In fiscal year 2026 (July 2025–June 2026), the generosity of the Pace University community set new records, advanced vital opportunities for student and faculty excellence, and reaffirmed the enduring strength of the Pace mission.

Through contributions from more than 6,600 alumni and friends of the University, FY26 saw the Pace Community raise more than $24 million in support of student achievement, experiential learning, trailblazing scholarship and research, and critical programs designed to amplify Pace’s impact in communities here in New York and across the globe. 

This represents a new core fundraising record for Pace: the highest single-year total for community support in our history.

Throughout the year, Pace built momentum through a string of critical successes that contributed to our historic philanthropic highs. In our two annual University-wide giving days, Giving Tuesday and the 1906 Giving Day Challenge, Pace raised more than $525,000 from 2,382 individual gifts in direct support of student success and special programs across our campuses. Through our series of community-focused fundraising events, including the signature Spirit of Pace Awards Gala, the University raised $2.1 million, representing a 23% increase over last year’s fundraising-event total and a 20% increase over our three-year rolling average. And through hundreds of gifts from dedicated alumni, parents, friends, partners, faculty, and staff, Pace raised an all-time high $4 million in unrestricted funds—the critical resources that allow the University to address urgent needs and invest strategically in institutional impact and advancement.

As Pace celebrates 120 years since its founding, these fundraising successes—powered by the enduring generosity of alumni and friends who believe deeply in the power of a Pace education—help position the University to continue maximizing its mission for decades to come. We are grateful for the vision and leadership of the Pace Community members who are helping us to build that exciting next chapter.

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For Christen Cooper, EdD, RDN, associate professor in Pace University’s College of Health Professions and founding director of the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics program, nutrition has never been only about food. It is about dignity, trust, health, culture, autonomy, and care.

As a registered dietitian nutritionist credentialed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Cooper is preparing the next generation of nutrition professionals to think deeply about the people behind the practice. Her work bridges science, public health, compassion, and social justice—and her recent research is opening a powerful new conversation about the role nutrition professionals can play in supporting survivors of human trafficking.

Cooper’s 2024 article, “Registered Dietitian Nutritionists’ Knowledge, Confidence and Experiences with Treating Human Trafficked Individuals: A Call for Interprofessional Continuing Education,” published through the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, explores a largely overlooked intersection: how dietitians and nutrition professionals may be uniquely positioned to identify, care for, and support individuals who have experienced trafficking.

“It just occurred to me that we could play a really important role in recuperation,” Cooper says.

That realization grew from a lifelong interest in human rights and public service. As an undergraduate at Wellesley College, Cooper interned with a federal judge who was studying international data on violence against women and human trafficking. She later worked for the United States House of Representatives and as a management consultant in Latin America. Those experiences helped shape the way she approaches nutrition today: not as a narrow clinical field, but as a discipline deeply connected to public health, policy, justice, and human experience.

At Pace, Cooper brings that expansive perspective into the classroom.

The Nutrition and Dietetics program, which she helped found, combines classroom learning with supervised practice experiences to prepare students to become registered dietitian nutritionists. The program emphasizes scientific rigor alongside culinary nutrition, cultural understanding, and practical care. Students learn not only how nutrients affect the body, but how food traditions, access, trauma, identity, and lived experience shape a person’s relationship with nourishment.

That matters deeply in Cooper’s current research.

Human trafficking survivors may experience malnutrition, dehydration, injuries, chronic health problems, and a profound loss of autonomy. Food itself can be used as a means of control, punishment, or manipulation. For survivors, rebuilding a relationship with food can also become part of rebuilding a relationship with the body.

Cooper sees nutrition professionals as essential members of an interdisciplinary response.

Because dietitians often conduct nutrition-focused physical exams and work closely with patients experiencing dehydration, malnutrition, wounds, disordered eating, or other health concerns, they may be in a position to notice warning signs that others miss. They may also help create a safe, caring environment where survivors feel seen as whole people.

“There’s no better time than when you are in a caring, comforting, empathetic environment to be helped,” Cooper says.

Her work is also part of a broader interdisciplinary conversation taking place across Pace. Cooper recently joined faculty from Dyson College of Arts and Sciences for “Nutrition and Dietetics: The Roles of Law and Healthcare in Assisting Victims and Survivors,” a panel discussion hosted as part of the Annual Spring Conference of the Office of Research and Graduate Education at Pace.

The panel brought together Cooper; Cathryn Lavery, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice in Dyson College; and David Mulcahy, adjunct professor of criminal justice in Dyson College and a supervisory United States probation officer for the Southern District of New York. Cooper also served as moderator.

“We break bread,” Cooper says. “That’s what humans do.”

Together, the presenters examined the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, major United States anti-trafficking initiatives, and the operational challenges law enforcement faces in preventing victims from being prosecuted and instead promoting justice, recovery, and support. The discussion also explored how healthcare providers can offer trauma-informed nutrition care to victims and survivors, supporting and treating individuals who have been manipulated, controlled, and deprived during captivity.

For Cooper, that kind of cross-disciplinary dialogue is essential.

Human trafficking is often discussed through the lens of criminal justice or law enforcement. Cooper’s research expands that conversation to include nutrition, health care, psychology, trauma-informed practice, and survivor-centered recovery.

“What does criminal justice have to do with nutrition?” Cooper says. “Nothing—and a lot, apparently. We find bridges to each other.”

That ability to find bridges is central to Pace’s academic community. Across schools and disciplines, faculty are pursuing research that responds to real-world challenges with creativity, rigor, and compassion. Cooper’s work shows how a nutrition professional can contribute to one of society’s most urgent human rights issues—and how academic inquiry can lead to more humane care.

Her research found that registered dietitian nutritionists need more education and training to feel prepared to recognize and respond to human trafficking. Many want that education, including webinars and continuing education opportunities. Cooper is now building on that work by exploring how trauma-informed nutrition can be incorporated into nutrition and dietetics curricula.

“What does criminal justice have to do with nutrition?” Cooper says. “Nothing—and a lot, apparently. We find bridges to each other.”

For Cooper, the work is both academic and deeply human.

She imagines models of care in which survivors are supported through nourishment, cooking, cultural foods, shared meals, and community. Food, in her view, can help restore dignity and connection. It can support physical healing through hydration, protein intake, wound recovery, and adequate nourishment. It can also support emotional healing by helping people regain choice, comfort, and trust.

“We break bread,” Cooper says. “That’s what humans do.”

That sense of humanity is at the center of her teaching, research, and mentorship. Cooper regularly partners with students on scholarly work, giving them opportunities to explore emerging areas in nutrition and contribute to professional conversations. She recently published an article with a student on energy deficiency in athletes, examining the nutritional consequences of inadequate fueling and strategies to prevent injury. For students considering careers in sports nutrition, public health, clinical nutrition, or community care, those research opportunities offer a powerful glimpse of what the field can become.

For Cooper, the goal is not only to publish research, but to change how future practitioners see their role.

“I was meant to reach across, partner with people, innovate, and create,” she says.

In doing so, she is helping students understand that nutrition can be a form of science, advocacy, restoration, and care. And at Pace, she is showing that academic excellence is at its most powerful when it is paired with compassion.

Each year, the Pace University Alumni Association presents awards to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the University through their service, leadership, and remarkable dedication to the Pace mission.

Learn more about the 2026 Pace University alumni award recipients, the unique impact they have each had on the Pace Community, and the ways you can get involved to help build on their achievements for the benefit of all Pace alumni.

2026 Alumni Awards Recipients

Homer and Charles Pace Faculty Award

The Homer and Charles Pace Faculty Award honors a faculty member nominated by Pace alumni who embodies our mission of Opportunitas, serving as an inspiring role model, motivating their students, and going above and beyond to support Pace student success. This year, the Homer and Charles Pace Faculty Award was presented to Clinical Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, Matthew Ganis ‘85, MBA ’91, DPS ‘07.

A three-time Pace University alumnus whose career as a technology leader, educator, and innovator spans more than four decades, Professor Ganis joined Pace’s full-time faculty following an impressive 41-year career at IBM. Alongside his professional work, he served as an adjunct professor at Pace for 35 years, teaching courses in computer science and astronomy.

Professor Ganis’s career reflects a sustained commitment to bridging industry and academia, advancing innovation while preparing the next generation of technology leaders.

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GOLD Alumni Service Award

Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) leadership committee member, Morgan Steadwell ’17, was honored at Reunion with the GOLD Alumni Service Award. Specifically for graduates of the last decade, this award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated exceptional service and commitment in the years immediately following their graduation. The recipient embodies the spirit of Opportunitas by making meaningful contributions to the Pace Alumni Association and inspiring fellow alumni to do the same.

Since graduating, Morgan has been active in both Lubin and GOLD alumni initiatives, serving as a member of the GOLD Alumni Committee since its inception. She has repeatedly lent her expertise to Pace event programs, including panels and as speaker at enrollment events.

Emerging Alumni Leader Award

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At Pace’s 2026 Reunion, Black Alumni Group (BAG) Chair Arlene Thompson ’14 was presented with the Emerging Alumni Leader Award. This award honors an alumni volunteer who has rekindled their commitment to the University through exemplary leadership and alumni advocacy. It recognizes those who have demonstrated exceptional initiative in advancing Pace’s mission of Opportunitas and supporting the Pace Alumni Association.

In her role as chair, Arlene has continued to cultivate partnerships with University departments to further the mission of the Black Alumni Group, including the Division of Opportunity and Institutional Excellence, BSU, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Arlene served on the 2026 planning committee for the Heritage Celebration and was chosen as its keynote speaker. She continues to make herself available as a speaker to student groups and classes.

Harry D. Mayo III ’61 ’78 Distinguished Service Award

Former Pace University Assistant Director of Athletics Gene Westmoreland ‘65 was presented with Harry D. Mayo III ’61, ’78 Distinguished Service Award at Reunion 2026. Named in honor of its committed and inspirational first recipient, the Harry D. Mayo III ’61, ’78 Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to a Pace graduate whose consistent volunteer service has aided in advancing the success of Pace’s mission of Opportunitas and the Pace Alumni Association.

Gene’s illustrious history with Pace spans decades. As a student, he was the University’s first four-sport athlete. From the late 1960s through 1980, he coached Pace’s basketball, baseball, and golf teams, and served as Assistant Director of Athletics for 15 years. Gene’s commitment to Pace did not end there. A 1999 Pace Athletics Hall of Fame inductee and 2017 Peter X Finnerty Leadership Award recipient, Gene has remained deeply engaged with Pace and the athletics program. He continues to uplift the Pace Community through his participation in fundraising initiatives and Setter Connect mentoring events for student athletes.

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Alumni of the Year Award

Sabrina McCoy-Griffin, MBA ’92, Assistant Vice President (Retired) at Chubb, was honored with Pace’s Alumni of the Year Award at the June 2026 Spirit of Pace Awards ceremony. Sabrina held various leadership roles at The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, where she worked for more than 30 years. After retiring from Chubb in 2016, Sabrina served as a Senior Consultant with Jennifer Brown Consulting, LLC, a global diversity, equity, and inclusion firm.

Sabrina currently serves on Pace University’s Board of Trustees and President’s Council. She was the inaugural chair of the Pace University Alumni Association Leadership Council. As a recipient of the 2026 Alumni of the Year Award, Sabrina embodies Pace excellence as an accomplished professional, a dedicated volunteer, and a promoter of inclusivity and opportunity for others wherever she steps foot.

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Lubin Alumni Association Awards

On May 18, 2026, three graduating students were presented with the Lubin Alumni Committee Award. Each year, the Pace Alumni Association’s Lubin School of Business Alumni Committee recognizes a graduate student and two graduating undergraduate students from the New York City and Pleasantville campuses for academic excellence and exceptional dedication and service to the Pace Community. Recipients are recognized for their engagement beyond the classroom and efforts to build relationships across Lubin.

This year’s Lubin Alumni Committee Award recipients include Maggie Glynn (Graduate), Bailey Mullen (NYC), and Declan Landers (PLV).

Ways to Get Involved

• Alumni Association: The Pace University Alumni Association creates a space for alumni to engage with each other, current students, and the University to enrich the alumni experience.
• Affinity Groups: Through a Pace Affinity Group, you can connect with alumni, students, faculty, and staff members who enjoy similar passions, professions, and personal interests.
• Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD): GOLD is a network for Pace University undergraduate alumni of the last ten years. Giving alumni the opportunity to network with each other, both personally and professionally, connect with current students, and foster a lifelong relationship with Pace through events, volunteer opportunities, and giving.
• Mentor: Join Setter Connect and become the spark in a student's life as an alumni mentor and help guide them as they embark on their careers.