A first-generation US Citizen, Pamela Guerrero entered law school with a passion for immigration law. Throughout law school, she followed that passion by participating in the Immigration Justice Clinic. Now, a 3L, after the bar exam, Pamela is set to follow her dreams as she was awarded a prestigious Immigrant Justice Corps Fellowship. Learn more about Pamela, her background, her experience with Haub Law’s Immigration Justice Clinic, and more in this Q&A.

Let’s start off with you telling us a bit about your background and how you chose Haub Law.

I am a first-gen US citizen from Dominican parents who originally moved to Washington Heights, Bronx, New York, but then settled in Westchester. My parents are both professionals (administrators in education), but neither of them ever served as lawyers in this country so I am also a first-gen law student. As a child, I had the rare opportunity of attending the first public Montessori School in Yonkers, NY and then went on to double major in Political Science/International Studies and minor in Spanish at Manhattanville College. I graduated from my undergraduate program a semester early and immediately started at Haub Law as a January admit. I came to law school, because I learned of many socioeconomic inequities in the US while attending undergraduate school and wanted to be in an advocacy position to be able to address these issues. I was especially concerned with the immigration system in this country and wanted to become an immigration lawyer to provide newly arrived children and adolescents with the protection they need to thrive in the US. Geographically, Pace was the perfect place for me and I saw it as a place with diverse learning opportunities.

You mentioned, immigration law as an interest of yours, are there any other areas you have developed an interest in?

Yes, International Law and Health Law.

You are now a 3L, thinking back, which experiences at Haub Law have stuck with you?

Participating in the Immigration Justice Clinic. The Clinic has challenged me by making me learn how to do all the practical tasks of lawyering (such as maintaining client files and setting appointments) on top of the usual lawyer tasks related to client representation. It has also made me intellectually engage with other immigration lawyers within NYS and actively question the purpose of many immigration laws. The pandemic may have limited the contact I could have had with clients, but I have still been able to prep clients for hearings and learn how to establish rapport with potential clients. Finally, the clinic has provided me with a community of students that are interested in doing the best pro bono work possible and this has encouraged me to improve myself as a person and as a legal advocate.

Along the same lines, which professors have had an impact on you?

Professor Smita Narula and Professor Vanessa Merton have made an impact on me. Seeing their passion in their work firsthand is inspiring and serves as a continuous reminder that there are lawyers who strive to work toward better for the clients that they serve. Both professors are also very research-oriented, which has taught me that being a lawyer can also mean being a student for life and that is a good thing.

Which student organizations are you involved in on campus?

I am an E-Board member for the NLG – Pace Chapter. I am also president of the International Law Society. My participation in campus activities has allowed me to engage with many members of the Haub Law community and contribute to the excellent camaraderie that was already there. Just because we are in law school, studying and working hard a lot, doesn't mean we can't have exciting events that create great memories.

What does justice mean to you?

To me justice means that everyone is provided with the resources they need to thrive in their country and that no one person or group of people is left behind. We normally touch on equality when discussing justice, but what is really needed is equity because not everyone has the same socioeconomic needs. Instead of striving to make everyone equal we must simply do better and allow every difference to be accounted for in any conversation related to societal improvement. Thus to me justice is essentially equity and encouraging support for people/groups that have been traditionally disenfranchised and marginalized.

To me justice means that everyone is provided with the resources they need to thrive in their country and that no one person or group of people is left behind.

What are some of your hobbies outside of law school?

I enjoy hiking on local trails and doing some urban exploring in NYC. The harder the trail is the better it tends to be (Bear Mountain is one of my favorites for hiking due to distance and challenge). As for urban exploration, I keep all the places in NYC that I hear about saved on my google maps and then take a day to visit all the doable places. I tend to find a lot of rare food places like an ice cream place that does ice cream towers in a jar or unique hobby places. I also tend to frequent The Strand, a very large bookstore in lower NYC. I also enjoy traveling outside of New York and have been to Chile, Switzerland, France, Canada, and other far-flung places.

What are your plans after law school?

I was awarded an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellowship and received a post-graduation immigration law placement with The Advocates for Human Rights in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Before I leave, I plan to study for and take the NY Bar exam and perhaps hike the Catskills one last time.

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The Pace Law Advocacy Program held its 2^nd biennial Gavel Gala on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at Surf Club on the Sound, a picturesque venue in New Rochelle, NY. More than 200 students, coaches, alumni and friends attended the elegant affair and enjoyed the chance to reconnect in person while celebrating the program’s past, present, and recent successes. In addition to a series of awards and top placements in national advocacy competitions throughout the year, the program was recently ranked 26^th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, taking its place once again among the top 15% of advocacy programs in the country.

“This year’s Gavel Gala exceeded our expectation in attendance and fundraising,” said Professor Louis V. Fasulo, Director of Advocacy Programs. “It’s truly a great Pace community event which illuminates the best of our program and raises significant funds for us to continue to provide opportunities to students as we develop their advocacy skills. My pride in our Program is clearly shared by so many and that is so rewarding.”

Making up for lost time, the Gavel Gala honored many distinguished alumni, coaches, faculty and students who have contributed to the program’s success over the past two years. Alumni who have made an impact in their fields and the Pace Law Advocacy Program were honored with Rising Stars Awards in the Public and Government Sector as well as the Private Sector. Outstanding alumni coaches were honored with the Loretta Musial Service Award. The Alex Gastman Coach’s Award, created in memory of Alumnus Alexander Gastman ’11, was presented to several Haub Law faculty and coaches who supported students in their success. Several 3L students received awards for their leadership and excellence in advocacy.

Special recognition was also given to Alumnus Judge Delores Brathwaite who received the Unsung Hero Award and to Antonio Soares, former Educational Media Manager at the Law School, who played an invaluable role in helping the Pace Law Advocacy team transition to competing and hosting virtual events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2022 Gavel Gala was a success in raising vital funds to support the Pace Advocacy Program thanks to sponsors Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP and Fasulo, Braverman & DiMaggio, LLP as well as the program's Fundraising and Alumni Relations Directors Alanna Mecca and Dounea Elbroji, and other student leaders, who showed their skills in organizing a fun and successful evening. Proceeds from ticket sales, sponsorships, a silent auction, wine pull and other fundraising efforts will help to cover competition fees, travel and expenses for the law school’s student team to compete both nationally and internationally in the coming year.

2022 Honorees

Unsung Hero Award

• Judge Delores Brathwaite

Special Recognition

• Antonio Soares

The Loretta Musial Service Award

• Jared J. Hatcliffe, Esq.
• Jordan Montoya, Esq.

Public & Government Sector Rising Stars

• Vittoria Fiorenza, Esq.
• Brad Gorson, Esq.
• Aharon Diaz, Esq.
• Catherine Gonzalez, Esq.
• MAJ. Matthew A. Pellegrine, Esq.
• Danielle Reddan, Esq.

Private Sector Rising Stars

• John Astarita, Esq.
• Jonathan Engel, Esq.
• Kristin Carroll, Esq.
• Kenneth Calvey, Esq.
• Cassidy Crough, Esq.
• Arthur J. Muller III, Esq.

The Alex Gastman Coach's Award

• Jennifer Arlin, Esq.
• Betty Lawrence Lewis, Esq.
• Linda Maria Wayner, Esq.
• Arthur J. Muller III, Esq.
• Pernell Telfort, Esq.

Michelle Simon Leadership Award

• Mattison Stewart (3L)

Keith Sullivan Award For Excellence In Advocacy

• Regina Rubino (3L)
• Angelo Spedafino (3L)
• Kye Shah (3L)
• Michaela Petersen (3L)
• Mattison Stewart (3L)

View photos from the 2022 Gavel Gala

Since graduating from Pace University, the lives of Jim ’73, Brian ’75, and Denis McCauley ’79, all Dyson alumni, have diverged in many ways—the brothers are sprinkled across time zones and engaged in vastly different professions. But—along with their fraternal ties, of course—their love for history, discourse, and honoring the memories of their former Pace professors remain a constant thread among them in a special way.

The three brothers are among the charter members of the History Summit, an annual gathering of a small group of history-loving Pace alumni who dive into a certain theme or period. The Summit was inspired by former Pace history professor James Holmes, PhD, who began hosting invitation-only extracurricular seminars for undergraduate history students on the Pleasantville Campus in the 1970s. The group would read an assigned book on a particular topic then gather to discuss it, often by the fireplace in Holmes’s living room and to the tune of his children running through the house.

Dr. Holmes taught us how to read critically and analyze things. He would play devil’s advocate to the nth degree, so you had to state your view and be able to defend it, and that, to me, was the most incredibly interesting way to learn.

“Meeting outside of school and the lack of rigidity of Dr. Holmes’s teaching method really helped us,” said Jim McCauley of the seminar. “It was so much more comfortable, and I had so much more enthusiasm for it.”

Denis added: “Dr. Holmes taught us how to read critically and analyze things. He would play devil’s advocate to the nth degree, so you had to state your view and be able to defend it, and that, to me, was the most incredibly interesting way to learn.”

All those involved in the seminar enjoyed it so much they decided graduation wouldn’t deter them from continuing to meet. With Holmes’ blessing, the History Summit was born in 1980.

Viewing the first Summit as a great success, the group continued to meet through the 1980s, but took a hiatus for much of the 1990s and early 2000s. They decided to revive the Summit in 2010 after Holmes had fallen seriously ill.

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“He was so important to us. The rationale for going back that first year was to honor him,” said Brian, who had moved back to New York in 2008 to work at the US Mission to the United Nations. When Holmes was not well enough to travel to campus, the Summit would go to him, convening once again by his fireplace.

Sadly, Holmes passed away in 2011, but the Summit has continued. “We weren’t certain we were going to continue after that,” said Brian, “but it had worked so well and we enjoyed it so much, that we said, ‘Yes, we’re going to do this again next year.’”

Since then, the Summit has covered topics from the Cold War to Reconstruction and has spanned locales from the Pleasantville Campus to Berlin and, for the past two years, the Google Meet grid. In the Summit’s current iteration, the group typically consists of around 10 participants, each of whom will read a book related to the year’s theme and then present and discuss their readings with the group.

This year’s Summit, the 26th incarnation, focused on the Nuremberg Trials. An inarguably difficult topic, the discussion paid homage to the late John Buchsbaum, PhD, another beloved former history professor at Pace and original Summit participant, who was a member of the US legal team that mounted the prosecution against the Nazis on trial at Nuremberg.

Buchsbaum’s daughter, Barbara Gilford, recently authored a memoir, Heart Songs, about her family’s experience during the Holocaust, when her grandmother—John Buchsbaum’s mother, Clara—was killed in Auschwitz. Gilford was a guest at this year’s Summit and brought her two adult sons along. A session about her book and her family’s history was interwoven with reminiscing about Buchsbaum, recanting cherished memories for his grandsons, who were captivated by the stories of their grandfather’s time at Pace and the profound impact he had on his students.

Having a history degree, even if you don’t use it directly, still helps you with critical thinking, becoming a better citizen, having a better understanding of the world around you, and the things going on in our own country.

And that’s the magic of the History Summit. The McCauley brothers, as well as regular Summit attendees Paul Doty ’82 and his son US Army Captain Greg Doty ’16 (son and grandson, respectively, of Douglas Doty, PhD, the late chair of the Pace English department on the Pleasantville Campus), actually are family. But all of the Summit participants—though many have come and gone over the years—hold a familial bond that goes deeper than simply an elevated book club. In fact, the connecting threads that exist among and emanate from the Summit participants are at times mind-boggling.

Additionally, Jim McCauley, the eldest McCauley brother, began his education at Pace but left to enlist in the military, returning after serving in Vietnam for two and a half years to finish his undergraduate degree. While Jim was in training at Fort Holabird in Maryland, Buchsbaum was his instructor in an Army Intelligence Officer’s course.

“We didn’t know that until I came back to Pace and took his class,” said Jim. “He and I became friends when I was a student, and after class one day we discussed our history, and I found out he was an Army officer. Then, of course, we realized he taught me in 1967.”

The McCauley brothers’ mother also worked at Pace in the admissions department and was a major influence in all three brothers’ deciding to enroll. After her passing, the brothers set up an endowment in her name, The June Wilson McCauley Research and Opportunity Endowment, that supports research in both the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences and the Lienhard School of Nursing in the College of Health Professions – another small-world connection as Brian’s wife, Jackie DePaso ‘74, was a graduate of Lienhard, a school that was established by none other than Holmes’s in-laws and named for his wife Susan Holmes’s father Dr. Gustav O. Lienhard.

“I can go on and on with the connections to Pace,” said Jim, who coincidentally ended up living next door to the widow of his mother’s boss from the Pace admissions office. “Those connections have been what have helped me the most from my time there.”

All three McCauley brothers express gratitude for how Pace got them to where they wanted to go. Jim, who has had a 40-year career in investment banking, was a history minor as an undergrad and later went back to Pace for his MBA. Brian, who retired from government service in 2012 and has since been consulting part-time, started as a business major, before becoming an English major for one semester. Eventually, Holmes convinced him to study history—a topic that had always interested Brian, though he had been unsure of his career prospects in the field.

Similarly, Denis was originally a marketing major with plans to get a job in his uncle’s prestigious advertising agency after graduation, but found marketing wasn’t for him. After studying history with Holmes, Denis, who is now a freelance writer in London, followed in Brian’s footsteps.

“Every time I’d bump into Dr. Holmes on campus, he’d ask me, ‘When are you going to become a history major?’ And eventually he convinced me,” said Denis. “He would always say ‘I’ve never seen a history major starving in the gutter.’”

While Brian is the only brother whose career has been directly related to history, all three agree that a history degree develops skills that are crucial in any industry in today’s world. And it’s that message that they work to instill in current students, frequently partnering with the Pace admissions, enrollment, and development departments to speak with and advise current students considering studying history.

“Having a history degree, even if you don’t use it directly, still helps you with critical thinking, becoming a better citizen, having a better understanding of the world around you, and the things going on in our own country,” said Brian.

The brothers have also been key donors to the James Holmes International Award, established in honor of the admired professor, which offers much-needed scholarship support to students studying history, economics, and political science.

And they are always encouraging new participants to join the Summit—though they laugh that the interview process can be rigorous, just as Holmes and Buchsbaum would have intended. After all, they need to ensure anyone joining the group can hold their own in a debate.

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Like the McCauley brothers themselves, the other History Summit participants have gone on to a wide variety of careers and are spread out around the country and the world. But despite decades of time passed, loss, and now a global pandemic, they always find their way back to each other for impassioned discussions of their favorite subject, even for just one weekend a year. And next year, they’re hoping to take the Summit international once again, visiting Denis in London.

“I don’t often think about it,” Jim said of his connection with his brothers over history, “but the three of us having the same roots, and doing this with the Summit, I just simply enjoy it. I don’t know another way to put it.”

April is Earth Month, a time to enjoy all that nature has to offer, while reflecting on our role in protecting it. After two years of seemingly non-stop Zoom meetings, celebrating Earth Month presents a perfect opportunity to relieve our screen fatigue and get outside.

“There is interesting research, both in the lab and in the field, that finds that when individuals are exposed to natural settings, they show reductions in stress,” says Associate Professor of Psychology Paul Griffin, PhD.

It’s an important reminder, especially in a time when so many of us are ensconced at home usually staring at screens, that we not only take time to look outside, but be outside.

This Earth Month, consider taking advantage of all our beautiful world has to offer through the following suggestions, as well as the Earth Month events offered by Pace University and the Dyson College Institute for Sustainability and the Environment (DCISE).

1. Practice yoga or meditate outside

Yoga and meditation are, of course, beneficial ways to calm your mind and body—and practicing them outside is an added bonus!

“Practices such as meditation, yoga, or spending time in nature can be beneficial by activating systems that can lead to restorative shifts psychologically and physiologically,” Professor of Psychology and certified yoga instructor Sally Dickerson, PhD, told WalletHub.

Allow the sound of the birds and the scent of blooming flowers to add to the experience as you find a sense of calm through movement or mindfulness.

2. Get your hands dirty

April is prime growing season! In addition to the benefits of simply being outside, seeing the (sometimes literal) fruits of your own labor through gardening can be a rewarding way to welcome the warmer months.

A “Get Dirty” Garden Workshop will be held at the Environmental Center on the Pleasantville Campus on Tuesday, April 28 from 12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m. The workshops will provide information about the regenerative gardening principles used in preparing the soil and planting vegetables in Pace’s Organic Vegetable Garden. Preregister by sending an email to aspillo@pace.edu.

3. Tap into your creative side

Professor of Art Jillian McDonald, MFA, notes that her favorite place to create art is outside and mentions that anyone can participate. She recommends grabbing a notebook and pen or pencil and heading outside to try a contour drawing.

“Contour drawings are observational line drawings of a subject—for example, a tree or a group of rocks—where an outline of the subject is drawn slowly and carefully, with no expectation to get it exactly right,” she says. “The idea is to practice looking and keep your eyes on the object you are drawing instead of the paper. You can see where your line takes you and appreciate the things that grow and live around us.”

While McDonald, who has been drawing a series of holes and underground roots, doesn’t advocate for taking things from nature without specific knowledge of what you’re considering using, she recommends taking a look at how New York artist Nina Katchadourian incorporates nature and art.

“Her Uninvited Collaborations with Nature, for example, don't require ‘art materials’ but rather her associative and curious mind, wit, and patience,” says McDonald. “She mends spider webs, patches broken mushrooms, among many other projects.”

4. Take a hike

Strolling through nature is an active and restorative way to enjoy the outdoors. In fact, Griffin notes, “A number of studies have found a link to spending more time in natural environments (‘green spaces’) with a lower risk for a number of mental illnesses, including depression.”

Join DCISE Program Manager Sam Miller for a Fit Walk on the Pleasantville Campus Nature Trail on Friday, April 22, from 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. through the beautiful, wooded area that surrounds campus and showcases a variety of wildlife and flora. The walk features several hills. RSVP by emailing smiller3@pace.edu.

5. Grab a camera

McDonald mentions that photography and videography are also accessible ways to embrace and capture the connection between art and nature, even without a professional camera.

“With mobile devices we can take photos or videos in natural settings – trying different compositions or camera angles or focusing on tiny details instead of the whole picture,” says McDonald, who created a video chronicling all the different mosses she encountered in a year. “We can film strange happenings, or curious objects we find in nature. Countless apps exist to edit, manipulate, and augment our images.”

In fact, Pace students from a class titled “Nature Exposed” have been engaged in nature photography, exploring “Man’s Intrusion into Nature.” Their photos will be mounted and showcased for public viewing on the Pleasantville Campus beginning on May 9.

6. Embrace the concrete jungle

City dwellers can still seek out and enjoy nature—even if it looks a bit different. According to Griffin, psychological research confirms the benefits of getting outside, even in urban settings.

“There is so much inspiration in every tree and park,” says McDonald. “Sometimes it seems like there is no nature left in New York, but we're so close to natural settings if we can take a bus and go for a hike, or even explore our urban parks. Those are planned nature, but you can only plan so much—what wants to grow will grow.”

After capturing a record-breaking fifth national championship this fall, the Federal Reserve Challenge Team was presented with proclamations from elected officials recognizing their incredible feat. The win, Pace’s fifth in the past eight competitions, makes Pace the winningest program in the history of the Federal Reserve College Challenge, surpassing Harvard.

The proclamations, signed by New York State Assemblymembers Deborah Glick and Yuh-Line Niou, were presented to the team at a special recognition event on Thursday, March 31, in the Bianco Room on the New York City Campus. Pace University President Marvin Krislov, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences Dean Tresmaine Grimes, PhD, and Economics Department Chair Joseph Morreale, PhD, delivered congratulatory remarks, as economics department faculty and students and Federal Reserve Challenge Team alumni gathered to celebrate the team’s legacy of success.

For four decades, the Society of Fellows has been a cornerstone of student scholarship and research as the premier honors organization in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. In the 41st year of the Society of Fellows, and her first year as chair, Associate Professor of Anthropology Judi Pajo, PhD, has begun to bring her vision for the Society’s future to life, building on long-standing traditions while incorporating discoveries and innovations made during the pandemic and evolving the Society’s interdisciplinary approach to research.

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“I’ve been involved with the Fellows basically since I arrived at Pace,” said Pajo, who has been a faculty member on the New York City Campus for 13 years and co-led the Weekend Seminar in her first year at Pace in 2009. “It’s been such an important part of my time here, and I’ve had a great mentor in former chair of the society, Maria Iacullo-Bird.”

Boasting more than 700 members made up of current students, alumni, and faculty, the Society of Fellows initiates new students from Pace University each year who wish to be challenged academically. Students applying to be Fellows must carry at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA, present their research at the Annual Meeting, and participate in other events sponsored by the Fellows. Aspiring Fellows are also asked to submit an original piece of research or creative work, as well as a letter of recommendation from their faculty sponsor for the organization’s board to review. Faculty who sponsor students or contribute to the Society in other ways may also become Fellows.

At the Society’s two signature events, the Weekend Seminar held each fall semester and the full-day Annual Meeting held each spring semester, Fellows and aspiring student and faculty Fellows gather to present research, lead workshops, engage in thoughtful discussion, and learn from each other. Students conduct their own research with the guidance of a faculty mentor, providing a unique opportunity to forge long-lasting connections and engage firsthand in the full process of proposing, designing, conducting, and presenting scholarly work – skills that will translate into any profession student Fellows choose to pursue.

A cultural anthropologist by trade, Pajo is focused on breaking down the inherent barriers between the four distinct academic “cultures” housed within Dyson—the social sciences, mathematics and the natural sciences, the humanities, and the fine and performing arts—as well as across the schools at Pace. Her hope is that Fellows can all communicate, collaborate, and learn from one another without feeling boxed in by their field of study.

“We want to help students develop fluency in their own field’s language and culture, their own academic background,” said Pajo, “but we also want them to learn tools from others, because combining things in unique ways, that's when the research and creative process leads to new insights.”

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After last year’s events were all held virtually, Pajo is grateful that the Weekend Seminar in the fall and the 41st Annual Meeting in March were both in person this year. At this year’s Annual Meeting, 60 students presented their studies, with five serving on the plenary panel selected for their excellence by the Society’s 12 board members.

The plenary presenters shared more about their research experiences.

Tyler Burenbadrakh ’21, Chemistry

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Research Topic

Sustainable Development and Water Security: Increasing Global Water Conflict in Developing Countries and their Potential Solutions

About the research

It’s so easy to take water for granted in our environment. Before I decided to do this research, I wondered: Why do some of us have fresh and reliable sources of water and others don’t? Is it because of geography or economy? Do some countries prosper more because they have an abundance of water? Or did they build their wealth first and then start taking advantage of advanced technologies to address their hydrological challenges in their regions? I wanted to investigate how water plays a central role in many major decisions that governments around the world must make.

What was the most interesting or surprising thing you learned from your research?

It was really surprising to learn that US government intelligence services estimated that there were at least 10 places in the world where war could break out over dwindling shared water resources, and historically, attacking one country’s water system in any shape or form, symbolized an act of war.

Alanis Howard ’22, Film and Screen Studies

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Research Topic

Evolution of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Gaspar Noé

About the research

The concept and prevalence of the ‘manic pixie dream girl’—a stock character in film whose own story is undeveloped and whose only role is to provide important lessons for the protagonist—is very contemporary. Within a couple of my film courses the term had popped up in conversation, and I realized that there was a tremendous amount of overlap not only in the instances of this trope, but in the research and theory surrounding it. In some ways, the manic pixie dream girl felt like the most relevant figure to study through commentary and film theory-based texts that could identify and examine a trend of evolution and development of the trope. Even though the term manic pixie dream girl didn’t technically emerge until Elizabethtown (2005) by Cameron Crowe, it can be seen as far back as Katharine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby (1938). Hepburn’s character, Susan, a quirky socialite whose seeming purpose in the film is to make the male lead, David (Cary Grant), happy, is often considered the earliest example of a manic pixie dream girl, though the film was released long before the trope was defined.

What do you hope others take away from your research?

First, I hope others can leave with some confidence in new critical language surrounding the manic pixie dream girl, because there is a specific vernacular involved in diving more deeply into the trope. More importantly, I hope that others feel illuminated in the functions of cinema as a visual medium, so that they may understand and apply the knowledge of how, not simply why, film is constructed as it is to maintain narrative tools like the ancillary female character. I also hope others can understand the immense influence of auteur theory—the viewing of the filmmaker as the “author of the film”—on the proliferation of these narrative tools.

Molly Rosaaen ’22, Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies

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Research Topic

An anthropological look at the connections between Generation Z’s intake of books/media during early teenage years and how it has affected their outlook on the government, political issues, and activism

About the research

I wanted to explore the topic of young activism and how it may have been uniquely influenced by popular dystopian media, such as books and movies, because I had felt there was a connection between this theme and what our generation has been seeing in recent years. I did this research one year ago, and there were different influences in the US and the world than there are today. The previous presidential administration still had influence in hot topic issues and the decisions they made had a very polarizing effect. I was seeing a lot of people compare Trump and other controversial leaders to characters in dystopian stories many were familiar with. From there, I wanted to see what specifically about those stories they made connections to and if, in any way, it influenced actions young people take when they encounter social injustice.

What do you hope others take away from your research?

I hope to convey the idea that young people are being influenced by the world around them, especially in a time when social media is so influential in how we interpret information. Generation Z is unique in that social media has taken a very integral role in this. I want others to take away from my research that people are always interpreting information that they see around them. By asking participants questions about what specifically influenced their understanding of the world around them, we can better understand how views are formed.

Kailey Liddell ’23, English

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Research Topic

“He is Our Bard as Well as Yours”: Recovering the Lost Black Involvement in Early American Theatre

About the research

My research focuses on The African Company, an all-Black acting company which performed in New York City in the early 1820s. My mentor Dr. Sid Ray first introduced William Alexander Brown and The African Company to me this summer. I felt really tied to this research because of my positionality as a biracial woman. Social justice work and theater are my main two passions/purposes in life, and this research is such a beautiful combination of them both!

What challenges did you face in your research and how did you overcome them?

The main challenges in my research center around the lack of care surrounding Black history. A lot of the research is speculative, because the limited primary sources I'm working with were written with a racist, bigoted point of view. It is frustrating that we know so much about theater in Ancient Greece, but don't even know the first name of The African Company's leading lady S. Welsh. In order to overcome this, I'm committed to searching in the small spaces, trying to find as much as I can in order to paint a fuller, brighter picture than historians who have tackled the histography before me.

Casey Cloutier ’22, Economics and Modern Languages and Cultures

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Research Topic

COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Labor Market

About the research

I chose this topic because it is extremely important to study the role vaccinations play in the economic recovery from COVID-19. This knowledge can help guide policymakers to make decisions regarding vaccine rollout and other preventative measures against COVID.

What is the most interesting or surprising thing you learned in your research?

The most interesting thing I learned in my research is that COVID-19 vaccines actually do cause a decrease (albeit small) in the unemployment rate for each county in the US. This gives us a good idea as to how vaccines are playing their part to decrease the severity of COVID-19, but to also aid in the economic recovery.

Conversation Part of Autism Acceptance Month

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. (April 20, 2022) – Pace University on Wednesday hosted Assemblymember Tom Abinanti for a discussion about ways of educating and preparing neurodiverse students for life during and after college.

The conversation, led by President Marvin Krislov, was held as part of Autism Acceptance Month: it brought together academic experts from Pace University and its School of Education; leaders from Pace’s OASIS program; parents of neurodiverse students; and Assemblymember Abinanti, chair of the New York State Assembly’s Disability Committee.

In kicking-off the discussion, President Krislov spoke of the unique challenges that many students face and how Pace was addressing them. He highlighted Pace’s OASIS Program, a growing area serving neurodiverse students that this year expanded to Pace’s Pleasantville campus where its students are excelling. He also touted how Pace’s new ESports program effectively integrates students across campuses, includes neurodiverse students, and is a model for inclusion.

“We are gathered here to make the world a better place for neurodiverse people,” Krislov said. “We have reached autism awareness, but we still have a long way to go before we reach acceptance and inclusion. Those affected by autism still face challenges that include limited job opportunities, bullying and prejudice. At Pace, we are trying to make a difference and continue or mission of opportunity for everyone.”

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Assemblymember Abinanti, a longtime advocate for people with disabilities, said that people who are far too often overlooked, can excel when given the opportunity and in the right environment. He shared examples of how many young people succeeding when given the opportunity.

“It’s important to convey to people how they fit into the world,” said Abinanti. “They are a resource. They are people who want to be part of everything, and I commend Pace for helping them make it through college … Higher education can make a real difference.”

About 1 in 44 children have been identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and more than 2% of adults in the U.S. are estimated to have ASD, the CDC estimates.

Educational and social programs are vital to improving the opportunities of those with autism. Pace University’s Special Education program provides students with enhanced knowledge of learning disabilities and differences, as well as the methods and strategies to increase your effectiveness in the classroom. Students develop their skills and expertise in implementing inclusionary practices and differentiated instruction techniques to help students with special learning needs and abilities become successful and lifelong learners.

During the more than one hour discussion, experts discussed a variety of ways that higher education can make a difference, from establishing an inclusive environment for all learners to educating people on how to interact with people with disabilities to offering alternative career certifications and degrees.

“We are well positioned to develop opportunities for students with autism and for training teachers in programs and models that are inclusive,” said Professor Shobana Musti, chair, School of Education. “We are literally an oasis for students.”

For Laura Scott Schaefer, a small business owner who employs people with disabilities and an OASIS parent, the program has changed her 19-year-old son’s life.

“In the last three months, my son has made more progress at Pace than he has in the previous three years (elsewhere),” said Schaefer. “They are helping him. He’s becoming an adult. He can be in the world, not as a disabled person, but as a person. Little by little he is coming into his own here. For the first time he is thinking ahead.”

About Pace University

Since 1906, Pace University has educated thinking professionals by providing high quality education for the professions on a firm base of liberal learning amid the advantages of the New York metropolitan area. A private university, Pace has campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York, enrolling nearly 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in its Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Lubin School of Business, College of Health Professions, School of Education, School of Law, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.