The child of immigrants from Peru, Samantha Lopez’s parents are her inspiration for pursuing a degree in law. Now that she is at Pace, Samantha appreciates the close-knit community and guidance of her professors. “Professor Merton has been extremely helpful and has provided me with a lot of guidance. She is definitely an inspiration and role model. I would love to eventually participate as a student attorney in the Immigration Justice Clinic.”
With a passion for immigration law, Samantha’s experience as a Summer Legal Intern with Sanctuary for Families as part of their Immigration Intervention Project was exactly the type of summer experience she hoped for when she began her law school journey. “I was able to gain a better understanding of the legal immigration process and work directly with clients as I wrote an asylum brief, drafted a client’s affidavit, and filed N-600 forms. Meeting with the clients and being able to talk with them (mostly in Spanish) was an amazing experience that really cemented that I am on the right path.”
Now, a 3L at Haub Law, Samantha is secretary of the Latin American Law Student Association and the Pace Immigration Law Society. “I wanted to join LALSA because I believe when going through something difficult, such as law school, one needs a strong support system to help you through it. Knowing that members of LALSA typically come from similar backgrounds and have had similar experiences as I have had has made going through law school as a first generation law student a far better experience. I am also glad to have joined an organization with such an extensive alumni network that provides support.”
For Thomas Scopino ’27, a master's student in Environmental Science and Policy at Pace University's Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, an internship with the New York Public Library offered an unexpected opportunity to explore how environmental policy, energy efficiency, and urban sustainability intersect across New York City.
Through Pace University’s unique relationship with the United Nations, students are taking their education beyond the classroom and onto the global stage, advocating for human rights, engaging with international leaders, and gaining firsthand experience in shaping conversations that can change the world.
How much freedom are we willing to sacrifice in the name of security? As facial recognition and AI-powered surveillance expand worldwide, Political Science Professor and Chair Amy Freedman, PhD, examines what the rise of digital monitoring in Southeast Asia reveals about democracy, individual rights, and the growing power of governments to watch and control their citizens.