The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University celebrated the Class of 2026 on Thursday, May 21, at its 48th Commencement Ceremony, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. The Honorable Francesca E. Connolly ’82, Associate Justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Second Judicial Department and a proud Pace Haub Law alumna, delivered an inspiring commencement address and received the Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, the highest honor conferred by the Law School.

This year’s commencement ceremony speakers highlighted resilience, service, and the limitless possibilities of a legal education. The Law School conferred 261 Juris Doctor degrees, 18 Master of Laws (LLM) degrees in Comparative Legal Studies, 11 LLM degrees in Environmental Law, and 1 Doctor of Juridical Science degree. In addition, 59 Advanced Certificates were awarded, and 6 students earned joint degrees, including 5 JD/Master of Environmental Management degrees with the Yale School of the Environment and 1 LLM/MA joint degree with the University for Peace. Among the graduating class were 53 Flex JD graduates who balanced the demands of law school alongside careers, families, and other responsibilities.

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During her commencement address, Justice Connolly reflected on her own journey from Pace Haub Law student to one of the state’s most respected jurists, encouraging graduates to embrace perseverance, integrity, humility, and compassion throughout their careers.

“Success in this profession does not require perfection,” Justice Connolly told graduates. “It requires persistence. It requires preparation. It requires integrity. And most of all, it requires a belief that you are capable of much more than you imagine right now.”

Success in this profession does not require perfection. It requires persistence. It requires preparation. It requires integrity.

Justice Connolly shared personal stories about overcoming financial hardship, working multiple jobs while pursuing her education, and discovering confidence through her experiences in moot court at Pace Law. She described preparation as “the antidote to fear” and urged graduates to remain grounded in integrity and public service as they enter the legal profession.

“The true measure of your career will be the doors you open for others: the clients you steady, the voices you amplify, the injustices you confront, the communities you strengthen,” she said.

In his remarks, Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. reflected on the significance of the occasion as the Law School marks its 50th anniversary year and emphasized the enduring strength of the Pace Haub Law community.

“This year, as we celebrate 50 years of Pace Haub Law, you are joining a community that spans generations,” Dean Anderson said. “Fifty years of alumni who have gone on to lead, to serve, to advocate, and to shape the law in meaningful ways.”

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Dean Anderson also highlighted Justice Connolly’s extraordinary career, noting that she became the first Pace Haub Law graduate appointed to the Appellate Division, Second Department, and later served by designation as an Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.

“Your law degree is not a script. It is not a narrow path,” Dean Anderson told graduates. “It is a key—one that opens doors you cannot yet see.”

The Class of 2026 student address was delivered by Daniel Khieninson ’26. The Dean’s Award, the Law School’s highest honor for academic excellence, service, and leadership, was presented to three outstanding graduates: Rebecca Parlante, JD, Emily Katherine Lombardi, Flex JD, and Zander Graham, LLM. The Barbara C. Salken Outstanding Professor of the Year Award was presented to Jessica Miles, Full-Time Faculty, and Jared J. Hatcliffe, Adjunct Faculty Award. The Student Bar Association President, Rachel Gillian Greene, delivered closing remarks.

Watch Judge Connolly's Commencement Speech:

NBC’s Lester Holt Addresses Graduates at 2026 Pace University Commencement

Pace celebrates more than 4,300 graduates at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

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Pace University’s Class of 2026 crossed the commencement stage this week as award-winning journalist and Dateline NBC anchor Lester Holt reflected on the risks, setbacks, and unexpected opportunities that shaped his path from aspiring broadcaster to a renowned journalist.

Speaking to more than 4,300 graduates and nearly 25,000 family members, friends, and supporters gathered at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, Holt encouraged students to resist the pressure to “play it safe” and remain open to the possibilities that can come from taking chances and challenging expectations.

“How far a leap are you willing to make to realize your dream?” Holt asked graduates. “Playing it safe seems like a smart strategy on the surface, but you will find yourself at moments where the reasonable choice feels unreasonable.”

Holt, who received a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, was among several distinguished speakers recognized throughout Pace’s two-day Commencement celebration, which included six ceremonies, student speakers, a food village, music, and other celebratory festivities.

Wednesday’s undergraduate ceremonies featured several distinguished speakers: Dr. Mitchell Katz, president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, addressed graduates of the College of Health Professions, Lubin School of Business, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

Pedro Rivera '12, an Emmy- and LA Press Club Award-winning journalist and co-anchor of ABC7 Eyewitness News on WABC-TV, spoke to graduates of Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, the Sands College of Performing Arts, and the School of Education. Reflecting on his own journey from Pace student to broadcast journalist, Rivera encouraged graduates to stay focused on long-term goals and define success on their own terms.

“Manifest your success,” Rivera told graduates. “Say your goals out loud. Write them down and really embed them into your mind, because everything you do — the jobs you take, the people you surround yourselves with — will lead you toward that success. And success is not about money or status. It’s about happiness.”

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The celebration continued Thursday with graduate and professional school ceremonies, including the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, which recently earned the No. 1 ranking for Environmental Law by U.S. News & World for the sixth consecutive Year.

Hon. Francesca E. Connolly '82, associate justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Second Judicial Department, addressed law graduates and received a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

Justice Connolly shared personal stories about overcoming financial hardship, working multiple jobs while pursuing her education, and discovering confidence through her experiences in moot court at Pace Law. She described preparation as “the antidote to fear” and urged graduates to remain grounded in integrity and public service as they enter the legal profession.

“Success in this profession does not require perfection,” she said. “It requires persistence. It requires preparation. It requires integrity. And most of all, it requires a belief that you are capable of much more than you imagine right now.”

Peter Muller, founder and CEO of PDT Partners, addressed graduates of the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems and Lubin School of Business. Judith M. Watson '94, RN, BSN, MPH, CEO of Westchester Community Health Center, spoke to graduates of Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, and the College of Health Professions. Pace also awarded Cedric Bobo, founder of Project Destined, with its Opportunitas in Action Award.

The student recipient of this year’s Opportunitas Award, Suraj Sharma, earned a combined bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s degree in applied quantitative economics from Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. As captain of Pace’s National Federal Reserve Challenge team, Sharma helped lead the University to a national championship title, outperforming 136 competing schools, including Harvard and UCLA.

Sharma graduated with a 4.0 GPA and earned numerous honors during his time at Pace, including the Award for Excellence in Academic Research and induction into the International Economics Honor Society. Following graduation, he will join PIMCO as an institutional client management account analyst.

“Every opportunity in life exists because someone else paid a price for it,” Sharma said. “Pace not only gave us degrees, it gave us those opportunities and taught us to relentlessly seize them ourselves.”

During the main ceremony, Pace University President Marvin Krislov reflected on the experiences that shaped graduates throughout their time at the University and the lessons they will carry into a rapidly changing world.

“Graduates, your education unfolded in classrooms, in residence halls, in internships, in rehearsal studios, in clinics, in courtrooms and labs and communities throughout New York and beyond,” Krislov said. “Some of you found your direction immediately. Others discovered it gradually through exploration, through setbacks, through conversations, and seizing new opportunities. That is all part of what higher education is meant to do.”

Students celebrating this achievement included undergraduate, graduate, law, and doctoral candidates preparing for careers in nursing, physician assistant studies, business, cybersecurity, education, law, the arts, public service, and more.

Number of graduates by Ceremony

Undergraduate Degrees

• College of Health Professions, Lubin School of Business, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems: 1,077
• Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Sands College of Performing Arts, and School of Education (undergraduate and graduate): 1,140

Graduate Degrees

• Lubin School of Business and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems: 1,049
• College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, and School of Education: 814

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

• Total graduates receiving degrees: 291
• Juris Doctor degrees: 261
• Master of Laws in Comparative Legal Studies degrees: 18
• Master of Laws in Environmental Law degrees: 11
• Doctor of Juridical Science degree: 1
• Advanced certificates awarded: 59
• Additional joint degrees recognized: 6
• Flex JD graduates: 53

About Pace University

Founded in 1906 and celebrating 120 years of preparing students for success in 2026, Pace University pairs real-life learning with strong academics to launch meaningful careers. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace serves 13,600 students across a range of bachelor, master, and doctoral programs through the 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.

Only months after its launch, the Gale Epstein Center for Technology, Policy and the Environment at Pace University is already emerging as a hub for civic innovation, experiential learning, and environmental advocacy. Housed within Pace’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, the Center is turning its mission into action through award-winning student projects, sustainability initiatives, and youth-led environmental engagement.

The momentum reflects the vision behind the Center’s creation: bringing together technology and public service to address environmental challenges. Guided by Executive Director John Cronin and supported by philanthropist Gale Epstein, the Center is empowering Pace students to tackle real-world challenges surrounding water quality, public health, and environmental justice.

Our goal is to fulfill the public's right to know the environmental conditions in which they live by making Blue CoLab's information systems and tools available to schools, libraries, and local governments.

One of the Center’s first major successes came through the annual Project Planet competition, which is presented by Speedemissions, Inc., an Atlanta-based clean air testing company, in partnership with The Front Yard at Pace University. Out of 63 student proposals submitted across the University, only five grants were awarded.

A team of Seidenberg students—Silas Gonzalez, Lizi Imedashvili, and Victor Lima—earned one of those grants for a proposal to develop a business incubator connected to the Gale Epstein Center. Their project received $12,000 in funding through a combination of the Project Planet award and matching support from Gale Epstein herself.

The students’ proposal focused on expanding public access to environmental information systems developed through Blue CoLab, a nonprofit initiative connected to the Center’s mission.

Silas Gonzalez explained that “our goal is to fulfill the public's right to know the environmental conditions in which they live by making Blue CoLab's information systems and tools available to schools, libraries, and local governments.”

The project reflects the same emphasis on technology-driven environmental transparency that has become central to the Center’s identity. It also demonstrates the kind of hands-on, mission-focused work Pace leaders hoped the Center would inspire among students.

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This spirit of hands-on, mission-focused work was also on display during the Center’s first-ever Student Environmental Congress on the Pleasantville Campus. The event welcomed 28 students from San Miguel Academy in Newburgh, New York, and St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, for a day focused on technology-driven environmental transparency.

The event centered on the theme “The Future of Urban Rivers.” Students spent the morning presenting research on the environmental conditions affecting their home waterways, the Hudson River in New York and the Passaic River in New Jersey, including studies on water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and pollution. In the afternoon, students broke into working groups to develop recommendations for making urban rivers more sustainable.

“The day was an inspiration,” said Lizi Imedashvili, who serves as the Center’s project manager and helped organize the event. “These students, from some of the nation’s toughest neighborhoods, rose up with an optimism and vision that should grab the attention of every environmental decision maker in America.”

Both of these initiatives reflect the Gale Epstein Center’s commitment to technological innovation, civic engagement, and youth leadership. Even though the Center only officially opened this semester, this approach has already earned it national and international recognition. Earlier this year, John Cronin was appointed to the Millennium Campus Network’s Civic Learning Council, a global leadership body that advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through student-led initiatives on campuses around the world.

Through projects focused on water transparency, sustainability, and environmental justice, Pace students are moving beyond the classroom to develop solutions with real-world implications. The Center’s early successes offer a glimpse of what’s ahead: a growing community of students using technology, innovation, and civic engagement to shape a more informed and sustainable future.

Innovation, storytelling, and immersive technology took center stage at Pace University this spring as the NYC Design Factory at the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems hosted its annual Project Gala. Through interactive installations, projection-based storytelling, future-focused infrastructure concepts, and digital exhibits, students explored New York City’s hidden histories, environmental futures, and evolving social landscapes.

The NYC Design Factory serves as a collaborative hub where students, faculty, and industry professionals come together to address challenges in both industry and society through activities and courses. It is a member of the Design Factory Global Network, a global community of innovation hubs located in universities and research centers dedicated to fostering the next generation of innovators. The program is centered around a problem-solving approach that is technology-centered, design-inspired, and human-focused.

These projects demonstrate what becomes possible when students engage with technologies emerging from advanced scientific research and apply them to societal and environmental challenges.

This year’s gala reflected those values through projects developed within the NYC Design Factory and the Human Centered Design MS program, where students explored climate resilience, urban infrastructure, public memory, environmental justice, and civic participation through the lens of New York City’s islands and urban systems, demonstrating how design and technology can help us better understand and reimagine the world around us.

“These projects demonstrate what becomes possible when students engage with technologies emerging from advanced scientific research and apply them to societal and environmental challenges,” said Andreea Cotoranu, director of the NYC Design Factory and clinical professor at Seidenberg. “The teams went far beyond designing individual interfaces or interactions; they envisioned systemic, future-facing concepts connecting technology with the needs of cities, communities, and society at large.”

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Many of the featured projects reimagined New York City’s islands as immersive educational experiences. Staten Island transformed the borough’s environmental and industrial history into an interactive projection experience, while The Evolution of Use: Randall’s Island allowed visitors to explore the changing uses of the island through a tactile timeline interface. Sustainability and Urban Planning on Roosevelt Island examined environmentally conscious urban design through an interactive digital map, and Jamaica Bay Islands Projection immersed visitors in the wetlands ecosystem through projection-based storytelling centered on migratory wildlife and conservation.

The Design Factory experience challenges students to think beyond the product itself and consider the people and systems their ideas will impact

Additional installations explored the city’s cultural memory and overlooked spaces. Rockaway – Living on the Edge blended floor projections, wave simulations, and archival storytelling to create an immersive experience of Rockaway’s coastline and identity. Wood • Water • Work recreated City Island’s shipbuilding history through a digital museum environment inspired by the craftsmanship and labor of historic shipyards. Meanwhile, Hart Island examined the island’s long history of institutionalization and exclusion through archival imagery and spatial storytelling.

Several projects also focused on civic systems and environmental justice. Brooklyn CB 6 as an Island transformed community-board boundaries into an interactive map examining environmental inequities and neighborhood identity, while Communities on the Line invited visitors to engage with public discourse surrounding homelessness and shelter placement through an immersive telephone-based audio installation.

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“The Design Factory experience challenges students to think beyond the product itself and consider the people and systems their ideas will impact,” said Jonathan Williams, D. Des., clinical assistant professor at Seidenberg. “These final projects reflect what can happen when design-led approaches are used to address real-world challenges.”

The gala also featured future-focused infrastructure concepts aimed at addressing future urban challenges. StreetCharge proposed streets capable of wirelessly charging electric vehicles while integrating renewable energy and green infrastructure into the urban landscape. MTA Sub-Zero-Way tackled rising subway temperatures with an underground cooling system designed to improve rider comfort and safety, while Aeropod – Localized Construction Air Control introduced a filtration system intended to reduce airborne pollutants generated by dense urban construction activity.

Other projects expanded the experience beyond the physical exhibition space. NYCIslands.com transformed extensive research about New York City’s 42 islands into an interactive public-facing digital archive featuring maps, educational resources, and community storytelling.

The event also highlighted international collaboration and systems-focused product development through Prinsys Early Leakage Detection, created in partnership with Finnish startup Prinsys and Aalto University. The project explored how proactive infrastructure systems can help property managers detect and respond to water leaks before damage escalates. Combining battery-free sensors, cloud-based monitoring, and a user-centered mobile application, the project demonstrated how thoughtful design can make complex building infrastructure more visible, actionable, and efficient for both residential and commercial spaces.

Together, the projects showcased how immersive technology, systems thinking, and human-centered design can reshape how people engage with history, infrastructure, and the future of urban life.

View the project booklet

The release follows a successful premiere at Jacob Burns Film Center that brought together PaceDocs alumni, students, and faculty

Documentary celebrates the program’s legacy of connection and storytelling

Pace University’s award-winning documentary film team, PaceDocs, today released its latest film, Stories Come Together. It follows a successful premiere at the Jacob Burns Film Center, which last week brought together students, alumni, faculty, and supporters to celebrate the lasting impact of the University’s documentary filmmaking program.

Through interviews with more than 30 alumni and faculty members, the documentary captures the legacy of connection, storytelling, and mentorship that has defined the Producing the Documentary course for more than two decades.

Stories Come Together is now available on the PaceDocs YouTube channel.

The premiere also served as a celebration of Professor Emeritus Maria Luskay, EdD, whose leadership helped shape the PaceDocs program for more than two decades.

“One of the most rewarding parts of this course has always been watching students discover their voices as storytellers,” said Luskay, professor emeritus of the Producing the Documentary course and past director of the graduate program in Communications and Digital Media. “Seeing Lou carry on my legacy through Stories Come Together is incredibly special.”

As part of the production process, the 2026 PaceDocs team traveled throughout the Northeast during spring break, conducting interviews with key figures including Dr. Luskay and Andy Revkin, an environmental journalist, musician, former New York Times writer, and former Pace University professor who co-instructed the course. From managing equipment and coordinating travel logistics to logging footage and shaping the film under a tight deadline, students experienced the full scope of documentary production.

The premiere featured a post-screening Q&A session with the filmmakers and alumni featured in the documentary, many of whom reflected on the lasting influence of the course both personally and professionally.

“Working on this documentary allowed us to build meaningful connections both with the people we interviewed and with each other as a team,” said Sarah Montimaire ’26, a digital cinema and filmmaking major from Brooklyn, New York. “By the end of the semester, we really had become a family, and that sense of connection is reflected throughout the film.”

The premiere also welcomed many PaceDocs alumni featured in the film, several of whom reflected on how the course helped shape their careers in film, media, and storytelling.

“Producing the Documentary was the class that truly prepared me for my career,” said Joseph Gonzalez ’19, who worked on documentaries filmed in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii while at Pace. “The hands-on experience and collaborative environment had a lasting impact on me, and I cannot imagine where I would be today without it.”

Over its 24-year history, PaceDocs has produced 23 documentaries across 14 countries, earning more than 30 awards. Stories Come Together continues this proud tradition of producing high-quality, meaningful, and award-winning films.

“Producing the Documentary taught me about the chaos of production, and the power of a team. And most importantly, it taught me about how telling stories can connect us,” said Lou Guarneri, clinical associate professor of media and communication arts in Dyson College of Arts and Sciences and head of the Producing the Documentary course. “My students and I hope that our film paints a picture of the beautiful chaos that is Producing the Documentary. A look into everything from script to screen, how Stories Come Together.”

In recent years, Pace filmmakers have created documentaries around the globe, exploring topics such as the musical traditions of the Azores and the cultural legacy of the Viola da Terra (Viola da Terra: Harmony of the Azores, 2025), the craft of barrel making in Spain (The Cooper, 2024), which received multiple international awards; the farm-to-table food movement in France (2023); how oysters depend on the ebb and flow of tides (2022); the importance of bees as pollinators in our food supply (2021); the eruption of Kīlauea in Hawaii (2019); the endurance of the people of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria (2018); Cuba at a cultural crossroads (2016); reviving Curacao’s coral reefs (2015); as well as many other poignant films.

“For 24 years, Producing the Documentary has given students the opportunity to immerse themselves in every aspect of the filmmaking process while telling meaningful stories around the world,” said Tresmaine R. Grimes, PhD, dean of Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. “Stories Come Together celebrates the connection, legacy, and storytelling that have defined PaceDocs and shaped generations of students and alumni.”

About Pace University

Founded in 1906 and celebrating 120 years of preparing students for success in 2026, Pace University pairs real-life learning with strong academics to launch meaningful careers. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace serves 13,600 students across a range of bachelor, master, and doctoral programs through the 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.

About Dyson College of Arts and Sciences

Pace University’s liberal arts college, Dyson College, offers more than 50 programs, spanning the arts and humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and pre-professional programs (including pre-medicine, pre-veterinary, and pre-law), as well as many courses that fulfill core curriculum requirements. The College offers access to numerous opportunities for internships, cooperative education and other hands-on learning experiences that complement in-class learning in preparing graduates for career and graduate/professional education choices.

As we prepare for the 2026–2027 academic year, Pace University’s Financial Aid Office is sharing several important reminders for students at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, including academic progress policies, upcoming federal aid changes, and graduation requirements. As a reminder, students should continue checking their Pace email regularly for important updates and notifications.

Understanding Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

To remain eligible for federal and institutional financial aid, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which includes both QPA and course completion requirements.

Pace reviews SAP at the end of each spring semester. Students who are not meeting SAP standards may be at risk of losing financial aid beginning in Summer 2026, including merit scholarships, Federal Direct Loans, and other aid programs.

Students who may need to improve their QPA are encouraged to consider Summer 2026 coursework at Pace University. Please note that summer courses must be taken at Pace in order to count toward a student’s Pace QPA.

Students looking for additional information can visit Pace’s SAP webpage to learn more about the policy and appeal process.

Stay Informed About Upcoming Federal Financial Aid Changes

Beginning July 1, 2026, new federal financial aid regulations tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted on July 4, 2025, will take effect.

These updates may impact student eligibility, borrowing limits, and financial aid processing. Families are encouraged to stay informed by reviewing Pace University’s OBBBA website and the Federal Student Aid changes chart (PDF) as additional guidance becomes available.

A Reminder for Families of Graduating Students

For students graduating in the Class of 2026, congratulations!

Students who borrowed Federal Direct Student Loans during their time at Pace University are required to complete Loan Exit Counseling before graduation.

We’re Here to Help

The Financial Aid Office is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is here to support students and families throughout the financial aid process. Contact us by phone at (914) 422-4050 or submit a Help Desk ticket.