A first-generation American, and the first in her family to go to college and law school, Maria Profeta '22 always had the goal to use her education to better her family and her community. Once she decided that law school was the means to that end goal and public interest work would be her focus, she knew that Haub Law was the place for her. Now a 3L, with her journey at Haub Law nearly complete, Maria shares with us her experience as a law student during the pandemic, the mentors she gained, the experiences she values, and what’s next for her.

What are your post-graduation career goals?

I have accepted a position as an Assistant District Attorney with the Manhattan DA’s office to begin post-graduation (after taking the bar of course!).

What brought you to law school?

I graduated from the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University with a BA in International Affairs concentrating in Security Policy. My goal has always been to use my education to better my family and community. I have always been interested in public service and using my degree to help a greater number of people. At times, I thought being a lawyer was a far-fetched dream, but I knew if I had the opportunity to enter into this field I would stop at nothing to make that dream a reality. Haub Law’s glowing public interest credentials, coupled with its strong roots in the local community, made coming to school here a no brainer.

What opportunities have you participated in as a student at Haub Law?

I have completed two internships with the US DOJ’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as well as interned for the NYS Department of Education, and the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of NY (SDNY). These internships have all been valuable experiences in different ways. I have also had the opportunity to dip my toe into all Haub Law has to offer by participating in the advocacy program, serving as a Vice Chair of NELMCC as well as Chair of the Honor Board, and helping students as Articles Group Editor of Pace International Law Review and as a Dean’s Scholar. Being a Dean’s Scholar for Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure, Torts, and Contracts was a very impactful experience for me. There is nothing I enjoyed more than meeting the incoming 1Ls each year and helping them navigate their law school journey. These experiences easily translated into my penchant to help others. I would be remiss to forget to mention one of the best rewards of attending Haub Law and being a Dean’s Scholar has been the lasting impact on fellow students I had the pleasure to help along the way, as well as strong friendship bonds that grew from serving the student body as a Dean’s Scholar. Many of my Dean’s Scholar “students” are now Dean’s Scholars themselves and some of my closest friends.

How has the pandemic changed your experience at Pace?

COVID struck during the second semester of my first year, so completing a large portion of my law school career virtually has created some challenges, ones that I know I share in common with the rest of my fellow students. However, I’m grateful to Haub Law for providing a tight-knit community where I could reach out to my peers and professors for help during the beginning stages of the pandemic and beyond. If anything, it made my roots at Haub Law, with my professors, and with my friends even stronger.

Which professors have made an impact on you during your time as a student?

I’ve been fortunate enough to build long-lasting relationships with professors and staff members who have become mentors. This long list of incredible people includes Dean Angie D’Agostino, Dean Jill Gross, and Professors Bennett Gershman and Perry Carbone. I owe a big thank you to Professor and Dean Emerita Michelle Simon, who really took me under her wing for the past three years as her TA, Dean’s Scholar, and research assistant– three experiences that have undoubtedly shaped my law school career and future as a lawyer. I am grateful to have them all as role models and attribute much of my current and future success to their mentorship.

What are some of your hobbies outside of law school?

I love to garden and cook– especially for those I love. I’m a self-proclaimed tea aficionado. I love music and I play the piano and violin. Both hobbies I hope to get back into after studying for the bar! I also love to travel and spent time before the pandemic solo traveling through Europe, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. I’m really looking forward to more adventures in the coming years! I also speak Italian and have a rescue cat named Mildred.

What is your advice for future law students?

Write down your goals, keep them somewhere you can see them every day, and always keep those goals in mind when things get difficult. Also, being a law student is one part of your identity - don’t forget about your family, friends, and other aspects about yourself that make You, You. Lastly, never forget about where you come from and those who helped you get to where you are today.

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Seidenberg computer science student Deye Sarr (BS in Computer Science ‘22) is one of 20 recipients of the brand new Scholly and Google collaborative scholarship for women of color in tech.

“It feels amazing to have won this scholarship because it made me feel like there were people out there who believe in me and my future just as much as I do,” Deye said. “It makes me feel valued and hopeful for what's to come in my academic and professional career.”

The scholarship was created after leaders at Google, Peta-Gay Clarke and Shameeka Emanuel, noticed a large drop in the number of women of color taking and completing computing degrees. They decided to partner with software company Scholly, Inc to sponsor a new scholarship program supporting women of color to pursue higher education in tech fields.

In April 2022, Pace University student Deye Sarr was announced one of the winners of the $10,000 scholarship. Her picture was published amongst 19 other winners, all of whom were chosen anonymously, on the scholarship website.

The scholarship, which opened applications to Black, Latina, and Native women, was created to put a spotlight on the gender gap in tech, which is still shows women as underrepresented in technology at just 33% of the workforce - a figure that is much higher than previous years, but shows danger of stalling, according to Deloitte.

Peta-Gay Clarke, who also serves on the Board of Trustees at Pace, was thrilled when she found out that a student from her alma mater had won. “As an alumna of the Seidenberg School, I was so delighted to see that a fellow Pace student was a recipient. It really warmed my heart to read all of the essays and Deye Sarr was truly deserving of this scholarship. I look forward to seeing all that Deye will accomplish after graduation.”

The scholarship will provide financial support to Deye as she enters her last semester at Pace in Fall 2022. Speaking about the future, Deye says: “My plans for the future are to graduate from Pace with my Bachelor's in Computer Science after this upcoming fall semester and to continue to explore the ways that my passions of technology, music, and 3D modeling and animation intersect. I'm hoping to eventually create initiatives that will help create more opportunities for women in all three fields! For now, I'm just focused on finishing out this semester on a strong note.”

Since it’s finals season, we wish you the best of luck, Deye! And we can’t wait to see how you follow your passion for art and technology in the future!

The PaceDocs Team focuses its film on the remarkable journey of oysters, their farmers, and their role in cleaning the water Announces Three Additional Showings throughout Cape Cod in June

Pace University’s documentary film team – PaceDocs – last night premiered Tide to Table: The Remarkable Journey of Oysters at the Jacob Burns Film Center.

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More than 200 people turned out for the event, which was the first in-person premiere for the program since 2019, before the pandemic. The film continues a distinguished tradition of producing documentaries that shine a light on important environmental issues.

Tide to Table documents how oysters rely on the ebb and flow of the tide for flavor. One oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day; their survival is determined by their farmers, deeply rooted in their tradition and connection to the sea. The documentary, filmed on-location across the flats of Cape Cod, the shores of Connecticut’s Long Island Sound, and the urban waterways of New York City, features scientists, historians, shellfish constables, and farmers. It explores the serendipitous relationship between nature, oyster farmers, modern aquaculture technology, and a movement to better understand their ecological value, while showing how oysters are thriving in areas such as Cape Cod and being restored in once depleted regions such as Connecticut and New York City as a means of improving water quality.

“The PaceDocs team, under the leadership of Professor Maria Luskay, has once again produced an extraordinary, meaningful, and professional film,” said Marvin Krislov, president of Pace University. “ ‘Tide to Table’ is another great example of the hands-on experience and valuable environmental lessons that Pace students receive when they take this course. I marvel at the consistent excellence and talent in this program and am incredibly impressed by this group of budding filmmakers.”

The documentary is produced by Professors Luskay and Lou Guarneri. The popular class, ‘Producing the Documentary,’ is part of the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences at Pace University’s highly regarded film program that requires students complete a full-length environmentally themed documentary within 14 weeks. During the process, they learn teamwork, problem-solving, research, and organization, along with technical skills such as lighting, sound, camera work, interviewing, and other real-life lessons necessary to complete a film.

“It’s gratifying to be filming with students on location and sharing this experience with them once again,” said Professor Luskay. “Throughout it all, we brought together a diverse group of students with a full schedule of work. In the process, we not only learned first-hand about the plight of the oyster farmer braving the elements, but also the grit and determination required to complete the film on a tight deadline. It was an incredibly rewarding experience for us.”

In welcoming attendees, Professor Luskay also announced that the documentary will play at three venues across Cape Cod in June, marking the first time in the history of the program that it would be played in theaters beyond JBFC.

The Cape Cod showings are scheduled as follows:

• Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.: Wellfleet Preservation Hall, Wellfleet, MA.
• Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.: Chatham Orpheum, Chatham, MA.
• Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. : Cape Cinema, Dennis, MA.

Students, a mix of graduate and undergraduate students who answered questions from the audience after the showing, marveled at what it was like to work on and produce a professional-caliber film.

“One of the great things about this course is that it was the first time in my life where I’ve done consecutives days, even weeks, in a real film environment,” said Diego Mallens, a junior cinema and filmmaking major from Miami, Fla. “It was interesting to learn about the topic, and it was great to learn from professionals. Within days of meeting the team members, we bonded over a common goal and produced a film we can all be proud of.”

“This was great hands-on experience,” said Nicole Manning, a digital cinema and filmmaking major from New Fairfield, Conn. who is exploring careers in film and television production. “This is the most practical and productive class you can take because you have to think like a professional and apply skills you’ve learned in class. This was a great experience and something I’m putting on my resume and showing potential employers.”

In recent years, Pace filmmakers have produced documentaries around the globe focusing on a number of topics, including the importance of bees as pollinators in our food supply (2021); the impact of earthquakes 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.

“Dyson College’s student filmmakers have produced another moving documentary that delves into an important ecological issue,” said Tresmaine R. Grimes, dean, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education. “The students learn and perfect their craft while educating us all. I am so moved by the talents of this team and the compelling film they have made. Congratulations to them and Professors Luskay and Guarneri for another impressive PaceDocs production.”

About Pace University

Pace University has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success as a result of its unique program that combines rigorous academics and real-world experiences. Pace is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides. From its beginnings as an accounting school in 1906, Pace has grown to three campuses, enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 150 majors and programs, across a range of disciplines: arts, sciences, business, health care, technology, law, education, and more. The university also has one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. Pace has a signature, newly renovated campus in New York City, located in the heart of vibrant Lower Manhattan, next to Wall Street and City Hall, and two campuses in Westchester County, New York: a 200-acre picturesque Pleasantville Campus and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains. Follow us on Twitter or on the Pace News website.

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.

Photography is one of the most democratic, universal, and interdisciplinary languages with a broad global reach. It is, therefore, a perfect medium for bringing people together for active dialogue about needed economic, social, and environmental challenges. Such changes are at the heart of the United Nations' Agenda, a blueprint for the entire international community to achieve sustainable development by 2030.

At a Point of Change presents work by 13 undergraduate students at Pace's NYC Campus who took an Honors Learning Community interdisciplinary course titled "Seeing the World Differently...Through Photography and Economics." This course was taught by Dyson professors Inbal Abergil and Anna Shostya in Spring 2022. The integration of learning across two disciplines, photography and economics, involved students with "big questions" that go beyond the classroom. Students learned how to create powerful images that tell compelling stories about environmental sustainability, economic equality, and inclusive growth.

"Economists tell stories with numbers. Photographers tell stories with pictures. This exhibit is a really unique way to combine numbers with pictures," says Shostya. "There's no course in the United States⁠—I did the research⁠—that combines economics and photography like this does."

The exhibit is now on display on the Frankfort Street side of One Pace Plaza, now through July 1, 2022.

Student artists include:

• Jack Brady
• Brooke Brassell
• Rafael Cuellar
• Will Dooley
• Piper Gibson
• Rey Hill
• Jaylyn Liggett
• Katie Madson
• Dawid Panyszak
• Shelby Pickelny
• Carlos Pineyro
• Megan Sanchez
• Maddie Street

Alexis Sandler, an attorney with two decades of experience handling complex and diverse legal matters for a broad range of clients, including in the arts and entertainment and non-profit fields, has been named vice president and general counsel for Pace University.

In making the announcement, Pace President Marvin Krislov cited her background working on an array of legal matters; her experience at The Museum of Modern Art and Fox Entertainment Group; and her understanding of the university’s core mission as reasons that she is the right fit for Pace.

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Sandler succeeds Steven Brodsky, who retired after serving 39 distinguished years with the university, including 24 years as university counsel. In her role, Sandler will be a key member of the president’s leadership team, and as leader of the Office of University Counsel, will manage all legal matters pertaining to Pace University and its campuses in New York City, Pleasantville, and White Plains.

“Alexis Sandler is a seasoned professional and accomplished attorney who understands our core mission and philosophy of creating opportunities for a diverse student body,” said President Krislov. “We are pleased to bring her expertise to Pace, and we are grateful for Steve Brodsky’s distinguished tenure of service.”

“When you work for a non-profit, particularly as an attorney, it is important to be passionate about the mission,” Sandler said. “I was drawn to Pace University's commitment to diversity, including and especially its emphasis on first-generation college students. Pace's values in this space align with my own, and I'm looking forward to being part of the Pace team and helping to further its mission.”

Prior to joining Pace, Sandler served for nearly a decade as in-house counsel for The Museum of Modern Art and its contemporary art museum affiliate, MoMA PS1, where she was also Secretary of the Board. Prior to that, Sandler worked as the director of business and legal affairs for a division of the Fox Entertainment Group and in private practice for two prominent law firms.

She earned her AB from Harvard University and her JD from the UCLA School of Law. She also holds a Master’s in Museum Studies from New York University. She is a member of the State Bar of New York and the State Bar of California.

About Pace University

Pace University has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success as a result of its unique program that combines rigorous academics and real-world experiences. Pace is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides. From its beginnings as an accounting school in 1906, Pace has grown to three campuses, enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 150 majors and programs, across a range of disciplines: arts, sciences, business, health care, technology, law, education, and more. The university also has one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. Pace has a signature, newly renovated campus in New York City, located in the heart of vibrant Lower Manhattan, next to Wall Street and City Hall, and two campuses in Westchester County, New York: a 200-acre picturesque Pleasantville Campus and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains.

Manuel Crugliano

Senior Digital Analyst, Nagarro

Class of 2022
MS in Social Media and Mobile Marketing

Member Of: Beta Gamma Sigma, Pace Investment Club, Pace International Students Club, Pace Advertising Club

Pronouns: He, His, Him

While working as a materials scientist in his home country of Italy, Manuel Crugliano realized he needed to make a change. He packed up his life and moved to New York City to enroll in the Lubin School of Business to work towards a master's degree in Social Media and Mobile Marketing. Between multiple on-campus activities and a successful internship at NBCUniversal, Manuel is getting ready to graduate—and he encourages anyone looking to pursue social media and mobile marketing to take the plunge with Lubin.

Why did you choose Pace University and the Lubin School of Business?

Pace and the Lubin School of Business offer the ideal advanced degree in Social Media and Mobile Marketing. I decided to join because the program offered the chance to improve my skills and be ready for my new career. The balance between analytical classes and marketing strategy classes was perfect. Also, the expected return on investment is really favorable.

How have clubs on campus helped enrich your student experience?

Knowing about different activities through clubs opened my mind to a new way of thinking and living in the United States. These kinds of activities are not typical in my home country, so it was extremely helpful to experience the openness and enthusiastic approach of other students. As a former NBCUniversal intern, I was recently asked by the TEAM Pace club to participate as a speaker in an event highlighting NBCU professionals. It was a great experience, and I am thankful to the TEAM Pace president, Jennifer Zaurov, and my friend Andrew Tsentner, who invited me and moderated the event.

Tell us a bit about being an international student at Pace.

Being an international student at Pace is amazing. I feel included, supported, and valued. Career Services does a great job evaluating all possible strategies to help students successfully land a full-time job. As international students, we have intrinsic issues that we are forced to experiment with in our journey, but with Pace's support and a very well-structured strategy, we can feel covered by experienced professionals and not overwhelmed by the system.

Being an international student at Pace is amazing. I feel included, supported, and valued.

After spending years as a materials scientist in Italy, you discovered your passion for digital and social media marketing. What advice for you have for Lubin student looking to get into the industry?

Do not underestimate your analytical skills. To anyone who is dreaming about a career in digital marketing and social media—I assure you that there's an increasing need of new methods to measure performance in reliable way. Having strong analytical skills will help you stand out from the competition and reassures potential employers that you're not only up to date on the latest social media and digital strategies, but you are also able to demonstrate your findings numerically.

You recently completed a digital research internship with NBC News. How did Lubin help prepare you for this internship?

Enrolling in Lubin classes that included the use of analytical software, like Tableau and SPSS, was one of the most important things in helping me prepare for my internship. When I was hired, I was ready to contribute from day one because I was already aware of how to use some of the software. Talking with the Career Services was also helpful, as they explained the possible interview process I could encounter and trained me to be prepared.

What has been your favorite opportunity at Pace?

Besides being immersed in such a vibrant environment, I truly appreciated Pace's mentorship program, which gives students the opportunity to connect with experienced professionals that support and guide them through a challenging path. Establishing a relationship with a mentor not only helps professionally, but also stimulates personal growth.

Do you have any advice for other Lubin students?

First, do not stop believing in yourself—I know it sounds repetitive, but it's true. Second, try to embrace an environment that is supportive of the things you are good at, so you can express yourself at your best.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

It means opportunity, and the chance to do what I like, which is exactly what I was looking for on this journey.

Connect with Manuel:

• Connect with Manuel Crugliano on LinkedIn
• Follow Manuel Crugliano on Instagram
• Follow Manuel Crugliano on Twitter

Works focus on United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

Pace University will host, “At a Point of Change,” an outdoor student photography exhibition, which will line the fence on Frankfort Street outside One Pace Plaza in Lower Manhattan. The exhibit is open to the public and will run for two months, beginning May 9, 2022.

“At a Point of Change,” features the photography of 13 students enrolled in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences interdisciplinary course entitled “Seeing the World Differently Through Economics and Photography,” which combines concepts from economics with photography. The course focuses on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, a group of 17 objectives set to be achieved by 2030 to better our world, focusing on issues such as poverty, equity, climate action, and sustainable economic growth.

“The goal of this exhibit is to create a powerful visual statement that Pace is committed to sustainability, equity, and inclusion,” said Associate Professor of Economics Anna Shostya, PhD, who co-teaches the course with Associate Professor of Art, Inbal Abergil, MFA. The photographs in the exhibit and the accompanying written pieces showcase the students’ understanding and creative interpretation of these underlying principles. “This exhibition creates a platform for students to connect to these subject matters on a personal level and highlights the power of photography and storytelling.”, emphasized Inbal Abergil.

“This course has developed my view of the world both creatively and critically. It was also a pleasure to be guided through this course by Professor Abergil and Professor Shostya, who consistently demonstrated their passion and love for both topics. This exhibit is proof that creativity and analytics don't sit at two opposite ends of a spectrum, in fact, without one the other fails to reach its full potential,” said psychology major, Megan Sanchez, ’24.

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.

About Pace University

Pace University has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success because of its unique programs that combine immersive academics and real-world experiences. Pace is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides.

Creating opportunities for underrepresented students and women is the primary focus of my research,” Lauren Birney, EdD, told us. She’s an associate professor of STEM education, and she’s been putting her experience to incredible use. Birney is co-leading a powerhouse group of collaborators to build upon the New York Harbor School’s project to put science into the hands (quite literally) of middle school students in low-income neighborhoods with high populations of English language learners and students from groups underrepresented in STEM. “I was so very fortunate to be surrounded by incredibly talented professors, teachers, and mentors,” she explained. “I just want to do the same.”

“We want to give students the opportunity to learn outside the school building and benefit enormously from an increased awareness about their ecological place.”

Birney has been hard at work developing the curriculum used by teachers at the New York Harbor School to teach children about the importance of restoring the oyster beds in New York Harbor through the Billion Oyster Project. “The harbor is like a living laboratory for education in STEM,” said Birney. “We want to give students the opportunity to learn outside the school building and benefit enormously from an increased awareness about their ecological place.” Along with other students, teachers, scientists, volunteers, businesses, and local organizations, Birney is at the forefront of efforts to reestablish New York as the oyster capital of the world—and they recently secured a $2.5 million dollar grant from the NSF. No small feat in the STEM field! “We have been very fortunate and very blessed with the wonderful partners we have on our NSF-funded grants,” she told us.

And she’s working to create even more opportunity, too. Right now, Birney has her eye on obtaining another grant from the STEM Collaboratory NYC Learning Center. “I can’t wait!” She enthused. “This will be an opportunity for STEM industry professionals, scientists, researchers, students, and teachers to come together while creating, designing, constructing, inventing, and initiating STEM innovations.”

_{This article was originally published in the Spring 2020 issue of Pace Magazine.}