own journey from Pace student to broadcast journalist, Rivera encouraged graduates to define success for themselves—not by titles or salaries, but by fulfillment.

"Manifest your success," Rivera said. "Say your goals out loud. Write them down and really embed them into your mind, because everything you do—the jobs you take, the people you surround yourselves with—will lead you toward that success. And success is not about money or status. It's about happiness."

“And success is not about money or status. It's about happiness.

Graduates from the College of Health Professions, Lubin School of Business, and the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems also heard from Dr. Mitchell Katz, president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, whose career has been defined by public service and healthcare leadership.

Persistence Builds the Path

Thursday's graduate and professional school ceremonies celebrated another milestone as the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University—recently ranked the No. 1 environmental law program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for the sixth consecutive year—honored graduates preparing to enter the legal profession.

Hon. Francesca E. Connolly '82, associate justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Second Judicial Department, addressed graduates and received a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

[Success] requires a belief that you are capable of much more than you imagine right now.

Her message focused not on perfection, but perseverance. "Success in this profession does not require perfection. It requires persistence. It requires preparation. It requires integrity. And most of all, it requires a belief that you are capable of much more than you imagine right now."

Graduate and professional school ceremonies also featured Peter Muller, founder and CEO of PDT Partners, who addressed graduates from the Lubin School of Business and the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, while Judith M. Watson '94, RN, BSN, MPH, CEO of Westchester Community Health Center, spoke to graduates from Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, and the College of Health Professions. Pace also presented Cedric Bobo, founder of Project Destined, with the Opportunitas in Action Award.

Student Stories Shine Through

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The themes shared throughout Commencement were already reflected in the accomplishments of this year's graduates, represented through the words and experiences of the Class of 2026 student speakers,

Valedictorian Caroline Zanuto-Winter, who earned a BA in Computer Science from the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, exemplified the impact of a Pace education through innovation, leadership, and global engagement.

As a United Nations Academic Impact and Millennium Campus Network Millennium Fellow, she collaborated with students across 16 nations on a multilingual advocacy campaign spanning nine languages. Caroline also led the development of a mobile application for her capstone project and recently applied her expertise in computer science and generative AI as a product manager intern at WEX Inc.—demonstrating the kind of real-life learning that defines the Pace experience.

Pace not only gave us degrees, it gave us those opportunities and taught us to relentlessly seize them ourselves.

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Student Opportunitas Award recipient Suraj Sharma spoke to the crowds about opportunity.

Suraj earned a combined bachelor's degree in economics and master's degree in applied quantitative economics from Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. As captain of Pace's National Federal Reserve Challenge team, Sharma helped lead the University to a national championship title, outperforming 136 competing institutions, including Harvard and UCLA.

Graduating with a 4.0 GPA and numerous academic honors, Sharma will begin his career as an institutional client management account analyst at PIMCO.

"Every opportunity in life exists because someone else paid a price for it," Sharma said. "Pace not only gave us degrees, it gave us those opportunities and taught us to relentlessly seize them ourselves."

Ready for What's Next

In his Commencement remarks, President Marvin Krislov reflected on the many places where students' education unfolded—not only in classrooms, but through experiences that challenged them to grow.

"Graduates, your education unfolded in classrooms, in residence halls, in internships, in rehearsal studios, in clinics, in courtrooms and labs and communities throughout New York and beyond," Krislov said. "Some of you found your direction immediately. Others discovered it gradually through exploration, through setbacks, through conversations, and seizing new opportunities. That is all part of what higher education is meant to do."

How far a leap are you willing to make to realize your dream? —Holt

The cheers will fade, the gowns will be packed away, and the tassels tucked into keepsake boxes. But the lessons shared throughout Commencement—and the journeys they celebrated—are only just beginning.

As the Class of 2026 leaves Pace as future journalists, nurses, lawyers, educators, entrepreneurs, technologists, performers, economists, and changemakers, Holt's challenge remains: "How far a leap are you willing to make to realize your dream?"