At Pace, Elliana Gianacopoulos ’18 has taken on as many leadership opportunities as possible to give back to her community through mentoring underclassmen, volunteering in hospitals, helping the underprivileged in the community, and guiding her peers and herself toward success.
“I chose Pace University because I was in love with NYC and the downtown area,” she says. “Pace offered me generous scholarships, which made it that much easier to say yes. I was pretty set on attending Pace right off the bat, and I knew I would be coming here after my first visit in junior year of high school.”
As a biology student and aspiring medical student, Gianacopoulos is taking advantage of opportunities outside and inside of the classroom by connecting with professors and participating in medical research.
“Pace’s small biology program spoils the students with incredibly supportive and open relationships between the professors and students,” she says. “Every professor knows our names and is willing to help us succeed. As a freshman I was able to begin researching with an incredible mentor, Marcy Kelly. This is something I am sure I would not have been able to do at another, bigger university.”
Currently, Gianacopoulos is conducting cutting-edge research on Mycobacterium bovis (BCG), the current vaccine for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, alongside biology professor Marcy Kelly, PhD.
“Working with Dr. Kelly has helped me grow both as a student and as a person,” Gianacopoulos says. “I am constantly being taught how to push my curiosity and thirst for learning to the max, and how I can best manifest my desire to help people in this world.”
Last year she was awarded a Provost Undergraduate Research Grant to continue her work with Kelly, and won first place at the end of year showcase with a $2,000 scholarship to present their work at a national conference.
In addition to her research, Gianacopoulos is a member of the Pforzheimer Honors College and Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society, biology discussion group peer leader, Dean’s List first honors recipient, and currently serves as the president of Pace’s Pre-Professional Medical Society (PPMS), whose members host events that help science students find their passion and show them the many opportunities in the STEM and health fields.
A single mom with two children, Haub Law student Samantha Mariano describes her path to law school as “unconventional at best.” Following her decision to leave an abusive situation, Samantha was referred to Connecticut Legal Services through a local domestic violence organization.
From working closely with dedicated professors to actively engaging in campus life, Sociology/Anthropology and Women’s and Gender Studies student Holly Winn '25 is driven to balance her rigorous academics with meaningful extracurricular involvement.
Ready to take on your first year at Pace? Check out our top 10 tips for making the most out of your university experience, including finding your tribe and acing your academics.