Film is a notoriously tough industry to break into. Many actors, writers, and directors spend years—if not decades—desperately trying to bring their artistic vision to the world.

Noura Boustany Jost ’18 isn’t interested in being constrained by that timeline.

At just 20, she already has multiple serious film credits, and has put together a resume that very much indicates that she’s just getting started.

A sophomore working on a dual degree in entrepreneurship and film, television, voice-overs, and commercials (FTVC), Jost spent her freshman year working on a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) short film that she wrote, produced, directed, and starred in. The Tattoo, which chronicles the story of Jost’s Lily, is set in an alternative universe where each citizen has a tattoo that matches that of their soulmate. Lily however, is in love with someone with a different tattoo, and thus must choose between conforming to societal standards and expressing her individuality.

Jost noted that the inspiration for the film was rooted in very pertinent, ongoing social justice issues.

“It was a metaphor for the LGBTQ movement,” says Jost. “(Lily) was a female, so the whole point is that it’s ok to not choose the path that people might want you to choose.”

From the scope of her work, it’s clear that Jost is intent on using film to promote societal good. One of her upcoming projects, Trafficked, deals with the story of a female sex trafficking victim.

“I want to create movies that say something, which is why that movie about sex trafficking is important,” Jost says. “I think it’s important that people see that because it helps our generation understand how we can build a better future.”

Although incredibly ambitious in her own right, she has drawn upon the many resources offered at Pace to help realize her goals. Jost is a member of the Pace Student Film Club, which has been a crucial component of her collegiate experience thus far. During the filming of The Tattoo, an equipment snafu set the production timeline in disarray—but the Pace-based crew rose to the occasion.

“We lost two hours. I had to collect a team of people who had to do twice the amount of work,” she says. “There’s no way I could’ve made that movie without Pace teaching me how to be a good manager.”

As for the future, Jost is intent on building on the momentum she’s already created. In addition to Trafficked, Jost has been hired to cast multiple productions—including the web series, The Hipster Show, and the short film, First Time for Everything. She’s also been working quite a bit in the writing arena, partnering with Girl Be Heard—a nonprofit, social justice-minded theater company—to write pieces that “approach jarring subjects in our modern world.”

In addition to her work in film, Jost has taken her creative talents to the realm of poetry. Most recently, Jost published When the World Turns the Wrong Way, a collection of poems that tackles depression, anxiety, and sexual assault.

While Jost will likely stay busy over the course of the next few years, she will always have a home at Pace—which she feels stands out from other universities due to both the mindfulness level and caliber of student.

“I chose Pace entirely because of the people I met here. I didn’t know what I wanted out of college, but I knew I wanted to be in New York, and I knew I wanted to be around people who were happy.”

College can often seem like a hectic and confusing checklist—you pick your major, you join a few clubs, maybe you travel if you have the opportunity. Sometimes, building a cohesive portfolio can be intimidating to say the least.

Ali Phelan ’18, an economics major and peace and justice studies and global non-profit minor, is not interested in being intimidated.

Phelan initially chose Pace because of the boundless networking and professional possibilities offered by studying in downtown New York City. From there, she was able to narrow her academic focus, and chose major and minors that were directly related to her ultimate goal of working in the international non-profit sector.

Phelan didn’t stop at that.

“I wanted to be involved in international non-profit, aid work, volunteering abroad—and figure out what aspect of that I was interested in. I wanted to see if I can handle working abroad in sometimes adverse conditions.”

Phelan then took matters into her own hands. She decided to spend her winter break in Muizenberg, South Africa, where she participated in a childcare and teaching program offered by an organization called International Volunteer Headquarters.

Through the volunteer program, she was able to put her interests and classroom knowledge to action.

“It was a great introduction to volunteering and working abroad,” says Phelan. “We were working Monday through Friday from about 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the daycare centers, teaching centers, and primary schools, with children who have come from some very difficult backgrounds. At orientation we learned all of the children had been through either the presence of drug and alcohol abuse, abuse, violence, death—very difficult backgrounds.”

The experience proved to be invaluable for Phelan. Not only was she able to gain the type of knowledge that only comes from putting oneself in real-life situations (for instance, she now knows she’s most interested in working with children ages 6–12, something she would not have known had she spent winter break watching Netflix)—but through communicating, networking, and further honing her existing skills, Phelan has been able to further narrow her focus, and has continued making great strides along her own Pace Path.

This semester, for instance, Phelan is actively striving to delve deeper into the business side of international non-profits. In addition to taking classes focusing on global politics and humanitarian and international aid work, Phelan is also in the midst of an internship at the Hunger Project, a non-profit focused on sustainably eradicating world hunger.

“My position there is in grants and restricted funds. I’m doing a lot of investor reports, budget allocating, really learning about the funding behind non-profits and working internationally with their teams. One of my goals for the internship was to really figure out more about the funding of non-profits, how they get their money, who gives them money, because that’s something you really need to understand and it’s exactly what I’m learning right now.”

Just going into her junior year, Phelan has two more years at Pace. But by actively seeking out opportunities related to her area of study and career goals, she’s already created a world of opportunity.

Ava Posner '18 knows the code to achieving her goal of working at a leading tech startup is to be fearless, take risks, and keep pursuing new opportunities. That’s why the information technology major focused in software engineering follows this one simple phrase—“Just do it.”

“No matter the risk, no matter the fail, no matter the goal, you just have to do it,” she says. “I’ve always told myself to not just dip my toes into the water, but to dive into the deep end because everything is a learning process.”

As an active member of the Seidenberg community on the New York City Campus, Posner has worked as a recruitment ambassador, project manager for Seidenberg Creative Labs, assistant program coordinator for strategic initiatives, student office manager, and as an assistant camp coordinator for STEM Collaboratory and Seidenberg Summer Scholars.

At the student-run Seidenberg Creative Labs, she oversaw a team of developers and designers for all web and mobile app projects and developed incident reporting and security apps, among other innovative projects.

“The powerful opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of many, empower them, and make them feel safer is an unmatched experience that will stay with me forever,” Posner says.

Through support from her many mentors at Seidenberg, she says her ability to excel in the classroom and the workplace was made easier.

“I can’t think of a person in Seidenberg who hasn’t helped me in the past,” she says. “They are all willing to go the extra mile to help me and other students understand concepts in class, lend a helpful ear when dealing with a personal problem, and help me broaden my network of professionals.”

In a field heavily dominated by men, Posner is passionate about making a mark on the industry and motivating other women to do the same in her role as a leader of Pace’s Women In Technology Lean In Circle, which provides mentorships and networking opportunities for students at Pace. Posner said her goal for the upcoming academic year is to make the Lean In group a University-recognized club and raise enough funds for members to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing—the world's largest gathering of women technologists.

Traveling to technology conferences is one of Posner’s greatest passions. In May, she ventured to Europe to watch Seidenberg’s team InfiniD present its 3D imager marketing project at Product Innovation Project in Graz, Austria—a challenge through which student teams work on tasks given by an industrial partner and use knowledge and soft skills to find tools and methods to resolve the given task. She is looking forward to being a part of next year’s team and showcasing a new project they’ll be working on throughout the school year.

For a change of pace from the tech world, Posner spent the month of August studying biology and art in Costa Rica as part of a nine-credit research class that transitions back onto the New York City Campus and continues through the fall.

Though she loves exploring technology across the world, Posner says she cannot imagine attending any other university or living outside of the city, especially after growing up across the river in Rutherford, New Jersey.

“It’s all about location, location, location, and Pace offers a campus that places students in New York City and gives them hands-on experience in the industry or career of their choice,” she says. “Seidenberg has definitely prepared me to be in the tech field, and because we are in Silicon Alley, students like me are able to get the greatest opportunities.”

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Appointment Made Possible by

The Edmond de Rothschild Foundations

NEW YORK, N.Y. (March 8, 2021) – Pace University has named S. Brian Jones, an award-winning and well-respected artist, writer and arts educator, as its new assistant dean for diversity and equity in the arts.

In announcing the appointment of Jones to this newly created position at the Dyson College of Arts and Science, President Marvin Krislov cited Jones’ unique background as an artist, educator, and advocate for diversity, equity and social justice.

“Pace University is fully committed to being a supportive and inclusive community for all of our hard-working and ambitious students," said Krislov. "S. Brian Jones brings the ideal background to ensure we live up to that commitment as our first-ever assistant dean for diversity and equity in the arts. I'm excited to see what he does at Pace, and I thank The Edmond de Rothschild Foundations for supporting this new role.”

The position has a number of responsibilities including administrative oversight of programming; supervising the Pace Storytelling for Equity and Inclusion Fellowship; and fundraising for diversity, equity and inclusion in the arts, among other responsibilities. The position is made possible through a grant from The Edmond de Rothschild Foundations.

Jones began his professional career at Delaware Theatre Company, where he worked as teacher-in-residence and summer arts program director. While there, Jones was instrumental in starting the Playwriting in Prison program at Ferris School for Boys and New Castle County Detention Center for youth, a program that received Bravo’s Excellence in Arts Education Award.

Prior to DTC, Jones worked at La Jolla Playhouse where he served as an instructor for the Teen Summer Program and was the teacher-in-residence at “The Place” a high school for homeless, runaway and transitional teens. He has also worked at a number of other widely respected theater programs in New York and California. Jones holds a master’s degree in Applied Theater from the City University of New York and a Bachelors of Arts in Public Relations with a minor in Theatre and Business Management from Rhode Island College.

“We are delighted to welcome S. Brian Jones to Dyson College and the Pace University community and we are grateful for the generous support from The Edmond de Rothschild Foundations for helping to make that happen,” said Tresmaine R. Grimes, dean, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education. “He brings a wealth of experience to this newly created position that will serve him well as he embarks upon coordinating the many diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives already on campus, as well as those that will be developed by Pace University’s newly established Barry M. and Jackie Gosin Center for Equity and Inclusion.”

Pace University in February established the Gosin Center, which was made possible by a donation from the Gosins, that supports ongoing efforts at Pace in anti-racism and equity; expands work to elevate job placement and entrepreneurship among Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) students; and enhances academic scholarship in these areas.

The new Gosin Center, which complements many other initiatives including the creation of this news assistant dean position, will advance Pace’s ability to continue fulfilling its core mission of creating opportunities for young people.

Pace has always been a beacon for historically underrepresented and first-generation college students as they seek a brighter future. It is also ranked the number one private, four-year college in the United States for driving upward economic mobility, according to the Opportunity Insights research project at Harvard University, because Pace uplifts its students academically and professionally with relevant, focused and forward-looking degrees and programs. The Pace community is vibrantly diverse and inclusive, with ethnic, gender, and economic diversity that sets it apart from most other institutions in higher education. A majority of Pace’s student body identify as BIPOC, close to 30% of Pace students are from low-income families eligible for Pell grants, and close to 40% identify as the first in their family to go to college.

“At Pace, we are always striving to create opportunities for students that will pay dividends over a lifetime,” said Pace Provost Vanya Quiñones. “The appointment of S. Brian Jones complements so many of our other diversity and equity initiatives; all aimed to help us envision a more inclusive future and ultimately serve our students for the better. We’re pleased to welcome S. Brian to the Pace community and look forward to furthering our mission of Opportunitas together.”

Regarding his appointment at Pace, Jones said: “I am privileged and honored to be joining Pace University, an institution committed to being on the forefront of providing opportunities for underserved and underrepresented communities, with a sound understanding that diversity and equity not only have a place in our society, they are, in fact, the seeds which one day will save it.”

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.

Karl Eshwer ’21 has worn many hats since he arrived at Pace. He’s the president of both the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honors Society and Pace Computing Society, worked as an Orientation Leader last summer, and even participated in the NYC Design Factory and Mock Trial. “Holding these positions allowed me to seek out connections and make a meaningful impact on how my peers viewed and responded to their experiences on campus,” Karl explained. “Being in a position to provide this value to the next generation of the Pace Community brings me fulfillment of the highest magnitude and is my ultimate motivation!”

It’s no wonder he was inspired by a great leader and motivated mind when deciding to major in computer science with a minor in economics. “Seeing the heights [Elon] Musk has been achieving over the past decade (no pun intended) has had a sizable impact on me steering down this path,” he told us. As for the economics side of it, the choice seemed only natural to Karl. “In the current landscape of technological innovation, the economics behind any proposed solution has a profound effect on the introduction and eventual growth of the technology,” he said. “I found it imperative to have a reasonable understanding of the field.”

Of all his Pace experiences, though, Karl pointed to his participation in Mock Trial as “one of the crowning jewels” that really had a profound effect on him—and even solidified his decision to come to Pace in the first place. “I felt like there was one element missing during the transition and I wasn’t particularly able to point my finger at it,” Karl said of his first year on campus. That is, until he auditioned for Mock Trial. “[I] realized that was what was missing: a team.”

Familiarizing himself with all the legal jargon was “an uphill battle,” he continued, but ultimately well worth the effort. “Now that [I’m] familiar with Mock Trial’s many facets, I have come to enjoy it much more from a professional standpoint.”

Currently, Karl is working as a product manager for uSTADIUM, a centralized platform for sports fans the world over. “Having mainly worked on the product aspect of the platform, I am most proud of it for the paradigm it is trying to shift in the sports market as well as for the progress the team has made in terms of technology and growth,” Karl explained. Talk about serious dedication to innovation!

We’re thrilled to see what Karl comes up with next, and especially, what his newest project will innovate as he moves forward in his career.

Alyssa Chambers ’20 is a pioneer of launching new ventures, both at Pace and beyond. She’s a lifestyle beauty blogger with a YouTube account, the founder and president of the Pleasantville Campus choir Abyss of Sound, and a go-getter with plenty of internships under her belt. That’s what initially drew her to Pace. “It’s one thing to learn from a textbook, and it’s another thing when a student [can] apply what they learned in real-life situations,” she said.

Initially, she wanted to pursue a degree in industrial organizational psychology. It was after receiving advice from a family friend in business that Chambers decided to turn her attention to human resources as a major. “I decided to minor in law after I took my first business law class and fell in love with the content,” she explained. “It [has] enhanced my ability to synthesize information and develop an argument from the facts presented in [any] given information. I can use the techniques I learned from law to help me use my best judgment in HR.”

But Chambers isn’t all business. She’s been singing since she was just four years old! As the youngest member of her church choir back home, she’d always had a powerful voice, but lacked the confidence to fully express it. That is, until middle school. “That’s when I really had the opportunity to develop my singing voice. I did every musical throughout high school, and always had a singing role.” She even got the chance to audition for X-Factor, a popular talent reality show. “It was a definitely an experience that motivated me to keep developing my voice,” she told us.

Ready to continue her passion for music, Chambers was surprised to discover there wasn’t a choir on the Pleasantville Campus when she started her first year. “I took it upon myself to take a chance and start my own choir. I was alone at first, then found two other lovely students, Adonis Milano and Akhila Ramesh, who were just as passionate as me about starting a choir.” They all went to SDCA together, and the rest is history.

It’s a big job to lead an entire choir, but Chambers is passionate about encouraging her fellow students to believe in their abilities and develop their voices. “I try to inspire people who say they can’t sing [by] showing them that practice and technique can help train a person to develop a singing voice.” That dedication paid off in a big way—when they performed at the Black Excellence Dinner, an event hosted by the Black Student Union. “Everyone was dressed so nicely, [and] the level of confidence our members developed in their voices showed that night. I was deeply touched.”

Chambers has also interned across a diverse set of disciplines; from social media at AHRC to business development at Criterion Management to human resources at ASCEND Learning Network. “I got to assist in a training session with the COO of ASCEND,” she told us, noting a memorable moment on the job. “The topic was on how to be a one-minute manager by effectively giving feedback. This session taught me how to approach individuals with feedback in the most welcoming way—whether good or bad.”

She certainly took those valuable lessons to heart through her work as the founder of a lifestyle beauty brand. Known as ANOVA (short for A Natural Oblique Vivacious Ambiance), Chambers not only runs a blog, but also a YouTube channel, too. “My work was inspired by insecurities I struggled with in the past,” she explained. “Prior to college, I cared a lot about what people thought about me. It took a lot of growing for me to understand that another person’s perception of me is not a reflection of who I am.” Wonderful words to live by.

Ethan McKellar ’24 and Jacob Selman ’24 are the brains behind F14Productions, a media production company that brings together collaborators from all over the Pace Community to create podcasts, short films, music, and more. Pretty incredible for first-year students.

Ethan McKellar ’24 and Jacob Selman ’24 might be first-year students, but don’t count them out: they’ve hit the ground running since coming to Pace. This past September, they launched F14Productions (F14), a media production company that encourages students to come together and collaborate on creative projects. They’ve already launched the career of a new musical artist, created a public service short film advocating for face coverings, networked with Gen-Z creators through multiple podcast episodes, and so much more. “We both envisioned F14 as a center of free thoughts and innovative ideas,” they agreed. “That means that whatever project we do is not rooted [in] one person, but rather a team of collaborators who want to strive for the best possible outcome.”

Since its inception, F14 has caught the attention of other Pace students through Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, all platforms that both Ethan and Jacob agreed were necessary to take advantage of as business owners. “Social media is no longer the future, but the present,” they told us. “There have been some challenges with communication and production, but it all comes down to the reality we live in with the COVID-19 pandemic.” They’ve worked hard to get the word out about F14, and it’s definitely paid off.

“I love working with a team of creative, hard-working people and I thought Pace was a great place to work with those people,” he told us.

Jacob currently hosts The Create Podcast within F14, which is where he interviews other Gen-Z artists and explores topics relating to the entertainment industry. It’s one of his favorite projects. “The Create Podcast​ was something that I started at my high school and continued here at Pace, and it has only grown. I have been able to talk to artists with backgrounds in music, fashion, and more,” he told us.

As for Ethan, his favorite project to work on thus far has been THE F14 MUSIC PROJECT. “To me, it’s the true essence of what our company is about: bringing talented people together to create something truly special,” he said. In it, Ethan has interviewed many students who are aspiring music artists. This includes producers, music supervisors, marketing professionals, video directors, and more. And they’re even releasing new music soon! “We couldn’t be more excited to see this goal be achieved,” Ethan told us.

So where did the name for F14 come from, you might be wondering? Their birthdays! “Both of us share the same birthday: February 14,” they told us. Talk about serendipity.

For all they agree on most things about their business, the two savvy entrepreneurs aren’t majoring in the same subject. What drew them to Pace, however, was the same: a diverse community and variety of opportunities to blend their many interests into one academic experience. “Pace offered a major that very few other colleges had: arts and entertainment management,” Jacob explained. “From there, it was really just falling in love with the potential that this major has.” For Ethan, it was his love of directing and all things theater-related. “I love working with a team of creative, hard-working people and I thought Pace was a great place to work with those people,” he told us.

Keep your eye on their work. There’s no doubt this dynamic duo is destined for bigger and better projects in the future.