Pace’s New Dean for Students

Jeffrey A. Barnett, PhD, has joined the Pace Community as vice president for student affairs and dean for students. He most recently served as interim associate dean of students at Stony Brook University, where he has worked for more than two decades in a variety of student affairs and enrollment and retention roles.

Barnett earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stony Brook and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Teachers College at Columbia University. Last year, he completed his doctorate in social welfare at Stony Brook—with a dissertation focused on fostering belonging among low-income college students.

“Pace is a place that sets itself apart from so many others and I am excited that my professional principles and values align so deeply with the University's mission."

We are excited by the new vision Jeff will bring to Student Affairs, as well as his skill and enthusiasm for connecting with students.

“Pace is a place that sets itself apart from so many others and I am excited that my professional principles and values align so deeply with the University's mission,” says Barnett. “Opportunitas—opportunity for all—is not just a convenient motto here at Pace but rather an easily identifiable foundation woven into the fabric of Pace's mission. It is a singular identity that grounds us in creating transformative experiences and opportunity for all students. This living mission is what pulled me to Pace.”

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Jeff at Stony Brook and over the years, as our careers have progressed, we’ve stayed in touch,” says Alerie Tirsch, Pleasantville’s associate dean for students. “He’s very student-centered and innovative. I’m really excited for our community to get to know Jeff.”

At Pace, Barnett will bring deep expertise in organizational leadership, inclusion and belonging, student support services, student programming, risk management, student organization administration, commuter student services and off-campus living, mental health and wellness, emergency management and crisis response, leadership development, peer education prevention programs, new student programs, community relations, marketing and communications, freedom of expression actions, and civic engagement.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming Dr. Barnett to campus and we’re looking forward to working with him in our efforts to continually enhance the student experience,” says NYC Senior Associate Dean for Students Todd Smith-Bergollo. “Jeff is bringing his strong experience and ideas to the table and has already hit the ground running!”

Want to meet our new Dean for Students? Join him, President Marvin Krislov, and Interim Provost Joe Franco at one of our upcoming Welcome Back receptions hosted in Pleasantville and NYC.