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The Sands College of Performing Arts community mourns the passing of Ruis Woertendyke, former Chair of Theatre at Pace School of Performing Arts (PPA). For more than three decades, Ruis dedicated his career to educating artists, mentoring faculty, and playing an integral role in shaping the performing arts programs that would ultimately become the Sands College of Performing Arts.
Sands College of Performing Arts Professor Brendan Patrick Hughes is featured in The Boston Globe after his podcast Divine Intervention earned a prestigious Peabody Award. A Boston native, Hughes created the podcast to tell the story of the Catholic antiwar movement during the Vietnam War and the priests and nuns who provided sanctuary to draft resisters. Hughes, who recently joined Pace’s faculty, is now exploring opportunities to adapt the award-winning project for television.
The Hollywood Reporter names the Sands College of Performing Arts among “The 25 Best Drama Schools in the World, 2026,” highlighting the University’s upcoming performing arts center expansion, industry-connected faculty, and growing commitment to accessibility in theater training through its partnership with Deaf West Theatre. The profile also spotlights Pace alumni including Cooper Koch and Christopher Briney, along with the University’s strong pipeline to Broadway, film, and television.
As we prepare for the 2026–2027 academic year, Pace University’s Financial Aid Office is sharing several important reminders for families of continuing students, including FAFSA filing information, financial aid requirements, academic progress policies, and upcoming federal aid changes.
Sands College of Performing Arts programs continue to gain national recognition, with Backstage naming Pace among the top undergraduate musical theater programs in the country, highlighting its industry-connected faculty and strong pipeline to professional opportunities.
Sands College of Performing Arts Clinical Assistant Professor Brendan Patrick Hughes has been honored with one of media's highest distinctions for his podcast Divine Intervention, a story of radical faith, resistance, and love.
This year’s Commencement brings together leaders shaping the world across journalism, healthcare, law, and business. Meet the 2026 Honorary Degree Recipients and speakers who will inspire the Class of 2026 as they step into what’s next.
For 120 years, Pace University graduates have shaped industries, influenced public life, and pushed innovation forward. From a U.S. Secretary of the Navy to Olympic medalists, global health leaders, and cultural trailblazers, explore the alumni whose impact tells the story of Pace—past, present, and future.
In 1906, with a $600 loan and a single rented classroom on Park Row, Homer Pace launched an entrepreneurial idea that would become a model for the future of higher education.
Pace University’s Sands College of Performing Arts faculty members Eric Price, Phillip Christian Smith, and Adam J. Rineer have earned major national recognition in musical theatre writing, with Price and Smith named 2026 Kleban Prize winners and Rineer selected as a 2026 Jonathan Larson Grant recipient.