U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng Addresses Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University’s Commencement

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At the University’s first in-person graduation ceremony in three years, U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng delivered the commencement address to the graduates from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and also received an honorary doctorate. This year marked the first year that Pace University held a combined ceremony for graduates of its campuses in New York City, Pleasantville, and White Plains. Delivering the commencement address for Pace University was Mayor Eric Adams, who also received an honorary doctorate. Finance and philanthropy leader, Baroness Ariane de Rothschild, a Pace alum, was also recognized. This year’s ceremony, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, recognized not only the class of 2022, but also the classes of 2021 and 2022, who were not able to have a traditional celebration due to pandemic-related restrictions.

Horace E. Anderson Jr,, Dean of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law served as the Master of Ceremonies. After a brief introduction, kicking off the ceremony was Haub Law student, Amanda Fugel, singing the National Anthem to the live audience as well as to hundreds of individuals live streaming the event. In his speech, Dean Horace Anderson focused on the ways that the three recent graduating classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022, in the face of an unprecedented global pandemic, helped Haub Law thrive. From the number one ranking of Haub Law’s environmental law program, to top rankings in trial advocacy, launching of new programs, developing new initiatives, publishing papers in prestigious journals, and more – Dean Anderson noted that these are the student’s achievements.

Students Kellyann Dornan and Mitchell Quatinetz also gave remarks to the graduating classes and audience members. Both students acknowledged the impact that their professors at Haub Law made on them, and the perseverance of their class in not only graduating law school, but also graduating law school during a pandemic. Mitchell Quatinetz noted that, “I am optimistic that our law school experience, though admittedly not what we had envisioned when we began law school, has transformed us into lawyers who are resilient and adaptable.”

U.S. Representative Grace Meng was presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Pace University Board Chair and Haub Law alum Rob Sands. Congresswoman Meng is currently serving her fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives and represents the borough of Queens in the Sixth Congressional District of New York. She is the first and only Asian American Member of Congress from New York State, and the first female member from Queens since former Vice Presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro. For her impressive and impactful work towards menstrual equality and more, Congresswoman Meng was recently recognized by Haub Law’s Women’s Association of Law Students with their annual Pioneer of Justice Award.

During her inspiring address, Congresswoman Meng stated, “This is a celebration not only of success, but of your determination, persistence, and resolve.” She spoke about what life is like after law school, giving the graduates sage advice as they navigate their future careers, discussing how she herself got involved in politics, the ways in which she looked to support her community, and how important it is to positively represent the voices that may not be in the room where decisions are made and communities that lack the resources to have their voices heard. Speaking directly to the class of 2022, Congresswoman Meng said, “it is the responsibility of all of us and on the shoulders of all of us to step outside of our comfort zones and in addition to the legal expertise that you have and will continue to develop to bring your own unique history and experiences to make the law fair and more accessible to everyone. And, with your degree and an open mind for tackling challenges, you can discover and contribute to the world, your ideas and your work that will make a visible difference in the daily lives of the people you serve. And whether you make mistakes or you find successes in addressing these challenges, these opportunities however tough they may be are not barriers, they are markers of your storied experiences and your job will be to continue to improve the lives of everyone around you.”

After her commencement address, the JD, SJD, and LLM graduates were called to the stage by Associate Dean and Professor Jill I. Gross and hooded by Professors Bridget J. Crawford, Jared Hatcliffe, and Jason J. Czarnezki. After the last name was read, remarks were made by Madison Shaff, graduate of the class of 2022 and Student Bar Association President. She stated in part, “I am honored to be here today with my colleagues because today we can look around, and we are here, once again a connected community. Together we had to confront ongoing adaptation, sometimes grief, but throughout it all learned some hard, but valuable lessons. If you take anything away from your law school experience, I hope it is the idea of community.” The ceremony ended with remarks by Pace University president, Marvin Krislov.

This year’s 2022 graduating class from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University included 213 Juris Doctor degrees, 32 Master of Laws degrees (15 in Comparative Legal Studies, 11 in Environmental Law, and 6 Doctor of Juridical Science in Environmental Law degrees). Of the JD graduates, 9 graduated summa cum laude, 26 magna cum laude, and 67 cum laude. Of those, 9 students earned certificates in Health Law and Policy, 30 in Environmental Law, and 6 in International Law.