In 2019, Lisa Denig was appointed Special Counsel for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Initiatives for the NYS Office of Court Administration, overseeing one of the most innovative programs to date in the New York Court system: the creation and implementation of Chief Judge Janet DiFiore’s initiative, the New York State Presumptive ADR Program.
In 2019, Lisa Denig was appointed Special Counsel for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Initiatives for the NYS Office of Court Administration, overseeing one of the most innovative programs to date in the New York Court system: the creation and implementation of Chief Judge Janet DiFiore’s initiative, the New York State Presumptive ADR Program. The Presumptive ADR Program was implemented in all five boroughs in addition to three specialty courts inside New York City. A certified mediator herself, Lisa is a strong advocate for requiring early ADR in civil court cases and strongly believed in and advocated for the initiative long before it came to fruition.
Lisa notes, “In order to implement this program properly, I had to meet with bar associations, ADR groups and other stakeholders to incorporate them into the new program as well as provide the necessary training opportunities for court staff and outside lawyers. I worked with numerous committees to create rules, templates, develop a data tracking system, along with evaluation forms so we could actually see how the newly instituted program was working and report this to the Chief Judge.”
The program was a success, but it was an uphill battle at times. When asked about one of the biggest challenges she faced, Lisa answered: diversity. “I knew that there would be a diversity issue in the pool of mediators, but did not realize how serious it was. On the first day the mediation program was rolled out in New York City Civil Court, we had four cases that were amenable to mediation-all of whom spoke Spanish-and one Spanish interpreter. This brought home the issue of culture and diversity in mediation as well as all the concerns about access to justice that such challenges raise. From there, I made it a point to promote mediation trainings for diverse attorneys, connect with affinity bar associations, and more.”
Due in part to Lisa’s work, ADR plans were created that require litigants to attempt some form of ADR early in the stages of a civil case. The required ADR may include settlement conferences with judges or court staff, mediation, arbitration, or summary jury trials. Statistically speaking, the NYS Presumptive ADR Program is massive; Lisa notes that it deals with “over 1 million civil filings per year and more than 800,000 of those are in New York City alone.”
Last year, in honor of her work advancing the Presumptive ADR Initiative, Lisa was recognized as one of New York Law Journal’s Attorney Innovators of the Year. “Not long ago, settlement or mediation were thought of as secondary to years of discovery, enormous cost outlays, and time spent on trial preparation. That is no longer the case. Today, attorneys come prepared-at the preliminary conference - to discuss alternative ways to resolve their case. Alternative dispute resolution is not the wave of the future, it is the present.”
After serving as Special Counsel for ADR Initiatives for two and a half years, Lisa recently accepted a position as Counsel to New York State Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. Although her role has expanded, Lisa remains the Chief Judge’s liaison to the Presumptive ADR Initiative, giving her the opportunity to remain active in the programs she spent years building. Previously, Lisa spent nearly eight years at the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office in a variety of roles.
Lisa, who is an active member of Haub Law’s advisory board, the Board of Visitors, recalls fond memories of her time at the law school, which set her on the path for ADR success. “Pace gave me the tools I needed for a successful legal career after law school,” she said. “I loved my time as a law student and I continue to remain involved with the school. The best advice that I could give any current or future law student is to get involved and network – this will open up more doors than you could imagine.”
Pace’s Public Administration program will be collaborating with the Hispanic Advisory Board, under the leadership of Westchester County Executive George Latimer, to conduct a new comprehensive survey targeting the Latino community.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement during 2020 forever shaped communities around our nation. Capturing first-hand experiences of how these events impacted people is a critical part of providing primary sources for future researchers, and that’s what Assistant Provost and Clinical Associate Professor of History Maria Iacullo-Bird, PhD, set out to achieve with her Oral History Project.
Pop star Jojo Siwa's perceived lack of authenticity and ignorance of queer history has turned members of the LGBTQ+ community against her, experts say, and for tangible reasons.
Pace University President Marvin Krislov: For more than 50 years, Pell Grants have been a cornerstone of the American dream. They’re the foundation of our financial aid system, a subsidy from the U.S. government for every postsecondary student who demonstrates need. Since the program was created in 1965 (when it was called the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant), the percentage of Americans over 25 years old with a college degree has quadrupled from 9.4% to 37.5%.
Students competing in the annual College Fed Challenge issued three recommendations to the Federal Reserve: speed up the bond-buying taper, increase communication, and release a white paper on cryptocurrency.
This is a baseless fishing expedition based on rumor, suspicion and inneuendo,” Randolph McLaughlin, attorney for Council President Mike Khader.
Pace University got more than $130,000 from nearly 1,000 donors in its Give Tue Pace campaign, surpassing the projected total by 127%.
For more than 50 years, Pell Grants have been a cornerstone of the American dream. Caption: Pace University President Marvin Krislov congratulates graduate Maria Loughitano after she received her diploma during commencement.
"I want to continue my goal of breaking gender barriers in the sports world" – Sequoia Cumming, class of 2022.
I have always enjoyed writing, and I would consider myself to be a very curious person. I’m passionate about covering stories in a truthful way and enjoy learning about turning points in media throughout history and the different media systems of the world. Pace teaches journalism as a powerful tool in society. I played football on my high school’s varsity team and formed a passion for sports journalism after learning about my teammates and covering them in my high school newspaper.
Pace accepted me into their Pforzheimers Honors College and has strong connections with their alumni.
I have always felt like I was in good hands from the minute I stepped into Willcox Hall. I started working with Professor Fink as a contributing writer for Pleasantville’s on-campus newspaper, The Pace Chronicle, and she helped me develop story ideas and find contacts, always encouraging me to dive deeper. After developing a focus on sports journalism, I began taking sports media classes taught by Professor Pulaski-Behling. Her perspective as a woman in the sports industry was very important to me as a sophomore at Pace. She and Professor Fink encouraged me to establish connections through the newspaper, leading me to my current position with Professor Ziek at Booth Review.
Booth Review is a project that I am excited to be a part of. It consists of content created by me and another student intern, JJ Perdido, on our blog website, social media accounts (Instagram and Twitter), and, of course, the podcasts. There are two types of podcasts we create. One is a recap of Pace Athletic events throughout the week, while the other is an interview with Pace alumni who work in the field of sports media. This is my first experience covering sports outside of writing articles for The Pace Chronicle, which is very exciting to me. I hope that through Booth Review, we establish a space for the Sports Media and Broadcast minor to thrive.
I have been writing for The Pace Chronicle since freshman year, but I became sports editor during my second semester. I then became managing editor during my sophomore year, and editor-in-chief in my junior year. I still run The Pace Chronicle, and am also a general member of Colleges Against Cancer, which holds Relay for Life every spring. Additionally, I am a member of the Pforzheimers Honors College and Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society, and work part-time as a youth gymnastics coach in Chappaqua, NY.
I first started going to therapy at Pace’s Counseling Center after experiencing burnout during my sophomore year. I always knew that my mental health was something I had to eventually face, and it was really difficult to balance self-discovery on top of the newspaper and regular classwork. The pandemic drove me to Telehealth sessions, which were also difficult to get used to, but it's a lot easier to manage your life with a better headspace.
I hope to cover the NFL as a color commentator on broadcast television, which is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play commentator, or as a scriptwriter for broadcast. Overall, I want to continue my goal of breaking gender barriers in the sports world.
Don’t be afraid to participate in the events and programs that interest you. It’s a wonderful way to meet people who can help you socially and professionally. Also, don’t be afraid to take advantage of office hours offered by your professor, especially if you are taking mostly Zoom courses.
Studying in New York City has always been a dream of Maud-Amelie’s. We talked to her about her time at Pace and how the relationships she has been building here have impacted her studies.
Class of 2024, Exchange student
The COVID-19 pandemic changed Maud-Amelie's original plans of studying abroad in Australia. She decided to attend Pace and this Fall she is one of the 120 exchange students hailing from France, Norway, and Portugal. The students are participating in a custom program offered by Lubin's Center for Global Business Programs. Studying in New York City has always been a dream of Maud-Amelie’s. We talked to her about her time at Pace and how the relationships she has been building here have impacted her studies.
Studying in the United States has always been a dream of mine because of the concept of the American dream that we have in France. I appreciate the opportunity to practice my English and become completely fluent; this will help me to become a multicultural professional. I had visited New York before attending Pace, so I already felt very comfortable and enthusiastic about studying on the East Coast.
When choosing a school, I considered different factors and was very quickly convinced that Pace was the place for me. I became very excited about the New York City campus because of its location; presently, studying in the heart of the Financial District in Manhattan is both stimulating and motivating. What really convinced me to attend Pace was when I read about the school’s placement in different rankings, reviews, and articles. Pace is a place that teaches respect for individuals and community. This has allowed me to feel confident in my choice. By choosing Pace I knew that I would study essential subjects for my career with renowned professors in a dynamic and modern environment.
My favorite thing about New York is that there is always something to do or see no matter where you go. The city is so big and the neighborhoods are so different from one another that you are never disappointed. There is something for everyone to discover all the time! This is the reason New York City is called "the city that never sleeps." Some of my peers have used their weekends to discover other cities in the United States such as Los Angeles, Chicago, or Washington, D.C. As for me, there is so much more for me to explore in New York. No matter where you are in the city, you feel like you are no more than 20 minutes away from everything; you can do so many different things in one day. You will never get bored.
I have grown as a person thanks to this academic exchange.
I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of students here, both exchange and local students. I have new friends from many different backgrounds; they are American, Norwegian, Israeli, French, and Portuguese. This has helped me to improve my language skills and has developed my perception of the world and myself. I have grown as a person thanks to this academic exchange.
Our foreign exchange student advisor, Jaclyn Callery, has been a tremendous help to me this semester. She is always available and attentive, and I am able to talk to her regularly. Jaclyn has helped me discover different things to do at Pace and she always gives me good advice. My stay has been made easier thanks to her help; I can't thank her enough for that.
The professors are also a great source of support. They are very understanding and their teaching styles are highly effective. I'd like to shout out my Comparative Management Systems professor, Professor O'Keefe, who always makes time during class to ask us how we are doing and on a weekly basis she asks us what new things we have discovered in New York. Further, she provides valuable advice about how to learn and write effectively. This has enhanced the way I study for exams.
The primary advice I would give to students who want to study in New York, specifically at Pace University, is to be open to venture into the unknown and talk to new people you do not know. If you need help, it's okay to ask for it! Americans have an approachability that is not found everywhere and it is generally enjoyable to talk to them. Moreover, in New York, people are very open-minded and welcoming. I have never regretted asking for help from the people around me and I have always been pleasantly surprised by my conversations with strangers. Of course though, remain cautious when approaching strangers!
Additionally, it is essential to have things worked out before arriving in New York, especially accommodations. Things can quickly become complicated if you have a list of what you are looking for in an apartment. It is essential to organize your departure well and not to neglect the paperwork and documents required for you travel and apartment leases.
In my opinion, my #LubinLife has probably been the most rewarding time of my life (I’m in my 20s). The Lubin culture has given me a lot to do every day between community, opportunity, and encounters with others, with myself, and with the world. I have been able to develop ideas and find a rhythm to my days thanks to all of the resources offered by Pace/Lubin and its environment.
#LubinLife is ambition and discovery.
The winner? Pace University. That team, which now has more victories than any other group in the competition’s 18-year history, recommended the Fed issue a new document that’s more explicit about the path of the economy (among other recommendations at the time, like keeping the current pace of its asset purchases).
