The coronavirus pandemic came on fast, and the Dyson community has responded.

By definition, a liberal arts education prepares students to be flexible, think outside the box, and to see issues from a variety of perspectives. As the world battles the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Dyson College community has turned to those characteristics to help in the fight. Here are a few of the ways that students, faculty, and alumni are contributing to ongoing relief and support efforts.

Procuring PPE

Across the nation, one of the biggest challenges of the pandemic has been the severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), which threatens our ability to save lives and reduce the impact of the virus.

To safeguard healthcare professionals on the front lines, Pace University’s College of Health Professions and Dyson College have donated more than 15,000 gloves, 250 standard face masks, more than 60 N95 masks, and nearly 50 disposable gown kits to the Westchester Medical Center and New York State.

“Healthcare workers are literally putting their lives on the line to help patients with COVID-19,” said Professor Marcy Kelly, chairperson of the Biology Department on the New York City campus, “If [they] do not have PPE, they will most likely catch the virus. The more healthcare workers who are sick, the greater the impact on our ability to treat patients and keep the mortality rate down.”

Yutong Fan ’20, a returning student from China who is attending Pace to fulfill prerequisite courses for dental school, has also coordinated a separate donation of N95 masks, surgical masks, and gloves. She was able to secure several small shipments from family and friends in the medical field back home, and on arrival, the supplies will be disseminated to medical staff at several local nursing homes.

“As a resident of New York, I want to support my neighborhood and my city,” said Fan. “My family members in China worked at the frontline helping patients…I cannot imagine them working without proper protections. I fear for the medical personnel in New York as well as their families…I just want to do whatever I can to give them the protection they deserve.”

Standing on the Front Line

Dr. James Gasperino ’89, is one of the many physicians, nurses and healthcare professionals who are emerging as heroes. Dr. Gasperino is chair, Department of Medicine; vice president for Critical Care, Perioperative, and Hospital Medicine; and associate chief medical officer at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, and where intense struggles have been chronicled by The New York Times.

“We’re doing this because the alternative is death,” Gasperino told the paper in an April 4, 2020 article titled “‘Code Blue’: A Brooklyn I.C.U. Fights for Each Life in a Coronavirus Surge.” He was referring to his team’s efforts to create protocols for how to share ventilators between patients, a precarious idea that clearly illustrates the desperate situation at his hospital and many others.

Shaping Policy

Another major issue in the COVID-19 pandemic is the lack of clear strategic policy. As president and chief executive of Vital Strategies, José Luis Castro ’88 is working to change that. Vital Strategies is a leading global public health organization founded to develop effective solutions to major challenges for rapid, large-scale impact.

The organization has mobilized into an incident command structure (led by the Prevent Epidemics team) and partnered with the World Health Organization and Bloomberg Philanthropies in a new $40 million initiative to support global response to the pandemic focusing on Africa and vulnerable lower-income regions.

“We will strengthen systems and drive COVID-19 response with data, science and evidence to save lives,” said Castro, a member of the Dyson College Advisory Board. “Learning and knowledge management is an integral part of our response work, and the lessons learned from COVID-19 will be shared widely in hopes to prevent the next pandemic.”

Providing Information

As the world shuts in, a number of Dyson College alumni are out keeping the rest of us informed, including CNN business and politics correspondent Cristina Alesci ’01, Charles (Charlie) Gasparino ’85, a senior correspondent for Fox Business Network, and News12 reporter Blaise Gomez, ’06, who said she and her colleagues have received an influx of viewers seeking help and wanting to share their stories.

“This crisis is unlike anything I’ve covered in my 13-year career as a journalist in the Hudson Valley,” said Gomez. “Of course, there are always stories that hit close to home, but this is something that we are all experiencing together. That said, I enjoy helping people and giving them a voice they’d otherwise not have. That hasn’t changed during this crisis, and now, more than ever, that job is my duty.”

Inspiring Joy and Hope

While the news media provides the facts and straight talk, others from the Dyson community are working to spread joy.

As reported in The New York Times, aspiring lighting designer Matt Carino ’20, Production and Design for Stage and Screen, used his skills to create a lighted lawn display with the words “Together, Apart” at his family home in Montclair, New Jersey.

“I wanted to send a simple, strong and positive message to the community,” Carino told the paper. “This pandemic is really hitting people hard, from having to work remotely, schools being canceled, and businesses being closed or limited.”

His work is part of a worldwide movement to spark happiness during this dark time with holiday lights.

On-air radio personality Anna Zap (Zapotosky) ’02, co-host of The Anna and Raven Show on Connoisseur Media’s Star 99.9 Connecticut and Walk 97.5 Long Island, says her job during the crisis is to balance providing information while still being entertaining and supportive of advertisers who may be struggling. To that end, Zap and her co-host have devoted more time to communicating via social media and interacting directly with the audience in other ways. They organized Zumba and Rave events on Facebook, shared funny videos of their homes (now their remote studios), and hosted various forums. They have also started "Open for Business," a new daily segment featuring interviews with various advertising clients about how they’re adapting and how listeners can be supportive.

“We've received so many messages from listeners thanking us for providing normalcy, but the truth is that there isn't anything normal about what's happening right now,” said Zap. “What I've found is that in times of emergency...we need to work harder than ever to provide accurate info and familiarity, while staying true to our brand.”

Making Sense of it All

How do we deal with the stress of being shut in? In what ways will the pandemic shape our future? These are important questions, and Dyson faculty members are contributing their expertise to provide answers and help us process what’s happening. Professor of Psychology Sally Dickerson, Associate Professor of Psychology Anthony Mancini, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Economics Todd Yarbrough have all shared their varying perspectives on the pandemic and its implications via Medium.com.

• Read “Managing COVID-19 Stress” (Dickerson)
• Read “Potential Positives Amidst a Major Tragedy” (Mancini)
• Read “The Economic Fallout of COVID-19” (Yarbrough)

“In any crisis, each academic discipline has an important role to play by providing the social consciousness with the best available insights from their work. Psychologists can help us emotionally cope, literary scholars can help us appreciate themes that resonate during bleak times, and economists can assist with understanding the mechanisms of the economy,” said Yarborough. “Interdisciplinary understanding and togetherness are an incredibly powerful force, and I think any academic wants to be a part of that force for good.”

Editor's Note: Dyson College and response to COVID-19 remains an ongoing story. If you'd like to share information for any future updates, please email us at dysonnews@pace.edu.

WESTCHESTER and NEW YORK, N.Y. (April 14, 2020) – Responding to the economic fallout from the global coronavirus pandemic that has wiped out jobs, decimated incomes and is threatening to push the economy into a recession, Pace University is now offering its career services resources to parents of students who have lost jobs, the University today announced.

In extending its full range of resources, relationships, recruitment and know-how to include parents adversely affected by economic fallout of this crisis, Pace’s department of Career Services stands ready to help families in need find employment.

“Pace has a long tradition of creating opportunities for our students,” said President Marvin Krislov. “In this uncertain time, we're very pleased to do the same for Pace families by extending Career Services placement expertise to parents of our students. We know that student success is directly tied to family stability, but, more important, it’s the right thing to do at a time when people need us most.”

In addition to providing career services to adults, Pace University is providing supplies for front-line health care workers, sending volunteers to much needed hospitals and medical centers in the region, and marshaling its resources to assist those who need help, Krislov noted.

This is the first time Pace Career Services is being offered beyond students and alumni population to include current parents. Historically, Pace has some of the strongest job placement outcomes among undergraduate and graduate students. It’s one of the many reasons that Pace is ranked number one in upward economic mobility among four-year private universities according to a study conducted by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights.

“These past few weeks we learned that some of our students’ parents have lost their jobs. As career professionals we know too well the stress a person typically experiences when they lose work, even in the best of circumstances and economies. But to lose a job in the middle of a pandemic – the team is heartbroken to think how overwhelmed some of our students’ families must feel now” said Phyllis Mooney, executive director of Career Services at Pace University. “This is where we can, and are happy to help, no matter what kind of job a Pace parent is looking for. And we are just one confidential phone call or email away”.

Each year, hundreds of companies – everything from Fortune 500s and the major accounting firms to government agencies and small business -- actively recruit from Pace’s New York City and Pleasantville campuses. The department of Career Services, which each year brings more than 450 employers to its campuses through 12 career fairs and many other networking events, connects students to brand name companies in accounting, media and entertainment, nonprofits, health care, science and technology, and hospitality, among many others, is tapping into its traditional resources and contacts, and scouring job boards and online resources to help connect people with the right jobs.

Furthermore, Pace in 2019 had access to roughly 60,000 job and internship postings, of which Pace students completed 8,000+ internships, co-ops, practicums, field experiences – and the University expects that to grow in the coming years.

“From day one, students are introduced to Pace’s expert Career Services team and learn of our many career counseling services, including our robust calendar of employer events for that year,” Mooney said. “At Pace, we help all students no matter who they are, who they know, or what they are majoring in find their unique career path. In addition to introducing them to a huge roster of employers through our mega and ‘boutique’ fairs; we offer students individual appointments and workshops on everything from resume writing, building a professional brand, interview skills and salary negotiation. Now, we’re helping parents with those skills.”

To contact Pace’s department of Career Services, call (212) 346-1950 or email careers@pace.edu.

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 a Law School in White Plains. Follow us on Twitter or on our news website.

On a misty Saturday morning in February, College of Health Professions (CHP) Professor of Nursing Joanne Singleton, PhD; Pace’s service dog, Professor Spirit; and 25 CHP undergraduate students boarded a bus departing from Pace’s Pleasantville Campus. With coffees in hand, many students noted that while this 8:00 a.m. call-time was a departure from their traditional weekend sleep schedules, today was an exciting, special exception. The group was gearing up for a field visit to Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities (ECAD), a nonprofit organization devoted to training service dogs who go on to be paired with individuals with disabilities.

The field trip to ECAD would be about a lot more than just playing with cute animals—although it would be a little bit of that, of course.

As the bus trudged down a foggy I-84E, Singleton began to discuss why an individual with a disability or a degenerative condition might benefit from a service dog—and from the perspective of a health care practitioner, the importance of adequately understanding the needs of individuals with service animals.

The First of Its Kind

For Singleton, her interest and subsequent educational activism surrounding service animals stems from a personal friendship. This thoughtful, inventive program was inspired by the late Luis Carlos Montalván, an Iraq War veteran whose life changed dramatically for the better after being paired with his service dog, Tuesday.

After hearing Montalván speak at a conference, Singleton realized there was a major gap between the level of care individuals with service dogs needed, and the level of care that most health care practitioners were able to provide—as the vast majority of nurses, doctors, and other health care practitioners have never been trained to treat individuals teamed with service animals.

In other words, she realized that health care practitioners should and could be doing better.

“As I listened to Luis, I realized, these health care providers he is talking about, this could me be!” said Singleton. “No one has ever taught me about this. As an educator, I have an opportunity to teach our health profession students about this, and make a real change.”

"As an educator, I have an opportunity to teach our health profession students about this, and make a real change.”

With the help of fellow CHP Professor Lucille Ferrara, EdD, she launched Canines Assisting in Health in 2017. It was the first college curriculum in the country of its kind, primarily dedicated to educating future health care professionals about the care of patients with disabilities who are—or may benefit from being—teamed with a service dog or those who participate in animal assisted therapies. This new curriculum focused on teaching students how to include service and therapy dogs in comprehensive care treatment plans.

Singleton became certified in the human-animal bond and animal-assisted interventions, and began thinking about what kinds of interventions could most positively affect veterans and other vulnerable populations. So she took her newfound knowledge, and applied it to effecting positive change on campus.

Educating Future Practitioners

The students descended the bus and headed into the ECAD facility—the main component of which consists of a spacious room designed specifically for service dog training. Through the guidance of ECAD co-founder Lu Picard, students were teamed up with service dogs in training, and engaged in a number of activities essential to both service dog care and training grooming, walking, and much more. Through this training—as well as a Paws & Breathe® session led by Singleton and Professor Spirit, a non-pharmalogical intervention where students assess their stress levels before and after snuggling and meditating with the Golden Retriever—students were better able to gain an understanding of the complexities and rewards surrounding service animals and health care.

Many students were surprised at the level of diligence required for proper service dog training and its unforeseen nuances—for instance, Picard stressed that service dog trainers should never, ever snap their fingers to gain a dog’s attention, as a disabled individual paired with a service dog may not have the ability to snap.

“At first, it was nerve-wracking to be thrown into the training,” said nursing student Caitlin Cullen ’22. “Overall, it was great to see the training process.”

Heading back to campus, students chatted animatedly amongst themselves—with many clearly finding the trip, as well as the larger initiative in which it is built around, both compelling and rewarding.

“Going into the health care field, it’s good to be aware of how to be appropriate and respectful of service dogs,” said Katherine Devaney ’22.

Parenting with Pups

While serving on the Community Corrections Advisory Board for Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center, Dyson Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Kimberly Collica-Cox, PhD, began to think about ways to implement rehabilitative programming that would benefit both incarcerated individuals and her criminal justice students.

After a number of fortuitous run-ins and countless hours of research, Collica-Cox and Dyson College, in conjunction with the Good Dog Foundation, started to lay the groundwork for what has ultimately become the groundbreaking Parenting, Prison, and Pups Program—an evidence based parenting program, which, through the use of therapy dogs and Pace students as teaching assistants, helps incarcerated women improve parenting skills and cope with the anxieties of parent-child separation.

Through this program, Collica-Cox and her criminal justice students visit the Manhattan Correctional Center and the Westchester County Department of Correction, and over the course of 14 sessions engage in animal-assisted simulations and training programs. Given that about 1.7 million children nationwide have a mother in jail or in prison, Collica-Cox believes that the strategies taught through this program can help enhance bonds between inmates and their children, reduce recidivism, and mitigate repetitive negative parenting patterns. On the undergraduate end, the course helps criminal justice students understand the complexities of facility management and the types of beneficial rehabilitative programs that are possible.

Wet Noses, Warm Hearts

“We use the dogs in two different ways. First, as an emotional support animal,” says Collica-Cox, which she notes can be quite important when individuals are disclosing personal information. Having the dogs be present with the women is a form of animal-assisted therapy. Petting the dogs, engaging with the dogs, and being present with the dogs has been shown to reduce stress, lessen anxiety, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and reduce the perceived feelings of loneliness.

“The other way is that we incorporate the dogs into actual curriculum lessons. If we were talking about things like problem-solving, we could use the dogs to start off with a problem. And then once they grasped the concept, moved to a more serious situation, like their children.”

“The dogs really help to open up lines of communication,” says Collica-Cox. “They serve as benign examples, and then we can get into deeper, emotional issues around parenting and children.”

For instance, if you are going on vacation—who will take care of your dog? If your dog is ill or eats a bad substance, how do you handle it? If your child keeps missing curfew, how do you respond? For one incarcerated mom, interviewed as part of a segment for News 12 Westchester, the opportunity to interact with therapy dogs like Fonzi, the admittedly handsome German Shepherd, gives her the space to talk about her children and her separation from them.

“Even though our children are not here, the class brings hope,” she said. “It brings all the mothers together.”

All in all, the program has been quite a success. Now entering its fourth year, it has received considerable regional and even national recognition. In 2018, Collica-Cox was awarded a prestigious national Jefferson Award for outstanding public service for her work.

Yet, arguably, the program’s real impact is exceedingly personal.

“The dogs really help to open up lines of communication,” says Collica-Cox. “They serve as benign examples, and then we can get into deeper, emotional issues around parenting and children.”

For one student, the experience of working with the Parenting, Prison, and Pups program was as much a class on humanity as it was civic engagement or criminal justice. “We got to see a population that is looked down upon, stigmatized, ridiculed,” he said. “But hearing [their stories] really hit me in the heart.”

Making an Impact

For both initiatives, there is still much to be done. One of Singleton’s long-term goals is to eventually affect policy, using evidence-based research to enter the insurance realm—and ask a forward-thinking insurance company to implement insurance support for individuals to be teamed with service dogs. And Collica-Cox hopes to gain further funding for the program so that it can continue to make a difference, and perhaps even expand.

Yet, while their work is ongoing, there’s no question that when it comes to animal-assisted therapy, Pace has both the bark and the bite to make a true impact.

“On any given day, my mom and dad might’ve been studying for an exam, attending parent-teacher conferences, or writing a research paper—all while working full-time and getting three meals on the table,” says Horace E. Anderson Jr., JD, the newly-appointed Dean of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law. “It couldn’t have been easy, but they were our example. That might be why my three sisters and I have 11 degrees between us.”

For Anderson, whose parents immigrated to the US from Jamaica more than 50 years ago, the opportunity that education provides is unparalleled and deeply personal.

"I got a great sense of what opportunity really means from my parents."

“I have an appreciation for what it means to pursue the American Dream—why people do it, why it’s so important, why it makes this country so different from others,” he says. It’s this insight that enables him to support and guide the students at Haub Law, many of whom are the first in their families to go to law school.

“I always tell the students ‘I’m your uncle, the lawyer,’” he says. “If you don’t have anyone in your circle who can give you the inside scoop, I’ll be that person for you.”

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Actress and producer Kathleen Simmonds ’16, MFA Acting, is having a moment. On September 24, she will find out if her work wins a 2019 Emmy Award. Simmonds served as line producer for the Netflix documentary Reversing Roe, from Break Thru Films. Nominated for both Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary and Outstanding Research, it’s a deep, unrestrained look at abortion and women’s rights in America, and Simmonds has adopted the same no-holds-barred approach in her own life.

Born and raised in Australia, Simmonds was working as a corporate attorney at a top-tier law firm when, after six years, she decided she’d had enough.

“I packed three suitcases and flew to New York City to become an actress,” says Simmonds.

She had fantasized about becoming an actress since childhood, when she studied dance and drama at a prestigious performing arts academy. Through her training at the Actors Studio Drama School (ASDS), she was able to fully develop the tools needed to become a professional in the world of entertainment.

“My ASDS teachers opened my eyes to a bigger world, one where I can tell stories and help audiences to reflect on their lives in a more meaningful way,” says Simmonds. “I have found that my greatest successes have come from staying true to myself and only choosing projects that I have a deep personal connection to, and feel like I am making a meaningful contribution to society.”

As a member of Break Thru Films’ core production team, she has worked on several projects for HBO, Amazon, Netflix and Sundance with Reversing Roe filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern, including MARATHON: The Patriots Day Bombing, which tells the story of the terrorist attack at the 2013 Boston Marathon through the stories of several survivors.

Reversing Roe premiered at last year’s Telluride Film Festival, and as line producer, Simmonds was generally responsible for the financial aspects of the production. “I sometimes describe my job as a ‘bad cop’ because I often have to deliver bad news to the directors and other producers about curbing a creative decision because the budget won't allow it,” says Simmonds. “Mostly, I try my best to make everyone's dreams happen within the budget we have.”

Whether or not Reversing Roe ultimately wins an Emmy, Simmonds herself is going places. A limited series that she produced, The Preppy Murder: Death in Central Park, will premiere on AMC and The Sundance Channel in November. In addition, a new web series that she co-produced—and stars in—with Stephanie Fagan ’16, MFA Acting, and Chelsea B. Lockie ’16, MFA Directing, will be released later this year. Woe Is She is a dark comedy about the daily experience of living with and overcoming depression as a woman.

For now, though, Simmonds is focusing on the present and enjoying the current success of Reversing Roe.

“Every member of our team was very hands-on from the beginning, Simmonds says. “We are very honored to have our hard work recognized.”

Leaders in tech, media, and the nonprofit sector join board

NEW YORK (February 26, 2020) – Pace University’s Board of Trustees announced the election of three new board members. They include Peta-Gay Clarke (Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems)’15 of Google, Michael A. Clinton (Pace’s Lubin School of Business) ’83 of Hearst Magazines, and Eugene M. Tobin, PhD, of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

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About the new board members

Peta-Gay Clarke is a Diversity Manager and the Program lead for Code Next at Google, where she works to improve diversity and inclusion in tech. She joined Google in July 2015 first as a community manager before moving to her current role in September 2018. In addition to her work at Google, Peta serves as an Adjunct Professor at Pace University, teaching courses in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.  Clarke has been a volunteer with Black Girls CODE (New York Chapter) and the New York City Department of Education where she worked with the city’s mentoring program. Clarke received her master’s from Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science in 2015.

“Peta-Gay earned her master of science at Pace only a few years ago, but she has accomplished great things since her graduation, now working at Google to lead a computer science education program for black and Latinx high schoolers,” said Mark Besca, chairman of Pace’s Board of Trustees. “We’re happy that she wants to give back to Pace and bring her expertise in computer programming, education, and advocacy to our board.”

Clarke said, “When I came to Pace I was a single parent, working full-time looking for a flexible learning environment and Pace offered that and so much more. I found the community at Pace to be supportive and exceptional. I was always presented with growth opportunities and given the agency to explore them. I’m honored and excited to give back in my new role as a member of the Board of Trustees.”

Michael A. Clinton is senior media advisor at Hearst Corporation. He spent 40 years in the publishing industry, serving in leadership roles at Hearst and Conde Nast. Clinton retired from his role as president of marketing and publishing director of Hearst Magazines in December 2019. Prior to this, he was the executive vice president, chief marketing officer, and publishing director of Hearst Magazines, a position he held since October 1997. Clinton is the founder and president of Circle of Generosity, a nonprofit organization that delivers random acts of kindness to individuals and families in need. He earned his bachelor’s degree from University of Pittsburgh, received his master of business administration from Pace’s Lubin School of Business in 1983 and received an honorary doctorate from Pace University.  Clinton is working on another master’s degree from Columbia University in nonprofit management.

“Michael is a proud Pace alumnus, a seasoned media executive, and has long been devoted to serving the University,” said Mark Besca, chairman of Pace’s Board of Trustees. “As he turns his primary focus to philanthropy, including the Circle of Generosity that he founded, we’re pleased that the Pace board will be a recipient of his time and wisdom.”

Clinton said, “As a firm believer in the power of education to transform lives, I’m thrilled to be joining Pace University’s Board of Trustees. My MBA from Pace provided me with an important toolkit that helped propel my career. I look forward to giving back and guiding the institution, because education is a lifelong journey and Pace has so much to offer.”

Eugene M. Tobin, PhD, is a retired senior program officer at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in the program for Higher Education and Scholarship in the Humanities. Prior to his work at the foundation, Tobin spent 23 years at Hamilton College as a faculty member, department chair, dean of faculty, and as president. Tobin serves as a Trustee on the Board of The Swedish Program in Organizational Studies and Public Policy at Stockholm School of Economics. He received his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and his master’s and PhD in the History of American Civilization from Brandeis University.

“Gene’s expertise in guiding higher education institutions is nearly unmatched,” said Mark Besca, chairman of Pace’s Board of Trustees. “He brings a wide range of perspectives to our board, from his work as a scholar, at the Mellon Foundation, and at Hamilton College, where he served as president, and we’re very lucky to be able to benefit from his experience.”

Tobin said, “I am honored to join a thriving university community that embraces access, diversity, and inclusion as the keys to intergenerational mobility. Pace has a distinguished history of expanding opportunity and ensuring financial affordability for generations of traditional and returning students. I look forward to working to assure that Pace has the resources to maintain academic quality, increase educational attainment, shorten time to degree completion, and continue to reduce disparities in outcomes by race and socioeconomic status.”

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.

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Olena Hauser

Internal Audit Associate, Goldman Sachs

Class of 2020
BBA in International Management

Member Of: Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Sigma Alpha Pi National Honor Society of Leadership And Success, Sigma Delta Tau Sorority, Financial Women's Association

Meet Olena Hauser, an international management major with a minor in internal auditing who relied on the support of Pace University and achieved her dreams. As a Ukraine native who moved to the US when she was 12 years old (and still eats pierogi every week), Olena didn't take the opportunities offered by Lubin for granted. In addition to being a very involved student, Olena has been an active participant of the Dean's Roundtable Initiative, a part of the Wall Street Exchange Program, and a recipient of the Figueroa Family Fund Scholarship. The latter was what allowed her to study abroad, a key part of her Pace Path, which came full circle with a full-time offer from Goldman Sachs.

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

As a high school cheerleader, I always imagined myself attending a traditional football university. However, with a little push from my parents, I decided to spend my collegiate years in the heart of New York City. Pace University and the Lubin School of Business' rigorous curriculum has provided me with a powerful platform for my knowledge, but essentially the university's core value of opportunitas. By attending Pace University, a world full of new possibilities opened up to me—a world that I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams.

Tell us a bit about your study abroad experiences. How have they helped you achieve your career goals?

I have been extremely fortunate to have studied abroad twice so far. During the summer of my freshman year, I attended the BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, Norway, and during the spring semester of my junior year I went to John Cabot University in Rome, Italy. While I was abroad, I traveled to a total of six countries and 29 cities. I embarked on a period of discovery and everlasting self-growth and realization of my dreams in the developing world. As I studied in Oslo, I fully grasped the Scandinavian leadership model, the beautiful fjords and mountains, the appreciation for the ten-hour hike to Trolltunga, and why Norway coveted the title of the Happiest Country on Earth. However, at John Cabot University, Rome was my classroom as I immersed myself in the Eternal City. The incredibly life challenging experience gave me a chance to enhance my Italian language skills as I uniquely comprehended how to socially navigate among diverse individuals and how to cook spaghetti alla carbonara. As anthropologist Miriam Adeney stated, "You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place."

"The rigorous curriculum has provided me with a powerful platform for my knowledge, but essentially the university's core value of opportunitas. By attending Pace University, a world full of new possibilities opened up to me–a world that I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams."

You have also been a Peer Leader for three years, tell us about the impact of that experience.

This year marks my third year as a University 101 Peer Leader at Pace University. This extracurricular experience is especially close to my heart, as I very much enjoy working with the Lubin School of Business advisors, but primarily first semester students at Pace. The credit-bearing course is designed to address the transition from high school to college, introduce students to the resources that are available at Pace, and facilitate success in the college environment. My position is intended to serve as a role model and a source of advice and information on what life is like as a Pace University student. Essentially, being able to identify with the students gives me an opportunity to help build their own sense of community as I once did, but most of all create everlasting relationships with my UNV 101 students.

What motivates you to work hard?

I am continuously inspired by my mom, the woman who is everything I aspire to be. As I get older, I continue to realize how fortunate I am to have someone who so deeply cares about me. When I was only eight years old, my mom had sacrificed everything in order for me to have opportunities she never had. For instance, I moved to the United States from Ukraine at the age of twelve; in May I will be graduating from a top ranking, private university; and as a senior at Pace University I have already accepted a full-time job offer. I have truly learned the meaning of appreciation and will eternally focus on my faith and inspiration to always do my best in life and make my family proud.

What are your plans for after graduation and how does Lubin fit into that vision?

With much gratitude, I am ecstatic to announce that I have accepted a full-time offer at Goldman Sachs as an Internal Audit Analyst. I am especially grateful for the unconditional support from my family, friends and mentors, but most importantly, I would like to thank the Lubin School of Business and Dean Braun for giving me the knowledge and encouragement necessary to realize my full potential. My achievement is a true illustration of Pace University's vision of opportunitas and aspirations of excellence.

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Gabriella Farino

Tax Accountant, family business

Class of 2020
BBA in Accounting/MS in Taxation

Member Of: Beta Alpha Psi, Ernst & Young Fund For Excellence In Accounting Education, PCAOB Scholarship

Meet Gabriella Farino '20, a New York native pursuing a BBA in Public Accounting and MS in Taxation. Her active involvement as a student leader during her time at Pace hasn't gone unnoticed. As a student in Pace's Pforzheimer's Honors College and President of the Pace chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, Gabriella is now a recipient of the Ernst & Young Fund for Excellence in Accounting Education scholarship and the 2019 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board scholarship. Although it is clear that Gabriella spends a lot of time studying, she hasn't let this get in the way of her passion for traveling. This past summer she got to visit five different countries! Get to know more about her Pace Path here.

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

I chose Pace University because I loved the location. There is no place like Manhattan, especially downtown by Wall Street where there are so many job opportunities and so much to experience. I chose the Lubin School of Business because it offered an amazing combined degree program for accounting students seeking a CPA designation, where they can receive their 150 credits to sit for the exam, while getting a master's degree too!

I have been at Deloitte for over a year now, working in their Private Wealth Tax Practice. My experiences have been incredible! I get to see so many different aspects of tax that I truly don't believe I would get to see anywhere else. I also get to see what the workforce at a public accounting firm is really like, from getting the freedom to work from home, to bonding with my team, to getting to participate in firm-sponsored events.

Tell us a bit about your internship experiences. How will you apply what you learned at your internships to the rest of your career? What comes next?

The summer going into my second year at Pace University, I secured an internship at Goldman Sachs in their State and Local Indirect Tax department. Interning at Goldman Sachs was a great experience and it expanded how I think about tax. Before my third year of college, I decided to go on to work at a Big Four Accounting firm. I have been at Deloitte for over a year now, working in their Private Wealth Tax Practice. Interning at Deloitte has been an incredible experience! I get to see so many different aspects of tax that I truly don't believe I would get to see anywhere else. I also get to see what the workforce at a public accounting firm is really like, from getting the freedom to work from home, to bonding with my team, to getting to participate in firm-sponsored events. I am super excited to say, I will be starting my CPA journey this upcoming winter and then I will be starting with Deloitte full time upon graduation

Congratulations on being one of the 207 recipients of the 2019 PCAOB scholarship! What motivates you to work hard?

Living in New York City is my motivation to work hard and strive for the next best. I feel like there is always something new and exciting to be discovered and you can't stop working hard if you ever want to achieve it. I have also been more than lucky to have had my parents help finance my education at Pace. If there is anything I can do to pay them back with gratitude, I will.

Do you have any advice for other Lubin students looking for internships?

I would tell them to join student organizations. I would not be where I am now if I didn't join Beta Alpha Psi as a freshman. You might not realize how much you are developing personally and professionally through the connections you make while you're going through the motions, but it is all so beneficial.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

#LubinLife to me means that there are so many opportunities that Lubin offers and you need to take advantage of them. You only get to go through college once and you should make the most of it because before you know it, you will be on to the next exciting stage of your life.

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Manushi Dave

Human Resources Coordinator, Christie's

Class of 2020
MS in Human Resources Management

Member Of: Human Resources and Talent Management Club

Meet Manushi Dave '20, an international student from Mumbai, India, who since starting her studies at Lubin has been on a professional development journey where she doesn't let one day go to waste. As a student leader, graduate assistant, and intern, she has been making it a point to learn about her limitations and expand her skill set every day. She describes herself as an optimist, which is probably why she buys more books than she could ever read! Overall, she is an incredibly hard-working and inspiring student. Having just finished her summer internship at a human resources firm, we talked to her about her experiences there and how she made the most out of them.

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

To begin, Pace University had the advantage of having New York City as its campus and that itself was a huge window of opportunity for me. The main reason why I chose Lubin was that the courses offered seemed to be a perfect fit for me and I knew that I would get a lot of chances to tailor my degree requirements to my interests while making sure I got the exposure and education I was seeking. When I looked more into the professors and their backgrounds, it was clear to me that Lubin would be a perfect fit. Additionally, the various student organizations and an excellent Career Services department were what solidified my choice of Pace and the Lubin School.

What type of opportunities and resources have you been taking advantage of as a graduate student at Lubin?

In my first semester at Lubin I joined the Human Resources and Talent Management Club as a member of the Executive Board. Going into the second semester, I became the President of this graduate student organization. I have also attended various resume building workshops hosted by Career Services. I applied to various internships through Handshake and I was able to secure an internship with Jennison Associates LLC, as a Human Resources Intern.

I had the chance to develop my skill set throughout my internship, and how it directly impacts your performance. It was the most enriching experience to be part of an organization like Jennison.

Tell us a bit about your internship experience.

Jennison Associates is an investment services firm. Interning at Jennison was one of the most enriching experiences I've ever had. I gained insights into the workings of a high-level service firm and learned about the various aspects of human resources. The most interesting part of the internship was that I was able to transfer all the knowledge that I gained in the classroom to a real-life workplace environment. I had the chance to develop my skill set throughout my internship. I understood the importance of team building, consistency, and on-going and constructive feedback, and how it directly impacts your performance.

How will you apply what you learned there to the rest of your career? What comes next?

Through this internship, I was able to learn and study my strengths and weaknesses very closely. I know now that moving forward I would like to work on them and prepare myself better for future opportunities. This internship helped me look more closely at a specific area of interest under the human resource umbrella, and I want to now build my career path along the lines of recruitment and talent management. Lubin has introduced a new course for talent management this coming Fall semester, and I could not have asked for a better course to directly help me learn about talent in general.

What motivates you to work hard?

My motivation for working hard is looking forward to the growth and learning opportunities presented to me. I like setting an ambitious and rewarding goal for myself, which becomes my complete focal point and keeps me motivated. I make sure I plan everything around that goal and give it 100%. I am very optimistic, so I work with the mindset that I am going to gain something that helps me to be happy and patient when things get stressful.

Do you have any advice for other Lubin students looking for internships?

My advice to Lubin students looking for internships is: start early, be prepared, and tailor your resume and cover letter for every single company after studying the company thoroughly. Don't be afraid to reach out to your contacts; you never know what might work. Make use of LinkedIn and connect to people and network with them. As generic as this sounds, it can do absolute wonders. Take short certification courses that might help you stand out. As tedious as the process is, the end result is equally rewarding. Just don't give up!

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

Going from a Student Assistant, to a Graduate Assistant, to becoming the President of a student organization club, Lubin has been nothing but a home to me. #LubinLife means complete hustle. There is so much to do within Lubin that you can never be left without anything to do. It is a place for growth, learning, and overall development. By the time you're done with school, only then will you realize how much of an impact Lubin had on your life.