Campus Pride Ratings Cite Inclusiveness, Safety, and Campus Resources for LGBTQ+ Students, Faculty, and Staff

Pace University has been named as one of the 40 best colleges and universities across the country for LGBTQ+ students by Campus Pride, the preeminent resource for LGBTQ+ leadership development, inclusion and advocacy within higher education, the university today announced.

In being recognized as “Best of the Best,” Campus Pride noted that Pace and other schools on its list create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff alike.

“At Pace University, we’re proud to support our many different and diverse communities, and I'm excited to see our LGBTQA+ Centers celebrated as the Best of the Best,” said Marvin Krislov. “This honor recognizes our work to develop ways to best support our LGBTQ+ Pace students, and it will encourage and bolster our efforts to do even more.”

Pace, which has campuses in New York City and Pleasantville, is among 40 four-year campuses from across the country that have achieved 5 out of 5 stars on the Campus Pride Index (CPI), the definitive national benchmarking tool measuring LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs, and practices.

“Students, prospective students, and their families, along with faculty and staff members, deserve to know whether they will be safe on campus, so they can make the best choices for their own academic success – and by creating inclusive, safe environments these colleges are taking responsibility for all students,” said Shane Windmeyer, Campus Pride Executive Director.

Dr. Genny Beemyn, the coordinator of Campus Pride's Trans Policy Clearinghouse, noted that campuses are increasingly doing more to support their trans students and that many institutions are taking steps forward in their efforts to be trans-inclusive.

Pace has consistently prioritized inclusivity since forming LGBTQ+ Centers on campus 11 years ago. Among programs and services offered through the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the community are Q-Camp, a weekend leadership retreat; Lavender Graduation and Awards Ceremony; academic and career advising for LGBTQ+ students; programs that support transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary students; events with drag queens; and policy work for inclusion.

For Julian Clarke-Dixon, a junior resident assistant and media and communications major, Pace’s support is essential for many students.

“The LGBTQA+ Center has made Pace feel more inclusive and safer for all students,” Clarke-Dixon said. “As a queer person of color, it has provided a community that I did not have to hide from, but instead can flourish in. The LGBTQA+ Center's work shows that established organizations or structures can move to being more anti-racist and intersectional which provides an uplifting and open space for future generations to express themselves.”

• Campus Pride’s 2022 BEST OF THE BEST Colleges & Universities is online.
• The Campus Pride Index full listing of LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities is available.

Elizabeth Dank ’05 recently embarked on a new journey in her career: Product Policy Manager for Adult Nudity and Sexual Activity on the Global Trust and Safety team at TikTok. Elizabeth has always loved to dig in to complex problems and has worked in the field of gender-based violence throughout her career in both legal and non-legal roles – crediting, in part, the Pace Women’s Justice Center for directly influencing the course of her career. Prior to her new role at TikTok, she spent time with the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS), in the Queens District Attorney’s Office in the Domestic Violence Unit, and eleven years with the New York City Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV). Learn more about Elizabeth, her time at Haub Law, her career and current role at TikTok, what continues to inspire her career path, and more in this Alumni Q&A.

Let’s jump right in – you recently started a position at TikTok as a Product Policy Manager focused on Adult Nudity and Sexual Activity – what is your day-to-day like there?

Across the Trust and Safety Issue Policy team, we are developing and enforcing cutting-edge policies and practices aimed at keeping the platform safe and welcoming. I am working specifically on Adult Nudity and Sexual Activity and focusing on policies related to exploitation and abuse. It has been so interesting to translate my on-the-ground work in gender-based violence into a tech space. Unfortunately, the harms that can occur IRL can also happen in online communities and we are working hard to proactively prevent and address abuse and exploitation and provide support for survivors. It is a huge responsibility to know that the work we are doing will impact over 1 billion users across the globe.

What is it like to work for a huge social media platform?

#LifeatTikTok is different than anything I have experienced professionally! I am so impressed by the focus on employee well-being, the transparency and communication from leadership and the ways our commitment to creativity and joy on the platform are endlessly woven into the workplace too. Not only am I passionate about the work I get to do here, I am also having fun!

You have spent your career primarily focused combatting domestic violence and gender-based violence – thank you – I imagine at times that this can be very emotionally draining, what keeps you going and/or what have been the most fulfilling parts of your job?

I have two little girls who inspire me daily. I hope that through my work I might have a small impact on making the world they grow up in safer and more equitable.

Jumping back for a second, you started your legal career as an agency attorney with the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS) and then as an ADA in the Queens District Attorney’s Office in the Domestic Violence Unit – can you talk about those experiences?

Starting my career in litigation roles provided me with invaluable experience and numerous transferable skills in public speaking, writing, analysis, negotiation, mediation, thinking on your feet - just to name a few! There is often a sink-or-swim approach to new hires in government litigation positions, which was terrifying at the time but really forced me to work hard and strengthen my skills every day.

Working directly with families and survivors who experienced child abuse, domestic violence and sexual violence was both incredibly difficult and rewarding. The families I came into contact with through these positions left indelible impressions on me and motivated me to seek to improve NYC systems and remove barriers.

On a personal level, while at these two agencies, I was fortunate to have incredibly supportive bosses and colleagues who became lifelong friends. And I will always be thankful to ACS, as they unknowingly paired me with an officemate who would, years later, become my husband!

From the DA’s Office, you transitioned to the New York City Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), where you spent the last 11 years doing impactful work in a variety of roles, what was your day-to-day like there?

No two days (or even hours!) were the same at ENDGBV and that was one of the things that made the work so interesting and engaging. It was such a privilege to work alongside my colleagues and our partners to develop, enhance and innovate the City's response to gender-based violence. We wrote novel legislation, developed critical policies, designed first-of-its-kind programming, and worked every day to strategically coordinate and align approaches across numerous City agencies to enhance support for survivors. My ENDGBV colleagues are some of the most passionate people I have met and it was incredible to work in an office that was so grounded and focused on a shared mission.

Did you always want to be a lawyer?

Actually, no! I originally thought I might be a psychologist or a social worker. I even grappled with this during my first year of law school and wondered whether I had chosen the right path! I'm glad I persevered though as I've really enjoyed my career as a lawyer and believe that a legal education is transferable in so many beneficial ways.

What was your path to law school and why Pace?

During my junior year in college, I interned at a domestic violence shelter. Working closely with shelter staff and resident survivors, I was able to better understand both the barriers and resources that impacted survivors. This experience largely inspired me to go to law school and continue working to support survivors as an attorney. I chose Pace because of the excellent public interest program, immersive clinical and externship options and access to the legal community in NYC.

During my junior year in college, I interned at a domestic violence shelter. Working closely with shelter staff and resident survivors, I was able to better understand both the barriers and resources that impacted survivors. This experience largely inspired me to go to law school and continue working to support survivors as an attorney.

What were some of your most impactful experiences during your time at Pace?

Participating in the domestic violence clinic through the Pace Women's Justice Center directly influenced the course of my career. I believe strongly in the importance of clinical programming and highly recommend it to all new law students! I also had great domestic violence-related internships at community-based organizations and government agencies that helped to inform my career path. Rebecca Fialk was my clinical instructor and was fantastic at guiding me through my first client interviews and court appearances and motivating me to pursue litigation early in my career. I also had an excellent experience in trial advocacy with Robert Altchiler and found the skills I developed there so helpful in my first years as a litigator and in other roles throughout my career. One of the courses that stuck with me the most was the Prisoner's Rights class with Professor Michael Mushlin. It helped me to stay balanced and grounded as a prosecutor and inspired me to dig deeper into issues of sexual violence experienced by people in custody.

Do you have any advice for current or future law students?

If you are interested in the public sector, explore clinics, internships and volunteer opportunities across different agencies and organizations and be open to the different paths your legal career may take you. My career took many pivots and turns that I did not anticipate and it has been wonderful to continue to learn and grow in different ways with each position.

What are some of your passions aside from the law?

Outside of work, you can often find me exploring NYC, traveling with my family, going for a bike ride or baking with my kids.

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The newly named Food and Farm Business Law Clinic at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University announced that it will expand its legal services with $225,000 in funding included for the clinic in the New York State budget. The funding will support the hire of a Program Coordinator, who will join the pro bono clinic this fall, and provide other sustaining support for the clinic. The new name of the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic, formerly known as the Food and Beverage Law Clinic, reflects its broad work with clients from across New York State, including small farm businesses, artisan food manufacturers, craft beverage entrepreneurs, and related nonprofit organizations, while also emphasizing its focus on providing direct transactional business law experience to law students.

“As participants in the food and farm industry become increasingly innovative, the need for legal services continues to increase,” said Haub Law Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. “The Clinic has grown and adapted to changing needs while providing rewarding real-world experiences for our students, positioning them for career success, and putting Haub Law at the forefront of an essential, evolving field of law.”

Launched in 2017 in collaboration with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in response to a need for transactional legal services expressed by food and beverage clients, the first-of-its-kind Clinic has grown to serve over one hundred clients. "The Clinic fills a critical need in New York by providing free legal help to farmers, community groups, and food advocates seeking to strengthen and transform our regional food system into one that is more sustainable, healthy and equitable,” said Mark Izeman, Senior Attorney and Strategist for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in New York. “The Clinic is a legal model that can be replicated around the country. We are proud to partner with the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in growing the Clinic and the emerging area of food law.”

Under the supervision of faculty and a staff attorney, students in the Clinic represent small farm businesses, artisan food manufacturers, craft beverage entrepreneurs, and related nonprofit organizations on transactional legal matters including new business formation and legal structure, nonprofit law, negotiation of leases and other contracts, trademarks, and regulatory matters relating to land use, food safety, employment, and more. By providing pro bono legal representation to its clients, the Clinic seeks to facilitate the development of a more just and sustainable regional food system and economy. At the same time, by teaching fundamental lawyering skills and professionalism through hands-on legal work and client interaction, the Clinic seeks to transform law students into practice-ready professionals.

The Clinic is the keystone program of the Pace Food Law Center, which seeks to expand students’ food law educational opportunities through coursework, externship placements, career counseling, and research opportunities. The Center also supports the academic work of the six full time Pace Law faculty engaged in cutting edge food and agriculture related scholarship.

“Small farms and food businesses operate in a complex legal and regulatory space and many face economic challenges,” Director of the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic Jonathan Brown said. “Access to pro bono legal support for those who need it can go a long way in helping these businesses get off the ground, survive challenges, and thrive, which in turn helps to build a stronger and more equitable regional food system. We are incredibly thankful to Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Senate and Assembly for recognizing the need in this area and supporting the work we do.”

The funding included in the New York State budget will provide sustaining support for the Clinic and support the hire of the newly created position of Program Coordinator. The Program Coordinator will enable the Clinic to reach and provide services to more clients, provide more effective services, and make more referrals to other service providers.

Original philanthropic support for the Clinic was provided by the Sands Family Foundation and Constellation Brands which donated $400,000 in 2016 to launch the Clinic. In 2020, the Sands Family Foundation and Constellation Brands committed another $600,000 in matching grants over five years to complement funding from other sources. Haub Law Alumnus Rob Sands ’84 is executive chair and former CEO of Constellation Brands and Chairman of the Pace University Board of Trustees.

Additional sources of support for the Clinic have included the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the New York State Health Foundation, and American Farmland Trust, as well as an anonymous philanthropic gift in 2021 that enabled the Clinic to expand its impact by hiring Staff Attorney Jack Hornickel.

Growing up in Colorado and spending much of her free time summiting mountains (“14ers” to be exact!), Hannah Atkinson did not know she wanted to attend law school until two months before the cutoff for applications for the year. “I was living in Perth, Australia right before I decided to apply to law school and started attending. I was never particularly interested in the field of law itself, but when I thought about it more, I saw it as a really powerful means to affect policy and have an actual, tangible impact on big issues.”

Now, a rising 2L at Haub Law, recently, Hannah was selected for a prestigious 2022 Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC) Student Fellowship. The Rural Summer Legal Corps is a partnership between the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and Equal Justice Works that supports dedicated law students, like Hannah, who want to spend their summer addressing pressing legal issues facing rural communities. Participants (called Student Fellows) have the unique opportunity to explore their passion for public interest while gaining valuable legal skills and experience at LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations. “I found out about this opportunity through the PILC career fair. I will spend the summer working with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley. During this time, I hope to strengthen my skills in research and writing, as well as grow in communicating directly with clients from various backgrounds,” said Hannah.

“At Equal Justice Works, we are committed to building a pipeline of passionate public interest leaders who can ensure equal justice is a reality for more people,” said Brooke Meckler, director of law school engagement and advocacy at Equal Justice Works. “We are excited to have Hannah join our Rural Summer Legal Corps and look forward to supporting her work to combat housing instability for tenants of mobile parks.” The selection process to participate in the program is very competitive and Hannah was one of 40 law students selected to serve in the program from 333 applicants. During her time at Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, Hannah will help launch a project to identify with tenants of mobile parks who are at risk of homelessness, have been living with illegal and inhabitable conditions, or have been subjected to other illegal practices.

“When I was volunteering with a largely non-English speaking community in Colorado, the #1 challenge most of them faced was housing instability. It’s an issue that overshadows every other challenge, because you can’t start resolving issues like employment or illness if you’re consumed with worrying where you’ll sleep at night,” stated Hannah. “I came to law school with the desire to use whatever skills I learn to make a positive impact on the environment and also to provide assistance to indigent communities. After law school, I would love to return my home state of Colorado and start my legal career there, working at the intersection of environmental law and human rights.”

With her fellowship coming to a close, Hannah's experience as a Rural Summer Legal Corps Fellow has exceeded her expectations. "I’ve learned quite a bit this summer both about the state of housing law in general, and about the struggle of finding suitable housing and staying housed for indigent individuals and families. It was an honor to work with such high-quality attorneys who genuinely care about their clients. My most exciting summer project was spearheading a new project to create and present a 3-part Know Your Rights series on manufactured home park tenants' rights. The series will be saved and recirculated by Legal Services of the Hudson Valley well into the future. It felt amazing to have a real, tangible impact on the organization so early in my legal experience."