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For more than 50 years, Pace University Professor on the Environment and Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law Emeritus Nicholas A. Robinson, JD, has been a trailblazer in the field of environmental law—in fact, Pace’s environmental law program, currently ranked #1 in the nation, certainly would not exist without the dedication of Robinson, who founded Pace’s environmental law programs several decades ago.

While the Pace Community has been well aware of Robinson’s many vital contributions to the field for quite some time (the Nicholas Robinson Award for Distinguished Environmental Achievement, established in 2005 recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to environmental law), the recognition of his impact has gone global.

“If this award can encourage more of us to take up the tasks we began, then we can take courage that the efforts of the pioneers in this field will be well served,” said Robinson.

Recently, the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law, a major worldwide network of environmental law scholars and policy experts, established a new award—the Nicholas Robinson Award for Excellence in Environmental Law—to recognize excellence in life-time achievements furthering environmental law.

“If this award can encourage more of us to take up the tasks we began, then we can take courage that the efforts of the pioneers in this field will be well served,” said Robinson. “I am not at all sure that I deserve this recognition. I am still stunned and not quite comprehending this acknowledgement and encouragement now bearing my name. I hope in its small way it helps our global community make peace with nature.”

The Pace Community extends its congratulations to Robinson for this well-deserved honor.

Allan Krasner ’20, Manuel Garza ’22, and Isaiah Jimenez ’23 met while working at Seidenberg Creative Labs and the Entrepreneurship Lab. It turned out that this environment was the perfect match for the trio, who have combined their technical acumen and collective conscientiousness to launch Wepptek, a startup dedicated to assisting clients with a wide range of professional website and application needs.

“The three of us met together for the first time in the eLab without realizing that we would be working much closer together in the near future,” Krasner told Seidenberg. “Seidenberg Creative Labs helped the three of us understand how the flow of projects is supposed to work and helped us understand any potential problems that we might run into in the development process.”

“Seidenberg Creative Labs helped the three of us understand how the flow of projects is supposed to work and helped us understand any potential problems that we might run into in the development process.”

Krasner, Garza, and Jimenez have been busy. Through working with clients—which have already included a charter school consulting firm and the Union of Adjunct Faculty at Pace—they’ve been able to solidify their roles and ideal workflow as they strive to build an expanded customer base. Krasner, the CEO, has his hands in a little bit of everything to keep the business running while also focusing on the big picture. Garza, the CTO, centers his focus on the technological components of each project. And Jimenez, the COO, ensures things run smoothly on the operations side, while always keeping his eye out for more clients.

Following the retirement of Dean Harriet Feldman, Pace is excited to announce that Marcus Tye, PhD, has taken the helm as the dean for the College of Health Professions.

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Tye, a licensed clinical psychologist, comes to Pace having served as dean of the School of Health Sciences and interim dean of the School of Education at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York (CUNY). In addition, Tye has written a comprehensive survey textbook on gender and sexuality rooted in the biopsychosocial model with an emphasis on cultural diversity, and has provided psychological services in assisted living facilities, inpatient rehab, and long-term psychotherapy.

“Dean Tye's career and expertise align well with the vision, goals, and mission of Pace University, and our aim to educate our student body for current and future healthcare challenges," Provost Vanya Quiñones. "We welcome Dean Tye to Pace and are excited that he will bring the necessary know-how to prepare our students as successful healthcare professionals.”

Tye’s appointment comes at an exciting time for the College of Health Professions, which, in addition to launching new programs and improved facilities, was recently awarded a $2 million federal grant to increase opportunities and retention for historically underrepresented minorities in the field of nursing.

“It's a privilege to join the College of Health Professions and work to create new programs to complement the already strong roster of program offerings,” Tye said. “I believe Pace is uniquely positioned with medical center affiliations throughout Westchester and NYC to develop new programs in genetic counseling and precision medicine, public health and other fields in the health sciences, and to further diversity and inclusion in interprofessional education with cultural competence and LGBTQIA+ populations.”

Local businesses are the lifeblood of our communities and after nearly two years in a pandemic, things are beginning to look up. In fact, a majority of businesses surveyed in the region say they will be stronger after the pandemic. Half say they are feeling pretty good about the future.

How do we know? Pace University recently released the results of its first poll—one that focuses exclusively on how businesses managed their operations during the pandemic. The results were as interesting as they were informative, and are going to be integrated into the classroom as part of Pace’s commitment to experiential learning, said Professor Kathryn Winsted, director of Lubin's Center for Student Enterprise and the Pace Business Poll.

The Pace Business Poll, a partnership between Pace University’s Lubin School of Business, The Business Council of New York State and The Business Council of Westchester, surveyed approximately 300 business leaders from New York City and its suburbs. The poll was conducted by email and by phone by students at Pace Connect, one of Lubin’s five student-run businesses in the Center for Student Enterprise at Pace.

“This was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about business and how businesses respond to crises,” said Liang Lin, a senior management major who is general manager at Pace Connect. “It was also very helpful for us to learn how to communicate effectively with business leaders.”

Professor Winsted noted how insightful and hopeful the respondents were; she is encouraged by the responses.

“The resiliency showed by many businesses during the pandemic was inspiring, and there is much to be gained by studying how businesses adjusted, adapted, and found new ways to make things work,” Winsted said. “Many business leaders expressed growing appreciation for the need for work/life balance and the importance of employees’ well-being.”

Read the full report here and watch a video about the Pace Business Poll. The Pace Business Poll is working on its next poll this fall, which will focus on return to work, business sentiment, real estate, employee concerns, customer relations, and other issues of interest. Business interested in participating in the next poll can email pacepoll@pace.edu.

For 12 years, Pace has been supporting neurodiverse students and students on the autism spectrum through its Ongoing Academic Social Instructional Support (OASIS) program. This year, through initiatives from the President and Provost’s offices, OASIS has expanded its services to the Pace Community in Westchester.

Expanding the OASIS program, which provides comprehensive support services for neurodiverse students, those on the autism spectrum, and those with other learning challenges, from Pace’s NYC Campus to Pleasantville was a natural next step in the program’s evolution.

“Many of our students are now pursuing graduate degrees,” says Torres.

The serene suburban atmosphere of Pace’s Pleasantville Campus was a great fit for students who do best without the sensory overload that comes from being in the hustle-and-bustle of Lower Manhattan. Plus, percentage-wise, more students in Pleasantville self-identify as being on the autism spectrum than in NYC.

“We’ve got a small cohort in Pleasantville right now, so it’s a really intimate setting,” says The Nancy A. Garvey, PhD, Director of the OASIS Program and Accessibility Resources, Kate Torres. “Of the group, three of our students switched from the NYC Campus to Pleasantville. They really like the environment up here.”

Since OASIS began, students enrolled in the program have earned enormous success with a 3.0+ academic average, several internship offers (85 percent of students receive them!), and a 100 percent graduation rate. They are passionate about fulfilling their dreams of furthering their education, and now, the OASIS team—which includes coaches, coordinators, counselors, and more—will be even better positioned to ensure that happens.

“Many of our students are now pursuing graduate degrees,” says Torres. “And now, we’re actively working to support them in not just obtaining a bachelor’s degree, but now going beyond that. Right now, we have three students who are applying to Pace graduate programs in the fall.”

As the popular adage goes, you never get a second chance at a first impression. In today’s world, that first impression often comes via the web. Which is why, after over a year of planning and tireless work, the University is proud to present our vastly new-and-improved website, launched in the summer of 2021.

“Our new website is a wonderful launching pad to continue to tell the Pace story,” said Mary Baglivo, Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of University Relations. “The enhanced utility and ease of access for current and future Pace Community members will certainly pay dividends in the coming years. Our team—many of whom spent countless hours on the ins and outs of this substantial undertaking—should be enormously proud of their work.”

Thanks to the diligence and foresight of University Relations, ITS, and Enrollment Management, the new Pace website was designed with several critical goals in mind, including: improving recruitment and enrollment success across all educational tracks; engaging our audience with compelling stories that showcase the best of what Pace has to offer; the creation of easy-to-use content hubs for current students, faculty, and families, and; optimizing the mobile experience. In fact, because nearly half of all our web traffic comes from handheld devices, this website was designed mobile first.

The website is also designed to improve our SEO, and brings the University in full compliance with ADA accessibility standards.

"While the front end of the website is beautiful, the back end is really where this upgrade shines. All of the content you’ve seen, all the images, the H1 header tags, the meta descriptions, all are designed with SEO in mind—as a result, our SEO partner agency, Path Interactive, is very excited to work with us," explains Director of Online Communication Gisela Tirado-Tewes. "Another thing to keep in mind here is that the old pace.edu site was built before web-design really took web-accessibility into account. The new site will be fully compliant allowing us to better serve people with visual impairments."

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is pleased to announce that Debra Moss Vollweiler will join its law faculty as a visiting professor in the spring of 2022. While at Haub Law, she will be teaching Secured Transactions and Corporations and Partnerships.

“Both Secured Transactions and Corporations and Partnerships are two of the most complex courses in a law student’s curricular journey. The Elisabeth Haub School of Law is extremely fortunate to have Dean Debra Moss Vollweiler joining us for a semester to share her expertise in these areas with our students. Haub Law students who have the opportunity to learn from her in the spring will benefit greatly from that experience,” said Jill I. Gross, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law.

Debra Moss Vollweiler currently serves as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and a tenured Professor of Law at Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and is the former Interim Dean of the College of Law. At NSU Law, Dean Vollweiler teaches Contracts, UCC: Secured Transactions, UCC: Sales, and other business and commercial law courses. A frequently published scholar, her works have focused on professionalism, teaching, learning, and attorney discipline. Dean Vollweiler’s latest works, entitled, If you Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em (Virtually): Institutionally Managing Law Students as Consumers in a COVID World and If you Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em: Institutionally Managing Law Students as Consumers, are both published in the Pace Law Review.

In 2016, Dean Vollweiler was named a fellow for the National Institute for Teaching Ethics and Professionalism, presenting on the inclusion of professional identity and other professionalism learning outcomes in the law school curriculum. An expert on the law school curriculum, she is also the co-author of "Legal Education at a Crossroads," a book examining curricular change in law schools nationwide and advocating for data based curriculum development. In 2017, she was also recognized by the Florida Bar with the statewide Law Faculty Professionalism award.

Very well-regarded by the students at NSU Law, in 2017, Dean Vollweiler also received NSU’s Distinguished Professor of the Year award for the College of Law. She was also named "Professor of the Year" by the College of Law Student Bar Association in 2007, 2014, and 2015. In both 2019 and 2021, she was the NSU College of Law Executive of the Year.

Further, Dean Vollweiler is a member of two executive committees of the American Association of Law Schools (AALS), both the Teaching Methods section and the Section on Associate Deans for Academic Affairs and Research. She serves as a site inspector for the ABA accreditation process and has spoken nationally on teaching, learning, and professionalism at the AALS, Southeastern Association of Law Schools, and ABA Conferences, among others. She also has forthcoming articles on Syllabus Out, “Skillabus” In: A New Kind of Academic Road Map for Legal Education and The COVID Crisis Impact on Legal Education.

Horace E. Anderson, Jr., Dean of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, said, “We are grateful to have the opportunity to welcome Dean Debra Moss Vollweiler to Haub Law for a semester this upcoming spring. Dean Vollweiler has experience as a practitioner, a scholar, a professor, and as an expert on the law school curriculum. We were honored to publish her work in the Pace Law Review and we are now honored to have her teaching as a visiting professor at our law school.”

Debra Moss Vollweiler is a graduate of Boston College Law School and Tufts University and began her work in legal education by establishing the Public Interest Law Center at the NSU College of Law in 1995.

About Elisabeth Haub School of Law

Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University offers JD and Masters of Law degrees in both Environmental and International Law, as well as a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) in Environmental Law. The school, housed on the University’s campus in White Plains, N.Y., opened its doors in 1976 and has more than 9,000 alumni around the world. The school maintains a unique philosophy and approach to legal education that strikes an important balance between practice and theory. Haub Law launched its Environmental Law Program in 1978, and it has long been ranked among the world’s leading university programs, with a current #1 ranking by U.S. World and News Report. Pace’s doctoral graduates teach environmental law at universities around the world. Pace’s JD alumni are prominent in environmental law firms, agencies and non-profit organizations across the U.S. and abroad. In 2016, the Law School received a transformational gift from the family of Elisabeth Haub, in recognition of its outstanding environmental law programs.

A return to normal never felt so good! Pace's campuses are buzzing with activity and New York is coming alive after nearly two years of life during a global pandemic.

On campus, our students have returned to classrooms, our faculty are once again at the head of the class, and Pace is beginning to feel a bit more...normal. Check out the gallery below to see some of the great moments we captured early in the start of our Fall 2021 semester.

Steven Montesantos

Senior Associate, Management Consulting M&A, RSM

Class of 2019, 2021
MBA in Marketing Management

Member Of: Student Veterans of America, Zeta Beta Tau, American Marketing Association (AMA), Veterans in Media & Entertainment (VME)

Meet Steven Montesantos, a double Lubin graduate currently participating in the Veteran Immersion Program at ViacomCBS. This Marine Corps veteran balances his busy student life with a passion for sailing. He has been a member of multiple student organizations, has participated in case competitions, and has maintained an active relationship with Career Services, his Lubin professors, and his classmates. As a member of the Student Veterans of America (SVA) Leadership Institute—which only accepts the top 1% of student leaders who join—Steven is currently preparing to be a speaker at the SVA National Convention. He has even landed a second internship with ViacomCBS' Integrated Marketing Activation Team for Nickelodeon and has more than one full-time offer to choose from after graduating in December 2021.

Why did you choose Pace University and the Lubin School of Business to advance your education?

After earning my associate’s degree from Nassau Community College, I considered many universities where to pursue my bachelor's degree, but a few things about Pace University stood out. First of all was the location. Although it seemed more glamorous to go to a university with a lustrous campus and vibrant dorm life outside of the city, my goal was to position myself in a location that afforded me the best path to multiple opportunities. The second thing that differentiated Pace among other universities is the reputation of the Career Services department. I've heard many current students and alumni consistently sing the department’s praises. The third reason I chose Pace is because of its arsenal of tried-and-true professionals at the Lubin School of Business. Fourth, I chose the university because of its Veterans Services Office and the tremendous support it has for its veteran students. The cherry on top is that Pace is my father's alma mater (Class of 1980).

You are part of the Veterans Immersion Program at ViacomCBS. Tell us about some of your experiences.

I was truly honored to be selected for this program. The content of this program has been a lot to take in, in such a short time, but the experience is like none other. Immediately you're brought on to projects and given a first-hand view of how the nation's largest media network company operates. I've had the privilege of meeting many leaders within the company and had the opportunity to exchange experiences and stories with them, which has been motivating, impactful, and memorable.

"If it weren't for Career Services, this opportunity would have never presented itself. Not only did Career Services help me put together a flawless resume, but they also prepared me for interviews and future career success.”

How did you land such a fantastic opportunity? Was it with help from Career Services?

Absolutely. If it weren't for Career Services, this opportunity would have never presented itself. Not only did Career Services help me put together a flawless resume, but they also prepared me for interviews and future career success. Career Services invited ViacomCBS to attend the Career Fair. Although I could not meet with representatives from the company during the event, Career Services still connected me to the recruiters afterward, which led to an interview. Career Services then came through for me again, this time with RSM, which led to an offer letter for the position of Strategic Management Consultant: Mergers & Acquisitions, Senior Associate.

You have a go-getter attitude and get involved in many projects and extracurricular activities, including case competitions. What advice do you have for other students looking to get involved?

I can't stress this one enough: Use your time wisely and take advantage of various resources during your tenure at Pace University; you are paying for it! You only get so many years of college, so make the most of them. There are a myriad of astounding and insightful professors and staff eager to help you achieve your goals. Further, make sure you surround yourself with like-minded students who are motivated and committed to personal growth. Lastly, join a club! There are so many clubs and organizations at Pace that have valuable resources and connections at their disposal.

What types of impactful relationships have you built while at Pace?

Joining the Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) fraternity has vastly expanded my network with not only a phenomenal group of friends and brothers on campus, but outside of Pace as well. Our alumni network and other ZBT chapters at different universities such as Columbia, City College, and Brooklyn College are always reaching out to offer their help. I've also found that my Lubin classmates are much more than just classmates; they are more like business partners or colleagues. I am still close to many of them today. And of course, there are the many professors at Lubin who have made an everlasting impact, as well as guided and mentored me during my time at Pace.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

#LubinLife implies that I'm motivated and committed to personal growth and success. It represents a culture of young professionals with an unyielding drive for competition. It is comprised of a network of professionals, executives, forward thinkers, and individuals who aren't afraid to try. #LubinLife is full of faculty and students who will help you take advantage of great opportunities.