Leah Gaffney

Brand Strategy Associate, Kantar

Class of 2022
BBA in Marketing - Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications with minors in Arts and Entertainment Management and Digital Marketing

Pronouns: She/Her

From being president of the Brand Marketing Team to Sales Team captain to vice president of the American Marketing Association, Leah Gaffney is a leader in the Lubin School of Business. Thanks to her self-motivation, she's graduating after just three years, with a post-graduation job already lined up.

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

I chose Pace University because you get the best return on investment for your education in the perfect location. Upon visiting Pace, I was immensely excited for the numerous opportunities that students have within the university, especially at the Lubin School of Business. There are - and have been - so many opportunities for me to build my resume and professional network, as well as collaborate with my peers. The faculty at Pace have numerous connections with companies who readily turn to Pace students for internships and full-time positions. Lubin also has supportive staff and students; everyone is encouraged to work together for success.

How have clubs on campus helped enrich your student experience?

Lubin student organizations have been the highlight of my time at Pace. In my first year, I joined Pace's Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA). This organization is a part of the larger International AMA, where students come together each year to network and compete in a collegiate conference. With AMA, I was able to travel to New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and win multiple awards. These experiences have brought me so many friends and professional connections, as well as real-world marketing experience. I have also been part of the Lubin Interscholastic Sales Team for the past year, where I have been able to travel throughout the East Coast and compete in national sales competitions. Through this experience, I was able to obtain new skills in sales, connect with sponsors and recruiters, and win monetary awards. These competitions were immensely fun and gave me hands-on experience in sales.

You have been very involved on campus. What have you learned from those experiences so far?

I have learned so much about communication and collaboration. As a professional entering the business world, so much of the work that I am going to do will be with others. Having that experience all throughout college has been incredibly beneficial because I have not only learned how to be a leader, but also how to work in tandem with others. Working on so many teams has given me the opportunity to explore my communication skills and learn the best way to work with others, even in a virtual setting. These are skills that I will carry with me throughout the entirety of my professional journey.

Working on so many teams has given me the opportunity to explore my communication skills and learn the best way to work with others, even in a virtual setting. These are skills that I will carry with me throughout the entirety of my professional journey.

You recently led the Lubin Sales Team to victories at the Bloomsburg University Keystone Sales Challenge and at Robert Morris University. What motivates you to work hard?

I have numerous motivators for myself when it comes to working hard, but I am especially motivated by my need to grow. For as long as I can remember, I have always had a passion for and sought-out growth experiences. I believe that it is always best to surround yourself with people who challenge you, which is definitely something I have experienced at these sales competitions.

How has the Pforzheimer Honors College benefitted you?

The Pforzheimer Honors College has been a great help in terms of planning out my Pace Path. I entered Pace with a plethora of college credits I earned in high school, but was unsure how to go about using these credits. My honors advisor sat down with me and planned out my entire schedule based on the credits I already had, and all the classes I was interested in. Because of this planning, I am now able to graduate a year early. My advisor was a great support system who helped me maximize my Pace experience. I am also completing my senior thesis in the Honors College, giving me the opportunity to conduct field research and work with professionals within the Broadway and theatrical community.

What has been your favorite opportunity at Pace?

My favorite opportunity at Pace was working on the Brand Marketing Team. This is both a class and an organization outside of the classroom where I worked with 18 other students on a year-long marketing campaign for our product sponsor, Tinder. With this opportunity, I was nominated president and as the presenter for the campaign. This was the most hands-on experience I received because I worked in all aspects of marketing – campaign planning, creative strategy and execution, and media planning. After presenting the campaign to judges from the National Student Advertising Competition, our team placed 3rd overall and won a special award for Outstanding Sonic Branding.

Do you have any advice for other Lubin students?

I would recommend taking the initiative and exploring areas outside of your comfort zone because that is what college is all about. There are so many things that Lubin, Pace, and NYC offer, so really take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to you because if you don’t, someone else will.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

#LubinLife isn’t just a hashtag, but a perspective on life professionally and personally. It is a growth-focused mindset used by both student and faculty professionals in the Lubin School of Business. We are all individuals who take the initiative and constantly work to optimize our future. Though New York City can be an overwhelming place, Lubin takes it on with full force.

Do you have any post-graduation plans that you would like to share?

I am excited to share that I will be staying in the Financial District working as a Brand Strategy Analyst at the research firm Kantar.

Connect with Leah:

• Connect with Leah Gaffney on LinkedIn
• Connect with Leah Gaffney on Instagram

Wilmarie Vazquez Milian, senior communication sciences disorders major, is a dedicated and hardworking student with a passion for helping children.

The choice to enter the dynamic field of communication sciences and disorders was a path she always knew she would take from a young age. Wilmarie was inspired by the fact that this profession allowed her to work with children and help make a difference in their lives while giving her the opportunity to focus her education on medicine.

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Once she received her undergraduate degree, Wilmarie started her career as a speech language-pathologist assistant in Florida. After looking for a master’s program that could provide her with the certification to become a speech-language pathologist, Wilmarie gravitated toward Pace University due to the vast number of opportunities available in the program. CHP's exceptional externship experiences drew Wilmarie all the way from Florida to study at Pace.

This competitive and rigorous program has given her the chance to advance her education and career. Wilmarie landed an externship at a private pediatric clinic in Astoria, Queens and prior to her May 2022 graduation date, she was offered a placement with the practice to complete her clinical fellowship.

Wilmarie recommends working at this facility due to the blend of different populations and disorders; she also appreciates the chance to gain a different point of view from learning outside of a school environment. “My hopes after graduation are to continue to soak up as much information as I can to better expand my network and career opportunities, be that in New York, Florida, or anywhere else across the state."

Oysters rely on the ebb and flow of the tide for flavor. Their survival is determined by their farmers, deeply rooted in their tradition and connection to the water. In the nineteenth century, oysters were a plentiful source of protein that was as popular with the affluent as with the everyman in Manhattan’s oyster saloons. When the city grew, the oysters began to disappear, and so did their place as potent water filters in rivers, bays, and estuaries.

Through the grit and dedication of oyster farmers, modern aquaculture technology, and efforts to better understand their ecological value, oyster beds are being protected while once depleted regions are being restored.

In this documentary produced by Professors Maria Luskay and Lou Guarneri, and Pace University’s documentary film team—PaceDocs—filmmakers speak with scientists, historians, shellfish constables, and farmers across the flats of Cape Cod, the shores of Connecticut’s Long Island Sound, and the urban waterways of New York City.

In the process, they uncover what gives an oyster its merroir, or taste that is unique to its region; how communities are utilizing oysters to improve local water conditions and counteract the effects of human activity; and the plight of the oyster farmer braving unpredictable circumstances to lead a life by the tides.

Join the PaceDocs crew

Pre-Screening Reception
Tuesday, May 10 | 6:00 p.m.

Screening of Tide to Table
Tuesday, May 10 | 7:00 p.m.

Location:
Jacob Burns Film Center
364 Manville Road
Pleasantville, NY 10570

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The Haub Law Trial Advocacy team set a precedent for the School when they placed first in the recently held Puerto Rico Trial Advocacy Competition, hosted by Inter American University. The Competition was held in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico at the Jose V. Toledo Federal Building and United States Courthouse from April 7–9, 2022. After two plus years of virtual competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the first in-person competition for the Haub Law competitors, Krittika ‘Kye’ Shah (3L), Alina Rizhinashvili (3L), Phillip O’Meara (3L), and Daniel Petrillo (2L).

The Haub Law team competed against 12 other schools under the guidance of their outstanding and dedicated coaches Giuliana Trivella, Esq., Andre Ingenito, Esq., and Joseph Russo, Esq. All of the Haub Law coaches are also alumni of the law school and the advocacy program. In addition to placing first in the overall competition, team member Daniel Petrillo won ‘Best Advocate’, Alina Rizhinashvili won ‘Best Direct’, Krittika ‘Kye’ Shah and Phillip O’Meara won perfect scores, and every award category included a nomination for at least one Haub Law competitor advocate.

“The moment of victory was a bittersweet one. As we received a standing ovation, we also came to realize this would be the last time most of our team competed under the guidance of our fantastic coaches,” said Haub Law 3L and team captain, Krittika ‘Kye’ Shah. “Phil has been with our coaches since the second semester of his 2L year, Alina, and I since the first semester of our 3L year. Every single advocate on this team has at one point or another won an individual award under these coaches. Not only are they phenomenal teachers but the love, care, and attention they have provided us all on an individual level has helped us grow as lawyers and as people. I cannot thank the advocacy program enough for connecting me with these advocates and coaches for my last competition in law school. I could not have asked for a better team and friends.”

Haub Law alumna and coach, Giuliana Trivella, Esq. said “I am so proud of all my students for always working hard, always performing to the best of their abilities, and always being kind to each other throughout the process.” She continued, “These advocates represent the best of the advocacy program. I am also thankful for my fellow coaches, Andre and Joey. The long-nights we spent teaching evidence, deciphering through the fact pattern, and running over directs and crosses were all worth it. This was a fantastic competition, I am thankful to Inter American University for graciously hosting us in beautiful San Juan. We are proud to have represented Haub Law in such a positive light and we hope to keep making the school proud.”

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law’s impressive trial advocacy program once again ranked in the top 15% of law schools, coming in at number 26 this year. Over the last few years, Haub Law has had 28+ Mock Trial and Moot Court Teams, with an average of over 124 student participants on these teams as a whole. The Law School’s Mock Trial and Moot Court teams regularly place at or near the top in competitions. In the fall of 2021, Haub Law hosted its first Advocate in Residence, Gillian More, a lifelong prosecutor with a worldwide reputation in advocacy. Haub Law’s trial advocacy program is led by Lou Fasulo, Director of Advocacy, Moot Court and Client Counseling programs.