Looking to build your resume, explore AI, or develop new career-ready skills? You can do it at no cost through Pace University.

Through the Google AI for Education Accelerator, the Pace Community has access to Google's professional certificates and AI training courses, designed to help them develop in-demand skills and prepare for the workforce.

Explore courses in cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, project management, IT support, and more. Students can also take advantage of Google's AI training programs to learn how to use emerging technologies in their studies and future careers.

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Need help? Visit the Pace University Google Learning Program Helpdesk guide for detailed instructions and screenshots, or contact acadtech@pace.edu for assistance.

As surveillance technologies become increasingly sophisticated, where do we draw the line between public safety and personal privacy? For Amy Freedman, PhD, professor and chair of Political Science, that question is a key aspect of her research on democracy and individual freedoms in Southeast Asia. In this Q+A, Freedman explores the intersection of technology, political power, and civil liberties, and shares how her research informs her teaching and inspires student collaboration.

Your research interests relate to trends toward and away from democracy, and particularly in Southeast Asia. How did you become interested in this topic?

In countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, individual rights and freedoms are not a given, and there is a lot of variation within Southeast Asia and over time in rights protections and individual liberties and freedoms. I became interested in these questions in graduate school and in my dissertation research on ethnic Chinese communities, who are an ethnic minority in Indonesia and Malaysia and have often suffered persecution. I was interested in how they were able to organize and assert their interests, and this led to other related questions about democracy, rights, and freedoms.

How do surveillance and freedom in particular intersect with your research on Southeast Asia?

Autocratic countries, like many in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, for example), and semi-democratic countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, use surveillance as a way of perpetuating state control. While not as rigidly controlled or censored as China, almost all countries in Southeast Asia have limitations on things like a free press, free assembly, and what you can say or post on the internet. Laws purporting to address misinformation or ‘fake news’ often are used against critics of leaders and opposition forces; and, these laws often go hand in hand with state surveillance of all citizens’ online and in-real-life activities.

While surveillance varies around Southeast Asia; several Southeast Asian countries have heavily invested in AI-driven public tracking, frequently importing low-cost facial recognition and smart-city software from Chinese tech giants, as well as developing fairly extensive surveillance technologies themselves.

Were any of your research findings surprising or challenged assumptions?

Surveillance isn’t that surprising in autocratic states, but what has been interesting is how countries which used to be very suspicious of China (in terms of their foreign policy), have shifted their position and become much closer to China, welcoming investment and deals for infrastructure and technology. This includes countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore.

It’s both an election year in the U.S. and a time with much debate surrounding Flock cameras and data centers. As a political scientist, what are your thoughts on the intersection of these?

I think the focus of this election cycle on Flock cameras and data centers is really useful as a way for people to become better informed about how technology and surveillance are already present in our lives. But I am frankly not hopeful that either political party is going to do much to change the status quo. Democrats, if and when they regain control in Washington, might put some safeguards in place to better protect rights of privacy and curtail some of the worst abuses of state power, but it is really local governments and police forces who are buying and using facial recognition equipment and allowing construction of data centers.

How has your research informed your work with students and teaching?

As part of the Provost Office’s Summer 2026 Dyson College Student-Faculty Undergraduate Research Initiative, I collaborated with Idris Johnson ’27, a Political Science major, on the topic of surveillance and individual freedom, and he is much more knowledgeable than I am on the implications for democracy here in the US.

The courses I teach that relate to this topic are Modern Chinese Politics, Politics of Southeast Asia, and Freedom in the World. Certainly, in the classroom, we discuss individual rights and freedoms, both at a theoretical level and in application to the real world. Philosopher and social theorist Jürgen Habermas’s work is interesting in how he thinks about the importance of community and technology, and I often assign journalist and historian Anne Applebaum’s work on growing authoritarianism around the world. In addition, my students examine Freedom House reports on levels of freedom globally. (for many years, I wrote the Freedom in the World reports for Malaysia and Singapore).

Curious about the forces shaping freedom and democracy around the world? Explore how a degree in Political Science from Pace University’s Dyson College of Arts and Sciences can help you understand global challenges, question the status quo, and turn your curiosity into meaningful research and real-world impact.

When Christina Tram ’27 was considering a career, her experience with illness during high school influenced her thinking. In and out of hospitals as a teenager, Tram said she rarely felt motivated to heal, and often identified more with her illness than her potential.

Then, one day, a nurse changed her outlook on life.

“It was the first time in a long time that someone treated me like a person and not just a patient,” said Tram, a Pace University nursing student. “It was through her kindness that I realized how much of an impact a nurse can have, and this helped me see a professional future in something meaningful.”

Today, Tram is a nursing student scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the president of the Pace Nursing Student Association. She’s also among the more than 1,000 nursing students currently pursuing degrees at Pace’s Lienhard School of Nursing (LSN) within the College of Health Professions, which marks its 60th anniversary this year.

“I’m so grateful that the contributions of my professors and clinical instructors and the knowledge I gained in Lienhard prepared me to excel in my internships,” Tram said.

From pioneering nurse-led healthcare to advanced clinical simulation, Lienhard has for decades been at the vanguard of training the next generation of nurses. More than 12,800 alumni have earned their nursing degrees at Lienhard.

“I’m so grateful that the contributions of my professors and clinical instructors and the knowledge I gained in Lienhard prepared me to excel in my internships,” Tram said.

In 1966, when Pace University welcomed nursing students to the Westchester Campus, it marked a turning point for healthcare education in the region, opening new pathways into a profession that would become increasingly central to the region's healthcare system.

Along the way, Pace's school of nursing has grown into a national powerhouse for nursing education, research, and clinical innovation, preparing nurses to serve patients, lead healthcare teams, and respond to changing community needs.

The need for nurses has never been greater. While many industries are contracting amid a wave of technical disruption, health care remains an economic brightspot. A recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report found that healthcare employment is surging, and projections for future growth in healthcare occupations remain robust.

Brian Goldstein, PhD, dean of the College of Health Professions, said the goal at Pace is to ensure that graduates are ready to serve from day one.

“Through education by exemplary faculty who are scholar-practitioners in their areas of expertise and advanced simulation experiences in our accredited Center for Excellence in Healthcare Simulation, we’re preparing students to align with workforce demands,” said Goldstein. “With strong teaching, scholarship, and clinical and practice partnerships, our model of education directly benefits students, faculty, and the communities we serve.”

A Legacy of Firsts

Innovation has been part of Lienhard's identity from the beginning.

In 1977, Pace established what became University Health Care, the first nurse-managed academic health center in the United States. Initially supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the initiative demonstrated how nurses could lead in healthcare delivery while expanding access to essential services, which continue to be offered at the Westchester campus.

Throughout the decades, the school continued breaking new ground. It established a nursing research center in 1982 and expanded advanced nursing education to include a nurse practitioner master's programs, a Doctor of Nursing Practice, and then a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing.

"We are poised to lead, honoring our legacy while embracing innovation, advancing nursing education, and preparing the next generation of nurses to shape the future of healthcare.”

The school's evolution also helped lay the foundation for Pace's College of Health Professions, established in 2010.

“As we celebrate 60 years of the Lienhard School of Nursing, we recognize that we stand on the shoulders of generations of dedicated nursing educators, visionary leaders, and colleagues whose commitment and passion have built the exceptional nursing program we are today,” said Esma Paljevic, EdD, RN, CPNP, FNYAM, senior associate dean and chief nursing officer at the College of Health Professions.

“Our rich history is not only a source of pride but also the foundation that informs and inspires our future,” said Paljevic. “As healthcare continues to transform through technological innovation, artificial intelligence, and new models of care, we are poised to lead, honoring our legacy while embracing innovation, advancing nursing education, and preparing the next generation of nurses to shape the future of healthcare.”

Preparing Nurses for What's Next

Today, Lienhard combines industry experience with contemporary approaches to learning.

Through partnerships with leading healthcare institutions, students gain clinical experience in settings such as NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, Northwell Health, and Westchester Medical Center. The school's Center for Excellence in Healthcare Simulation provides opportunities to practice clinical decision-making, develop technical skills, and navigate complex patient-care scenarios in a controlled environment.

From undergraduate nursing education to master's and doctoral programs, Lienhard prepares nurses for roles in direct patient care, advanced practice, research, and healthcare leadership.

“I know the feeling of looking at other students and viewing them as extraordinarily talented or intelligent—beyond any perceived capacity I would ever achieve—and thinking that there was no way I could ever be so capable,” said Tram. “And yet, through trial and error, and not being afraid to say yes to opportunities (or being afraid and still saying yes), I am the student I once looked up to.”

On Sunday, October 18, alumni, faculty, clinical partners, and friends will gather at Pace's Westchester Campus for the Lienhard School of Nursing's 60th Anniversary Celebration. Register to attend.

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What attracted you to Pace?

My connection to Pace University stems from two sources. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with Pace alumni. Each individual consistently proved to be a grounded, results-driven, high-performing leader. That continuous caliber of talent made a lasting impression on me and made me eager to contribute to the university’s mission.

In addition, I welcomed the opportunity to return to higher education. It is truly fulfilling to play an active role in guiding, supporting, and shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

How do you contribute toward the success of Pace?

I often describe the Talent Acquisition (TA) team as the individuals who set the pace of the organization's brand. The TA team holds the honor of being the very first touchpoint for every new hire.

In partnership with the university’s hiring leaders, TA carefully maps the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for every role. Student-facing or operational, we directly secure the human capital vital to executing Pace’s strategic vision, fostering an environment where talent thrives and furthers our commitment to Opportunitas and student success.

What is your favorite part about your job?

For many people who reflect on success, their career is almost always central to the narrative, shaping not just their livelihood, but their personal brand and identity.

Talent Acquisition sits at the intersection of professional growth and personal transformation. Opening doors that alter career trajectories and transform lives creating lasting personal impact.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time to relax?

NYC is all about the experience. From a blindfolded sensory sculpting session at Unorthodox (which I highly recommend) to high-energy group scavenger hunts through Grand Central and The Met, these moments may not always be relaxing, but they are always memorable.

What would be your ultimate getaway vacation destination?

My travel bucket list spans into two categories. Domestically, I would love to visit every US national park and spot bison in the wild—from a safe distance, of course.

Internationally, top on my list is the Fiji Islands. Beyond the turquoise waters, warm tropical weather, and beautiful landscapes, I would love to experience firsthand: stepping ahead of time - literally. The 180-degree meridian passes through the island of Taveuni, meaning I would be able to stand with one foot in today and the other in yesterday.

From learning about cybersecurity threats in the classroom to becoming an information security analyst in the legal sector and co-founder of tech company Cyranix, Pace University alum Laraib Sarmad (BS in Information Technology ’23) has built a career that goes well beyond any single role. Today, she is exploring new ways to apply her expertise through artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and research, but her journey in tech started at Pace’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

Drawn to the school for its hands-on learning opportunities, faculty, and connections to New York's professional community, she credits the experience she gained and the relationships she built at Pace with helping shape her career.

"I chose Seidenberg because I wanted a program that combined strong technical education with practical, real-world application," she says. "The security & information assurance concentration aligned directly with my interest in cybersecurity, while my criminal justice minor gave me an additional perspective on investigations, evidence, and risk."

Learning by Doing

Throughout her time at Seidenberg, Sarmad pursued opportunities to put her classroom knowledge to work. One particularly impactful experience was her cybersecurity capstone project with ISACA, a global professional association with 185,000 members working in fields such as information security, governance, risk, and privacy. The project challenged her to analyze a complex cybersecurity scenario, examining technical vulnerabilities, organizational risks, security controls, and the broader consequences of a cyber incident.

"What made the project valuable was that we had to go beyond identifying technical problems. We had to understand why the incident occurred, evaluate its impact, and develop practical security recommendations. That experience strengthened the evidence-driven and risk-focused approach I use in cybersecurity today."

Eager to expand her cybersecurity knowledge beyond the classroom, Sarmad also worked as a Cyber Range student assistant at Pace and later as an IT consultant. While the former gave her hands-on exposure to cybersecurity environments, the latter broadened her experience supporting users, systems, and day-to-day technology operations.

"Pace gave me opportunities to apply what I was learning long before graduation," she says, adding that her time at the Cyber Range “helped me build confidence working with real systems and strengthened my interest in cybersecurity as a career."

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Building a Career in Cybersecurity and AI

Since graduating, Sarmad has built a career spanning cybersecurity operations, IT, research, and technology entrepreneurship. She is also returning to Seidenberg to pursue her MS in Cybersecurity.

Currently an information security analyst at a law firm, Sarmad investigates security activity, analyzes potential threats, and helps protect sensitive systems and information. Her work in the legal sector has deepened her understanding of confidentiality, risk management, and the importance of protecting sensitive information.

Her interests have also taken her into entrepreneurship. Alongside a group of colleagues, Sarmad co-founded Cyranix to develop intelligent technology products. The team created TickFlo, an AI-enabled ticketing and support platform, and is now developing an AI-based system to help identify and analyze potential cybersecurity threats.

"All of these experiences connect back to what I developed at Seidenberg: approaching complex problems analytically, understanding risk, and translating technical knowledge into practical solutions," Sarmad says.

Staying Connected

Sarmad's connection to Seidenberg has continued beyond graduation, opening doors to new opportunities. While volunteering with Pace's CryptoBot camp, she worked with students and built relationships with faculty that would later lead to further research. "One of those faculty connections later developed into a separate research collaboration involving quantum computing and cybersecurity," she says.

In addition to exploring the implications of quantum computing for cryptography and cybersecurity, Sarmad is collaborating with Pace faculty on research related to CryptoBot and hands-on cybersecurity education.

"One of the things I value most about Pace is that faculty support does not end when a class ends," she says. "My professors have remained accessible and supportive as I continue developing professionally, academically, and through research."

Making Opportunities Count

For current Seidenberg students hoping to build careers in tech, Sarmad emphasizes the importance of gaining practical experience early and building meaningful relationships with professors and alumni.

"Do not wait until graduation. Pursue internships, student employment, research, volunteer opportunities, campus programs, capstone projects, and anything that gives you practical experience,” she says.

Sarmad reminds students that the most important thing is simply getting started. "Your first opportunity does not have to be your dream job. It needs to give you a place to learn, contribute, and prove yourself."

And just as important as finding that first opportunity, Sarmad believes, is making the most of it.

"When someone gives you that first opportunity, make it count. Be dependable, ask thoughtful questions, take initiative, and keep learning. Your first role may be a small step, but it can become the foundation for everything that follows."

You don’t have to navigate an experience of sexual or interpersonal violence alone. Pace offers confidential support, campus resources, and reporting options so you can decide what feels right for you.

Looking for Confidential Support?

Confidential resources can help you talk through what happened, explore your options, and connect with care without making a formal report.

At Pace, confidential resources include the Office of Sexual and Interpersonal Wellness, Counseling Center, and University Health Care.

For campus-specific contacts, medical resources, off-campus support, and information about forensic exams:

• Get Support in New York City
• Get Support in Pleasantville

Want to Make a Report?

You decide if, when, and how you want to report.

The Office of Civil Rights Compliance can explain your options, connect you with supportive measures, and respond to reports of sexual misconduct. Supportive measures may be available even if you do not file a formal complaint or make a police report.

You may also report to Pace Safety and Security, law enforcement, or through the University’s online reporting form.

Supporting Someone Else?

You don’t need to have all the answers. Listen, believe them, respect their choices, and help them connect with support if they want it.

Pace’s campus support pages include additional guidance for helping a friend, along with confidential and off-campus resources.

You have options. You have support. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

As president of the Pace Nursing Student Association (PNSA) and policy and education director for the Nursing Students’ Association of New York State, Tram is already making her voice heard. She credits Lienhard faculty with encouraging her ambitions and connecting her with opportunities, including a Mount Sinai Health System internship and a collaborative student research position at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Why did you choose to enroll in the BS in Nursing program?

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I decided to major in nursing because I experienced a lot of health issues in high school, and, after being in and out of the hospital for so long, I started to identify as a patient and with my illness, and it was hard to find the motivation to heal. Then, sometime around junior year, I met a nurse who changed the entire trajectory of my recovery. It was the first time in a long time that someone treated me like a person and not just a patient, and that not only motivated me to make progress in my healing journey, but it was through her kindness that I realized how much of an impact a nurse can have, and this helped me see a professional future in something meaningful.

Recently, you worked on important advocacy with the Nursing Students' Association of New York State (NSANYS) to raise the minimum age of consent for sex. Tell me more about your interest in advocacy and your role with NSANYS.

I have always had an advocacy bone. Healthcare advocacy, however, wasn't something I knew about until I attended Pace’s hosting of the Oncology Nursing Society’s Advocacy Day conference. I felt empowered to bridge the gap from being an individual nursing student to meshing with a bigger, broader, more abstract idea of healthcare. My belief in advocating for my patients as well as nursing transcending beyond bedside care evolved on that day.

Working with nursing student leaders from across the state as policy and education director at NSANYS has been very rewarding, and the opportunity to write the resolution (and serve as a member of the National Student Nurses' Association Resolutions Committee) pushed me to take the first step in sharing my concerns nationally. I was intimidated at first but learned a lot about leadership and having the confidence to take on important roles.

How is this topic meaningful to you and what impact do you hope to have?

Throughout this experience, I learned that choosing a topic to advocate for that I really cared about made it that much harder. The current law on the age of consent for sex made no sense to me; I was also confused and angry that there was such a discrepancy across state lines and dismayed that no one seemed to be doing anything about it, so I decided that I would be the person to address it. I'm hoping that through my advocacy work, the age of consent can be raised to 18, at least in New York State, and eventually nationally. The development of a teenager doesn't vary from state to state, and so, there should be laws to protect adolescents until they are developmentally capable of consenting to sex.

Tell me more about your role as president of the Pace Nursing Student Association (PNSA) and how this is meaningful to you.

I take so much pride in and I'm excited to have stepped into the role as president of PNSA. This year's board is a wonderful and capable group of nursing students, with incredible ideas for on and off campus events. It's a privilege to work with such a great team, and, this year, we have expanded by adding committees for Men in Nursing and Mental Health.

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What internships have you had as a student?

Currently, I am a nursing student scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, a collaborative research position between the Center and Pace’s Lienhard School of Nursing. And this past summer, I completed the Mount Sinai Student Nurse internship in the apheresis department, an opportunity Chief Nursing Officer and Associate Professor Esma Paljevic, EdD, RN, CPNP, FNYAM, graciously connected me with. I’m so grateful that the contributions of my professors and clinical instructors and the knowledge I gained in Lienhard prepared me to excel in my internships.

What other faculty have been instrumental in your academic journey?

I am indefinitely grateful to Professor Stephanie Allen, PhD, RN, who has nurtured my aspirations for research and policy work and supported my leadership endeavors. Her joy and enthusiasm are contagious, and I believe that nursing education needs more individuals like her. In addition, when I came to Clinical Assistant Professor Kara Giustino, MSN, CPNP with my resolution proposal, she was so affirming that what I was advocating for was necessary and urgent. She poured herself into it as if it was her own, and her contributions helped during times when I doubted myself.

What are your post-graduation/career plans?

I am very eager to gain bedside experience with patients when I graduate, and my current role at MSKCC reflects my eagerness in continuing with oncology. I think it's a good blend of med surge, where I can build lots of clinical and therapeutic skills, with the added challenge of cancer increasing the level of acuity within the population I am caring for. Long term, I want to be a women's health nurse practitioner. Women's health is centered on conception and obstetrics, yet various reproductive pathologies may occur throughout their lives, and so, I would like my future practice to reflect the realities of the needs of women's health.

What advice would you like to provide for students?

Get involved! The skills I didn't even know I needed to develop and the exposure to things that matter to me now were only accomplished through allowing myself to be challenged by opportunities I was intimidated by. I know the feeling of looking at other students and viewing them as extraordinarily talented or intelligent (beyond any perceived capacity I would ever achieve) and thinking that there was no way I could ever be so capable. And yet, through trial and error, and not being afraid to say yes to opportunities (or being afraid and still saying yes), I am the student I once looked up to.=

Did you know? Pace Undergraduate Nursing Jumped 25 Spots in 2027 U.S. News rankings.