This week is Social Justice Week at Pace University.

Thirteen years ago, DJ Henry, a Pleasantville student and member of the Pace Setters football team, was shot and killed by a Pleasantville police officer on Homecoming Weekend. Each year, we present Social Justice Week each year to honor his legacy, keep alive his memory, and create opportunities for new generations of Pace students, staff, and faculty, to engage in dialogue about issues of racial and social justice and make positive change in our communities.

As you’ll read in this edition of Pace Now, Social Justice Week this year includes more than 40 events recognizing that DJ’s story cannot be told accurately without acknowledging its connection to a history and reality of racism, inequity, and injustice. Highlights of this year’s Social Justice Week including campus vigils in DJ’s memory—the New York City vigil is this evening—and a discussion tomorrow at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law led by Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah, who recently ordered an independent review of Henry’s shooting.

You can find more information about Social Justice Week here, and more information about the Haub Law event here. To learn more about DJ and his life and legacy, you can view this video from the DJ Henry Dream Fund, established by his family.

Elsewhere in Pace Now, you’ll see other examples of how the Pace Community interacts with the broader community and works to improve the world around us. In one feature story, we look at National First Gen Student Day, and we shine a spotlight on Valentina Rojas Abreu ’24, who is working to build a first-gen community as president of the First Generation Program. Elsewhere, we check in with a thriving group of Pace student veterans whose sense of togetherness helps them bridge the transition from service to schooling. And you can also learn about a major new grant challenge launched by the Pace Entrepreneurship Studio and their partners at Speedemissions that could result in a $15,000 prize for a startup with an innovative idea to help address climate change.

I know all of you at Pace are working to make a difference and make the world a better place. Let’s all keep up that important work.

Name: Bianca Mazur
Pronouns: she/her
Anticipated Year of Graduation: 2027
Hometown: Burbank, California
Degree/Major: Marketing, Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications, BBA

Internship role and employer: Intern for Internal Communications and Engagement, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)

Tell us a bit about what you did during your internship. Walk us through what an average day looks like for you.

In my internship, I was responsible for writing copy for posts, helping out at events, and coming up with content ideas for WBD’s internal social media website. On the average day, I get to work at 9:00 a.m., and spend about half an hour responding to emails and catching up on any company news.

I usually have meetings in the morning, so I log into Zoom and discuss upcoming events and posts with the team, which is divided between Los Angeles, New York City, and Atlanta. After that, I look through the company’s organization charts and LinkedIn to research people I would be interested in speaking to, to learn about their roles.

Around noon, I head to the Lot to meet some of my intern friends for lunch, and we walk around the Lot if we have time, making sure to visit the Stars Hollow set and grab a water at Starbucks. Then, I either stay on the Lot to help the team if there’s an event going on, or I drive back to the office if there’s nothing planned.

For events, I assist in setting up, make sure everyone has proper verification to enter the theater, and greet guests with a smile. If there’s no event for the day, I meet up with my managers to brainstorm content ideas for social media and the company newsletter. I research information about the topics, write copy for social media posts, and come up with ways for employees to enter the latest giveaway. I have at least one networking meeting per day, because I want to ensure that I’m taking advantage of being here as an intern. After that meeting, I continue working with my managers on my writing tasks for the day, and then send my work over to them when I’m done. I say bye to my managers and the rest of the team on my floor, and leave at 6:00 p.m.

What made you gravitate to this role? Was it the organization, the responsibilities, something else?

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I was interested in this internship because of the opportunities I could gain from it. I’m in a four-year internship program called the Reach Honorship Program, and I’m on the business track specifically. In this program, I will return to WBD for the next three summers for my internship, and each year, I will switch departments to gain an understanding of what different areas on the business side of the company do. I get assigned to a department each year, and this year working on the Internal Communications and Engagement team, I got an insight to how the company works.

I also wanted to join this internship program to meet people in the field and expand my network, because I would definitely be interested in working at Warner Bros. Discovery after graduating. Moreover, I really love the content that WBD puts out (especially Friends), so I figured it would be a perfect fit!

Did you work on any projects or complete any special tasks that brought you a sense of self-satisfaction?

In my first week, my team was working on a piece about the new products in The Flash line, which was a great experience. My manager and I interviewed two people who worked on the products, converted the audio recordings of the interviews into text, and then I edited the text alone.

It was about 20 pages, and I went through each sentence to ensure that it was grammatically correct and flowed smoothly with the rest of the paragraph. All of this work was done in one day, and I felt satisfied that I had accomplished so much. Towards the end of my internship, I worked on another project, and this one was in partnership with the other intern on my team. For this project, we interviewed other interns to learn more about their roles at the company. I asked the interview questions and helped with the lighting set up, and the video was posted on WBD’s internal social media website and on @wbdlife’s Instagram account. It made me really happy to see that a video I worked on reached so many people.

Do you have a better sense of the industry now that you’ve had the opportunity to participate in it? Has your internship opened your eyes to new paths or options within your intended field?

I definitely have a better sense of the industry since I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of it. This internship helped me realize that I’d be interested in trying something with social media management and content creation, and also that I’d love to have another internship where I have creative freedom to design something.

Have you interned anywhere else prior to this?

This is my first internship! Before this, I was a host at a restaurant for almost two years.

Did you get this internship with assistance from Career Services or did you snag this one independently?

I heard about this internship from two of the girls who joined the program the year before, and they said they really liked it, so I applied!

What have you gained from this internship role?

From this internship role, I expanded my network and made a lot of new connections. Between working with other teams for events and seeing people on the Lot, I was meeting someone new every day, and it was super interesting to learn about their positions. This helped me improve my communications skills as well. I also gained a better understanding of aspects of the company and how long it takes for an idea to turn into a movie or product.

Do you have any advice for people who are considering taking on their first internship?

Go for it! Internships are great learning opportunities. Even if it’s not your perfect fit, you gain soft skills that you can apply to other jobs and internships, and an internship can help you realize what you want (or really don’t want) to do in the future. You’ll meet so many new people and form connections with them, which could lead to career opportunities in the future.

If your internship was a TV show or movie, what would it be and why?

If my internship was a TV show, it would definitely be Friends. Everyone is really close, and there’s always something fun going on. When I check in every morning, I’m always in a good mood because I get to work with some really great people.

Did you have a favorite spot to get lunch nearby?

My favorite spot to get lunch nearby is Raising Cane’s because it’s only a short drive away from my building, and I always see someone I know when I eat lunch there!

Did anything unexpected or silly/funny happen during your internship? What was it and what did you take away from it?

When I started my internship, I never expected that I would be walking around the cafeteria at lunch with another intern who was dressed up as Chompie, the official Shark Week mascot. We were tasked with passing out Shark Week fin hats to employees eating lunch in the building, and hyping them up for Shark Week. It was pretty funny to walk around the lobby and talk to a guy dressed in a shark costume. Everyone was super excited to see Chompie and grab some free Shark Week merch.

From this experience, I learned that a job is only as fun as you make it, and that everyone loves free swag :)

Assistant Professor of Musical Theater and Commercial Dance Chair at Pace University’s Sands College of Performing Arts Jesse Carlo, PhD, is an inspiring force behind the institution's vibrant creative atmosphere. In his illuminating video profile, he emphasizes the invaluable exposure Pace University provides to its students, allowing them to collaborate with industry luminaries, including Tony Award, Grammy Award, and Oscar winners. A unique opportunity that not only nurtures students’ talent but also fuels their passion, motivating them to take audacious steps in the competitive world of musical theater. What sets Pace’s Musical Theater program apart is its innovative Life Experience Route, a pathway that enables students to pursue their degree while taking breaks to perform on Broadway or national tours. Professor Carlo takes pride in supporting his students through this transformative journey. When these performers return to the classroom, they bring back a wealth of real-world experiences, enriching the educational environment.

“I love being a commuter student. I try to be heavily active on campus. Sometimes I'm literally here for 12 hours a day because I work on campus and attend my classes. But I love it.”

Valentina Rojas Abreu ’24 knows the importance of taking her education into her own hands.

A health science major on the pre-physician track, Valentina is plugged in to life on the Westchester Campus as a student assistant in the Dean for Student’s Office and Student Affairs, and in her role as president of the First Generation Program.

A lot of us [first-gen students] are so independent because we don't have that safety net.

Valentina is so driven, in part, because she’s always had to be. She recalled that as she grew up, she and her mother were learning English at the same time. Her mother helped where she could but even the way she had learned math in the Dominican Republic was different from the classwork Valentina brought home in the States. “I ended up being very independent,” she explained. “And I'm the firstborn in my family. So I don't have an older sibling to ask ‘how did you do this’ or ‘what is FASFA?’”

Valentina’s experience is that of first generation students everywhere. “A lot of us are so independent because we don't have that safety net,” Valentina says. “Not that we don't have people to depend on, but at least on an academic standpoint, you are on your own.”

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She found support during her last years of high school through the Yonkers Partners in Education, a mentoring program that provided students with graduation coaches. As she began to look into colleges, she was drawn to Pace because of its connections. “It’s five minutes away from the number one trauma center in the Northeast,” she says, an important factor for a health science major. “I’d heard great things all through high school about how many connections Pace has to different companies and programs. I liked that I could commute and that there was a New York City Campus I could take advantage of if I wanted to.”

She came to Pace and was thrilled to discover that there was a mentoring program for first-gen students. Knowing how much it impacted her to have that peer support in high school, she signed up. “We were paired with upper level students, usually someone in your major, to mentor you and help you out,” Valentina says. “And when you’re a sophomore, you're given the opportunity to then be a mentor to other students.” She continued on with the program and received three students to mentor. To this day, even as the program has evolved and she’s stepped up into the role of president of the program, she’s still close with her mentees. “I try to encourage them in the same way I was encouraged.”

I’d heard great things all through high school about how many connections Pace has to different companies and programs.

The First Generation program is open to any first generation students attending Pace. “Some people don’t even realize they’re a first generation student,” according to Valentina. A first generation student is determined as someone whose parent or parents did not receive a four-year degree. “Even if your parents received an associate degree rather than a four-year degree, or your siblings have gone to college, you're still considered a first-generation student.”

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The program has now expanded to encourage more than just one-on-one mentorship, but to instead foster a community among the first generation students at Pace, and as president Valentina works to ensure every student has the support they need. She helps oversee and organize events for the program, from vision-journaling socials, to financial aid workshops, and now with programming for the first-ever First Generation Honors Program.

Valentina explains, “We joined the National Honor Society called Tri Alpha, which is for first generation students.” Students who are academically eligible can join to take advantage of Tri Alpha benefits, such as leadership opportunities, lifetime membership, graduation cords, and more. Their first induction is taking place on November 8, National First Generation Students Day, marking an exciting new milestone for not only the students, but the program itself.

I try to encourage them in the same way I was encouraged.

Reflecting on her time at Pace and in the First Generation Program, Valentina can’t help but realize how much being a part of the first-gen community impacted her path. She has her on-campus job because a former leader in the program used to send out job blasts and made her aware of the position. Now, Valentina is the one sending job blasts and opportunities to other students, carrying on that ethos of passing along the support she was once offered.

Valentina has graduated from mentee, to mentor, to president of the program, and is helping usher in a new era with the addition of the Honors Society. “It’s a full circle moment,” she says. “And that’s what the program is dedicated to.”

To learn more about Resources for First Generation Students and the First Generation Program send an email to plvfirstgen@pace.edu. For more information on the Honors Society, visit Tri Alpha’s website.

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Paulette Smart-Mackey

Class of 1988

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Paulette Smart-Mackey is a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, transformational coach, and mentor who is passionate about early learning. To this end, she has recently published a book, Meet Skulle, which helps children explore their natural curiosity for the science of the human body.

What inspired you to write this book and what do you hope your readers will gather from it?

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When my daughter was in elementary school, she was very curious about science and wanted to learn more about naming the bones in the human body. One day when she was in first grade, she asked me to come to school during a community session to teach her friends what she had already been learning. The administration allowed it, and it became an annual event which lasted through the fourth grade. When the pandemic occurred, my daughter inspired me to author Meet Skulle.

It is my hope that readers who are connected to a curious child will garner that learning complex topics can be accomplished at any age. My observations have been that, when children learn something new, their posture is more upright, and their eyes gleam. In them, I see the look of confidence in a future generation of leaders, and I wanted to share this “knowledge with confidence” theme with my readers.

Prior to attending medical school at The State University of New York at Buffalo, you earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the Pleasantville campus at Pace University. What attracted you to pursue a degree in chemistry? Did you always know you wanted to be a physician?

Pursuing a degree in chemistry came from the very analytical person within me who loves math and science, and chemistry seemed to combine these two passions. I knew I wanted to be a doctor from preschool age, and I confirmed my instincts by later volunteering and working in pharmacy stock rooms at area hospitals in order to be in the medical environment. I also engaged with disabled children in group homes and really enjoyed working and caring for people and being in the hospital community. I was inspired to specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation by my medical school mentor and have found that caring for patients in a team setting, and addressing their medical, social, psychological, and physical needs, to name a few, is a thrill for me. Today, I use my medical platform to coach on health, wellness, and electrodiagnosis, and, recently, write this scientific book for youngsters.

Why did you choose to enroll at Pace?

My initial impulse was to enroll at Pace due to the close proximity to my home; however, as I was very focused on going to medical school, I was also excited to learn about the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. I really enjoyed the curriculum, including the core courses and electives, which both prepared me for the medical school entry exam and provided a well-rounded exploration of other interests outside of the sciences, which is something that is a bit more difficult to do within the focused lens of medical school.

How have faculty been instrumental in your journey?

So many Dyson professors helped me collectively. My biology, chemistry, math, science, and science lab professors poured knowledge into me, pointed out my weaknesses, and helped me build confidence in the path I had chosen. My curriculum advisor helped to keep me focused. My history teacher demanded excellence in writing papers, which was a turning point for me, as writing and speech are fundamental in every profession. I realize now how each professor was helping me to build character with knowledge. Today, I use all of these skills both personally and professionally in my decision-making.

Each Dyson professor was helping me to build character with knowledge. Today, I use all of these skills both personally and professionally as a physician in my decision-making.

College is a significant time in a person’s life. In what ways did your time as a Dyson student influence you to become the person you are today?

When I was a student, I had only recently immigrated to the United States from Jamaica, so I was adapting to a new culture of learning, and I actually extended my time at Pace to learn more about socialization, integration, and community service, working both internally in the biology lab and externally at IBM and pharmaceutical company Ciba-Geigy. These experiences laid a solid foundation for me, and I took all the lessons learned with me in my training as a medical doctor and beyond.

Most of my challenges were cultural. With my Jamaican culture, I did not fully understand the journey of Black Americans in this country and the concept of racism and prejudice (in Jamaica, our motto is ‘out of many, one people’ and all are treated equally). So, integration was difficult for me, and it took me many years to fully understand my environment. These challenges, however, empowered me to pursue knowledge and to be the best version of myself. What I liked most about Dyson is that I felt at home there. It was a small community of students, professors, and staff with similar interests. This community helped me overcome some of the challenges.

Although a busy professional, you dedicate time volunteering for causes that are meaningful to you. Tell us more about that.

As someone who has been invested in by others, I believe in giving back and returning the favor. Most of my time volunteering was spent at local schools, churches, and church organizations, and my most memorable was as a Dyson student volunteering with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. For me, volunteering was a nice break from classes and seeing the joy on people’s faces when you invest time with them energizes my heart in a powerful way.

What advice would you give to our students as they navigate their college life?

As you climb the ladder to greater heights, what brings the most content at the top is the depth of your character. Consider bringing along an attitude of gratitude on your journey and have fun along the way.