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Chair and Professor Anna Shostya, PhD, Economics department at Dyson College of Arts and Sciences at Pace University, discusses how uniquely undergraduate women have succeeded in economics programs at the university.

While women comprise about half of all undergraduate students in the United States, they make up only about one-third of economics majors nationally and the number has been consistently low over the last several decades.  Many reasons have been offered to explain this gender gap. Some argue that there is a lack of role-models—female professors with PhDs (less than 20% of full economics professors are women, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). Other studies indicate that women are generally underrepresented in STEM disciplines—the share of women in STEM fields is only about one-third. Still others argue that women are not attracted to a discipline that does not reward them with career prospects. 

The solution to the gender bias in economics may be simpler than it seems:  Encourage successful female students in the undergraduate programs, present successful role-models to market the field, teach economics in a more applied way, and engage more young women in undergraduate research. And the gender “equilibrium” will be restored.

This is exactly what the Economics department at Pace University does to maintain a unique “equilibrium.” So, what do we do differently?

First, Pace economics professors identify potential majors very early, in the introductory courses, and pitch economics as an exciting and applied field. Having female professors as role models (one-third of the New York City Economics faculty are female) helps.

Second, Pace University’s successful female economics alumnae, who come to talk to the freshmen, also serve as role-models. They work in a wide variety of industries, from entertainment to pharmaceutical, to finance, and typically have very successful and rewarding careers both in the private and public sectors.

Finally, the Economics department at Pace focuses heavily on undergraduate research. All three of the department’s programs (economics, business economics, and computational economics) are STEM-designated. Students learn how to use such tools as R, Python, and STATA to analyze data and produce quantitative research papers, many of which are presented at national professional conferences. Research requires commitment, patience, and an ability to work long hours— the traits that women, on average, seem to possess. This also explains the composition of the teams that participate in the College Federal Reserve Challenge, a national competition that tests students’ knowledge of monetary policy and central banking.  In fact, the Pace teams that won regional and national competitions numerous times had the highest ratio of female presenters of all other teams. So did all other Pace teams that won the regional competition. The teams have been typically captained by women, too.

Overall, 54% of all Pace University’s undergraduate economics majors on the New York City campus are females, and this gender distribution has been rather stable over the last decade. The percentage of females is more than double that of males in the Computational Economics program, a new interdisciplinary offering between the Economics program at Dyson College and the Computer Science program at Pace’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. Still a gender gap, but a welcomed one for a change.

Everyone in Pace University’s Economics department looks forward to seeing women in economics at Pace continue to thrive and upon graduation demonstrate their laudable knowledge and skill level in rewarding careers.

For decades, Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, has devastated sub-Saharan Africa, with limited and often risky treatment options. Nearly always fatal if untreated, the disease now has a groundbreaking treatment, thanks to an international effort that included research from Pace University’s Haskins Laboratories, led by Nigel Yarlett, PhD and emeritus professor Cyrus Bacchi, PhD. 

Haskins Laboratories is a scientific research center through Dyson College of Arts and Sciences on Pace’s New York City Campus. Yarlett explains, “The Haskins Labs is dedicated to exchanging ideas, fostering collaborations, and forging partnerships across the sciences.” Throughout its history, the lab has received funding from esteemed organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, National Institutes of Health (NIH), World Health Organization (WHO), and more. 

The Haskins Labs is dedicated to exchanging ideas, fostering collaborations, and forging partnerships across the sciences.

Nigel Yarlett, PhD, was invited to collaborate on this research by the nonprofit Drugs for Neglected Diseases (DNDi), which recognized the groundbreaking work he and Bacchi had already done in sleeping sickness research. “I was already aware of the benefits of collaborating with pharmaceutical companies,” Yarlett says, having done research for clinical treatments in the past, so it was a promising partnership.

The Lab’s role in this research was essentially to evaluate a selection of compounds to test their ability to treat the sickness. “Sleeping sickness demonstrates two stages of the infection, an initial bloodstream stage which often goes undiagnosed, followed by a central nervous system stage when the parasite breaks through the blood brain barrier,” says Yarlett. This fatal second stage, responsible for the name ‘sleeping sickness’ as it can lead to a coma. is nearly always fatal if not treated. “The Haskins Labs was uniquely placed to evaluate compounds for both disease stages,” Yarlett explains, particularly in finding a compound that could cross the blood brain barrier and treat the sickness at either stage.

 The Haskins Labs was uniquely placed to evaluate compounds for both disease stages.

Yarlett and Bacchi tested more than 40 compounds before selecting just 2 or 3 to move onto further trials. This work contributed to the identification of the medication acoziborole, a single-dose treatment which has been described by some as a “dream drug”. Clinical trials show that it is effective for people at all stages of the disease and after 18 months of treatment, around 96 percent of late-stage sleeping sickness patients were parasite-free. Acoziborole is currently being reviewed by the European Medicines Agency and will hopefully be approved by 2026, with treatment beginning the following year.

This breakthrough not only offers a safer, more accessible cure but some believe it could help eradicate sleeping sickness entirely. As part of their work, Haskins Labs at Pace University was awarded Project of the Year by DNDi. 

The work Haskins Lab contributed to the treatment of sleeping sickness is a testament to the lab’s pioneering research—and their impact is far from over. Current research at Haskins Laboratories is set on tackling two neglected diseases, proving once again that scientific discovery at Pace University is driving real-world solutions for those who need them most.

Read more about the groundbreaking work being done to treat sleeping sickness and learn about the research of Haskins Laboratories at Pace.

As the spring semester is now in full swing, I take this moment to reflect on the incredible energy and commitment that define Pace University. Our students, faculty, and staff continue to demonstrate resilience, innovation, and a shared dedication to our mission.

Next week, I invite you to join me for the 2025 State of the University Address on Monday, February 10, at 12:10 p.m. in the Student Center at One Pace Plaza on our New York City Campus—or tune-in online. This is an opportunity to look at the road ahead, to discuss the challenges facing higher education, and to highlight the ways the people of Pace are shaping our future.

I believe in Pace’s future because of you—the students who pursue their dreams with determination, the faculty who challenge and inspire, and the staff who work tirelessly to support our mission. Your commitment to education and innovation makes Pace what it is: a university that delivers real-life learning and extraordinary outcomes.

I hope you’ll join me for this important conversation. And as we move through the semester, keep an eye out for more details about Commencement 2025, when we’ll celebrate another extraordinary class of Pace graduates.

Additionally, I encourage you to take part in these upcoming events:

• Spring 2025 Job and Internship Fair | Friday, February 7
  Connect with top employers and explore career opportunities at one of our biggest networking events of the year.
• NY Fed President Williams Speech & Q&A | Tuesday, February 11
  New York Federal Reserve President John C. Williams will give prepared remarks and take questions from the Pace audience.
• Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night | Sunday, February 11
  Faculty and staff, join us at the Goldstein Fitness Center for a night of recognition and community. During halftime, I’ll take on Chad Walker, Pace Football’s new head coach, in a free throw showdown—each basket made earns $50 for the Pace Cares fund. No RSVP needed!

I look forward to seeing you on February 10 and continuing our work together.

Sincerely,
Marvin Krislov
President, Pace University

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With nearly a decade of experience in higher education, Jah Davis (she/her) is dedicated to fostering inclusive campus environments and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. As the Senior Director of Outreach and Opportunity, she brings expertise in institutional advocacy, civic engagement, and student-centered programming. Jah’s leadership is rooted in her own experiences as a first-generation college student from East Flatbush, Brooklyn, shaping her passion for social justice and community building. In this Q+A, she shares her vision for DEI at Pace, the initiatives she’s most excited about, and her commitment to strengthening connections across all three campuses.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you came to work in the Division of Opportunity and Institutional Excellence at Pace?

I’m a first-generation college student from East Flatbush, Brooklyn, a neighborhood rich in cultural diversity. Growing up in this vibrant community fostered my early appreciation for equity and inclusivity. My own experience navigating the challenges of adapting to campus life deepened my commitment to social justice and ultimately led me to pursue a career in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leadership.

With a passion for DEI and college student development, I’ve dedicated nearly a decade to higher education, working in Residential Life and DEI leadership roles at Binghamton University and Pratt Institute. Now, I’m thrilled to be at Pace University, collaborating with a dynamic DEI team and engaging with this vibrant campus community!

What is your role in the department? What does a typical workday look like?

As the Senior Director of Outreach and Opportunity, I develop and implement strategies to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion across all three Pace campuses. My work involves collaborating with senior leadership to integrate DEI principles into university operations, designing and facilitating training programs, and reviewing policies to identify areas for improvement.

I also serve as a resource for students, staff, and faculty, providing guidance on DEI-related initiatives while representing Pace in external partnerships and advocacy efforts. The beauty of this work is that no two days are the same—each day presents new opportunities to create meaningful change and foster inclusivity within the Pace Community.

As we head deeper into the Spring 2025 semester, what excites you most about working in the Division of Opportunity and Institutional Excellence at Pace University?

I’m most excited about building relationships across all three campuses. The warm welcome I’ve received from colleagues and students has been incredible, and I’m eager to collaborate on DEI initiatives that foster belonging and connection. I’m also looking forward to learning more about the Pleasantville Campus and its surrounding communities while continuing to engage with our New York City and Haub Law campuses.

Is there a particular initiative or event that you’re especially looking forward to this semester?

Yes! I’m especially excited about the upcoming Days of ORIGIN initiative. Bringing together all three campuses for collective dialogue is a powerful opportunity—one that reinforces the importance of community and shared experiences. Now more than ever, fostering inclusive conversations and meaningful connections is essential, and I can’t wait to be part of this impactful event.