Award advances global AI collaboration as Pace launches Westchester County’s first dedicated undergraduate AI degree

Third Fulbright recognition for Scharff, following previous awards in 2012 and 2019

Christelle Scharff, PhD, professor of computer science in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace University, has received a Fulbright Specialist Program award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Through the award, Scharff will complete a project at Université Numérique Cheikh Hamidou Kane (UN-CHK) in Senegal focused on advancing knowledge exchange in artificial intelligence and strengthening international academic partnerships. The initiative will support collaborative research, educational programming, and training activities benefiting participants, institutions, and communities in both the United States and Senegal.

“I am honored to continue collaborating with colleagues in Senegal through the Fulbright Specialist Program,” Scharff said. “Artificial intelligence has the power to address global challenges, and this partnership creates opportunities for shared research, innovation, and meaningful impact across borders.”

Scharff holds a PhD in symbolic artificial intelligence from the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (INRIA). Her research focuses on artificial intelligence, global software engineering, and information and communication technologies for development. She has received competitive funding from the National Science Foundation, IBM, Microsoft, VentureWell, and Google, and previously served as a Fulbright Scholar in Senegal in 2012 and 2019.

“Professor Scharff’s Fulbright Specialist award reflects both her global scholarly impact and Pace University’s deep commitment to advancing innovation through artificial intelligence,” said Alison Carr-Chellman, PhD, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Her work strengthens international collaboration, expands access to AI knowledge, and exemplifies the kind of engaged, future-focused scholarship that defines Pace’s academic mission.”

The award comes at a pivotal moment for Pace University. The University recently announced it will become the first institution in Westchester County to offer a dedicated Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence, launching in fall 2026.

The program reflects Pace’s long-standing leadership in AI research, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary innovation. It complements the University’s AI Lab—opened in 2024 in the newly constructed 15 Beekman building in Lower Manhattan, and its two graduate programs, the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and the Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence.

“Scharff’s longstanding engagement in Senegal and her leadership in AI research exemplify the Seidenberg School’s global and interdisciplinary approach,” said Dr. Li-Chou Chen, dean of the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. “This recognition further elevates Pace’s role as a hub for cutting-edge AI research and meaningful international partnerships.”

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange initiative and operates in more than 160 countries. Since its establishment in 1946, more than 400,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists have participated in Fulbright exchanges designed to build lasting global connections and address shared international challenges.

About Pace University

Founded in 1906 and celebrating 120 years of preparing students for success in 2026, Pace University pairs real-life learning with strong academics to launch meaningful careers. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace serves 13,600 students across a range of bachelor, master, and doctoral programs through the College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, Sands College of Performing Arts, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

About the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems

The Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace University is a leading institute of technology education. Students experience a dynamic and expansive technology education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. One of the first comprehensive schools of computing in the nation, the Seidenberg School is strategically located in the heart of NYC’s tech scene, right on the doorstep of New York’s most promising companies. With access to established tech giants and exciting new start-ups from both the New York City and the Westchester campus, Seidenberg offers the opportunity to connect, intern with, and enjoy lucrative tech jobs following graduation. Through partnerships with leading tech firms, banks, federal agencies, and global institutions, the school’s curricula and programs are designed to ground students in the fundamentals while offering numerous hands-on experiential learning opportunity. The faculty includes numerous experts in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, game development, software engineering, and much more, who operate labs and centers providing students with practical experience and connections that lead to impressive internships and jobs.

Industry leaders from Morgan Stanley, Google, Zoom, Heineken, and more explore how organizations can move from AI hype to real-world implementation

A leader in enterprise AI told a packed room of business leaders, faculty, and alumni that artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the nature of work — shifting professionals away from routine tasks and toward strategy, decision-making, and leadership.

In speaking at Pace University’s Spring 2026 Actionable AI Conference in Lower Manhattan on Friday, Kaitlin Elliott, executive director and head of firmwide generative AI solutions at Morgan Stanley, described how emerging forms of AI are transforming enterprise operations and workforce roles.

“We are going to go from being the task doers to the mastermind of the task,” Elliott told attendees during her keynote. “AI is moving from answer generation to action. Knowledge is infinite at this point in time.”

Image

The conference focused on practical strategies for implementing artificial intelligence across organizations, continuing the event’s theme, “Less Hype, More How.” Building on the success of its fall conference focused on AI in higher education, this spring gathering turns to the broader business landscape — examining how artificial intelligence is transforming operations, workforce strategy, governance, and risk management across industries.

Executives and industry leaders also explored the impact of AI across key sectors during a discussion on Intelligent Economy: AI Across Critical Sectors,” including Justin Vortage, CEO of INDATEL; Alyce Gee, investor at Camber Creek; and Jonathan Hill, chief transformation officer at Pace University. Moderated by Li-Chiou Chen, dean of Pace’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, the discussion examined how artificial intelligence is reshaping telecommunications infrastructure, real estate investment, and higher education.

The operational challenges organizations face when moving from experimentation to enterprise adoption were the focus of “Building the Foundations: How Organizations Overcome Roadblocks to AI Integration.” The discussion featured Jared Heiner, higher education account manager at Zoom, and Don Welch, vice president for information technology and global chief information officer at New York University, and was moderated by Ajay Koharana, dean of Pace’s Lubin School of Business.

“Part of the challenge is that organizations are trying to move quickly in an area that doesn’t yet have clear guardrails,” said Heiner. “The key is creating ongoing dialogue across teams so people understand what the technology can do, where the risks are, and how it can be applied in meaningful ways.”

Ethical considerations and public trust were the focus of “Navigating AI Risk: Ethics, Law, and Public Perception.” The session, moderated by David Sachs, professor of information systems at Pace’s Seidenberg school, featured Roy Girasa, distinguished professor at Pace’s Lubin School of Business, and Frank Iannella, chief information officer at Heineken USA, examined legal, reputational, and operational risks organizations must manage as AI capabilities expand.

“If you haven’t done it, you need to do it now, because every risk has changed in this new context,” Iannella said. “Look at your risks again. AI changes how those risks behave, but it can also help you identify opportunities to respond faster.”

The conference also featured a Lunch and Learn presentation from Craig King, AI Lead at Google, titled “The Future of AI — What’s Hype, What’s Real, and What’s Next.” King discussed the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem, highlighting how organizations can distinguish between headlines and practical applications delivering real value.

King illustrated the technology’s potential with a personal example of using AI tools with his children. After his son draws a picture, he said, the family uploads the drawing into Google’s video model to generate an animation from it — a simple demonstration of how generative AI can turn ideas into new forms of content.

“You don’t have to have a perfect strategy, but you have to have some type of strategy — you have to do something,” King said. “Audit your workflows, experiment with low-stakes pilots, build AI literacy across your teams, and put governance around your data. The organizations that start experimenting now will be the ones that figure out how to use these tools responsibly.”

The Actionable AI Conference is part of Pace University’s broader effort to bring together industry leaders, researchers, students, and alumni to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping business, technology, and society. Sponsors included Carahsoft, Crestron, D2L, Google for Education, MicroTheory Engineering, and Zoom.

About Pace University

Founded in 1906 and celebrating 120 years of preparing students for success in 2026, Pace University pairs real-life learning with strong academics to launch meaningful careers. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace serves 13,600 students across a range of bachelor, master, and doctoral programs through the College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, Sands College of Performing Arts, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

About Pace’s AI Committee

Launched in April 2024, Pace’s AI Committee is a cross-functional group spanning the University and including staff, faculty, and students. The committee leads institution-wide efforts to advance AI literacy, governance, and responsible adoption. In its first year, it established an academic AI policy, revised CIS 101 to ensure all students receive AI literacy instruction, and launched AI in the Workplace for the broader Pace community.

To date, more than 2,000 students and 140 faculty and staff have completed CIS 101, and AI in the Workplace has generated more than 1,000 registrations across students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The committee has also conducted AI tool pilots, hosted a Google Gemini Pop-Up, and produced the Fall Actionable AI Conference focused on AI in higher education.

Image

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University hosted a sold-out 31st Annual Law Leadership Dinner on March 12, 2026, at Westchester Country Club, raising a record-breaking fundraising total of over $500,000 in support of the Law School’s academic programs, faculty scholarship, and student opportunities.

The Law Leadership Dinner is Pace Haub Law’s signature annual fundraiser, bringing together alumni, members of the legal profession, faculty, students, and friends of the Law School to celebrate the achievements of distinguished alumni and rising leaders within the Law School and broader legal community. This year’s celebration also marked the kickoff of the Law School’s 50th anniversary year, a milestone that will be commemorated through a series of events and programs throughout 2026.

“Tonight we observe one of our most meaningful traditions,” said Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. in his remarks to the audience. “The true measure of a law school is not found in numbers—it is found in outcomes. It is found in the people who leave our classrooms and go on to lead, to serve, to build, to advocate, and to make a difference in the world.”

As part of the anniversary recognition, members of the Law School’s first graduating class—the Class of 1979—were honored during the evening’s program as pioneers who helped establish the foundation of what has become a nationally recognized institution.

“Fifty years ago, this Law School came into existence,” Anderson said. “What began as an ambitious vision has grown into a nationally recognized institution that has shaped generations of lawyers, judges, policymakers, and leaders,” he continued. “As we launch our 50th anniversary year, we celebrate not only this milestone, but the example set by that first class and carried forward by every generation of alumni who followed.”

The Law Leadership Dinner also honored three alumni leaders whose careers exemplify the values of leadership, service, and professional excellence that define the Pace Haub Law community.

This year’s distinguished honorees included:

• Robert T. Adams ’86, Mediator, National Arbitration and Mediation
• Lisa A. Linsky ’84, Partner, McDermott Will & Schulte
• Joseph A. Ruhl ’90, Regional President, Westchester County, Orange Bank & Trust Company

Image

In addition to recognizing established leaders in the profession, the Law Leadership Dinner also honored emerging alumni through the presentation of the Shining Star Award, which recognizes graduates whose early career accomplishments reflect excellence, promise, and commitment to their communities.

This year’s Shining Star recipients were:

• Zachary Berliner ’18, Counsel in Lowenstein Sandler LLP’s Environmental Law & Litigation Group
• Liberta “Libby” Barcia ’22, Associate at Bleakley Platt & Schmidt, LLP
• Eve Lincoln ’17, Town Justice for New Windsor and Assistant County Attorney in the Orange County Family Law Unit
• Joshua Brachfeld ’23, Associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

“These alumni are already making a meaningful impact in their professions and communities,” Anderson said. “They are not only succeeding in their respective fields, they are already serving as examples for future generations.”

The evening also highlighted the continued success and momentum of the Law School as it enters its 50th year. In recent years, Pace Haub Law has maintained its #1 national ranking in Environmental Law by U.S. News & World Report, while students, faculty, and alumni continue to make an impact through scholarship, advocacy, and global engagement.

The 2026 Law Leadership Dinner was made possible in large part through the support of generous sponsors. Proceeds from the Law Leadership Dinner support the Law School’s academic initiatives, experiential learning opportunities, and scholarships that enable students to pursue their legal education and careers.

2026 Leadership Award Dinner sponsors

Haub Presenting Sponsor: Lubert-Adler Partners, LP

Justice Sponsor: Robert T. Adams, Pace Haub Class of 1986

Partner Sponsors:

• Susan S. Brown, JD ’87 and J. Frank Brown
• Lisa A. Linsky, JD ’84
• Ringler

Ambassador Sponsors:

• Orange Bank & Trust Company
• Bleakley Platt & Schmidt
• Cuddy & Feder
• Morgan Levine Dolan
• Sacks & Sacks
• Zaremba Brown

Associate Sponsors:

• Ahumty Demers & McManus
• Buttafucco & Associates
• Elefterakis, Elefterakis & Panek
• Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano
• Fabiani, Cohen & Hall
• Gjelaj Law
• Harmon Linder Rogowsky and Hack and Rose
• Kennedys
• Liakas Law
• McDermott Will & Schulte
• Merson Law
• National Arbitration and Mediation
• O’Connor & Partners
• Oresky & Associates
• Pillinger Miller
• Hon. Terry Jane Ruderman, JD ’80 and Jerry Ruderman
• Joseph A. Ruhl, JD ’90
• Siegel & Coonerty LLP and ESS Settlement Services
• St. Philip the Apostle Foundation
• Universal Commodities Trading, Inc.
• William Schwitzer & Associates

Image

Professor Sheying Chen, PhD, has brought a global perspective and decades of research to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Pace, recently recognized by the US News & World Report’s rankings as a Best Graduate Public Affairs School.

At the heart of Chen’s work is a deep commitment to the belief that public policy should ultimately serve people, and especially those most vulnerable in society. This passion fuels his interest in addressing complex issues on aging populations, healthcare access, diversity and leadership, and the relationship between economic development and social wellbeing.

His interdisciplinary work bridges theory and practice, helping Pace students understand complex societal challenges while preparing them to lead meaningful change.

“Today, the world is at a profound crossroads. My research is therefore urgently focused on providing the clarity and vision needed to navigate this moment,” he said.

Advancing Public Policy for a Changing World

A cornerstone of Chen’s research is his pioneering work in General Public Policy (GPP) analysis, a framework that examines how nations evolve in their policy priorities. Particularly, his concept of the “Economic State in Transition” offers a powerful lens for understanding China’s modern history by showing how the state has zigzagged along a phase‑shifting GPP trajectory, moving through cycles of upheaval and renewal—from the Cultural Revolution to the Open‑Door and Reform era and into today’s unsettled “Post‑Economic State” period.

Chen’s research challenges traditional paradigms that have long dominated international policy discussions, mainly a narrow focus on the “welfare state,” introducing a broader, more nuanced analytical approach (e.g., the “Problem-GPP-ism” Triple Prism) that allows scholars and policymakers alike to better understand diverse development paths across countries against non/anti-development GPP patterns (e.g., the “warfare state”).

For Pace students, this means that they are equipped with the tools to understand the "why" behind policy. They are thus prepared to be strategic thinkers who can assess a government's core priorities and anticipate the societal impacts of major policy shifts from vital balances against all forms of extremist trends.

Addressing Global Challenges in Aging and Community Care

Another focus of Chen’s research is aging, community care, and social support systems.

As populations around the world continue to age, governments face urgent questions about healthcare, social services, and community-based support. In response, Chen’s work has explored how societies—from the United States, to Europe, to Asia—can create sustainable systems that allow older adults to maintain independence and dignity.

His research has highlighted the importance of integrating social services, mental health support, and community engagement into public policy, thus influencing global discussions and helping governments design systems that respond effectively to demographic change.

A Global Scholar Sharing Knowledge Worldwide

Chen’s influence is also in the realm of extensive publications and conference presentations.

As an editor and/or contributor of a major international publication series, he has played a central role in shaping global scholarship on social policy, social work, and aging studies. His leadership in these publications has thus created platforms for scholars around the world to share research and collaborate on pressing social issues.

In addition, Chen regularly presents his work at academic conferences and international forums, including keynote speeches and scholarly presentations on topics such as governance, social development, and cross-national policy analysis.

The result of this work is a strengthening of Pace’s global presence while connecting both Pace students and faculty to broader academic networks.

Mentoring the Next Generation of Public Leaders

A prolific scholar, Chen is equally very dedicated in the classroom, offering a unique lens for the understanding of how policy decisions shape societies over time.

In his courses, students are exposed to innovative analytical frameworks and are guided in applying these tools to evaluate complex social and administrative challenges. By sharing his own methodological resources (e.g., Chen Approaches to Unidimensionalized Scaling, or CAUS) and research materials, Chen has thus empowered students to strengthen their analytical and policy evaluation skills.

In addition, as a faculty mentor, Chen supports students in their academic and professional development, helping them refine research ideas, and encouraging them to explore emerging issues and global perspectives in social policy and governance.

His goal is simple: to cultivate thoughtful, socially conscious public administrators equipped with both technical expertise and a strong commitment to public service and social equity.

Strengthening the Pace MPA Program

Chen believes the Pace MPA program is uniquely positioned to prepare future leaders who understand both administrative practice and the human dimensions of public policy.

Building on his pioneer experience in international social work and the program’s unique tradition of integrating social welfare policy and public administration, he continues to work to strengthen its focus on community services, healthcare policy, and global comparative analysis.

“It is about ensuring that Pace is not just a place where these global challenges are studied, but one where the frameworks for solving them are being forged,” he said.