The Pace Energy and Climate Center (“PECC") is thrilled to announce the 2025–2026 Executive Board, which is comprised of three exceptional Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University students committed to advancing PECC’s mission and outreach.
The Pace Energy and Climate Center (“PECC") is thrilled to announce the 2025–2026 Executive Board, which is comprised of three exceptional Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University students committed to advancing PECC’s mission and outreach.
Frances Gothard ‘26 brings an invaluable global perspective to energy and environmental law using her background in International Studies along with her diverse experiences. At Pace Haub Law, she has served as the Co-Chair of the New Directions in Environmental Law Conference (“NDEL”) and as Vice President of the Environmental Law Society (“ELS”). Additionally, she worked as a research assistant for a collaborative law review article exploring the contours of environmental policy specifically on the legal landscapes surrounding natural resources, national parks, and national monuments. She also externed with Consolidated Edison Company of New York’s Energy and Environmental Law Department. Currently, she is practicing as a student attorney with the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic working with local small businesses and nonprofit organizations and serves as an editor for the national law journal The Urban Lawyer. Looking ahead, Frances is committed to elevating international perspectives on energy, food systems, and environmental policy to shape energy and climate law and advance equitable and sustainable energy and climate solutions.
Carington Lowe ‘26 has a background in science and brings an interdisciplinary approach to energy and environmental law. At Pace Haub Law, she serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Pace Environmental Law Review, completed an externship with the Land Use Law Center, practiced as a student attorney in the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic, contributed as a research assistant on climate-conscious affordable housing, and serves as a Sustainable Business Law Hub Scholar. These experiences have shaped her commitment to advancing renewable energy transitions. Looking forward, Carington’s focus is on biofuel, nuclear energy, and identifying climate harm, with the goal of bridging science, technology, and policy to build a more equitable and sustainable energy future.
Kenneth Sumter ’26 is a creative professional driven by a deep passion for renewable energy. With a unique eye for design and storytelling, he channels his creativity into advancing clean energy solutions that connect people, places, and purpose. At PECC, his research this academic year focuses on reimagining urban battery storage to build a sustainable infrastructure dedicated to creating resilient cities and making affordable, reliable energy a reality for urban neighborhoods.
Under new leadership from its Executive Director Michael Hamersky and the ongoing expertise of Energy Policy Advisor Emma Lagle, PECC is driving innovative energy and environmental initiatives to tackle the planet’s most pressing climate and energy challenges. Student involvement is at the core of PECC, which is committed to an open-door policy that encourages all Pace Haub Law students to engage with the Center by getting involved in projects that spark their interest. Students will also be selected to serve as the Center's Energy and Climate Law Scholars and contribute to research, legal scholarship, and hands-on projects across the diverse initiatives of PECC. The Energy and Climate Law Scholars also have the opportunity to have their writing featured in the Center's newsletter: R.E.A.C.T. by PECC.
PECC also hosts student interns and externs, including Mercè Martí I Exposito LLM ‘26, Joseph Mayson LLM ‘26, and Clara Cusanelli ‘27, who are assisting with PECC’s innovative work on thermal energy networks, research related to sustainable biofuels, and international issues that PECC will address at IUCN and COP30.
Your Commencement isn’t just about walking the stage—it’s about celebrating the people and values that got you here. That’s why we want the Class of 2026 to help choose our Commencement speaker and the recipient of the Opportunitas in Action Award. Think of someone whose story will light up the room, inspire your classmates, and leave a lasting mark. Ready? Nominate now.
Pace University’s motto, Opportunitas, inspires us to recognize those who create opportunity for others and to celebrate the individuals who embody our community’s values. This year, you have two ways to take part in these traditions: by nominating an inspiring voice for Commencement 2026 and by honoring a changemaker with the Opportunitas in Action Award.
Who will address the Class of 2026? You tell us.
Each year, Pace invites nominations for honorary degree recipients—leaders who exemplify the University’s values and aspirations, bring distinction to Pace, and help make Commencement unforgettable. Selected honorees may:
All honorees will receive an honorary doctorate—the highest recognition Pace University can bestow.
Nominations will be reviewed by the Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Jeff Barnett, PhD, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean for Students, and Joe Sgammato, Director of Executive Communications. The committee includes representatives from our student body, staff, and faculty.
Nomination deadline: Friday, October 17, 2025
Bestowed by the President of Pace University, the Opportunitas in Action Award honors a leader who has been an innovative thinker and has made positive contributions to the community in the spirit of Opportunitas.
Nomination deadline: Wednesday, November 12, 2025
More Pace students than ever—34 across both campuses—have been named UN Millennium Fellows, tackling the world’s biggest challenges through local action and global collaboration. From clean water to climate change, these Go-Getters are making their mark.
Reconnect with your student and experience the best of Pace this October—from campus events and athletics to Broadway shows and local adventures in Westchester and New York City.
For Anna Shostya, PhD, economics is more than numbers—it’s a tool to inspire change, connect students to the world, and build life-long skills.
Pace President Marvin Krislov writes a piece in Forbes calling on higher education to help close the nation’s growing workforce gap. He highlights Pace’s leadership in experiential learning—pointing to 9,000+ student internships and career-readiness programs as a model for preparing graduates to meet labor market demands in fields like health care, education, and management.
Elisabeth Haub School of Law Professor Imre Szalai provides a legal analysis to Bloomberg Law on a closely watched case testing whether bakery delivery drivers qualify for the Federal Arbitration Act’s transportation worker exemption, which would allow them to bring wage-and-hour claims in court instead of being required to arbitrate. Professor Szalai opined that the Second Circuit could “create an exception of very limited scope” for similar delivery drivers.
Lubin Professor Andrew Coggins speaks to Business Insider about the implications of stricter return-to-office (RTO) mandates. He notes that pushing for full in-person workweeks—even in a cautious job market—may still lead to attrition among employees who have caregiving responsibilities.
Haub Law Professor Bennett Gershman provides expert commentary to The Hill on the Supreme Court case over President Trump’s dismissal of independent agency officials. Gershman explains how the outcome could significantly expand presidential authority and weaken oversight protections.
In Roll Call, Professor Gershman further cautions that President Trump’s own public calls for prosecution could backfire legally, providing potential evidence for claims of selective enforcement in any future cases involving political opponents— and Union-Bulletin has the story.
Partner, professor, and playwright—Addison O’Donnell ’14 has built a career that blends law and creativity. In this episode, he walks us through his journey from Arts and Entertainment Management at Lubin to becoming a partner in just a few years. We dive into the value of mentorship, problem-solving, and hard work. He also shares how he continues to pursue his love of writing musicals alongside his legal career.
Partner, professor, and playwright—Addison O’Donnell ’14 has built a career that blends law and creativity. In this episode, he walks us through his journey from Arts and Entertainment Management at Lubin to becoming a partner in just a few years. We dive into the value of mentorship, problem-solving, and hard work. He also shares how he continues to pursue his love of writing musicals alongside his legal career.
This episode was recorded on September 24, 2025
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Tune into the Lubin Link podcast to hear how guests went from go-getting Lubin students to successful entrepreneurs, social media mavens, directors, CEOs, and beyond. They offer their best tips to students and share how you can make the most out of your #LubinLife.
Haub Law Professor John Bandler speaks to Spectrum News NY1 on a major telecom threat recently dismantled by the Secret Service. Bandler discussed the technical and legal dimensions of the breach, shedding light on how evolving cyber vulnerabilities intersect with public infrastructure and investigative authority.
Yonkers Times features a recent panel hosted at Pace University, in partnership with The Business Council of Westchester, which brought together leading experts to examine the ethical boundaries of artificial intelligence. Scholars, policy leaders, and industry professionals discussed pathways to regulatory safeguards that balance innovation with societal responsibility.