Record-Breaking Year: 34 Pace Students Named Millennium Fellows

Pace University is proud to announce that a record-breaking 34 students have been selected as United Nations Academic Impact–MCN Millennium Fellows for the Class of 2025. This milestone reflects not only the strength of our student leaders, but also Pace’s growing global presence and commitment to social impact.

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The Millennium Fellowship is a prestigious, semester-long leadership development program that empowers undergraduates to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through campus- and community-based projects. This year, more than 60,000 students from over 7,500 campuses around the world applied—and only 4 percent were accepted.

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Pace’s 2025 Fellows represent the most inclusive and interdisciplinary cohort in our history, with students from Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, the Lubin School of Business, the School of Education, the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, and the College of Health Professions all taking part. Their projects span a wide range of pressing issues including healthcare, sustainability, equity, education, housing insecurity, and environmental justice, underscoring Pace’s continued leadership in experiential learning.

For many Fellows, the opportunity is both humbling and motivating. “I truly could not be more honored to be one of Pace’s Campus Directors for the Millennium Fellowship,” said Silas B. Gonzalez ’28. “Not only have I been able to work with Pace students to further the UN Sustainable Development Goals, but I have also been fortunate to meet change leaders from around the world! It truly is a blessing to be able to materialize and progress the change you want to see in the world.”

This year also marks a groundbreaking first: an international Millennium Fellowship team formed through a partnership between the Seidenberg School and Finland’s Häme University of Applied Sciences. This 19-member team is working on a bilateral framework for a global “right-to-know” standard regarding water quality—a vital aspect of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The team will present their findings at the United Nations in October, when the Finnish students travel to New York to join their Pace counterparts in person. This collaboration stands as a powerful example of student-driven innovation with global significance.

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For others, the fellowship has opened doors to pursue passions and connect with peers worldwide. “It’s an honor to be a part of this fellowship!” said Samantha Sergi ’28. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet the board and other fellows across the world during the town hall meeting. I’ve also had the opportunity to continue my passion into spreading awareness about human trafficking. It’s exciting that Pace is having their largest cohort ever and I’m looking forward to meetings with members from this community!”

Even early in the program, Fellows are finding the work deeply meaningful. “This experience so far has felt really rewarding,” said Rachel Parker ’25. “Even though it is still early on, it feels great involving myself in the community and trying to make a positive impact, even if it’s in a small way.”

Together, Pace’s Millennium Fellows are not just learning—they’re leading. Their projects, collaborations, and voices reflect the University’s mission to prepare students to take on the world’s greatest challenges with courage, creativity, and conviction.

For more information about the UN Millennium Fellow program, contact Sue Maxam, PhD, at smaxam@pace.edu.