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Elisabeth Haub School of Law Professors Narinder Kakar and Nicholas Robinson, along with Dr. Vesselin Popovski, Jindal University, recently published a book that they co-authored together titled, Fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals: On a Quest for a Sustainable World. They came together, along with contributing authors Professors Joseph Morreale and Anna Shostya, and Pace University President Marvin Krislov to discuss the book in the timely context of the recent COP26 climate change conference.

As noted by the publisher, the book “contains assessment of the progress, or the lack of it, in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through review of the assessments and of case studies, readers can draw lessons from the actions that could work to positively address the goals.”

“Sustainable development is not just for environmental protection. It is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. And it has three dimensions which we sometimes ignore – environmental protection, economic growth and industrialization and, thirdly, social equity,” said Professor Kakar, who conceived and directed the study on implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.

“This publication is seen as an important international study on how to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); it covers the impacts of Covid-19, and is the first such book to lay out specific steps to fulfill the SDGs by their 2030 deadline,” said Professor Robinson.

The book was particularly challenging to develop during the onset of the pandemic, requiring much additional analysis and resulting in delays, Professor Kakar noted. “For every one of the 35 chapters, ranging from poverty, to hunger, to health, to oceans, to climate change, to industrialization, we had to go back to all the authors to build in a section to assess the impact of Covid-19 on that particular goal and what to do to overcome that obstacle.”

Following two weeks of intense negotiations at the COP26 conference in Glasgow, world leaders signed off on a new climate change agreement that will leave many countries seeking guidance and solutions on how to meet the imposed 2030 deadline.

“Many of the countries don't have a strategic cockpit or headquarters for the SDGs. They're still 17 distinct areas and they're somewhat still in their silos and someone has to integrate them. And so, what we've done with this book is give them the blueprint for integrating how the SDGs can be mutually reinforcing. You can't move ahead with these solutions without each of the 17 SDGs being mobilized, because if you miss one link in the chain, you don't have a chain. The chain is broken. So, I think this book is a tremendous and positive contribution toward the goal of 2030.”

Narinder Kakar is the Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, and Permanent Observer to the UN for the University of Peace, Costa Rica. Nicholas Robinson is a founder of Haub Law’s environmental programs and holds the title of University Professor on the Environment from Pace University, he is also the Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law Emeritus. Dr. Vesselin Popovski is Professor and Vice Dean and Executive Director at the Center for the Study of United Nations, Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat, India. Several Pace faculty members, prior visiting professors, and alumni author chapters within the publication, including Smita Narula, Richard L. Ottinger, Joseph Morreale, Anna Shostya, Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb, and Ben Boer.

​H.E. Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations provided a Special Introduction to the book, in which she commends the Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University for its focus on implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and for producing this vital and timely resource.

Learn more about the book and purchasing.

Philip Monteiro is a current 3L at Haub Law from Dobbs Ferry, NY. He is also a first lieutenant with Civil Air Patrol. Upon graduating, he hopes to work to solve real problems for real people. For the 2021-2022 academic years, Philip is the president of the Pace Military Law and Veterans' Society (MILVETS).

Tell us a bit about your background.

I am from Dobbs Ferry, NY and the only child of two blue-collar parents. I was the first person in my immediate family to earn a bachelor's degree and will be the first lawyer in the family.

What inspired you to pursue a career in law?

Like many members of the profession, over the years, I developed a strong interest in debate, politics, and the application of reason to solve problems. Beyond that, I have always viewed law as a vehicle for helping people and giving power to those who otherwise have little or no power. I decided to pursue a career in law to do what I can to balance out this power dynamic and help give peace of mind to those I serve.

What are some of your favorite things about Haub Law?

I like the local feel of the school, not just in terms of the physical campus but also in the curriculum. There are many opportunities to learn about and work with New York State and local law, which I find highly valuable in meeting my goal of practicing in the Hudson Valley and New York metro area. One of my most memorable Haub Law experiences was having a sitting federal judge come into my 1L Civil Procedure class and holding an actual court session at the school. This allowed me to see the concepts taught in class come to life and demonstrated how law operates in practice.

What are your goals after you receive your degree?

Once I am admitted to practice I hope to get to work solving real problems for real people. My primary areas of interest are real estate, trust and estates, elder law, and aviation law. Ideally, I would like to combine all of these disciplines in my practice.

Are you involved in any school or local organizations?

I sit on the board of New Horizons Music of Westchester, a small nonprofit dedicated to promoting amateur and beginner bands in the Westchester community. I am also a member of the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association. For the 2021-2022 academic years, I am also the president of the Pace Military Law and Veterans' Society (MILVETS).

What are some of your passions and hobbies outside of law school?

I am an avid trumpet and saxophone player. I also have a strong passion for aviation, and I serve as an officer and aircrew member in the Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.

What advice would you give a current or prospective law student?

In the beginning, it's okay to be unsure of exactly what you want to do or which area of law you want to pursue. In fact, you will likely change your interests as you progress through law school. There may be many people who discourage you, but at the same time there will be many people who will encourage you as well. Above all else, take care of yourself and don't neglect your own needs.

“I hope to be a person who can inspire young children to love going to school—especially for students who believe they will never be good at math,” says Guadalupe Ceja ’23, who’s majoring in early childhood and childhood education with a concentration in math. “Or simply a person for students who need someone to give them the extra push with care and love.”

Having immigrated to the US as a child, the support and encouragement she found in her second-grade classroom helped inspire Guadalupe to pursue teaching as an adult. “I was a student in second grade who felt out of place in a new country, a new culture, and a new language,” she says. “My teachers created a safe and welcoming environment and my only hope is to create a safe, healthy, welcoming, and effective learning environment for my future students.”

“My teachers created a safe and welcoming environment and my only hope is to create a safe, healthy, welcoming, and effective learning environment for my future students.”

This upcoming year, Guadalupe plans to enter the School of Education’s 5-year program and earn an MSEd in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), but her success as a future educator is already being recognized. This year, she was named one of the winners of the Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York State (AMTNYS) scholarship, which is presented to four outstanding undergraduates who are enrolled in a Teacher Education Program in New York State. In fact, she’s only the fourth student in Pace history to win this prestigious scholarship—something that means a lot to Guadalupe, both personally and professionally.

“This scholarship is a validation of all the challenging work I put into my studies and all the arduous work my parents have put into making sure I have the best education I can,” says Guadalupe. “I feel very honored and proud to have won this scholarship and I’m thankful to have had the opportunity.”

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After successfully finishing in the top four in the regional competition, the Haub Law Advocacy Team advanced to the Semi Final Round in the All Star Bracket Competition last week which featured 64 of the top trial programs in the Country. They joined semifinalists from Temple, UCLA and Faulkner and showed off their hard work and skills at the virtual competition.

“The skill, work ethic and tenacity displayed by the team and coaches is a tribute to the entire advocacy program. They competed at the highest level and impressed judges and competitors throughout their run. I am very proud of what they have accomplished,” said Program Director Louis V. Fasulo.

The team was comprised of Mattison Stewart (3L), Regina Rubino (3L), Michael McNally (2L), Kathryn Facelle (2L), and Angelo Spedafino (3L) (Trial Technician), and led by their fantastic coaches and alumni AJ Muller, Esq. and Michael Luterzo, Esq. Beginning in October, the team competed in four rounds and placed within the top four out of 16 teams in the region, affording them the opportunity to compete in the National Sweet 16. During the Regional competition, Mattison Stewart received a Best Advocate Award. The team continued to practice, refine their skills, and scrimmage after Regionals for an entire month leading up to Nationals. Their hard work paid off when they advanced through the Sweet 16 and quarterfinal rounds, finishing as a Semi-Finalist and ranking among the top four teams in the nation.

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The Elisabeth Haub School of Law has established a Food Pantry program on campus available to students and their families who need food assistance. The pantry, which has well-stocked locations in both the Wellness Center and Dannat Hall at the Law School, was made possible by generous donations from alumni and local organizations.

This initiative was implemented by the Office of Student Services in response to the Law School’s increased awareness of students who struggle with food insecurities, rent, and other necessities exacerbated by the pandemic. In collaboration with the Law School’s Development Office, and with support from members of the Student Bar Association (SBA), Haub Law will be able to continue to stock the pantry with shelf-stable food items.

“Food insecurity is a real concern for many students and their families who are already making major sacrifices to pay for a higher education,” said Angie D’Agostino, Dean for Students at Haub Law. “We’re still seeing the impact of the pandemic now.”

According to a Spring 2021 Law School Survey of Student Engagement surveying 13,000 law students nationwide, 43% reported they had increased concerns about having enough food, almost 63% were more worried this past year about their ability to pay bills, and more than 29% had increased concerns about eviction and housing loss.

“Law school can be difficult for any student,” said Dean D’Agostino. “But for those with loans running out, who have real concerns about paying their tuition or rent, the added pressure can be a barrier to success. Through our food pantry, we will have a means to help alleviate this stress so students can focus on pursuing their paths to a successful career.”

Haub Law’s food pantry, located in Aloysia 109 and the Common Room in Dannat Hall, is available to any student needing food assistance. To learn more about this initiative, or make a donation, contact the Office of Student Services or make a gift online (Select "Designations," choose "Other," and indicate "Haub Law Food Pantry").

“Sanitation Celebration,” an exhibit featuring art created by New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) employees, opened with a public reception on Nov. 14. Together, the Sanitation Foundation, the official nonprofit of DSNY, and Pace University Art Gallery are pleased to present this in-person art exhibit sponsored by Mack Trucks. Celebrating the talents of the DSNY workforce, who collect 12,000 tons of trash and recycling every day across New York City, the exhibition showcases diverse artworks in various media, including photography, video, sculpture, painting and more. Pieces included in the show were selected by Maggie Lee, the Foundation’s director of Cultural and Education Programs, sTo Len, DSNY’s new Public Artist-in-Residence, and Sarah Cunningham, assistant clinical professor and director of the Pace University Art Gallery. The show also features photographs, prints, and video from Len and Mierle Laderman Ukeles, the longtime DSNY artist-in-residence, along with selections from the “Treasures in the Trash” collection curated by retired DSNY worker Nelson Molina.

The exhibit is generously supported by Mack Trucks. DSNY and Mack Trucks have a long history of working together. Mack trucks make up the vast majority of DSNY’s heavy-duty fleet, which handles everything from refuse and recycling collection to snow removal.

“Mack Trucks is proud to sponsor the ‘Sanitation Celebration’ in support of Mack’s largest refuse customer, the New York City Department of Sanitation,” said David Galbraith, Mack vice president of global brand and marketing. “We are pleased that this exhibition showcases its employees’ artistic talents while also offering a unique glimpse into a side of the hard-working DSNY workers that is not often seen by the general population.”

Cunningham says, “We are thrilled to showcase the remarkable talent of the DSNY team here at Pace. As a whole, the three complementary parts of the exhibit highlight and celebrate the unseen labor that keeps NYC a vital and vibrant place while underscoring the ecological imperative to re-examine our culture of overconsumption.” She has worked with students enrolled in Pace’s Introduction to Museum and Curatorial Studies course to produce the exhibition with support from a Classroom-Based Research Award.

“Someone collects your trash every single day – but you may not know anything about them,” said Julie Raskin, executive director of the Sanitation Foundation. “This exhibit celebrates the creativity and talents of New Yorkers whose work is often invisible.” DSNY has long been a supporter of the arts: from working with Ukeles to create the first public artist-in-residence program in the country, to being an early supporter of Materials for the Arts, to hosting several employee art shows throughout the 1980s. The Sanitation Foundation continues in this tradition of celebrating the talents of the Department’s diverse workforce of almost 10,000 people all across New York City.

This year, DSNY is participating in the Department of Cultural Affairs’ Public Artist-in-Residence (DCLA PAIR) program, hosting Len, who also served on the selection committee for the “Sanitation Celebration” exhibit. He said, “It was a pleasure to see the art of these Sanitation employees and learn about their interests, techniques and inspirations. I'm honored to show my work alongside them and Mierle Laderman Ukeles.” The DCLA PAIR program is modeled in part on DSNY’s decade-spanning work with Ukeles, who remains the Department’s permanent artist-in-residence. Ukeles, from whose past work the exhibit title is inspired, says, “I’m so excited to show two very different kinds of artworks. First, DSNY's world-class landfill engineering team is completing the decades-long final closure of all four Fresh Kills mounds at the end of this year! Come see wonderful photos of DSNY's contribution to environmental progress! Also, I am so pleased to show my two video artworks from my citywide TOUCH SANITATION performance where, over the course of an entire year, I faced each of 8,500 sanitation workers in NYC during the fiscal crisis of the 1970s and said: “Thank you for keeping NYC alive!"

Also featured in the exhibit at Pace University Art Gallery is a selection from the “Treasures in the Trash,” a collection of more than 45,000 items assembled by Molina over 34 years along his route in East Harlem. “I always say that working in Sanitation is the greatest job in the world. I am very happy that this exhibit will celebrate the men and women who do this work and am honored to display pieces from my collection along with the work of my colleagues and with our artists-in-residence, Mierle and sTo.”

During the show’s opening reception, Mack Trucks awarded a special sustainability prize to Emilisa Robles, whose piece “Metal Moving Sculptures,” most effectively incorporated repurposed materials.

The exhibition will remain on view at 41 Park Row in Lower Manhattan through Jan. 28, 2022. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. and will be closed November 24-28, 2021 and December 23, 2021–January 1, 2022. During the exhibition, there will be a series of free special events, all open to the public, including:

Artist Talk by sTo Len
November 18, 2021, 11:00 a.m. (Zoom)

Tours of Treasures in the Trash at Manhattan East Garage
December 3, 2021, 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. (in-person)
To register, email maggie@sanitationfoundation.org

Artist Talk by Mierle Laderman Ukeles
December. 6, 2021, 11:00 a.m. (Zoom)

Upcycled Fashion Workshop
January 27, 2022, 3:30 p.m. (in-person)
Hands-on workshop in the gallery at 41 Park Row

About the Sanitation Foundation

The Sanitation Foundation, founded in 2016, is the official nonprofit organization of the New York City Department of Sanitation. Supported by private funding and in-kind donations, the Foundation leverages non-traditional strategies to promote sustainability and advance the essential services of Sanitation employees.

The Sanitation Foundation is supported, in part, by grants from Covanta Environmental Solutions, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Con Edison, Bloomberg LP, ABNY, and the Closed Loop Foundation. We’d like to extend our deepest appreciation to all donors and friends of the Sanitation Foundation, who make our programs possible.

A core goal of the Sanitation Foundation is to create the first-ever Museum of Sanitation, to celebrate DSNY’s essential services for New York City, educate the public about waste and recycling, and promote environmental stewardship. The organization recently worked with Chora Creative on the first phase of strategic planning, including developing a mission and statement of purpose that will inform further market research and exhibition development. While it plans for a future museum, the Foundation also holds a variety of pop-up exhibits throughout the year. Donate or get involved.

About the NYC Department of Sanitation

The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) keeps New York City healthy, safe and clean by collecting, recycling and disposing of waste, cleaning streets and vacant lots, and clearing snow and ice. The Department operates 59 district garages and manages a fleet of more than 2,000 rear-loading collection trucks, 450 mechanical brooms and 705 salt spreaders. The Department clears litter, snow and ice from approximately 6,500 miles of City streets and removes debris from vacant lots as well as abandoned vehicles from City streets.

About the Pace University Art Gallery

Founded with the conviction that art is integral to society, the Pace University Art Gallery is a creative laboratory and exhibition space that supports innovation and exploration for both artists and viewers. Open to students, staff, and faculty from across the Pace campuses and, equally, to the Lower Manhattan community and visitors from around the world, the Art Gallery encourages personal investigation and critical dialogue via thought-provoking contemporary art exhibits and public programming. Enhancing the Art Department's BA and BFA programs, the Art Gallery offers students real-world opportunities to exhibit their own art and to work directly with professional artists to install and promote exhibitions.

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.

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 programs that combine 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.

About Mack Trucks

Dedicated to moving and building a better world, Mack Trucks has provided purpose-built transportation solutions for more than a century. Today, Mack is one of North America’s largest producers of heavy-duty trucks, and Mack® trucks are sold and serviced through an extensive distribution network in many countries around the world. Mack trucks, diesel engines and transmissions sold in North America are assembled in the United States. Mack manufacturing locations are certified to the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard for quality, ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems and OHSAS 18001 standard for health and safety management systems. Mack is also a proud sponsor of Share the Road, an American Trucking Associations public information campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of our nation's roadways. Mack Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, which is driving prosperity through transport and infrastructure solutions, offering trucks, buses, construction equipment, power solutions for marine and industrial applications, financing and services that increase customer uptime and productivity. Founded in 1927, the Volvo Group is committed to shaping the future landscape of sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions. The Volvo Group is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, employs almost 100,000 people and serves customers in more than 190 markets. In 2020, net sales amounted to about $36.8 billion.

Through a hands-on internship, Coast Guard veteran and Master’s of Environmental Policy student Maddie Feaster ’21 took her environmental advocacy skills from the classroom to the state capitol.

Growing up on Long Island, Maddie Feaster ’21, MA Environmental Policy and Coast Guard Veteran, has always loved the water.

And that love has guided many of her decisions in her adult life – from joining the Coast Guard at age 18, to continuing her studies in Pace University’s Master of Art in Environmental Policy program, to serving as a legislative advocacy intern at Riverkeeper, Inc.

Through this latest work with Riverkeeper, an opportunity she was awarded through Pace’s Gabel Fellowship, Feaster was invited by her supervisor to testify at a New York State Environmental Conservation Committee public hearing on September 20 at the capitol building in Albany, New York. The issue at hand – a moratorium on certain neonicotinoid pesticides in commercial farming – is one close to home for Feaster.

“It really was important for me because, being from Long Island, our ground water out here is about 30 percent polluted with these neonics,” she said.

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Feaster testified at a public hearing centered around the Birds and Bees Protection Act, a bill that is expected to be addressed in the NY State legislative session in January 2022. Advocates for the Act emphasized at the hearing that agricultural seeds treated with these pesticides can threaten pollinator and bird populations. The pesticides also contaminate the water supply in a way that cannot always be removed through the filtration process, posing a risk to human health as well. Environmental advocates like Feaster are calling for the State to find safer alternatives.

In her role with Riverkeeper, Feaster was tasked with researching the Act and the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides in order to draft both the written and spoken testimonies to be presented to the State committee. Her supervisor, Senior Manager of Government Affairs Jeremy Cherson, quickly realized she was more than qualified to deliver the testimony herself, and she jumped at the opportunity.

“It was a very surreal experience. I got into some weird state of calm and I wasn’t really as shaky as I thought I would be,” Feaster said of testifying. “It was actually a really awesome experience for me. I was fired up after that. I was like, ‘Man, this is what I want to do.’”

Now in her final semester in the Environmental Policy master’s program, Feaster recognizes the role her coursework played in drafting and delivering her testimony.

“Everything that we did in class is what I’ve been doing here [at Riverkeeper] – advocating for bills and legislation, knowing how to talk to people, and being able to back up your position,” she added.

In fact, the curriculum at Pace intentionally focuses on providing students opportunities to engage with real-world challenges, developing tangible career skills in policy analysis, draft legislation, public speaking, and effective communication.

“Our program is carefully designed to prepare graduate students to serve as effective brokers of the science and policy interface,” said Clinical Associate Professor Michelle Land, Environmental Studies and Science, who serves as Feaster’s advisor. “Maddie’s testimony was the culmination of that coursework and training; and it was a prideful moment for the Environmental Studies and Science department.”

Prior to enrolling at Pace, Feaster served in the Coast Guard, which she refers to as “the best decision she’s ever made.” Not only did it allow her to develop discipline and focus, but also allowed her passion for marine environments to grow deeper. She spent time stationed on Fire Island off the coast of Long Island, New York, where her crew was often tasked with aiding sick or injured dolphins.

After her time with the Coast Guard and completing an education degree, Feaster worked as a social studies teacher and volunteered with a boating education group that followed whale watching boats. She was looking to continue her education – the Veteran’s Administration would fund her master’s degree – and she was under a time crunch to decide what she wanted to study. She had always loved killer whales since she was a child, and when, through her volunteer work, she learned they were critically endangered, she realized environmental work – specifically with marine environments – was her true passion.

“I was searching for master’s programs for months, and I was going to do environmental education,” said Feaster. “Then, I came across environmental policy at Pace and their program just kind of struck me a little more. It was clear that the collaborative work between both faculty and students was effective not only within the university but in real-world scenarios as well.”

Now, with graduation in sight in December, Feaster is excited about the opportunities her Pace degree will present. One of her final courses, “Art of Advocacy,” will conclude with a mock press conference on a topic of students’ choosing. After her work with Riverkeeper, she has chosen to focus her project specifically on neonicotinoids’ effect on the water supply in her home of Long Island.

“I have always wanted to pursue a career that will help make a difference in this world we live in,” she said. “I knew that in order to facilitate true change, my skills would be most effective through advocacy. If I am to protect habitats, the public, and various species, I know I will need to influence our legislative system.”