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How have you seen your commitment to wellness make a difference in your personal and/or professional life?

My commitment to wellness has created a healthy community for me at work wherein my co-workers and I encourage each other to join in the fitness challenges and go for walks during the walking challenges. During the walks we can relax and catch up as well as discuss work items. This has made me more productive at work and enlarged my network at Pace.

Do you have any advice for someone beginning their exercise and/or wellness journey?

Have a partner or group at work and at home who will keep you motivated. Instead of meeting a colleague or friend for lunch, schedule a walk (especially outside, the benefits of fresh air, sunshine and nature are amazing)!

Do you have any wellness success stories (even small victories!) to share?

Through Pace University’s Wellness program, I was placed in a wellness pod that met weekly via zoom with members of the Pace community on all campuses. This gave me an opportunity to expand my Pace network and when the most recent walking challenge came about, we created a walking team that we all decided would be named “One Pace!” Our goal was to create a walking team from across all campuses and offices at Pace to show we are UNITED and ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!! When employees are physically and mentally healthy, they are more engaged, motivated, and productive. On the walking challenge teams I have been a part of we hold each other accountable, have fun and reap the health benefits of friendship, cardio walking workouts and a wonderful support network throughout the University. For each walking challenge I have tried to entice 1-5 people who did not participate in the challenge before to join and will continue to do so for each upcoming challenge—the more engaged our community is—the better!!

The 2024 AI Internship Experience Program at the Seidenberg School started this week! This intensive, two-week paid program for undergraduate and graduate students of Seidenberg will include a multitude of hot topics and tools in technology (such as Introduction to Machine Learning and CNN, Generative AI, Agile Methodologies, and Scrum), a crash course in Python, GitHub workshops, networking, career development, and more. All interns will leave the program with resume worthy projects. The program will culminate in a presentation on Friday, June 14, from 1:00 p.m.–4:45 p.m. in the NYC Design Factory on the 9th floor of 15 Beekman.

Seidenberg Professor, Associate Dean, and Co-Director of the Seidenberg AI Lab, Dr. Christelle Scharff, is leading the program with Dr. Carmine Guida, Assistant Professor and head of Seidenberg’s new BS in Game Development.

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When describing the program, Dr. Guida said that “the AI Internship Experience gives our students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with artificial intelligence, machine learning, project management, pre-professional advancement, and design thinking.” Elaborating on how comprehensive this experience will be for the interns, he said that the “students will develop and deploy two AI-related projects, including an image classifier and generative adversarial network (image generator). Additionally, students will develop their GitHub repositories and enhance their resumes and LinkedIn profiles. They will also be mentored by Career Services, as well as Pace alumni.”

Dr. Scharff added that she and Dr. Guida decided to put the program together because they wanted to “have a program that is very innovative, that is for the next generation. This experience is inspired by internship programs of leading tech companies, such as Google and Microsoft.” When talking about the students who are participating, she said that “we have a very diverse group of students. A lot of them are Sophomores, and this is a first internship experience for some of them. So, it is important for us to build their confidence, teach them new skills, and to set them up for success in their future internships and jobs. We wanted to create a safe environment where our interns can explore and experience all different paths that working with AI can offer.”

Pace University’s Board of Trustees announced the election of a new member, Dov Horowitz '05 (Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems), a distinguished alumnus and IT leader.

"Dov Horowitz is committed to Pace’s mission of creating opportunities for our students now and throughout their careers,” said Rob Sands, chairman of Pace’s Board of Trustees. “We are pleased to welcome him to our Board of Trustees and look forward to benefiting from his expertise, vision, and leadership.”

Dov is the CEO of American Technology Services (ATS), which offers modern technology solutions, including cloud, compliance, custom software development, and network design services. ATS has enhanced its cybersecurity and digital innovation capabilities through strategic acquisitions of cybersecurity and innovative firms. At the NYC headquarters, ATS incubates advanced solutions including the AI-powered web hosting platform LoudSpot and virtual reality simulations. Dov also leads Worldwide TechServices, a global IT professional services and infrastructure support company, where he has served as CEO since 2011.

Dov Horowitz, who received a master’s degree in computer science from Pace’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, recognized that the dramatic ascendance of the Esports and videogame industries presented new, exciting opportunities for Pace to better serve its students. With a landmark gift to support the institution of competitive Esports at Pace, Horowitz’s company, American Technology Services, became the Founding Partner of the varsity program. Dov and American Technology Services saw the potential of Esports to enrich competitors’ student experiences while engaging them in an emerging, multibillion dollar industry.

“As a proud Pace alum, I've experienced firsthand the significant and meaningful impact the university can have in educating and inspiring students,” said Horowitz. “The Esports program, for example, offers ongoing dynamic competitive, curricular, and vocational opportunities for both current and future Pace students. I’m honored to join the Board of Trustees as the university continues to meet student demand and foster next-generation skillsets.”

In fact, following Horowitz’s momentous support, Pace University's Esports program was voted No. 1 in the nation after winning a March Madness-styled bracket for college esports programs. Currently, there are more than 500 members across both campuses that are a part of the Pace University gaming community, including players on Pace’s Varsity, Academy, Club, and intramural teams. Pace is defying a national trend in the growth of participation by female or non-binary athletes. In the past year, the share of women on the school’s esports team has grown to 28% from 19%, and notably, half of the members in the esports club are female.

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, School of Education, Sands College of Performing Arts, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University will bestow the 2024 Robert S. Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence on Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of criminal prosecution and excellence in prosecutorial practice.

“Bridget Brennan has had an impressive career demonstrating her commitment to the pursuit of justice as a narcotics prosecutor and as an advocate for alternatives to prosecution,” said Haub Law Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. “Her tenacity in leading the fight against drug abuse in New York is truly admirable. A prestigious jury of prosecutors, former prosecutors, criminal law experts and law professors has selected her for the Tucker Prize in recognition of the imagination and compassion with which she deals with a serious social issue, one that touches all too many lives in the New York area and beyond.”

New York has long been at the forefront of the drug crisis and fueled by the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis has grown substantially worse. A recent report from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics estimated that 3,156 overdose deaths occurred in New York City in 2023.

Under Brennan’s leadership, the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor has developed expertise to meet challenges posed by each new phase of the deadly opioid epidemic. She established the Heroin Interdiction Team, the Digital Forensic Services Unit, the Criminal and Investigative Analysts Unit, the Prescription Drug Investigation Unit, the Narcotics Gang Unit, the Money Laundering and Financial Investigation Unit, the Community Outreach Unit, the Discovery Compliance and Litigation Unit, the Post Judgment Litigation Unit, the Conviction Review Committee, and the Educational Outreach Committee.

Brennan was appointed as New York City’s Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor on May 1, 1998. She oversees a staff of approximately 200 legal and support personnel. The agency has its own budget for operating expenses and receives funding from the city, state, and federal government. She is New York City’s longest serving Special Narcotics Prosecutor. She joined the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor in 1993.

Brennan has worked to raise public awareness about the heightened risk of overdose, most recently linked to lethal synthetic opioid drugs that saturate the supply of narcotics in New York City. She has been a longtime advocate of alternatives to incarceration and has worked with District Attorney Offices of the five boroughs to promote treatment alternatives, Judicial Diversion, Prosecutor-Led Diversion Programs and Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) Court.

The Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor strives to reduce demand for narcotics by raising public awareness and facilitating alternatives to incarceration and drug treatment, and is in regular communication with providers in the fields of education and drug treatment. It is committed to ensuring that the criminal justice system is fair for all. As head of the office, Brennan has implemented a strategic approach to protecting and saving lives that reduces arrests and incarceration. By intercepting large amounts of lethal narcotics at the top of the supply chain, and investigating and prosecuting high-level traffickers, the office prevents countless overdoses and street-level arrests.

Brennan was appointed by the five New York City District Attorneys to investigate and prosecute citywide, national, and international drug trafficking in partnership with city, state, and federal law enforcement. She blends tough and fair prosecutions with compassion and empathy. She has been a strong voice in calling attention to the rising rates of drug overdoses and has given needed recommendations for reducing these tragic deaths. In 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, more than 3,000 New York City residents died of overdoses – the highest number on record.

A native of Wisconsin, Brennan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin, and she graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1983. Before her legal career, she was a print, radio, and television reporter in her home state. Brennan joined the New York County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney in 1983. She served as the Chief of the Special Investigations Bureau during her time with the D.A.’s office.

Brennan has been a speaker at international conferences and in academic settings throughout the United States, and has been interviewed as an expert on national and local media. She was recognized as Outstanding Prosecutor by the Criminal Justice Section of the New York State Bar Association, and for her leadership by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York County Lawyers Association, and numerous community organizations, enforcement agencies, and substance use treatment providers. In 2017, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Police Defense Foundation.

“Bridget Brennan’s remarkable career as a narcotics prosecutor is a reflection of the values and commitment in criminal prosecution that we aim to recognize with this award,” said Robert S. Tucker, Chairman and CEO of T&M, whose generous gift has endowed this annual award at Haub Law. “We are delighted to present her with the Robert S. Tucker Prize for prosecutorial excellence and to celebrate her accomplishments among her peers and the broader legal community,” said Tucker, a Haub Law alumnus and Pace University Board of Trustees member.

The Robert S. Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence is awarded annually to an individual or a group of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of criminal prosecution and who demonstrate excellence in prosecutorial practice. Honorees are selected each year by a jury comprising former prosecutors and Haub Law faculty members. The award ceremony brings together prosecutors from across the region and state, civic leaders, members of the judiciary, New York City government and the Haub Law community to recognize these distinguished individuals for their work. Past Award Recipients include Republic of Moldova Anticorruption Prosecutor Veronica Dragalin, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and the Office of the Bronx District Attorney, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, former New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood, and Richard A. Brown, the late Queens District Attorney.

The ceremony for the Robert S. Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence will take place on September 23, 2024 at Pace University in Manhattan, NY. For additional information about attending the ceremony, please email Rachael Silva.