Press Release: Pace University Announces New Members to its Board of Trustees

Barbara A. Abeles and Sabrina A. Griffin ’92 bring a shared dedication to leadership, philanthropy, and student success

Pace University’s Board of Trustees announced the election of two new members, Barbara A. Abeles, owner, chairman and chief executive officer of CBL Ceramics Ltd, and Sabrina A. Griffin ’92, inaugural chair of the Pace Alumni Association Leadership Council, to its Board of Trustees.

“Sabrina and Barbara exemplify Pace’s mission of expanding opportunity—Sabrina through her continued alumni leadership and Barbara through her longstanding philanthropic commitment to education,” said Rob Sands, chairman of Pace University’s Board of Trustees. “We are proud to welcome them to the board and look forward to the insight, perspective and leadership they bring to our community.”

Image

Abeles is chairman and CEO of CBL Ceramics Ltd., a Wales-based manufacturer of advanced ceramics for the global electronics industry. She has led the company for nearly three decades, overseeing global operations across finance, regulatory compliance, sales, and human resources. Under her leadership, CBL has become one of only three firms internationally producing a highly specialized class of industrial ceramics.

A longtime resident of Westchester County, Abeles has demonstrated a deep commitment to education and philanthropy. She serves on the Foundation Board of Westchester Community College and Pace University’s President’s Council. She is a major supporter of Pace’s Community Impact Internship Program and established a permanently endowed scholarship to address gender disparities in the sciences. Abeles holds a bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a master’s from Boston University.

“I’ve long admired Pace University’s commitment to creating opportunity through education,” said Abeles. “It’s an honor to join the Board of Trustees and to support a community so dedicated to empowering students to reach their full potential.”

Griffin served for more than 30 years at the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, most recently as assistant vice president and diversity manager. During her tenure, she successfully managed and implemented leadership development programs geared towards women, people of color and LGBTQIA+ employees.

She currently serves on Pace University’s President’s Council, as inaugural chair of the Pace University Alumni Association Leadership Council and as a member of the Development, Alumni Relations and Public Affairs Committee. Griffin also serves on The Mahaffey Leading Ladies committee for The Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts, in St. Petersburg, FL. helping bring live theater, books, art and music to more than 30,000 students annually. In addition, she serves on the arts and finance committees of the St. Petersburg Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, a national women’s organization committed to education, health and civic engagement. She holds an MBA in finance from Pace’s Lubin School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

“Joining the Board is an opportunity to give back in a way that’s intentional and inclusive,” said Griffin. “I want to help create pathways that meet people where they are—whether they’re students figuring it out or alumni reconnecting after time away. If we design experiences that reflect our community’s needs, we’ll keep building something truly meaningful together.”

About Pace University

Since 1906, Pace University has been transforming the lives of its diverse students—academically, professionally, and socioeconomically. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to 13,600 students in its College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, Sands College of Performing Arts, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.