Unchecked Proselytizing Can Trigger Workplace Harassment Claims
In Bloomberg Law, Elisabeth Haub School of Law Professor Emily Gold Waldman cautioned that new federal guidance promoting religious expression in the workplace could foster coercive dynamics—particularly between supervisors and employees—and lacks adequate safeguards to prevent pressure or retaliation.
Pace University Names Former Citi Executive As Dean Of Lubin School Of Business
Pace University recently named Ajay Khorana, Ph.D., as the next Dean of the Lubin School of Business, effective September 1. Dean Khorana previously served as Global Treasurer for the U.S. Personal Banking and Global Wealth businesses at Citigroup.
Menopause At Work: How Leaders Can Provide Support In The Workplace
Elisabeth Haub School of Law Professor Emily Gold Waldman speaks to Forbes about the legal gap around menopause in the workplace, noting that while no federal law mandates accommodations, agencies like the EEOC could issue guidance treating menopause-based bias as a form of sex or age discrimination.
NY Law Schools See New Interest in Immigration Classes, Clinics
In Bloomberg Law, Haub Law Professor Amelia Wilson, Director of the Immigration Justice Clinic, noted a surge in student interest in immigration law amid rapidly changing federal policy. For Fall 2025, the clinic received more applications than it could accommodate, following a fully enrolled Spring semester. Wilson added that many students have even offered to volunteer informally while awaiting a spot—reflecting a growing recognition that immigrant rights are central to broader civil and human rights work.
The Fatal Attraction Murder
Haub Law Professor Bennett Gershman appeared in The Fatal Attraction Murder, a limited series re-airing on Oxygen. In the episode—originally aired in 2022—Professor Gershman reflected on the 1989 murder of Betty Jeanne Solomon in Scarsdale, noting how the drawn-out investigation stirred anxiety in the Westchester community.
Deepfaked After Death: Some Don't Want It
Manager Of Content and Digital Engagement Johnni Medina was featured in Axios discussing the ethical risks of AI deepfakes used after death. “For me, it’s a consent issue,” they said, cautioning that digital avatars can distort a person’s legacy— especially when used to weigh in on contentious issues like the death penalty.
Student Leaders at the Forefront: Higher Education’s Role in Advancing Global Goals
At a United Nations forum on higher education and the Sustainable Development Goals, Assistant Provost for Wellness Sue Maxam announced the launch of MCN’s new Civic Learning Council. The Council will advise hundreds of campuses participating in the Millennium Fellowship, sharing best practices to strengthen civic engagement.
Pace University Lifeguards Honored with American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for Heroic Rescue
Pace students Kieran Hagan and Angelo DeAugustino were spotlighted by the American Red Cross for saving a life at the Pleasantville pool. Within 45 seconds, they activated the Emergency Action Plan—performing CPR and using an AED. Their instructor, Kate Palladino, was also recognized for preparing them to respond.
Bringing Pace Research to Global Audiences: Seidenberg Professor and Students Present at Two International Conferences
Mary Tedeschi, professor at Pace University’s Seidenberg School, spent much of 2025 doing what she does best: teaching her students and guiding them through research to such a level that they presented their papers at two prestigious international virtual education conferences.
Mary Tedeschi, professor at Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, spent much of 2025 doing what she does best: teaching her students and guiding them through research to such a level that they presented their papers at two prestigious international virtual education conferences: INTED 2025 based in Valencia, Spain and EDULEARN 2025 in Palma, Spain.
Working alongside both undergraduate and graduate Pace students, and in collaboration with peers from NYU and City Tech CUNY, Professor Tedeschi's research bridged technical innovation, pedagogical advancement, and human-centered design. These projects, which explore everything from artificial intelligence in student advising to foundational programming patterns, demonstrate the real-world impact of student-faculty research partnerships that is so central to the Pace experience.
It’s a pleasure to work with eager, motivated students!
INTED 2025: From Code to Classroom Impact
At INTED (International Technology, Education and Development Conference) 2025, an annual conference spotlighting innovation and technology in education, Professor Tedeschi and her team of students from Pace and City Tech CUNY presented two projects.
The first paper, Teaching the Iterator Pattern in Introductory Programming Courses, tackled the issue of introductory programming courses often struggling to bridge theory and practice. In response, this study focused on introducing the iterator pattern (a behavioral design pattern) early in the curriculum to build students' foundational programming skills in languages like Python and Java.
The research leveraged a combination of visual tools, hands-on-practice, pair programming, alternative teaching approaches, and peer collaboration, all reinforced through assessments and reflective writing. Results showed improvement in student comprehension, with the students expressing appreciation for the hands-on approach and finding it a more engaging learning environment.
The project also gave graduate students a unique opportunity to deepen their own understanding by contributing to the curriculum used to teach undergraduates at different institutions, further bridging theory and practice for the researching students as well.
For their second INTED presentation, AI-Powered Customer Support for Academic Counseling and Career Guidance, Professor Tedeschi and her students explored how AI tools are reshaping academic and career advising. The study assessed how systems like IBM Watson Education and AI-powered chatbots can provide scalable, personalized, ethical, and around-the-clock guidance to students, which would be especially helpful in large educational institutions where counselor-to-student ratios are imbalanced (they can be as high as 1 counselor per 500 students in some cases).
Using natural language processing (NLP) and predictive analytics, these tools can help students track progress, receive course recommendations, and prepare for internships and careers. However, the research also outlined key ethical challenges: mitigating algorithmic bias, ensuring data privacy, and balancing AI efficiency with human empathy.
The team concluded that hybrid models in which human advisors use AI to their benefit may be the most ethical and effective path forward.
EDULEARN 2025: Simplifying Data, Amplifying Access
At EDULEARN (International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies) 2025, Professor Tedeschi and her students unveiled a technical, future-facing project: the development of an AI-driven database system designed to make data management accessible to non-technical users.
The paper, An Advanced AI-Driven Database System, outlined a platform that uses large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 and reinforcement learning to automate core database functions, ranging from schema generation to natural language querying and backend optimization.
The team, a collaboration of students from both Pace and NYU, built a modular architecture that supports multiple database types (e.g., SQL, NoSQL, vector, graph) and employs AI to automatically detect data types, translate user queries, and adjust performance. In testing, the system responded to user questions in plain language, improved speed and accuracy, and adapted automatically to changing needs. The project illustrates how AI can simplify complex data tasks while also raising important conversations about ethics, particularly around accuracy, transparency, and data privacy.
Collaboration and Global Exposure
From building smarter database tools to reimagining student support systems, the work of Professor Tedeschi and her team highlights how deeply involved Pace students are at every stage of their research projects. “They did an outstanding job and even completed extra work,” she said. “Students are already asking me to be a part of future research and conference experiences.” With faculty mentorship and collaboration across New York City institutions, our students gain real-world experience as they shape research, guide implementation, and present their findings on the global stage.
Sara Gonzalez-Rothi, Former White House Senior Director for Water, Joins Pace Haub Law as Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Law
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is pleased to announce that Sara Gonzalez-Rothi will join its faculty as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Law. Prior to joining the Haub Law faculty in 2025, Professor Gonzalez-Rothi served in a variety of roles within the United States Senate and the Executive Office of the President. Most recently, she served as the Senior Director for Water at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. During her time at Pace Haub Law, Professor Gonzalez-Rothi will be teaching Administrative Law and Water Law.
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is pleased to announce that Sara Gonzalez-Rothi will join its faculty as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Law. Prior to joining the Haub Law faculty in 2025, Professor Gonzalez-Rothi served in a variety of roles within the United States Senate and the Executive Office of the President. Most recently, she served as the Senior Director for Water at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. During her time at Pace Haub Law, Professor Gonzalez-Rothi will be teaching Administrative Law and Water Law.
"At this critical moment for the rule of law and the right of every person to clean air, clean water, and a safe and healthy environment, I am humbled and excited to join the exceptional team of faculty and students at Pace Haub Law," said Professor Gonzalez-Rothi. "Brave and skilled lawyers of tomorrow hold the keys to unlock a more just future, and we are fortunate to participate in their development."
From 2021–2025, Professor Gonzalez-Rothi served as the Senior Director for Water at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. She was in this role for the entire duration of the Biden-Harris Administration and was responsible for coordination and harmonization of federal interagency activities related to marine, freshwater, and drinking water policy. Prior to this, she served as Senior Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where she advised all democratic members of the Committee on issues related to the ocean and atmosphere. Professor Gonzalez-Rothi also held other positions, including as a Senior Policy Specialist with the National Wildlife Federation and as Legislative Counsel to a U.S. Senator, where she advised on issues related to environment, energy, agriculture, and animal welfare.
“Professor Gonzalez-Rothi comes to the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University with over sixteen years of experience related to complex environmental policy matters,” said Achinthi Vithanage, Executive Director of the Environmental Law Program and a Professor of Law for Designated Service in Environmental Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. “She has dedicated her career to public service and advancing commonsense solutions to bettering the environment. The entire Pace Haub Law community will benefit from the unique perspective that Professor Gonzalez-Rothi will bring to our environmental law program and larger campus community.”
During her time working in the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Professor Gonzalez-Rothi had several impressive accomplishments. She established and co-led the Ocean Policy Committee, which was co-chaired by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Under this leadership, the Ocean Policy Committee developed the first ever United States Ocean Climate Action Plan (PDF), Ocean Justice Strategy (PDF), and National Strategy for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (PDF). She also helped establish and run the first ever Interagency Policy Committee on Poly- and Per-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Additionally, she created the America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge Initiative, launching the Wetland and Water Resource Protection Guide, and hosting the White House Freshwater Summit. Notably, she also helped to forge two historic agreements to pause longstanding litigation against the federal government by Tribal Nations, states, and environmental organizations regarding the degradation of salmon and other native fish in the Columbia River Basin. While working in the United States Senate, she played a large role in negotiating and successfully shepherding the RESTORE Act through Senate passage with overwhelming bipartisan support and ultimately to a final enactment.
Professor Gonzalez-Rothi is a frequently sought after independent consultant and has conducted legal and policy research and writing, briefed congressional staff, provided strategic counsel, served as a guest lecturer, and more on high-impact environmental and science policy matters. Her research interests and scholarship include climate change, water law, pragmatic environmentalism, and more. Her most recent publication includes Cultivating Fair Winds and a Following Sea: Considerations for Offshore Wind Proponents in New York, published in The New York Environmental Lawyer. Professor Gonzalez-Rothi is a Board Member with the Coastal States Stewardship Foundation and previously served as an Advisory Board Member with the Women’s Aquatic Network and an Appointed Member with the Maryland State Parks Advisory Commission. She graduated with a BA from the University of Florida and a JD (cum laude) from the University of Miami School of Law.