Screenings Set at Hyannis and Mystic Film Festivals in October

The PaceDocs Team focuses its film on the remarkable journey of oysters, their farmers, and their role in cleaning the water

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Pace University’s documentary film team – PaceDocs – is pleased to announce that its film, Tide to Table: The Remarkable Journey of Oysters, has won best student documentary at the Williamsburg International Film Festival.

In announcing the winners, judges noted that the field was competitive and that the festival received a record number of entries in many categories.

The win comes as the team is gearing up for screenings at The Hyannis Film Festival and Mystic Film Festival in October. The festival screenings complement other showings throughout the Northeast, including one at noon on September 25 at Regal Cinemas, 102 North End Avenue in New York City; repeated screenings at the Mystic Seaport Museum’s Riverfest on October 8-10; and a showing in Falmouth, Ma. as part of the Woods Hole Film Festival’s seasonal programming. The film is also a finalist at the Seaside Sustainability Film Festival in Gloucester, Ma. (winners will be announced in mid-October).

The documentary has already had a successful series of screenings at four venues in Pleasantville and across Cape Cod – notably at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, Wellfleet Preservation Hall in Wellfleet, the Chatham Orpheum in Chatham, and Cape Cinema in Dennis, Ma.

“We are enjoying a great run and we are gratified by people’s reactions to the film,” said Professor Maria Luskay. “This year marks the first time in the program’s history that we have showed our film in so many theaters, festivals, and themed events.”

Luskay noted that the process has been an invaluable hands-on experience for students who learned first-hand about the plight of the oyster farmer braving the elements as well as the grit and determination required to complete the film in 14 weeks.

The screening at The Hyannis Film Festival is taking place at 2 p.m. on October 16 at Sturgis Charter Public School East Campus, 427 Main Street in Hyannis, Ma., while the screening at the Mystic Film Festival is taking place at 3:30 p.m. on October 22 at the United Theater in Westerly, Rhode Island.

For people who cannot make the showings, the documentary is available for viewing on YouTube, and, along with other documentaries made as part of the program, will be available on-demand at Dyson College’s Media, Communications and Visual Arts’ YouTube channel.

The film documents how oysters rely on the ebb and flow of the tide for flavor. One oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day; their survival is determined by their farmers, deeply rooted in their tradition and connection to the sea. The documentary, filmed on-location across the flats of Cape Cod, the shores of Connecticut’s Long Island Sound, and the urban waterways of New York City, features scientists, historians, shellfish constables, and farmers. It explores the serendipitous relationship between nature, oyster farmers, modern aquaculture technology, and a movement to better understand their ecological value, while showing how oysters are thriving in areas such as Cape Cod and being restored in once depleted regions such as Connecticut and New York City as a means of improving water quality.

The documentary is produced by Professors Luskay and Lou Guarneri. The popular class, ‘Producing the Documentary,’ is part of the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences at Pace University’s highly regarded film program that requires students complete a full-length environmentally themed documentary within 14 weeks. During the process, they learn teamwork, problem-solving, research, and organization, along with technical skills such as lighting, sound, camera work, interviewing, and other real-life lessons necessary to complete a film.

Tide to Table continues Pace University’s distinguished tradition of producing documentaries that shine a light on important environmental issues. In recent years, Pace filmmakers have produced documentaries around the globe focusing on a number of topics, including the importance of bees as pollinators in our food supply (2021); the impact of earthquakes in Hawaii (2019); the endurance of the people of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria (2018); Cuba at a cultural crossroads (2016); reviving Curacao’s coral reefs (2015); as well as many other poignant films.

About Pace University

Pace University has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success as a result of its unique program that combines rigorous academics and real-world experiences. Pace is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides. From its beginnings as an accounting school in 1906, Pace has grown to three campuses, enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 150 majors and programs, across a range of disciplines: arts, sciences, business, health care, technology, law, education, and more. The university also has one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. Pace has a signature, newly renovated campus in New York City, located in the heart of vibrant Lower Manhattan, next to Wall Street and City Hall, and two campuses in Westchester County, New York: a 200-acre picturesque Pleasantville Campus and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains. Follow us on Twitter or on the Pace News website.

About Dyson College of Arts and Sciences

Pace University’s liberal arts college, Dyson College, offers more than 50 programs, spanning the arts and humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and pre-professional programs (including pre-medicine, pre-veterinary, and pre-law), as well as many courses that fulfill core curriculum requirements. The College offers access to numerous opportunities for internships, cooperative education and other hands-on learning experiences that complement in-class learning in preparing graduates for career and graduate/professional education choices.

Class Represents a Record-Number for Pace

Pace was among just eight percent of universities selected to host a cohort

A record-number 17 Pace University students have been accepted into the 2022 class of the United Nations Academic Impact and Millennium Campus Network Fellowship Program, the University today announced.

In this semester-long leadership program focused on making a social impact, students convene with the cohort of fellows from their institution to lead projects that advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals—a list of 17 objectives focusing on areas such as social justice, sustainability, poverty, equity, education, and economic growth.

While leading projects on their own campuses and in their own communities, students in the program also collaborate with fellows at peer institutions around the world, creating a global network of students working toward a better world by addressing problems facing societies around the world.

Sue Maxam, EdD, assistant provost for special programs and retention and Pace Millennium Fellow liaison, notes that the University’s largest-ever cohort “is a testament to the ever-growing commitment of Pace students to effectuate positive change in the world as it relates to their passions and values.”

“I am incredibly proud of our 17 students who were selected for this prestigious and highly competitive leadership development program that connects them with global leaders and other like-minded students from around the world,” said Maxam. “These students are change agents and part of an impressive global network of people committed to making a difference.”

The Millennium Fellowship program set its own record this year, as 31,397 students applied for the program, hailing from more than 2,400 campuses and 140 nations worldwide. Pace was among just eight percent of universities selected to host a cohort for 2022. A graduation ceremony will be held on November 18, 2022.

Students who apply submit a proposal for a project they would like to launch on their campuses or in their communities. This year’s Pace cohort proposed ideas ranging from helping high school students from vulnerable populations gain better access to higher education, drinking water quality advocacy, to first-year peer mentoring programs for BIPOC (Black and Indigenous People of Color) students.

Previous Millennium Fellows have left lasting contributions to the University and the surrounding communities. As part of the 2021 Fellowship, Alexandra Kennedy ’22, Marisa Medici ’22, and Tasfia Rahim ’23 launched Fare Trade, an initiative aimed at combatting food insecurity on campus, which has become a permanent fixture with plans for expansion.

“Being a Millennium Fellow means I will be able to take my social impact to the next level,” said Danielle Harari ’24, Criminal Justice, who proposed a project geared toward helping supply prisons with menstrual products. “I am eager to work on this passion project, and I look forward to all the incredible people I will meet throughout the process.”

The 17 Pace students who have been selected for the 2022 cohort are:

• Maryam Aliyeva ’24, Political Science and Language, Culture, and World Trade
• Angelina Bellucci, Digital Marketing
• Mary Duffy ’24, Writing and Rhetoric
• Lucie Flagg ’25, Film and Screen Studies
• Lily Frances Flanigan ’22, Political Science
• Danielle Harari ’24, Criminal Justice
• Ryan Kai Kinningham ’26, Peace and Justice Studies
• Demi Martin ’24, Biology
• Mya McCovery ’25, Political Science
• Noëlle Frederique Meij ’26, Psychology
• Nikol Taba Montoya, International Management
• Aryaa Moudgal ’23, Political Science and Peace and Justice Studies
• Juliet O’Connor ’23, Psychology
• Lulu Okeke ’24, Global Professional Studies
• Krish Persaud ’24, Applied Psychology and Human Relations
• Camden Robertson ’24, Peace and Justice Studies and Political Science
• Natalia Rojas-Carmona ’25, Psychology

About Pace University

Since 1906, Pace University has educated thinking professionals by providing high quality education for the professions on a firm base of liberal learning amid the advantages of the New York metropolitan area. A private university, Pace has campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York, enrolling nearly 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in its Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Lubin School of Business, College of Health Professions, School of Education, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

The child of immigrants from Peru, Samantha Lopez’s parents are her inspiration for pursuing a degree in law. Now that she is at Pace, Samantha appreciates the close-knit community and guidance of her professors. “Professor Merton has been extremely helpful and has provided me with a lot of guidance. She is definitely an inspiration and role model. I would love to eventually participate as a student attorney in the Immigration Justice Clinic.”

With a passion for immigration law, Samantha’s experience as a Summer Legal Intern with Sanctuary for Families as part of their Immigration Intervention Project was exactly the type of summer experience she hoped for when she began her law school journey. “I was able to gain a better understanding of the legal immigration process and work directly with clients as I wrote an asylum brief, drafted a client’s affidavit, and filed N-600 forms. Meeting with the clients and being able to talk with them (mostly in Spanish) was an amazing experience that really cemented that I am on the right path.”

Now, a 3L at Haub Law, Samantha is secretary of the Latin American Law Student Association and the Pace Immigration Law Society. “I wanted to join LALSA because I believe when going through something difficult, such as law school, one needs a strong support system to help you through it. Knowing that members of LALSA typically come from similar backgrounds and have had similar experiences as I have had has made going through law school as a first generation law student a far better experience. I am also glad to have joined an organization with such an extensive alumni network that provides support.”

The Center for Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE), based in the Office of Research and Graduate Education, leads, supports, and facilitates student-faculty research collaborations throughout the Schools and Colleges of Pace University. The Center’s work is building upon forty years of undergraduate research in Dyson College as a high-impact educational practice that advances student success.

Here’s how you can get involved this fall as an undergraduate student or faculty member at Pace:

Fall 2022 Undergraduate Research Presentations (Virtual)

12:10 p.m.–1:10 p.m.

The University community is invited to attend the inaugural fall series of virtual research presentations by Summer 2022 Provost and Dyson Undergraduate Research Awardees. Check out all of the upcoming presentation sessions.

Undergraduate Student Research Webinar Series

Join the Center for Undergraduate Research Experiences for weekly webinars throughout the Fall 2022 semester that touch on a variety of topics related to student research. Once you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.

• Thursday, September 29 | 3:25 p.m.–4:25 p.m.
  Topic: How to Get Started in Research across Majors and Schools
• Wednesday, October 5 | 12:10 p.m.–1:10 p.m.
  Topic: Social Justice and the Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Thursday, October 6 | 3:25 p.m.–4:25 p.m.
  Topic: Social Justice and the Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Wednesday, October 12 | 12:10 p.m.–1:10 p.m.
  Topic: Learn about CUR and the World Congress on Undergraduate Research—Apply to Present
• Thursday, October 13 | 3:25 p.m.–4:25 p.m.
  Topic: Learn about CUR and the World Congress on Undergraduate Research—Apply to Present
• Wednesday, November 16 | 12:10 p.m.–1:10 p.m.
  Topic: Preparing a Research Poster
• Thursday, November 17 | 3:25 p.m.–4:25 p.m.
  Topic: Preparing a Research Poster
• Wednesday, December 14 | 12:10 p.m.–1:10 p.m.
  Topic: How to apply for a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REUs)
• Thursday, December 15 | 3:25 p.m.–4:25 p.m.
  Topic: How to apply for a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REUs)

Faculty Webinar Series for Undergraduate Student Research

Join the Center for Undergraduate Research Experiences for weekly webinars throughout the Fall 2022 semester that touch on a variety of topics related to how faculty members can support student research. Once you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting. If you have questions about Undergraduate Research contact Maria Iacullo-Bird, PhD, Assistant Provost for Research at miacullobird@pace.edu.

• Wednesday, October 12 | 12:10 p.m.–1:10 p.m.
  Topic: Learn About CUR and the World Congress on Undergraduate Research
• Monday, November 14 | 12:10 p.m.–1:10 p.m.
  Topic: How to Get Started in Grant Writing and Include Undergraduate Research
• Monday, December 12 | 12:10 p.m.–1:10 p.m.
  Topic: How to Apply for National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF Reus)

Fall 2022 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Tuesday, December 13 | Location and registration information TBA

Please attend to support student presenters! This event will feature the Provost’s Summer 2022 Student-Faculty Undergraduate Research Awardees.

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The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is proud to announce that Professor Margot Pollans was awarded the 2022 Goettel Prize for Faculty Scholarship for her article, "Eaters, Powerless by Design" published by Michigan Law Review (120 Mich. L. Rev. 643 (2022)).

The Goettel Prize was created in 2004 to encourage and recognize outstanding scholarship by members of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University 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 law school professors: Professor Katherline Macfarlane of Southern University Law Center, Professor Anthony Moffa of University of Maine School of Law, and Professor Jonah E. Perlin of Georgetown Law.

Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Operations and Professor of Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, Emily Waldman, noted, “Since joining our faculty in 2015, Margot Pollans has been a leader in building up our food law program, now known as the Pace Food Law Center. In her prize-winning article, 'Eaters, Powerless by Design,' she uses her wide-ranging expertise to offer a novel critique of the system as a whole. She points out that the system currently rests on two contradictory myths --the helpless consumer who needs government protection and the capable consumer who should be able to navigate the system on her own--and charts a course toward a path of better food governance. The piece is fascinating not only for food law experts, but for everyone who knowingly or unknowingly interacts with food law on a daily basis—i.e., all of us!"

“Food Law has received increased attention in recent years as a field of study and this article aims to provide an opportunity to study and understand the role that law takes in shaping what we eat. This year’s committee consists of experts at the top of their respective fields and I am so honored to have been selected by them to be awarded the 2022 Goettel Prize for Faculty Scholarship,” stated Professor Margot Pollans.

Professor Margot Pollans joined the Pace faculty in 2015. Professor Pollans’s primary research interests lie in the areas of food and agriculture law and administrative law. She is the Faculty Director of the Pace Food Law Center and the Shamik and Adrienne Trivedi Faculty Scholar. Before joining the Pace faculty, she was the inaugural academic fellow at UCLA School of Law’s Resnick Program for Food Law and Policy. Previously, Professor Pollans was a Staff Attorney and Clinical Teaching Fellow at Georgetown University Law Center’s Institute for Public Representation, where she worked on a range of environmental litigation and supervised student clinicians. Following law school, Pollans clerked for the Honorable David Tatel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Her academic work has appeared in a variety of journals including in the California Law Review, the Ohio State Law Journal, the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law, and the Harvard Environmental Law Review. She is also the co-author of a casebook, Food Law: Cases & Materials.