In recent months, the Pace University community has said goodbye to several cherished members whose lives and legacies left an indelible mark on our institution. These alumni, faculty, staff, and friends exemplified the values of leadership, service, scholarship, and care. We honor their memory and celebrate their enduring contributions to the Pace Community.

John T. O’Connor, JD ’86

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Pace University mourns the loss of Trustee John T. O’Connor, JD ’86, a longtime and devoted member of the University community. A graduate of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, John served on the Board of Trustees beginning in 2006, bringing leadership, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to the University's mission. A respected attorney and entrepreneur, John held senior positions at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP and later at Hunton & Williams. He was also the founder of Paradise Road Investors. In 2023, he received the Haub Impact Award in recognition of his exceptional service to Haub Law and Pace. His legacy continues through the many lives he touched at the University.

Steven S. Mezzio, PhD

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The Pace Community honors the memory of Steven S. Mezzio, PhD, CPA, whose contributions to the Lubin School of Business and the field of accounting education were both profound and far-reaching. Formerly a partner at PwC, Professor Mezzio served as Professor of Practice in Accounting, Auditing, and ESG at Lubin, and founded the Center for Sustainable Business. He was also an Associate Dean and a dedicated mentor to students and alumni. His work extended beyond the classroom through leadership with the NYSSCPA, PBS, and international organizations such as the United Nations. He is remembered for his vision, integrity, and the lasting impact he made on the Lubin and Pace communities.

Rachel D. Klingberg ’95, ’13

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Rachel Klingberg, a two-time Pace alumna, served the University with passion and creativity for more than two decades. As Associate Director of Online Communications for Lubin's Office of Communications and External Relations, she led digital initiatives including #LubinLife, Lubin Business Review, and numerous web platforms. Known for her love of history, especially the Victorian era, Rachel brought heart and humor to her work—often with her cat, Jonesy, by her side during Zoom meetings. A true “Go-Getter,” Rachel helped launch Lubin’s Founders’ Day celebration and was always eager to connect, create, and celebrate the community she so loved.

Joy L. Henderson, PhD, RN, CPNP

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Dr. Joy L. Henderson was a beloved educator and advocate whose work at the College of Health Professions advanced both scholarship and equity in maternal and infant health. An Assistant Professor at the Lienhard School of Nursing, she empowered students through mentorship and evidence-based education in women’s and newborn health. Her impact extended beyond the classroom through research on health disparities and service on state and national advisory boards. Joy was also deeply engaged in DEI efforts across the University and was widely recognized for her clinical excellence and compassionate care. Her legacy lives on in the many students, colleagues, and communities she inspired.

Susan Brownmiller

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Acclaimed feminist author and activist Susan Brownmiller leaves behind a powerful legacy that includes decades of teaching at Pace University. Best known for her groundbreaking book Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape, she reshaped national discourse on gender-based violence. A bold thinker and passionate advocate, Susan’s influence spanned journalism, civil rights, and women’s liberation. Her teaching at Pace reflected the same depth and rigor that marked her public work, inspiring generations of students to challenge norms and think critically. She is remembered as a writer, teacher, and changemaker of enduring significance.

Under the bright spring sky at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the air shimmered with anticipation. More than 19,000 family members, friends, faculty, and alumni gathered to celebrate a milestone: the graduation of the Pace University Class of 2025. Over the course of two days—Monday, May 19, and Tuesday, May 20—students crossed the stage, memories were made, and words of wisdom echoed across Queens.

This year’s Commencement ceremonies featured an inspiring lineup of speakers whose messages centered around themes of transformation, resilience, leadership, and hope.

A Life of Choice

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At the main ceremony, Etsy CEO Josh Silverman stood before the sea of graduates, reflecting on his own winding path through the tech industry. From eBay to Skype to his current leadership at Etsy, Silverman has spent decades helping to build global platforms—but on this day, his focus was the personal journeys of the 3,218 new graduates.

“The diploma you’re about to receive offers you a life of choice,” Silverman told the crowd. “The only person you should be trying to impress now is yourself. Don’t be a passive actor in your own life. How do you want to measure yourself? What would make you truly proud?”

"You may not be able to clearly see the opportunities ahead, but you will seize them, shape them, and even create them.”

He paused, letting the message settle. “Sitting here, you may not be able to clearly see the opportunities ahead,” he continued, “but you will seize them, shape them, and even create them.”

Silverman was awarded an honorary doctorate during the ceremony—one of several presented over the two days. His remarks set the tone for a weekend that blended celebration with inspiration, personal stories with professional advice.

Messages from the Pace Community

At Monday’s undergraduate ceremonies, graduates from across Pace’s schools heard from distinguished alumni who had once stood in their shoes.

Cooper Koch ’18, a Golden Globe–nominated actor, returned to address students from Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, the Sands College of Performing Arts, and the School of Education. His message was one of self-acceptance and personal strength.

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“You can never let anyone, or any amount of success or failure, define your self-worth. You define your worth by being true to yourself. By showing up for yourself,” Koch said. “No external measurement can tell you who you are—that’s up to you to decide.”

Later that day, Dr. Launette Woolforde ’93, deputy chief nursing officer at Northwell Health, took the stage for graduates from the Lubin School of Business, College of Health Professions, and the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

“Integrity, graduates, is arguably in short supply, and we are all counting on you to restore it.”

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“The world doesn’t just need more plain, old educated people,” she said. “It needs thoughtful people. It needs courageous people. People who will speak up and speak out, and lift others as they climb.” She added, “Integrity, graduates, is arguably in short supply, and we are all counting on you to restore it.”

Leadership and Legacy

Tuesday’s graduate and professional school ceremonies spotlighted the impact of Pace alumni and honorees whose careers have shaped communities and industries.

Commissioner Robert S. Tucker ’96 of the New York City Fire Department, who earned his law degree at Pace while attending night classes and graduated a semester early, was awarded an honorary doctorate. For Tucker, the moment was deeply personal.

“Leadership is not about titles or power or prestige,” he told the graduates. “It's about service, or serving others with integrity, compassion, and a sense of duty. It's about doing what's right, even when it's hard, and it's about taking responsibility for the communities you serve.”

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Anjali Sud, CEO of Tubi, the most-watched free streaming service in America, brought her story full circle from Flint, Michigan, to the helm of a major tech company. Her message emphasized mindset over metrics.

“Surround yourself with optimists,” Sud said. “If you look across every technologist, entrepreneur or innovator you admire—across all personalities, styles, mantras, philosophies, you’ll find that they all have this trait in common.”

Sud was awarded an honorary doctorate, and Lorelei Atalie Vargas, then chief community impact officer at Trinity Church Wall Street, received Pace’s Opportunitas in Action Award for her service and impact.

The Spirit of Opportunitas

For computer science graduate Dante Hurr, the moment was more than ceremonial—it was a family first. As this year’s student recipient of the Opportunitas Award, Hurr stood proudly as a first-generation college graduate from Washington, DC.

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“Everything I’ve accomplished here at Pace helped me understand the real meaning of our mission: Opportunitas,” Hurr shared. “If not for the opportunity I was given the moment I was accepted—with a scholarship and with belief—who knows where I’d be today. Certainly not up here, holding the first bachelor’s degree in my family.”

A Promise to the Future

In his remarks, President Marvin Krislov reminded graduates that their education comes with a greater responsibility to themselves and the world.

“You carry more than a degree—you carry a promise,” he said. “A promise to your family, to yourselves, and to the Pace Community. A promise to keep learning, to stay curious, to lead with empathy, to use your education not just for you to advance, but to bring others along with you.”

"You carry more than a degree—you carry a promise...A promise to keep learning, to stay curious, to lead with empathy, to use your education not just for you to advance, but to bring others along with you.”

He closed with a challenge that spoke to the heart of the University’s mission: “Stay open. Stay resilient. Keep asking, ‘What can I do?’ Because higher education does more than just prepare you for a job. It prepares you to ask hard questions that will make your life meaningful, to help build strong communities, to speak up, and to carry forward the work of justice and truth.”

A Community of Doers

The Class of 2025 includes future nurses and physicians, lawyers, cybersecurity experts, educators, performers, entrepreneurs, and advocates. Each one leaves Pace equipped with knowledge—and a drive to make a difference.

The cheers and camera flashes may have faded, but the stories that unfolded on that stage will ripple outward in the lives of thousands.

Because at Pace, Commencement isn’t an ending. It’s a beginning.

Want to see even more photos from this year's Commencement? View the full gallery.

“Not many people get to say that their dad is in college with them.”

Even fewer can say they helped inspire their dad to go back to college—and fewer still can say he joined them at the same school, in the same field.

For Sofia Speranza ’27, her college experience isn’t just about earning a degree—it’s about continuing a family legacy of service. And for a time, she got to do it side by side with her dad.

Not many people get to say that their dad is in college with them. —Sofia

Nursing wasn’t the original plan for either Sofia or her father, Frank. "Nursing was not something that I always knew I would want to do," Sofia says. What they did know—what they always knew—was that they wanted to help people. "Throughout my whole childhood, I knew I wanted to help people,” she explains.

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That spirit of service runs deep in Sofia’s family. “I grew up with parents who both committed their lives to public service," she says. Her father was a police officer. Her mother is a special education teacher, and her sister is pursuing an education degree as well. Her grandmother owned a daycare and was a nurse. Her grandfather was a mailman who left a legacy in his hometown as a beloved Boy Scout troop leader. “Even though he passed away almost 16 years ago, people still know him by name, because he would help anyone.”

Sofia chose a different but equally service-driven path: healthcare.

As she explored nursing programs, Pace stood out for one major reason—she could get started on her nursing education right away. “Any state school you go to, you get in as a pre-nursing major for two years,” she explains. “Then you take an exam and if you don’t pass, you don’t get into the nursing program and you’ve wasted two years. Pace is direct admit.”

Throughout my whole childhood, I knew I wanted to help people —Sofia

As Sofia was exploring her future, her father Frank was contemplating his own. “My dad had been retired from law enforcement for a while and he kind of lost that sense of purpose," Sofia says. "It was sad to watch because he did other things after retiring, but they weren't necessarily in a field of directly helping people the way he wanted."

After retiring from law enforcement, Frank spent a few years as a stay-at-home dad to Sofia and her twin sister, Anya. As the sisters began their college search, Frank joined Sofia at a Pace Open House. “I sat through the Lienhard School of Nursing presentation and I was just struck,” he recalls. “What I gleaned about nursing was that it's this balance of physical work and intellectual achievement. And it really spoke to me.”

It was a simple, everyday moment that pushed him to take the leap. “We were in the Sam’s Club parking lot,” Sofia recounts. “He asked me in the car what I thought he should do, if going to school for nursing was a good idea? I told him to do it.”

I wanted to succeed for me. I wanted to be a role model for my daughters.
—Frank

Frank began working on earning the credits he needed online while Sofia started her first year at Pace. He officially joined her on campus during the spring semester. Though Sofia was pursuing her four-year nursing degree and Frank was in the accelerated degree program, she says it was still fun to be able to share the college experience with her father. "Now, even after he’s graduated, all of his professors are now my professors. They all knew me before I was even with them."

As the oldest student in his cohort, Frank felt driven to succeed. “I wanted to succeed for me. I wanted to be a role model for my daughters. And honestly, as I was there longer, for the other students in the program,” he says. “You can really reinvent yourself. I was able to do that, and faculty like Elizabeth Berro, PhD, the head of the program, really encouraged it.”

I want to create generational inspiration. —Frank

Frank graduated in December 2024 and is already working as a nurse at St. Lukes Cornwall Hospital. According to him, everyone in his cohort passed the NCLEX exam and began work as a nurse. He says education at Pace really set him apart. “Pace has a great reputation. I was hired with nine other nurses at my job,” he says. “I’ve seen others in our onboarding class struggle. They're not confident in their abilities. I think the education and support I got made all the difference… My education and clinical experience are paying massive dividends.”

Speaking of dividends, Frank’s decision to get his degree was a risk, especially with two children also pursuing their own college education, but it’s one that has paid off. “It’s a huge investment,” he says. “But nursing is the kind of job where I got hired at over $100,000 a year, with no experience other than school.” And Pace’s accelerated program helped him get that return on investment sooner. “The accelerated program is a gift. It gets you through fast but prepares you exceptionally well,” he says. “It was transformative. I love it, and I’d recommend it to anyone.”

And, of course, the best part was that he got to have the experience alongside his daughter. “Being there with Sofia, I felt accountable. I couldn’t tell her to do her best if I gave up,” says Frank. “She pinned me at my pinning ceremony. That was beautiful. Pace creates that kind of world.”

My dad’s a helper, he always has been. He raised me like that. I’m a helper too.
—Sofia

Frank hopes to keep growing and learning in his new profession and for his journey to be a reminder to his daughters to continue the family legacy of service. “I want to create generational inspiration,” he explains. “My law enforcement career wasn’t always easy. It took a toll on me and my family. Now, I’ve rebuilt. I'm moving forward. I’m excited.”

For Sofia, sharing college with her father was something rare and unforgettable. “I wouldn’t change it for anything,” she says. “Being able to watch him now in a career field that he was meant to do—the path was a little not direct, sure, but it led him to where he was supposed to be. In return, it led me to where I was supposed to be too.”

And as for family legacy? “My dad’s a helper, he always has been. He raised me like that. I’m a helper too.”

Pace University’s Board of Trustees has welcomed two dynamic new members whose careers reflect a shared commitment to equity, education, and leadership: Barbara A. Abeles and Sabrina A. Griffin ’92. Though their paths are distinct, both women exemplify the university’s mission of expanding opportunity and empowering the next generation.

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Barbara A. Abeles is no stranger to breaking ground. As owner, chairman, and CEO of CBL Ceramics Ltd., a Wales-based manufacturer of advanced ceramics for the global electronics industry, she has spent nearly three decades leading global operations in one of the world’s most specialized sectors. Today, her company is one of only three worldwide to produce a rare class of industrial ceramics used in cutting-edge technologies.

A resident of Westchester County, Abeles brings to the board a long-standing philanthropic spirit rooted in education. She serves on the Foundation Board of Westchester Community College and Pace University’s President’s Council. Her support of Pace has been especially impactful: she’s a major donor to the Community Impact Internship Program and established a permanently endowed scholarship to help close gender gaps in the sciences.

“I’ve long admired Pace University’s commitment to creating opportunity through education,” said Abeles. “It’s an honor to join the Board of Trustees and to support a community so dedicated to empowering students to reach their full potential.”

Griffin’s journey to Pace’s Board of Trustees is equally rooted in service and leadership. A proud Pace alumna, she spent more than 30 years at the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, where she rose to the role of assistant vice president and diversity manager. During her tenure, she pioneered programs designed to support and uplift women, LGBTQIA+ professionals, and communities of color within the corporate workforce.

“I want to help create pathways that meet people where they are—whether they’re students figuring it out or alumni reconnecting after time away. If we design experiences that reflect our community’s needs, we’ll keep building something truly meaningful together.”

Griffin is also the inaugural chair of Pace University’s Alumni Association Leadership Council, a position from which she’s helped strengthen ties between the university and its alumni community. She remains an active member of the President’s Council and serves on the Development, Alumni Relations and Public Affairs Committee.

Her civic engagement extends beyond Pace. Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Griffin serves on The Mahaffey Leading Ladies committee for the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts, helping deliver access to the arts to more than 30,000 students each year. She is also involved with the St. Petersburg Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, where she serves on both the arts and finance committees.

“Joining the Board is an opportunity to give back in a way that’s intentional and inclusive,” Griffin said. “I want to help create pathways that meet people where they are—whether they’re students figuring it out or alumni reconnecting after time away. If we design experiences that reflect our community’s needs, we’ll keep building something truly meaningful together.”

Rob Sands, chairman of Pace University’s Board of Trustees, praised both appointments, saying, “Sabrina and Barbara exemplify Pace’s mission of expanding opportunity—Sabrina through her continued alumni leadership and Barbara through her longstanding philanthropic commitment to education. We are proud to welcome them to the board and look forward to the insight, perspective and leadership they bring to our community.”

With these two appointments, the university deepens its commitment to inclusive leadership, experiential education, and the power of a community that lifts one another up—on campus and far beyond.

In an age of instant access and solo scrolling, why are people racing back to the movie theater? According to Communications and Media Studies professor Melvin Williams, PhD, it’s about more than just the film. It’s about reclaiming shared stories and experiences. “The broader state of culture is, for many, still a reclamation pursuit,” Williams says. That pursuit of joy, connection, and nostalgia was accelerated by the isolation and disruption of the pandemic.

The COVID-19 shutdown didn’t just pause everyday routines—it fundamentally reshaped how we engage with entertainment and with each other. Movie theaters closed their doors. Broadway went dark. Concerts were canceled. “The pandemic shutdown forced human confinement and a heavy reliance on digital-media-driven entertainment forms and streaming platforms as the entertainment industry experienced a global shutdown,” Williams explains.

The broader state of culture is, for many, still a reclamation pursuit.

For many, screens became the only portal to culture and community. But something was missing. “People desperately craved new entertainment stimuli and avenues for community formation around fan engagement and viewing experiences that mirrored social experiences pre-COVID-19,” he says.

That craving didn’t fade as restrictions lifted—it deepened. Long before lockdowns, viewers were trading the theater for their couches, turned off by ticket prices and overpriced popcorn. But in the aftermath of collective isolation, audiences began to realize that the cost of admission didn’t just buy media access, it bought an experience. According to Williams, “It should come as no surprise that Broadway is experiencing record-breaking attendance numbers for astute plays, movie theater attendance has risen substantially since 2020, and audiences are gathering in large numbers to reclaim previously beloved entertainment consumption habits.”

And then came the blockbusters that did more than bring people back—they made moviegoing an event. Suddenly, seeing a film meant dressing up, posting on social, and making a night of it. “Barbenheimer,” the viral mashup of Barbie and Oppenheimer, transformed from meme to movement, as fans turned out for a back-to-back spectacle.

In the case of Barbie, we witnessed film’s pop culture engagement at its finest.

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Barbenheimer Weekend and later, the premiere of Wicked: Part One, marked a cultural return to theaters and demonstrated the public’s desire for culture and community. “In the case of Barbie, we witnessed film’s pop culture engagement at its finest,” Williams says. “Besties and friend groups marched to the theaters in Barbie-themed costumes, purchasing Barbie AMC merchandise exclusives, and embracing pop culture’s enduring legacy of eccentricity, expression, and nostalgia.” The movie was only part of the appeal. Dressing up, going with friends, and being part of the moment became the real draw.

Wicked brought a different energy—one rooted in nostalgia. “Wicked showcased pop culture nostalgia’s power as a media product,” says Williams. “The film simultaneously resurrected audience interests in Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and the iconic Tony Award-winning musical Wicked.”

Watching a film in theaters inherently creates a different experience than video on demand. “Audiences are seated theater-style, positioned with clear foci on the big screen, and the lights are dimmed.” Williams breaks down this experience, saying, “These factors spark temporary departures from reality fueled by a fascination with movie characters and scopophilia, or rather the pleasure of looking at and sometimes even objectifying the characters.”

But for many, the biggest difference isn’t just how we experience the media—it’s the feeling of belonging. Says Williams, “You are removed from your familiar, at-home location and placed in an environment designed to create a distinct viewership experience and voyeur.”

Pop culture moments like these film events extract us from previously depressive moments and refuel us with hope for the arts and humanity!

For many, that’s the real difference. It’s not just about how we watch—it’s about watching together. The return to theaters is one part of a cultural reset. “Pop culture moments like these film events extract us from previously depressive moments and refuel us with hope for the arts and humanity!” says Williams.

That hope is exactly what brings people back—not just for the stories on screen, but for the feeling they carry home. “The thing I love about pop culture and why I teach it at Pace University and for my CMS 245: Communication and Popular Culture class (shameless plug, but hey, who would I be if I didn’t!) is its power to inspire joy, perseverance, and victory for audiences.”

In an era defined by separation, pop culture is doing what it does best—bringing us back together.

When Kelly Ng ’26, a biology major from Perth, Australia, joined the Provost’s Student-Faculty Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry program, she was looking to grow as a scientist and dive deeper into the kind of hands-on, curiosity-driven work that goes far beyond the walls of the classroom.

“I applied because it offered me an opportunity to grow my skills as a researcher through its provided resources and academic community,” she explained. “I was interested in joining a network of students and faculty engaged in independent research, where I could learn from others’ experiences in research while developing my own.”

“Bat flight research is important in its own right, but being able to use it as a means toward connecting with my students and giving them real ownership over part of their education has got to be one of my favorite parts of being a professor.”

With the mentorship of David Boerma, PhD, assistant professor of Biology at Pace and a Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History, Kelly found herself working on a deceptively simple question: how do bones evolve to meet the needs of how we move? It’s a question that spans biology, anatomy, biomechanics—and in this case, flight.

Together, they are investigating limb structure in the Egyptian fruit bat, a large mammal with a 20+ inch wingspan whose anatomy offers a unique counterpoint to humans. While humans rely on repetitive use of our legs to walk and run, bats rely on their forelimbs (wings) for flight—a repetitive motion in a different part of the body. Do bats show the same pattern of limb function and bone structure that humans do, just flipped?

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“Working with Dr. Boerma, I’m creating 3D structures of leg bones in Egyptian fruit bats to understand how their structure is affected by their function,” said Kelly. “In humans, our legs have less variability because they’re mainly used for walking, while our arms show more variability since we use them for a range of different tasks. We’re studying Egyptian fruit bats to see if this pattern is the same in bats but for the opposite limbs.”

“If a certain kind of animal has evolved to move a certain part of its skeleton in the same way, over and over again throughout its life (e.g., how your legs move to walk), then because those bones experience repetitive forces, they should end up having extremely consistent shapes across all the individuals of that kind of animal,” Professor Boerma explained. “We’re asking, ‘this idea sounds logical, but is it really true?’”

“Being able to see and segment the structures myself made it easier to grasp how limb shape relates to movement,” Kelly said. “It helped me understand those concepts more clearly than I could through lectures or textbooks alone.”

For Kelly, the work has been both technical and transformative. A typical day includes loading CT scans of bat specimens into 3D Slicer software, carefully segmenting bones like the femur, tibia, and pelvis, and cleaning digital models to prepare them for analysis. While the learning curve was steep—“the process of segmenting my first bat took a lot of troubleshooting,” she recalled—the experience pushed her technical skills and built confidence.

“Being able to see and segment the structures myself made it easier to grasp how limb shape relates to movement,” Kelly said. “It helped me understand those concepts more clearly than I could through lectures or textbooks alone.”

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For Boerma, mentoring students like Kelly is one of the most meaningful parts of his work.

“Bat flight research is important in its own right, but being able to use it as a means toward connecting with my students and giving them real ownership over part of their education has got to be one of my favorite parts of being a professor.”

He speaks of Kelly’s early commitment to the project with awe:

“I gave her a 60-page master’s thesis from one of our collaborators to read…and she could talk about it with me like a collaborator herself, all before even beginning the project. I can’t find the words to express to you how much fun that kind of interaction with a student is for a professor.”

Beyond bats, biomechanics, or bone variation, this kind of faculty-student partnership is what the Provost’s program is all about. “Asking for help is an important part of research,” Kelly said. “Being open and honest about what you don’t know does not mean you’re less capable—it’s an important step in the learning process.”

As their research moves into the analysis phase—potentially laying the groundwork for medical insights into human injury risk or the evolution of vertebrate anatomy—Boerma sees something more fundamental taking shape.

“Kelly is growing into the kind of student whose work is now more than just a synthesis of what she reads in a textbook; it’s the kind of thing that could become part of a textbook in the future.”

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As chief executive officer of Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), a leading international merchant and processor of agricultural goods, Pace University Lubin School of Business alumnus Michael Gelchie ’90 has a big job. Overseeing some 20,000 employees worldwide, commercial activities in more than 100 countries, and globe-spanning operations that process and transport nearly 100 million tons of products each year, his role is a daily adventure—one that takes him to the far corners of the world, crisscrossing the vast networks and extensive partnerships that make up LDC’s truly global business.

Michael’s 2020 appointment as CEO of LDC was decades in the making—a journey that began in the accounting department on Pace University’s Pleasantville Campus.

As an ambitious college student fascinated by the burgeoning technological revolution sweeping the 1980s, Michael charted his academic course through Pace’s accounting and information systems program. He found it was the perfect marriage of his interests, combining a conventional accounting education with principles of finance and a deep exposure to the technological mechanisms used to retrieve, organize, and analyze financial data.

At the urging of Pace’s Career Services office, Michael also enrolled in several classes outside his degree program, allowing him to qualify for the key certification and licensing exams he needed to successfully launch his career.

“Eileen Murphy in Career Services was quite instrumental in guiding me toward that pragmatic approach,” Michael said. “I ultimately did graduate with an accounting and information systems degree, but because of those extra courses, I was also able to sit for the CPA, CMA, and CIA exams. Those experiences were extremely helpful.”

As he was preparing to receive his degree from Pace, Michael was also diving headfirst into the job search. In the months leading up to graduation, he estimates he sent out seventy-two résumés: “And this was a time when you had to sit down and typewrite every individual cover letter,” he said.

The hard work soon paid off. Just weeks before graduating, Michael landed a job through a connection he’d made at Arnold Foods, where he’d held summer internships over the two previous years. That first job was a junior internal audit position at LDC—the very same company he would be appointed to lead as CEO thirty years later.

“I graduated in May of 1990, and I started at LDC that same June,” he said. “It was an intriguing position—not necessarily what I thought a young person in accounting would be doing. But it was extraordinary to see how many bright, intelligent people were in that environment. Coming into the field of agricultural commodities trading, learning that language, learning auditing at the same time—there was a lot of information to process, but it was an amazing learning experience.”

Michael held a range of positions at the company over the next twenty years, from trading and merchandising to managing LDC’s sugar, rice, and cocoa businesses. In 2008, he helped spearhead the development of the Louis Dreyfus Investment Group as a senior portfolio manager. After a stint away from the company, he returned to LDC in 2019 as global head of coffee and was soon thereafter appointed chief operating officer.

“Establishing our endowed scholarship was an important way for us to extend the same opportunities we received at Pace to current and future students,” Michael said.

He assumed the role of CEO at LDC in July 2020, the culmination of a three-decade agri-commodities career that began just days after he received his Pace diploma. It was a full-circle moment, but there was precious little time for reflection—he was stepping into a role of staggering responsibility in the middle of a global pandemic, as compounding crises were forcing industries across the globe to reckon with a strange and uncertain new reality.

It was among the most complex and challenging periods of his career, he said—a time defined by difficult and potentially existential decisions with vanishingly slim margins for error. But as a leader tasked with navigating the turmoil of the pandemic and engineering a strategy for forward progress, Michael was determined to manage the uncertainty and translate challenges into opportunities.

“When I was appointed CEO, everything was happening through screens,” he said. “I had the chance to learn the role and the business in an incredible way, because it was all being delivered through video. In a normal environment, I might have had to travel around the world for three years to absorb the amount of information and material that I was able to take in virtually at that specific point in time.”

For Michael, the key to successfully leading LDC through challenges like the pandemic—and further elevating the company as one of the world’s foremost agricultural commodities trading firms—is simple: it’s always about the people. It’s about cultivating a sense of connectivity across his leadership team and throughout the organization’s 20,000 employees—a sense of collective purpose and achievement, a shared culture where everyone understands the mission and everyone’s contributions are valued.

In short, Michael believes that investing in people generates extraordinary outcomes. It’s why he has worked to strengthen the culture of mentorship and community at LDC, and it’s why he has provided life-changing philanthropic support to the next generation of leaders—particularly those pursuing their education at his alma mater.

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In 2022, Michael and his wife, Pace alumna Linda Gelchie ’94, established the Gelchie Family Scholarship at Pace University, a permanent endowed fund designed to provide sustained, transformative aid to Pace students, with a specific focus on students who may experience learning challenges.

“Establishing our endowed scholarship was an important way for us to extend the same opportunities we received at Pace to current and future students,” Michael said. “Linda and I have seen in our own lives the doors that can be opened through a strong education, and it means a great deal to us to be able to create those possibilities for others.”

In addition to his scholarship support, Michael is also committed to building meaningful personal relationships with students who—inspired by success stories like his—see a Pace education as their pathway to building careers of purpose.

In the spring of 2025, Michael returned to the Lubin School—the place his journey began—to share his experiences with a group of hard-working finance majors. Motivated by the same spirit of mentorship that animates his guidance of younger colleagues at LDC, Michael spoke to the students about his role, his story, the opportunities available in the agri-commodities industry, and the principles that inform his own theory of effective leadership: building a team you can rely on, developing strong communication skills, walking the talk, and—perhaps most importantly—committing to a lifetime of learning.

It's that untiring dedication to learning that keeps that best leaders sharp, Michael said. And it’s a precept he keeps at the center of his own life: He has recently committed to completing an MBA program at Pace, with plans to earn his second Lubin School degree by the end of 2026.

“For people who want to be leaders, what I’d say is that you have to embrace the notion of continuous learning,” he said. “There’s always something new out there to learn, and great leaders always keep their minds open to the ways our businesses and our world continue to evolve.”

_{Special thanks to Ellen Sowchek, University Archivist at Pace University, for providing historical context, photographs, and invaluable research support.}

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You’ve seen him at Commencement, cheering courtside—maybe even popping up in a selfie or two. T-Bone, Pace University’s ever-loyal Irish Setter mascot, is as much a part of our university milestones as the Setters name itself.

But what some alumni may not know is just how deep the Setter legacy runs. In April 1949, “Setters” was chosen as the name for our athletic teams through a student contest—fitting, given Pace students’ reputation for setting the pace in everything they do. The winning prize? Two tickets to Death of a Salesman, then just making waves on Broadway.

The idea of the Setter—graceful, intelligent, energetic—took root quickly. In the decades that followed, real Irish Setters began appearing on the sidelines, unofficially standing in as mascots. One of the earliest was owned by Dr. Edward Mortola, the third president of Pace University, who served from 1960 to 1984. While the dog’s name has largely been lost to history, Mortola’s late wife, Doris, believed the Setter was named Red. His presence is documented and remembered as an early embodiment of the school’s spirit.

Eventually, that spirit leapt off the leash and into costume. A series of mascot suits followed, each one evolving in shape, swagger, and Setter style. From scrappy first attempts to the high-energy, red-furred T-Bone of today, the mascot has always embodied what it means to be Pace Proud.

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T-Bone officially made his debut on Pace’s New York City Campus in 2013, where he quickly adapted to city life by appearing not at athletics events but at student-centered activities such as Fall Fest, Homecoming, Orientation, and Commencement—a tradition that continues today.

Pace University’s first official mascot leaves behind an everlasting legacy.

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The current T-Bone costume—first introduced in 2012—is still in use. Made up of six costume pieces and topped with a 30-pound carved foam head, it is a physically demanding ensemble. The costume is hot, has limited visibility, and requires full-body expression rather than speech. For this reason, T-Bone is typically accompanied by a handler—a student or staff member who guides the mascot around campus, acts as their eyes and ears, and helps them stay cool (in every sense of the word).

In fact, the complexity and dedication behind the costume were documented in the 2013 issue of The Legend yearbook, which featured a behind-the-scenes profile of the Setter. The yearbook staff wrote: “Pace University’s first official mascot leaves behind an everlasting legacy. The Setter is a direct representation of Pace University. Therefore, by actively engaging in school events and bringing students together, the Setter is not only creating relationships with the students but allowing for students to have a closer relationship with Pace University.”

Indeed, T-Bone is more than just a mascot—he is a symbol of school spirit, community, and continuity. Though the concept of a mascot at Pace has evolved over the decades, one truth remains: Setters always set the pace.

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And his fandom? It has gone national.

Enter Tom Nipper of Omaha, Nebraska, and his rescue Irish Setter, Finnegan. Tom is not much of a sports fan, nor is he a Pace alumnus—but when he discovered our mascot was an Irish Setter like Finnegan, he picked his team. “If Finnegan could talk,” Tom wrote us, “he’d say, ‘Go Pace Setters!’” The pair tuned in to football and basketball games last year, cheering from the Midwest and proudly flying their own Pace pride.

T-Bone may be a New Yorker, but his legacy belongs to everyone who has ever waved a foam paw in the stands, posed for a photo at Homecoming, or brought the Pace spirit to life from inside the suit.

Got a T-Bone memory—or once wore the Setter costume yourself? We want to hear from you. Email us at universityrelations@pace.edu.

Accounting has been central to Pace University’s mission since the very beginning.

Founded in 1906 as an accounting and business school, Pace was one of the earliest institutions in New York City to offer professional accounting education to both men and women. More than a century later, Pace remains a leader in accounting education, and continues to evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing profession.

Those demands have never been greater. In New York State, job growth in the accounting field is projected to reach 10 percent by 2026, with average salaries of accountants and auditors reaching $113,310. Nationally, the field is expected to add approximately 67,000 new job openings each year through 2032. But while opportunity is on the rise, the pipeline is shrinking. Bachelor’s degree completions in accounting fell nearly 8 percent between 2019 and 2022, and CPA exam participation has dropped significantly—from 48,000 candidates in 2016 to fewer than 33,000 in 2022.

Students are now realizing that accounting offers a stable career path with broad opportunities, especially as the profession evolves with technology.
—Tang

At the same time, accounting is being transformed by technology. The World Economic Forum ranks accounting among the top professions being reshaped by automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics. Today’s accountants must master cloud platforms, data visualization tools, and AI-powered audit systems—skills that are increasingly in demand across industries. “Accounting is no longer just about debits and credits,” says Lubin professor Dale Goldstein. “It’s about data analytics, ESG strategy, AI integration, and advising leadership at the highest levels.”

The future of accounting looks different than it did even a decade ago, but Pace has always been built to move forward. A century after opening its doors to aspiring accountants, Pace is still shaping the future of accounting and preparing students to thrive.

The Lubin School of Business, ranked among the top 12 percent of colleges for accounting and finance in New York State, is known for its strong outcomes, especially in accounting. In 2023, 93 percent of bachelor’s graduates and 96 percent of master’s graduates were employed, continuing their education, or engaged in service. Lubin is one of fewer than 2% of business schools worldwide accredited by the AACSB for both business and accounting, setting their accounting programs from the competition.

I’ve loved being part of a university that prioritizes professional development and gives students the tools to succeed.
—Wu

But behind every successful program are the people who make it truly stand out—the professors empowering through expertise, and the students ready to lead.

Charles Tang, chair of the Accounting Department at Pace, is keenly aware of the growing gap between the demand for skilled accountants and the number of students entering the field. “The country needs approximately 125,000 to 140,000 new accountants each year, but colleges can only graduate about half that number,” says Tang. “Students are now realizing that accounting offers a stable career path with broad opportunities, especially as the profession evolves with technology.”

Danielle Wu ’25, former president of Pace’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter and Deloitte Accounting Scholar, knows the profession is evolving and she’s embraced that evolution for herself. “I think the biggest thing with accountants overall is just to be prepared and know what to expect in the future,” she says. “I’ve loved being part of a university that prioritizes professional development and gives students the tools to succeed.”

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Adrian Brzozowski ’28, who is earning a combined BBA in Public Accounting and MS in Financial Management and is the recipient of a PCAOB Accounting Scholarship, has found that leadership is just as important as technical skill. “I think anyone can learn technical skills like Excel or accounting,” he says. “But learning how to lead, work in teams, and take initiative—that can only be done by certain people. I certainly wasn’t born that way but being the leader of an organization like this at Pace University molds you into someone who stands out.”

As the incoming president of Beta Alpha Psi and a member of Pace’s Fund Appropriation Committee through the Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Adrian has used his accounting foundation to build financial strategies and evaluate nonprofit impact. This summer, he’s putting those skills into action as an accounting intern with Patomak Global Partners in Washington, DC.

While Pace students like Danielle and Adrian are building momentum toward the CPA path, others are using accounting and business as a springboard for global leadership.

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Yawen Chen ‘26 transferred to Pace in 2024 from Shanghai, drawn by the University’s scholarships, central location, and reputation for business education. Now a business management student with a 4.0 GPA, she brings a global mindset and entrepreneurial spirit to everything she does. “Pace has been more than a school to me—it’s been a place of opportunity,” she says. “The professors are kind and helpful, and the environment pushes me to grow not just academically, but personally.”

At Pace, Yawen joined the International Conversation Group to help fellow international students feel more at home, building community while preparing for a future in business that blends financial insight with cross-cultural leadership.

“Accounting offers long-term job security, limitless opportunities, and the chance to have a seat at the table where major business decisions are made,” says Professor Dale Goldstein. He notes that today’s students aren’t just looking for a job—they’re looking for relevance, impact, and mobility. That’s why Lubin’s accounting programs emphasize emerging tools like AI, ESG strategy, and predictive analytics alongside traditional fundamentals.

Goldstein also emphasizes the sheer range of paths a degree in accounting can unlock. From wealth management and investment banking to corporate leadership, cybersecurity, and even federal law enforcement, the opportunities are wide and expanding every day. “A CPA brings fascinating career opportunities,” Tang says. “It’s not just a professional certificate; it’s a government-issued license to practice professional services in accounting.”

Accounting offers long-term job security, limitless opportunities, and the chance to have a seat at the table where major business decisions are made.
—Goldstein

To help students pursue that license, Lubin offers CPA-track support, scholarship guidance, and mentoring, preparing graduates to launch into competitive roles across public and private sectors. “Many graduates use an accounting degree to launch very successful careers in industry, technology, investment banking, wealth management, mergers and acquisitions, federal law enforcement and intelligence,” Goldstein continues. “For those aspiring to a C-level position, many currently in those roles started their careers in accounting or have an accounting or finance background.”

As the accounting profession continues to change, Pace remains steadfast in its purpose—to prepare students not just for the workforce, but for the world. For more than a century, Pace has been where the future of accounting begins. And today, it’s where the next generation of leaders is ready to take it further.

As we share the latest edition of Pace Magazine, we do so with immense pride in what the past year has meant for our University and the Pace Community. From classrooms and research labs to stages, boardrooms, and legislative chambers, our students, faculty, staff, and alumni continue to push boundaries, lead with purpose, and chart bold paths forward.

Summer at Pace is a time of continued momentum, but also a moment to pause. We encourage everyone in our community to take space this season for rest, reflection, and renewal. As we prepare for the fall, we recognize the value of slowing down in order to move forward with focus.

This summer also begins a period of meaningful transition. As we look toward 2026, our 120th year, we are not just honoring a proud history, but doing the work to ensure Pace is strong and evolving for the decades ahead. The world our students are entering is changing, and we are committed to preparing them with the education, experiences, and values to shape that world with confidence and care.

This includes a continued emphasis on academic excellence. Over the past year, six of our programs, spanning law, public administration, nursing, and economics, rose in the U.S. News & World Report national rankings. This recognition is not just a reflection of reputation, but of the real-world readiness, rigor, and impact that define a Pace education. It is a testament to our faculty’s innovation and our students’ ambition.

The stories in this issue offer glimpses into that work. They speak to our students’ drive, our faculty’s dedication, and the power of mentorship, research, creativity, and advocacy to open doors. Some stories are grounded in tradition. Others reflect the future we’re building.

To everyone who supports this community: thank you. We look forward to the year ahead with a deep sense of purpose, rooted in the mission that has guided us since our founding: Opportunitas.

Warmly,

Marvin Krislov
President

Rob Sands, JD ’84
Chair, Board of Trustees