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Professor Emily Gold Waldman has been awarded the 2026 Goettel Prize for Faculty Scholarship for her article, Parents at the Schoolhouse Gate, published in the North Carolina Law Review, 104 N.C. L. Rev. 773 (2026).

The Goettel Prize was created in 2004 to encourage and recognize outstanding scholarship by members of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law faculty. Each year, members of the tenured and tenure-track faculty are invited to submit their work for consideration (on an anonymous basis) by a selection committee of outside reviewers. This year's committee consisted of three distinguished professors: Andrea Freeman, Second Century Chair Professor of Law, Southwestern Law School; Jordan Blair Woods, James E. Rogers Professor of Law, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona; and Heather Payne, Carter C. Kissell Professor of Law, Moritz College of Law, Ohio State University.

“Professor Waldman’s Parents at the Schoolhouse Gate takes on an exceptionally timely and important area of law, offering thoughtful analysis of the evolving relationship among parents, students, and public schools,” said Professor Margot J. Pollans, Associate Dean for Faculty Development at Haub Law. “Emily’s work exemplifies the rigorous, relevant scholarship that distinguishes our faculty, and I am delighted to see her recognized with this year’s Goettel Prize.”

In Parents at the Schoolhouse Gate, Professor Waldman examines the evolving constitutional landscape surrounding parental rights in public education. The article analyzes the implications of the United States Supreme Court’s 2025 decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which held that parents were entitled under the Free Exercise Clause to opt their children out of certain elementary school lessons that conflicted with their religious beliefs. It also explores the rise of “parents’ rights”-focused organizations and the new types of arguments they are making under the Free Speech Clause.

“I am so honored to receive the Goettel Prize and to have Parents at the Schoolhouse Gate recognized by this year’s selection committee,” said Professor Waldman. “I started writing the article in 2024, and then things started changing so quickly in the courts—especially with the Supreme Court’s 2025 decision in Mahmoud—that I had to substantially update it several times! I hope that the piece contributes to the ongoing conversation about parental rights, student interests, and the role of public schools.”

Professor Waldman joined the Haub Law faculty in 2006 and teaches Constitutional Law, Law and Education, Employment Law Survey, and Civil Procedure. Her scholarship focuses on constitutional law, education law, and the law of the workplace. She is also the Faculty Director of Haub Law’s Federal Judicial Honors Program. Notably, this 2026 award marks Professor Waldman’s second Goettel Prize for Faculty Scholarship; she previously received the award in 2008 for her article "Returning to Hazelwood's Core: A New Approach to Restrictions on School-Sponsored Speech," 60 Fla. L. Rev. 63 (2008).

At Pace, persistence pays off, and in this case, years of scientific research has led to a remarkable, lifesaving breakthrough for humanity.

Faculty in the award-winning Haskins Labs, renowned for producing innovative research on parasitic diseases that improves human health across the world, have contributed to a major development in the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), a potentially fatal parasitic disease commonly known as sleeping sickness. Acoziborole (marketed as Acoziborole Winthrop) can now cure the disease with a single oral dose, representing a significant step forward in the management of tropical diseases.

The advance is especially significant for a disease that historically required far more complex—and sometimes highly toxic—treatment. Now, a simple, single-dose therapy could make treatment dramatically easier to deliver in remote communities and help accelerate global efforts to eliminate sleeping sickness altogether.

This achievement grew out of a collaboration involving Pace, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), who funded the research, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Scynexis, and other partners. Director of the Haskins Lab and Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Nigel Yarlett, PhD, and Professor Emeritus Cyrus Bacchi, PhD, former director, helped evaluate potential compounds using both bloodstream and central nervous system models, work that ultimately contributed to identifying and advancing acoziborole toward clinical development.

A competitive, curative edge

Linked to the Biology and Chemistry and Physical Sciences departments in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences on the New York City Campus, with joint research projects involving students, faculty and staff, Haskins is unique in that very few labs have the capability to do late-stage disease models, a key component in life-extension for those afflicted with HAT.

Yarlett said, “Acoziborole is a huge contribution to the treatment of HAT since it is administered as 1-3 pills, single dose, can last in the patient for up to 28 days, and penetrates the blood-brain barrier, curing both early-stage (blood stream infection) and late-stage disease (central nervous system infection); the latter is fatal if not addressed.”

The work continues

There are two main forms of HAT, depending upon the region of Africa where the disease is prominent, and acoziborole is currently being used to treat patients with West African Trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma gambiense. Acoziborole has not yet been used, however, in the case of East African Trypanosomiasis caused by T. rhodesiense, and that’s where the Haskins Labs come in, with the next stage of research set to determine if the treatment can extend to all forms of the disease.

“I feel confident it will, but parasites can often surprise you,” said Yarlett.

Yarlett and his research team are also working on developing a curative treatment for cryptosporidiosis, a debilitating diarrheal disease implicated in an estimated 200,000 child deaths annually, and primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. There is currently no approved drug, and treatment consists of intensive intravenous hydration, a practical impossibility in the countries most impacted.

Haskins has received funding from both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to investigate the parasite with the goal of producing an oral, low dose, non-toxic small molecules to treat children impacted with this parasite.

Student success at Haskins

At Haskins, both undergraduate and graduate students carry out research under the guidance of faculty and regularly publish their findings in high impact journals, present at conferences, and pursue successful careers, with two students who participated in Haskins during the 1970s with then-director Seymour Hutner recognized with Nobel Peace prizes.

Although students were not directly involved in the more recent research on acoziborole, they were involved in other key aspects leading to its discovery.

Donna Sarno, laboratory supervisor, has contributed to various parasitic research at Haskins during the course of 34 years at Pace, and a big part of that has been alongside students.

“The labs give students a unique research experience. Working with parasites and neglected diseases especially opens them up to a world they may not know about,” she said.

Pace honored among industry professionals

In November 2026, scientists (including Yarlett and Bacchi) and industry leaders who were key players in facilitating efforts to finally eliminate sleeping sickness will be celebrated at an event cohosted by the North Carolina Global Health Alliance and DNDi.

A key feature will be a documentary partly filmed at Haskins in September 2026, followed by a roundtable discussion with Q+A by representatives in attendance.

For Yarlett, it is very much a full-circle moment.

Since joining the Haskins laboratory in 1986, acoziborole is the second drug that Yarlett has seen go into clinical trial for the treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis, and it could not have happened without the collaboration of so many in the Pace Community.

He said, “A large part of this success stems from the great insight and knowledge that Cy Bacchi has for this disease and ability to find the Achilles Heel of a deadly parasite. We are also grateful to the support and encouragement provided by Pace University and President Krislov in these endeavors, it is a great environment to do this research, and we look forward to the continued success of the Haskins Laboratories at Pace University.”

Making a difference, into the future

The scientific breakthrough in the form of acoziborole’s discovery is a powerful example of what happens when Pace gives great minds the support to pursue big questions.

It is also a testament to how a gem of a space and decades of persistence can have a far-reaching impact, ultimately changing lives around the world.

Fall is here, and there are a few important financial aid updates to keep on your radar. From filing your 2027–2028 FAFSA to understanding new federal student loan rules, here’s what Haub Law students need to know.

File Your 2027–2028 FAFSA by February 15

The 2027–2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens October 1, 2026. Pace’s priority submission deadline is February15, 2027. Before you get started:

• Create your FSA ID. If you do not already have one, create an account on the Federal Student Aid website.
• Use your legal information. First-time filers should have their Social Security number ready and enter their legal name exactly as it appears on their Social Security card.
• Submit by February 15. Filing by Pace’s priority deadline helps ensure you are considered for all financial aid for which you may be eligible.
• Need help? A 2027–2028 FAFSA walkthrough is coming soon. In the meantime, visit the Pace Financial Aid YouTube channel for helpful videos and resources.

New Federal Student Loan Limits Are Now in Effect

New federal student loan limits took effect July 1, 2026. Some continuing students may qualify for a legacy exception, allowing them to continue borrowing under the previous federal loan limits. You may qualify for the legacy exception if you were enrolled in your current program and received a Direct Loan before July 1, 2026.

To maintain legacy eligibility:

• You must remain enrolled in the same program at the same school without interrupting your enrollment.
• Taking a Leave of Absence may cause you to lose legacy eligibility.
• You must complete your program within its published length.

If you do not qualify for the legacy exception, the new federal loan limits will apply.

For example, Graduate PLUS Loans will only be available to students meeting Legacy guidelines.

Non-Legacy borrowers are eligible for up to $50,000 Unsubsidized loan annually, with a new aggregate limit of $200,000.

Students are unable to choose whether or not to "opt out" of legacy borrower status.

Other Federal Student Loan Changes

There are also two important changes to how federal student loans are distributed:

• You can no longer receive more than half of your annual federal student loan eligibility in a single semester.
• If you enroll less than full-time, federal student loans will be reduced based on your credit load.

Complete Your 2026–2027 Financial Aid Requirements

Still have outstanding financial aid requirements for the current academic year? Log in to your Pace Portal and complete any remaining 2026–2027 financial aid requirements as soon as possible. Outstanding requirements can delay the processing or disbursement of your financial aid.

Don’t Lose Financial Aid Over Attendance

Federal financial aid eligibility is tied to your attendance and participation in your courses. To protect your eligibility:

• Attend and participate in all your registered classes.
• Pay attention to any attendance-related communications from Pace.
• Respond promptly if there is an issue with your enrollment.

Professors are required to verify attendance during the semester. If you do not attend or participate in a course, you may be dropped for non-attendance, and your financial aid may be adjusted accordingly.

Check Your Pace Email

Your Pace email is one of the most important ways the Financial Aid Office communicates with you. If you receive a message that requires action, respond as soon as possible. Check it regularly for:

• Outstanding financial aid requirements
• FAFSA updates
• Changes to your aid
• Requests for additional information
• Important deadlines

Contact the Financial Aid Office

Need help? The Financial Aid Office is available Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Reach out via phone at (914) 648-0796 or submit a Help Desk ticket,

Fall is here, and there are a few important financial aid updates to keep on your radar. From filing your 2027–2028 FAFSA to understanding new federal student loan rules, here’s what undergraduate students and families need to know.

File Your 2027–2028 FAFSA by November 15

The 2027–2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens October 1, 2026. Pace’s priority submission deadline is November 15, 2026.

Before you get started:

• Create your FSA ID. If you do not already have one, create an account on the Federal Student Aid website.
• Use your legal information. First-time filers should have their Social Security number ready and enter their legal name exactly as it appears on their Social Security card.
• Submit by November 15. Filing by Pace’s priority deadline helps ensure you are considered for all financial aid for which you may be eligible.
• Need help? A 2027–2028 FAFSA walkthrough is coming soon. In the meantime, visit the Pace Financial Aid YouTube channel for helpful videos and resources.

New Federal Student Loan Limits Are Now in Effect

New federal student loan limits took effect July 1, 2026. Some continuing students and families may qualify for a legacy exception, allowing them to continue borrowing under the previous federal loan limits.

You may qualify for the legacy exception if you were enrolled in your current program and received a Direct Loan before July 1, 2026.

To maintain legacy eligibility:

• You must remain enrolled in the same program at the same school without interrupting your enrollment.
• Taking a Leave of Absence may cause you to lose legacy eligibility.
• You must complete your program within its published length.

If you do not qualify for the legacy exception, the new federal loan limits will apply.

For example, Parent PLUS Loans are now limited to $20,000 per year for each dependent undergraduate student, with a $65,000 lifetime limit.

If your parent borrowed a Parent PLUS Loan before July 1, 2026, they may be able to continue borrowing under the previous rules, up to the full cost of attendance minus other financial aid, for up to three additional years or until you graduate, whichever comes first.

Other Federal Student Loan Changes

There are also two important changes to how federal student loans are distributed:

• You can no longer receive more than half of your annual federal student loan eligibility in a single semester.
• If you enroll less than full-time, federal student loans other than Parent PLUS Loans will be reduced based on your credit load.

Complete Your 2026–2027 Financial Aid Requirements

Still have outstanding financial aid requirements for the current academic year? Log in to your Pace Portal and complete any remaining 2026–2027 financial aid requirements as soon as possible. Outstanding requirements can delay the processing or disbursement of your financial aid.

Don’t Lose Financial Aid Over Attendance

Federal financial aid eligibility is tied to your attendance and participation in your courses. To protect your eligibility:

• Attend and participate in all your registered classes.
• Pay attention to any attendance-related communications from Pace.
• Respond promptly if there is an issue with your enrollment.

Professors are required to verify attendance during the semester. If you do not attend or participate in a course, you may be dropped for non-attendance, and your financial aid may be adjusted accordingly.

Check Your Pace Email

Your Pace email is one of the most important ways the Financial Aid Office communicates with you. If you receive a message that requires action, respond as soon as possible. Check it regularly for:

• Outstanding financial aid requirements
• FAFSA updates
• Changes to your aid
• Requests for additional information
• Important deadlines

Contact the Financial Aid Office

Need help? The Financial Aid Office is available Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Reach out via phone at (877) 672-1830, submit a Help Desk ticket, or schedule an appointment.