“Any major in Dyson who wants to engage in research and scholarship, there needs to be an opportunity to present that and engage with others.”

These are the words of Associate Professor of Anthropology and Chair of the Society of Fellows Judith Pajo, PhD. Ever since becoming a member of the Pace Community over a decade ago, Pajo has been heavily involved in the Society of Fellows—the premier honors organization housed within Dyson that continues to push the boundaries of student and faculty scholarship, interdisciplinary research, and conversation across a diverse range of fields.

Comprising more than 700 Fellows across its 42-year history, the Society of Fellows is a storied organization that stretches deep into the past—consisting of current students, faculty, as well as a large contingent of active alumni. Each year, the Society inducts a new class of students who exemplifies the ideals of liberal education and a commitment to undergraduate scholarship.

One recent inductee, Kailey Liddell ’23, considers her involvement in the Society of Fellows to be one of the most formative of her college experience.

“Being an artistic person, rather than a science or mathematical person, you don’t really hear a lot about research opportunities that you can actually do,” said Liddell. “When I found out my creative documentary was considered something valuable for other people to learn and listen to, that really expanded my own perception of what I could do with my major and my interests.”

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Liddell was first invited to present at the Society of Fellows’ Annual Meeting—the organization’s showcase event every spring where students present their scholarship completed under the supervision of faculty mentors. Liddell was first invited in 2021 after Assistant Professor in Media and Communication Studies Melvin Williams, PhD, encouraged her to submit a short film she had made about race and representation, specifically addressing the lack of biracial characters in children’s media. This past spring, she was invited back as a plenary presenter for research she conducted under the supervision of Professor of English Sid Ray, PhD, and was formally inducted in the Society of Fellows.

The Annual Meeting showcases the outstanding work of students, but just as instrumental to the success of the Society of Fellows is a group of dedicated and encouraging faculty. On the faculty side, Pajo believes it is essential to promote the intellectual curiosity of bright students like Liddell, who intuitively understand that learning isn’t confined to the classroom.

“There’s always going to be one or two students who stand out in each course, because they want to do more research than what happens to be assigned that semester,” notes Pajo. “I think the Society of Fellows is an outlet for students who don’t feel like the research is done once the course is done and they got their grade—they want to do more, they want to reach a wider audience so that their research makes an impact.”

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In addition to the Annual Meeting, the Society also holds an annual Weekend Seminar every fall to discuss a particular interdisciplinary issue in depth. This year’s seminar, which will be held in Connecticut on the weekend of October 28, is centered around the question Can Computers Make Art?, and will feature a panel of faculty and alumni from both art and mathematics about the role of machines in the creative process.

As Pajo notes, seminars often start out with an academic question that requires interdisciplinary conversation—something the Society is readily equipped to dive into.

“This particular year, the idea for the seminar topic started out with Mathematics Professor Meng Xu, who was reading about some people using the statistical programming language R to create art,” said Pajo. “Normally R is used for charts, and graphs, and statistics. He wanted to get students to use R to create art but also wanted to collaborate with faculty in art for this project so he came to the Fellows.”

In addition to fostering dialogue about a wide range of issues—and simply being a place where scholarship and intellectual curiosity can grow, students over the years have found the experience to have valuable practical benefits. Liddell, for one, has noticed how the niche ideas and topics she has been exposed to through the Fellows has been useful for interviews, and has significantly strengthened her confidence in terms of conducting research and applying for grants.

“Participating in the Fellows is a great way to get higher-level academic experiences,” added Liddell. “You build relationships with faculty, get great presentation experience, and build public speaking skills. It helps you learn how to be an upper-level learner.”

“You build relationships with faculty, get great presentation experience, and build public speaking skills. It helps you learn how to be an upper-level learner.”

Above all, the Society of Fellows fosters an environment in which intellectual curiosity, mentorship, and a commitment to great scholarship is not only encouraged, but is celebrated—in turn, broadening the richness of the Pace experience for faculty, students, and alumni alike.

“We really value tackling problems of society from multiple angles,” says Pajo. “Any one student can’t do all of that, so by bringing students and faculty together, we try to evaluate those problems that academia is here to help solve.

Award-Winning author, filmmaker to discuss career, expansive body of works in Pleasantville on Nov. 10, 2022

Proceeds to Benefit Pace’s OASIS Program

Sebastian Junger, the New York Times bestselling author of Freedom, Tribe, and The Perfect Storm, will speak at Pace University’s Pleasantville campus at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, 2022.

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The event, called “Sebastian Junger: In Conversation with Pace University,” is being held in connection with the University’s Veteran’s Day festivities. Junger, a longtime war reporter, writer for Vanity Fair, and ABC News correspondent, is renowned for his eloquent and thought-provoking documentaries and books that explore the challenges and stresses of combat. He is co-director of the documentary film Restrepo, which was nominated for an Academy Award and winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. He is also winner of a Peabody Award and the National Magazine Award for Reporting. His book, The Perfect Storm, was made into a feature-length movie starring George Clooney, Mark Walhberg, and Diane Lane.

“Pace University is pleased to welcome Sebastian Junger to campus and eager to engage in what will be a timely, thought-provoking, and important discussion,” Pace President Marvin Krislov said. “Our community of students, veterans, and staff will no doubt appreciate his insights learned from decades of experience and impressive body of work. We’re grateful to our partner Scattered Books for making this a reality and for their continued support of our OASIS program.”

Tickets are $30 and include a signed copy of either Freedom or Tribe. Students and Veterans are free; they have the option of purchasing a book separately.

A portion of proceeds from book sales will go towards Pace’s OASIS program, which provides comprehensive support services for students with high functioning autism and those with other learning challenges who would like to fulfill their dream of furthering their education.

The discussion and book-signing are brought to the community in partnership with Scattered Books, an independent bookstore in Chappaqua. Jerry McKinstry, a former reporter, and senior director of public affairs at Pace, will moderate the discussion.

“Since my early years as a reporter, I’ve been a student and admirer of Sebastian Junger’s impressive collection of works,” McKinstry said. “There’s a lot of ground to cover and I know the Pace community is excited to welcome him to our campus for what we expect will be an interesting discussion and insightful evening.”

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.

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Pace University’s Bachelor of Arts in Writing for Diversity and Equity in Theater and Media Arts, housed in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, has received a two-year, $609,000 grant from The Edmond de Rothschild Family Philanthropy that continues its support of the program.

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The only program of its kind in the tri-state area, the BA in Writing for Diversity and Equity in Theater and Media is one of Dyson College’s newest programs. The major provides a unique opportunity for students who wish to develop their own voices as writers through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to produce content for film, television, theater, streaming, and narrative gaming.

Providing a truly unique experience, the program supports the student in both developing top-notch writing and content creation skills, as well as learning how to navigate the media landscape for success. “The student in this major will develop creative content not ascribing for a seat at the writers’ table but build their own table where their unique voice will be valued, developed, and heard,” said S. Brian Jones, assistant dean of Diversity and Equity in the Arts at Dyson College.

“Students will benefit from a 360-degree, immersive academic program that enhances their academic learning with connections to professional development and career readiness opportunities, including workshops with local and national writers, tours of local New York City theater companies, and discourse on the intersection of writing and DEI with industry professionals,” Jones explains.

As an interdisciplinary program, it combines courses from Film and Screen Studies, English, and American Studies, including specific wholistic DEI courses on gender, race, class, disability, and LGTBQ+IA identity. This fall, students will take masterclasses with award-winning playwright Jonathan Payne and the only African-American woman serving as a narrative director in narrative gaming Novera King.

Through the combination of the program’s theoretical foundations and industry-specific learning experiences, students graduating from the program will be prepared to understand and have access to avenues through which to have their work produced, share their writing portfolios to obtain an agent or manager, apply to grants and fellowships as independent artists, or go on to further study.

The Edmond de Rothschild Family Philanthropy has supported the program since its beginning in 2018. At that time, the program sought to enroll five students. It now has more than doubled its goal as interest in the major has grown quickly, with 11 students enrolled this fall.

“We are so proud of the unique and inspiring experiences this program has developed for students in just a few short years,” said Tresmaine R. Grimes, PhD, Dean of the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education. “The additional funding from The Edmond de Rothschild Family Philanthropy is a testament to the program’s progress and its bright future that lies ahead.”

About The Edmond de Rothschild Family Philanthropy

The Edmond de Rothschild Family Philanthropy’s mission includes “harnessing legacy, promoting excellence, catalyzing change, and building an inclusive society” through building philanthropic partnerships. Through a business mindset that focuses on strategic thinking, The Edmond de Rothschild Family Philanthropy supports projects in arts, entrepreneurship, health, and education, aiming to impact the public good.

About Pace University

Pace University has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success because of its unique programs that combine immersive 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.

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.