Gerald Olvera ’18 goes from small town American kid, to dedicated Navy Helicopter Crewman, to Sgro Fellow at A&E Network.

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What made you join the Navy, and how did you serve during your nearly 15-year career?

I was born and raised in a small town in Indiana called Rome City. I was always an adventurous, outdoorsy kid with an affection for both water and flight, so after high school, I enlisted in the Navy and became an aircraft mechanic. I first worked on hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and later became a helicopter crewman, so, instead of just working on the aircraft, I started flying in them. I served eleven years on active duty, three years as a reservist, and one year with the State Department. Throughout the eleven years, I circumnavigated the globe three times, went to forty-four countries, and have been on every continent. Before I entered the reserves, I deployed ten times, each for different durations. I really enjoyed my experience.

What did you learn while serving in the Navy?

The military taught me how to learn, meaning how to ingest information quickly, segment it, store it, process it, and then recall it whenever needed. The Navy also gave me the confidence to talk to people, and I think public speaking skills are really important today. After I left active duty, I also wanted to help younger sailors with their careers, so that was great, because it taught me that yes, my career is important, but the future generation is more important than me right now. I still get calls today for advice.

What made you decide to enroll at Pace?

In 2012, I anticipated a downsize in the military, so I planned to become a contractor with the Navy and work as a civilian. The transition to get out of active duty back to civilian life is tough. I visited my brother in Westchester, and he convinced me to stay in New York, for the opportunities he felt were abundant there. I had nothing, but moved and got a couple of part-time jobs right away. College was on my radar, but I did not know where to go. At a social gathering, I met a Pace alumna, and upon learning that I was a vet, she advised me to check out Pace and its beautiful Pleasantville campus, just ten minutes from where I lived. She told me it had a great student veteran program and connected me with Rob Rahni. He saw me right away, and explained from start to finish, how my GI Bill could support me.

What made you choose Liberal Studies as a major and what was your experience as a student like?

I wanted flexibility in my courses, so I selected Liberal Studies as a major. I picked media as a concentration, and signed up for a film editing class, and other communications classes, such as writing for print media and writing for digital media. I fell in love with editing the most. I had many questions, and would often pull aside Professor LaRosa, Media, Communications and Visual Arts (MVCA). She actually took time out of her day to get a hold of people who would help me edit. That was really welcoming, and I became fascinated with it. LaRosa saw my interest and encouraged me to sign up for her Digital Editing II class, a challenge she thought I could handle.

How did you learn about the Sgro Fellowship for veterans in media?

I went to Career Services, and they encouraged me to attend an upcoming Job Fair at the Goldstein Fitness Center. The first booth I saw when I walked in was for the A&E Network. The HR rep told me that I was a perfect candidate for the Sgro Fellowship, but that somebody was already in the program, so she asked if she could hold onto my resume if I was interested. I said, "Absolutely." Months later, I was living in Brooklyn and working as a production assistant when I got the call from A&E. LaRosa was excited for me, and when I told her that I really wanted the job, she said, “We want you to get it, too."

What is the program about and what is your role?

It’s an 18-month rotational program that covers all of global and technical operations, from post-production to engineering, and includes international sales, advertising, marketing, and some IT and cyber security. I’ve also been involved in production and shot a couple of Live PD episodes. Currently, I’m working as a business analyst and quality assurance representative, with a focus on Cloud-based media supply chain management.

How are you connected to MCVA as an alumnus and what advice would you give to current students?

I've literally been popping onto the Pleasantville campus on my way home from Stamford, CT and talking to students, who have been like, "Hey, I know you." I’m also helping two current students with their films, by serving in roles as a veteran who has PTSD and a homeless man who helps a troubled teen find his way back home. We start filming Post-Traumatic on March 30, 2019. This will be an eye-opener for anyone who doesn’t understand the complexities faced by many veterans who suffer from this disorder. The Lighthouse will be filmed in mid-April.

As far as advice, I’d say that you will never understand true potential until you exceed your limitations -- I'm a firm believer in this, because I never thought I was going to be in the position I'm in right now. Don’t waste your time worrying about where you started, visualize where you want to finish. Then, focus on how to get there. Also, don’t forget there is always help, and don’t be afraid to ask. I accepted a lot of help along the way, and I turned around and gave that help back. My goal is to pay it forward by continuing to give that help back.

Grant will provide funds for research in wearable technology for healthcare workers

NEW YORK (June 24, 2020) – The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Pace University Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems Professor Zhan Zhang, Ph.D., a $175,000 grant to research wearable technology for emergency healthcare workers.

“This is my long-standing research interest,” said Professor Zhang, who has been doing research in the healthcare technology field since 2011. “Emergency care work is inherently important to society as it deals with life-threatening injuries and emergency situations. Improving the work efficiency of emergency care will lead to better patient outcomes and decreased medical errors.”

Zhang’s almost decade of work in the field has brought him to his current project: designing and developing novel technologies to support decision making and collaboration in highly dynamic medical environments. In these situations, decisions must be made quickly and acted upon immediately, such as when paramedics work to keep someone’s heart beating while transporting them to a hospital.

Throughout the two-year term of the grant support, Dr. Zhang aims to develop wearable devices that can be used by paramedics to collect real-time patient data in a hands-free manner, and to communicate with emergency room and trauma teams at the receiving hospital. For example, paramedics transporting a patient can use smart glasses to transmit what they are seeing to colleagues awaiting the patient at the hospital. This enables them to act upon observations and instructions delivered by colleagues with relevant expertise. The result would be more efficient and effective patient care until the paramedics could deliver the patient to the hospital.

“In this time of global pandemic, there is no research work more vital than leveraging technology to rapidly diagnose and treat patients. Dr. Zhang’s work will empower emergency medical technicians with real time information to analyze a patient’s condition and apply the best available treatments on the spot,” said Jonathan H. Hill, DPS, Dean of the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

“I feel extremely excited to work on this challenging yet understudied research problem that has significant scientific and societal impacts,” Professor Zhang added.

About Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems

At Pace’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS), students experience the best of IT education at one of the first comprehensive schools of computing in the nation. Strategically located in the heart of NYC’s tech scene, the Seidenberg School places students on the doorstep of New York’s most promising companies, whether they are established tech giants or exciting new startups. Through partnerships with leading corporations, banks, federal agencies, and global entities, the School's curricula and programs are designed to give students the latest in computer science theory and invaluable hands-on practice to ground it. The faculty includes numerous cybersecurity experts who operate labs and centers providing students with practical experience and connections that lead to impressive internships and jobs.

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.

Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems announced its new Cybersecurity Certificate Programs in conjunction with Cyber Intelligence 4U. The new programming is available in-person and online and can be tailored for individual and organizational needs.

The curriculum fills the gap between the business and technology perspectives and prepares students for new roles in cybersecurity that are needed across the organization. The programs include:

• Enterprise Cybersecurity – Cybersecurity for non-technical roles
• Executive Cybersecurity – C-Level and BoD use cases for effective cyber strategies
• Offensive and Defensive – Gamified Challenges for the Security Team
• Vendor Cyber Risk Management – For Vendor, Procurement and Cyber Managers
• Cloud Security – Best practices for the Security Team
• Mobile Security– Best practices for the Security Team
• Cybersecurity Sales – Transforming sales people into Trusted Cyber Advisors and providing Custom Sales Training

“The worldwide demand for cyber expertise at the business level has already begun to skyrocket,” said Jonathan Hill, Dean of the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace University. “It is not an IT problem anymore; it is the number one business issue that must be addressed immediately.”

“We're excited to these offer cutting-edge courses at Pace”, commented Program Director and Cyber Expert Ariel Evans. “We have over 4000 graduates in the New York Tri-State area over the past two years. Course content is created and taught by unparalleled subject matter experts from leading companies.”

Online cohorts began on May 1, with fresh opportunities for students to participate available in the future. The first in-person cohorts are planned for Fall 2020.

Pace University recently launched a Master of Science in Cybersecurity, beginning in Fall 2020.

To learn more about the program and partnership between Pace University and Cyber Intelligence 4 U, visit the Cybersecurity Certificate Programs page.

About the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace University

At Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, students experience a best-of-breed technology education at one of the first comprehensive schools of computing in the nation. Strategically located in the heart of NYC’s tech scene, the Seidenberg School places students on the doorstep of New York’s most promising companies, whether they are established tech giants or exciting new start-ups. Through partnerships with leading corporations, banks, federal agencies, and global entities, the School's curricula and programs are designed to give students the latest in computer science theory and invaluable hands-on practice to ground it. The faculty includes numerous cybersecurity experts who operate labs and centers providing students with practical experience and connections that lead to impressive internships and jobs.

ABOUT Cyber Intelligence 4U

Cyber Intelligence 4U is an educational services company that provides cybersecurity educational programs that fill the gaps in traditional education to universities, organizations, and individuals. The mission of Cyber Intelligence 4U is to increase the cyber resiliency of organizations by training and developing the skills and knowledge of the individuals and enabling them to make strategic decisions regarding cybersecurity management. Cyber Intelligence 4U’s intellectual property is based upon 3 years of research with the Fortune 1000 and cyber insurance industry and curriculum approaches cybersecurity risk from a business perspective. Cyber Intelligence 4U’s Enterprise Cybersecurity Program has graduated over 4,000 students in under two years and is utilized at major universities and organizations worldwide. The technical program offerings provide cybersecurity training and workforce enhancement training for individuals to significantly augment their current cybersecurity skill level.

A 21st Century MBA for Changing Times

New Curriculum, Online Courses Offer Flexible, Convenient & Cost-Effective Options for Students and Professionals Seeking to Advance Careers

NEW YORK (May 26, 2020) – Responding to the needs of the workforce, advances in online learning technology, and continuous business evolution and disruption, Pace University’s Lubin School of Business is launching an accelerated and revamped MBA program this fall that is faster, flexible, and more convenient for students, the University today announced.

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Curriculum: The new and specialized curriculum, which includes in-person classes and an exclusively online MBA option, is ideal for working professionals and people looking to advance their careers. The new MBA requires 39 credits. There will be 10 focus areas including: accounting, business, business analytics, corporate finance, investment management, information systems, marketing analytics, marketing management, talent management, and strategy and international management, all of which are expected to continue to be in great demand for the foreseeable future.

Speed to Degree: Students can earn the new Pace MBA on an accelerated timetable in as little as one year full-time or two years part-time. These options ideally accommodate the professional responsibilities and schedules of students.

Flexibility of Delivery: The program can be completed on campus, online, and with blended options. The MBA in Business option can be completed 100% online. Whether choosing on campus or online delivery, students will still have access to the same world- class faculty and services that Pace offers including career services, internships, events, and a global professional network.

Pace University has an established reputation in the New York City area for preparing students to be competitive, successful, and ready on day one in their careers, and its new MBA options build on this tradition. Pace is ranked the No. 1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, and the Lubin School of Business is renowned around the world.

“The new MBA requirements provide exactly what professionals need: world-class scholarship from leading professors in their fields that is fast-paced, flexible, and cost-effective,” said Neil Braun, dean of the Lubin School of Business. “We provide real-world experience and hands-on learning with a personalized approach for each student and Pace’s strong regional network of alumni and partners to help them achieve success and meet their career goals.”

“An MBA is a prerequisite for many careers in competitive fields,” Dean Braun continued. “Our new MBA gives full-time students and working professionals studying part-time the opportunity to achieve this flagship degree with many options to fit their circumstances and move their careers to the next level.”

To learn more about the program and specific course offerings, visit the Lubin School of Business.

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 the Lubin School of Business at Pace University

Globally recognized and prestigiously accredited, the Lubin School of Business integrates New York City’s business world into the experienced-based education of its students at Pace’s suburban and downtown campuses, implemented by one of the region’s largest co-op programs, team-based learning, and customized career guidance. Its programs are designed to launch success-oriented graduates toward upwardly mobile careers.

Pace University Cheers Graduates in Virtual Celebrations

In-person celebrations to take place when public health guidelines allow

NEW YORK (May 20, 2020) – Thousands of Pace University graduates, their families, and friends gathered online on Wednesday to recognize the accomplishments and successes of the Class of 2020 in a virtual celebration.

The cyber-festivities are by no means a replacement for the traditional pomp and circumstance of in-person Commencement ceremonies, which will take place at a future date, but rather an opportunity for people to come together from near and far to recognize all of the hard work, dedication and long hours of study that so many have completed in order to earn their college or advanced degree.

“You have earned your diplomas through intelligence, persistence, determination and especially, resilience,” Pace University President Marvin Krislov told the graduates. “You’ve excelled in the classrooms, in your labs, jobs, internships, practica, service, performance, and you’ve made friends and mentors in this extraordinary community we call Pace University. I am so happy for all you have achieved and I am so excited to see the future ahead of you.” (Timestamp: 1 hour)

This year a total of 3,624 students are part of the graduating class of 2020, which includes 1,394 New York City students and 713 students in Pleasantville. Additionally, there are 1,517 graduate students across its campuses. At Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law, they celebrated their virtual ceremony on Sunday when 185 Juris Doctor degrees were conferred, as well as 35 Master of Laws degrees and two Doctor of Science in Environmental Law degrees.

“Because of the pandemic, we will be graduating into a world completely different from the world we knew when we were in college, but I know we’re prepared because for the past four years, we’ve learned how to get grit,” New York City student Heather Farley of the Lubin School of Business at Pace Universitysaid. “For our entire college career, we’ve learned how to persevere when times get tough.” (Timestamp: 45 minutes)

Pleasantville student Brent Cameron of the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences called on his fellow graduates to achieve their goals regardless of the pandemic: “So for those of you who want to be teachers, go out there and teach people to think. Those of you who want to be doctors and nurses, go out there and make people well. For those of you that want to be writers, go out there and write the stories that will change this world. Go out and make those dreams real, because this pandemic will end, and life will continue.” (Timestamp: 54 minutes)

Historically, Pace has been a university where so many graduates have earned degrees and gone onto professional success. It’s one of the many reasons that Pace is ranked number one in upward economic mobility among four-year private universities according to a study conducted by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights.

Pace University Provost, Vanya Quiñones, PhD, said: “You’re graduating today because of your resilience and your perseverance, your ability to succeed in extraordinary times. This is in part is what Pace teaches. I am proud of you for remaining focused and finishing strong. I know that it will continue to pay off.” (Timestamp: 1 hour 9 minutes)

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 our news website.

Massiel Ubillus Rivera

Senior Business Operations Associate, Dialectica

Class of 2020
MBA in Strategy and International Business

Member Of: Lubin Women in Leadership, Graduate Finance Club, Lubin Graduate Marketing Club

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Meet Massiel, an international student from Peru who came to Pace University in pursuit of a degree that would allow her to develop her strategic thinking skills and move her career to the next level. With a background in healthcare and non-profit, Massiel has taken advantage of opportunities at Lubin to expand her knowledge base. This is how she landed a coveted internship at American Express. We talked to Massiel about her journey and most cherished experiences at Pace as she gets ready to graduate at the end of the Fall 2020 semester.

You came to Pace in pursuit of your second master's degree. Why did you choose Pace for your MBA?

There's a lot of things to consider when pursuing a second master's degree. I chose Pace because I felt like it was a great fit for me. Pace's focus on upward mobility, its location, and reputation were key factors in my decision. Pace made me feel like I could go places and achieve great things. When I visited the campus for the first time, I instantly felt like everyone was very welcoming, and I really liked that. I feel a great sense of belonging and never feel like I am just another student here!

Pace made me feel like I could go places and achieve great things. When I visited the campus for the first time, I instantly felt like everyone was very welcoming, and I really liked that. I feel a great sense of belonging and never feel like I am just another student here!

Tell us about your experiences at Lubin. What resources have you been using?

I've had an amazing experience at Lubin so far. With my previous master's degree program, I was more focused on work and didn't make the time to be involved on campus, nor did I get to know my peers, faculty, and staff. That is why starting from my first semester at Pace I really made it my mission to be more involved on campus. Right away I became a graduate assistant. This opportunity allowed me to work closely with professors such as the Finance Department Graduate Program Chair, Dr. P.V Viswanath and the Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program, Dr. Claudia Green. I have also worked as a graduate assistant in the Office of Communications and External Relations and the Office of Graduate Advisement and Student Development at Lubin. In addition to being a graduate assistant, I've also joined student organizations and held leadership positions within Lubin Women in Leadership, which truly enriched my MBA education. Lastly, I took advantage of the Janetschek Professional Growth Fund to complete a professional training certification program in Excel and financial modeling.

This past summer, you secured a coveted internship at American Express in their Global Treasury department. Tell us about that experience. What did you learn at American Express and how will you apply what you have learned to your future endeavors?

Working at American Express was a very challenging, but rewarding experience. Due to COVID-19, the internship was shortened from ten weeks to six weeks, and it was fully virtual. I was prepared to give it my all and learn as much as I could about finance and working in a corporate setting. My background is in healthcare and the non-profit sector, so this was my first time working for such a big company. In addition to understanding financial services and developing my technical skills, I learned a lot about myself, which is something I didn't expect. I learned how I work best and was able to understand my strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. I also had the opportunity to virtually connect with many colleagues all across the organization, which enhanced my networking skills. I now feel extremely comfortable building a quick rapport with anyone! This will prove to be very beneficial in our new virtual reality.

You have been very involved on campus as a student leader and as a member of many of our graduate student organizations. What is your favorite memory participating in student life activities?

As part of Lubin Women in Leadership (LWL), I loved getting to know other student leaders and organization members during our weekly meetings. We got to share our experiences and I felt like I had a network of fellow students I could count on. I also attended many student events such as a Diwali event coordinated by the Pace Indian Student Association (PISA). Further, I attended incredible lectures hosted by the Graduate Finance Club, visited the UN and Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and attended a very useful data visualization workshop featuring Dr. Vishal Lala, which was hosted by the Lubin Graduate Marketing Society (LGMS). There were a number of other activities in which I was able to engage as well. One of my favorite memories was attending a salary negotiations workshop featuring Dr. Katherine Richardson; it was very eye-opening, fun, and extremely useful!

What advice do you have for incoming students in our MBA program?

That saying that you keep hearing is true: Get involved! I would also add: get involved as soon as possible! I think it's very important to get good grades, but it is equally important to get to know Lubin and everyone who participates in making the school a great business school. You never know what opportunities may arise from cultivating your connections!

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

To me, #LubinLife is being fully immersed in Lubin. I love the idea of being myself and bringing my best self to my classes, but also to my interactions with peers, faculty, and staff. We have a very collaborative culture at Lubin with people from all walks of life and backgrounds from whom we all can learn.

Dyson students and faculty are finding ways to stay connected and engaged in teaching and learning—from a distance.

Since March 11, 2020, when Pace University moved to remote learning as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, students and faculty have been finding ways to adjust.

“I am very proud of the way Dyson’s faculty and students have quickly adapted to the new normal of remote teaching and learning during what is surely a trying time for many,” says Dean Nira Herrmann, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. “It’s a demonstration of our students’ commitment to their education and of our faculty’s dedication to creative solutions that work.”

How have they replicated the hands-on aspects of liberal arts learning such as science labs and performing arts classes? What about the fact that for many students struggling with financial concerns and upended living arrangements, academics may not be top-of-mind? Here’s a closer look.

Biology

“Flexibility and an awareness that, over time, things are going to change, that’s the message I’m [sending],” said Professor Marcy Kelly, chair of the Biology Department in New York City.

She has replaced her traditional instruction with a blend of online tasks and shorter meetings via the Zoom virtual conferencing platform, which includes breakout time for students to meet in smaller virtual groups. Online assignments and review have been organized around the digital platform established in conjunction with the course textbook, and a series of videos that Kelly has curated.

Reconfiguring her courses has taken some time, and Kelly hopes her effort will make completing the classes feasible for all of her students, all of whom are dealing with varying circumstances, some in different time zones. To that end, she has also created a to-do list for each week, and gives students options when it comes to working on assignments together. If it’s not practical for them to work via Zoom, they can choose to collaborate via shared files.

“I don’t think [synchronous instruction—requiring students to meet together at a specific time for a set duration—] is a great idea,” said Kelly. “Literature suggests that doing the typical lecture-style isn’t really pedagogically ideal online.”

My goal is to make [students] feel like they just left lab.

Like Kelly, Antonio Herrera is also focused on meeting students where they are. A lecturer in the Biology Department on the New York City campus, he has one big objective for his lab class of mostly first-year students.

That means finding new ways for students to work together and engage with each other, the way they normally would. To enable opportunities for remote interaction, Herrera is also using the breakout room functionality on the Zoom platform, but instead of permitting students to work in their previously assigned lab partner arrangements, he’s randomly assigning them to the virtual groups. This has allowed students who might not have associated in person to collaborate, and Herrera says students are enthusiastic about the approach; in some cases, they’re staying on the video conference calls and continuing to work even after the session was scheduled to end.

Herrera and his students are also exploring resources available through JoVE, the Journal of Visual Experimentation. Newly accessible content includes high-quality video of experiments and lab techniques.

“Many things that I thought were impossible to conduct remotely in a lab became a reality,” said Khaela Gardner ’22, Biology. “This includes completing assignments which require us to measure specimens and examine them on a microscope and in this way it makes it feel exactly like an in-person lab course.”

As much as they’re hoping any kind of schoolwork provides a diversion from the stress and anxiety caused by the coronavirus, both Herrera and Kelly have also been engaging students by focusing on the pandemic. Kelly has set up a viewing party featuring the 2011 film Contagion, by Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's Eleven films, Traffic), and students in Herrera’s Biology and Contemporary Society lab course are creating an array of four infographics designed to clearly present basic information several underlying aspects of COVID-19.

“The goal is to give them the opportunity to do something about COVID-19, and to give themselves answers as they have a great many questions,” said Herrera.

Communication Studies

When it comes to his students’ wellbeing, Melvin Williams, an assistant professor in the Communication Studies Department, is leading by example.

Williams, who teaches both general and upper-division courses, started by hosting a Zoom meeting to find out what his students needed and wanted out of a remote experience. Conversation included a frank discussion of students’ new normal, and he acknowledged the grief that many may be feeling over the loss of those moments that define the college experience, such as senior year memories, honor society inductions, and social gatherings.

I called the New York COVID-19 Mental Health Hotline, told my students about the experience, and urged them to do the same, if needed. I want them to know that we can, and will, heal together.

Williams’s coursework now includes recorded lectures that are accessible to all students on-demand, regardless of time zone differences and technology challenges. Additionally, he uploads weekly “Happy Friday” encouragement videos to applaud his students for their academic progress and tenacity.

“The current situation empowered me to learn more about Blackboard and Zoom's various functions,” said Williams, who previously had taught hybrid courses mixing face-to-face and online instruction. “Instead of panicking, I chose to engage this moment as professional development, as I reassessed how I can better leverage online resources in my course instruction.”

Art

It doesn’t get much more hands-on than a studio art class, so Eve Laramée, a professor in the Art Department and director of the Center for the Arts, Society and Ecology, was somewhat surprised to find that the abrupt transition to remote learning was fairly seamless. Laramée has been using a full range of tools including Blackboard, email, online videos, video tutorials, short films, and LinkedIn Learning, while also giving some instruction during regular class time and holding remote office hours at her regular time.

She makes exceptions for those who are far away—one student is in Kuwait and another is in India—and has modified project assignments as well.

“Students upload or email photographs of works in progress so I can provide ongoing feedback, and then upload finished works in the form of photographs to Blackboard, or email them to me, or both,” said Laramée.

This provides regular structure for all of us, and that helps keep things feeling ‘normal.’

She has also provided lists of alternative materials for those who do not have access to their regular art supplies, and encourages all of her students to use their art as a way to destress and to process everything that’s going on. She suggests that they try listening to music while creating their projects for class, and has modified assignments, giving students the option to address COVID-19 in their work.

“The assignments I give and the students’ responses are all about meaningfulness, because that’s what art is, creating meaning for culture and society,” said Laramée.

Most importantly, she’s remaining conscious of the fact that her students may still face various challenges, in spite of her best efforts.

“I’m communicating frequently with the students who are having difficulty moving to online learning due to their lack of access to a computer, lack of digital skills, or those learners who are more kinetic learners, kinesthetic learners, or right-brain dominant intuitive learners,” said Laramée.

Dyson Scholars in Residence

What does remote education look like for the Dyson Scholars in Residence (DSIR) program, built around the very idea of living and learning together?

“We have always had a robust use of our Blackboard site for submission of any student work, so that continues for the academic [portion] of the class,” said Associate Professor of English Jane Collins, DSIR’s program creator. “Our greatest challenge was finding a way to continue our service project for the Successful Learning Center (SLC) [a community program providing a college experience for alternative learners and students with developmental disabilities].”

In our first [virtual] class together, the [SLC] students made short films that consisted of monologues which, when connected together, created a story. All of it was improvised; the DSIR students took the assignment I gave them and made it work.

At its final in-person meeting, the class committed to continuing to serve the SLC students until the end of the semester as planned, and began brainstorming virtual projects and ways to connect via Zoom.

A big part of the partnership between the Dyson College students and SLC is providing mentorship and friendship, and Collins says she believes that aspect has been retained even in a virtual format.

“Seeing the kids from the SLC program smile on the screen makes me happy, like I did something productive during my day by making someone else's a little better,” said Austin Duffy ’22, Digital Cinema and Filmmaking.”

Pace Performing Arts

When the spring 2020 semester began, students taking Pace Performing Arts’ PAGE 273: Theater of the Oppressed course planned on completing a service learning project with Falconworks Theater Company, in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. That changed when Pace transitioned to remote learning and social distancing became the norm, but Reginald Flowers, the adjunct faculty member who teaches the class, moved quickly to find an alternative. Working with the “Calling Saves Lives” initiative, students are contacting members of at-risk communities in Red Hook to check in and assess needs. This includes asking basic questions about individuals in the household to determine specific risks or concerns during the shelter at home period.

“The ‘Calling Saves Lives’ initiative brings a web platform together with volunteers to track their progress as they deliver survey questions to members of at-risk communities. The data is delivered to city agencies responsible for intervening on the public’s behalf,” said Flowers. “It will also create a rewarding opportunity to the students and contribute to their own wellbeing by giving them a purpose during this trying period.”

Falconworks ran a similar program following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and at that time, the class worked with Carlos Menchaca (D-District 38), who was elected to the New York City Council in 2013. Menchaca connected Falconworks with community organizer Carlos Jesus (CJ) Calzadilla, who was in the planning stage of the Calling Saves Lives program, said Flowers.

Environmental Studies and Science

During this time of stay-at-home, we’re all getting an opportunity to experience our personal environments perhaps more than we’d like. Department of Environmental Studies and Science Clinical Associate Professor Michael J. Rubbo, who is teaching ENV 344: Habitats of the Hudson Valley, had to find a way to give students the experience they expected with the field-based course.

I take the students out weekly to visit habitats throughout the region to assess their condition, so going remote presented a challenge. To address this, I have weekly Zoom lectures with the class and have created virtual field visits instead of in-person trips.

He has gone out alone to the various natural locations and created his own videos, which students watch and answer follow-up questions via Blackboard. “I’m no David Attenborough, but when life gives you lemons…” said Rubbo.

Editor's Note: Dyson College and response to COVID-19 remains an ongoing story. If you'd like to share information for any future updates, please email us at dysonnews@pace.edu.

The coronavirus pandemic came on fast, and the Dyson community has responded.

By definition, a liberal arts education prepares students to be flexible, think outside the box, and to see issues from a variety of perspectives. As the world battles the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Dyson College community has turned to those characteristics to help in the fight. Here are a few of the ways that students, faculty, and alumni are contributing to ongoing relief and support efforts.

Procuring PPE

Across the nation, one of the biggest challenges of the pandemic has been the severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), which threatens our ability to save lives and reduce the impact of the virus.

To safeguard healthcare professionals on the front lines, Pace University’s College of Health Professions and Dyson College have donated more than 15,000 gloves, 250 standard face masks, more than 60 N95 masks, and nearly 50 disposable gown kits to the Westchester Medical Center and New York State.

“Healthcare workers are literally putting their lives on the line to help patients with COVID-19,” said Professor Marcy Kelly, chairperson of the Biology Department on the New York City campus, “If [they] do not have PPE, they will most likely catch the virus. The more healthcare workers who are sick, the greater the impact on our ability to treat patients and keep the mortality rate down.”

Yutong Fan ’20, a returning student from China who is attending Pace to fulfill prerequisite courses for dental school, has also coordinated a separate donation of N95 masks, surgical masks, and gloves. She was able to secure several small shipments from family and friends in the medical field back home, and on arrival, the supplies will be disseminated to medical staff at several local nursing homes.

“As a resident of New York, I want to support my neighborhood and my city,” said Fan. “My family members in China worked at the frontline helping patients…I cannot imagine them working without proper protections. I fear for the medical personnel in New York as well as their families…I just want to do whatever I can to give them the protection they deserve.”

Standing on the Front Line

Dr. James Gasperino ’89, is one of the many physicians, nurses and healthcare professionals who are emerging as heroes. Dr. Gasperino is chair, Department of Medicine; vice president for Critical Care, Perioperative, and Hospital Medicine; and associate chief medical officer at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, and where intense struggles have been chronicled by The New York Times.

“We’re doing this because the alternative is death,” Gasperino told the paper in an April 4, 2020 article titled “‘Code Blue’: A Brooklyn I.C.U. Fights for Each Life in a Coronavirus Surge.” He was referring to his team’s efforts to create protocols for how to share ventilators between patients, a precarious idea that clearly illustrates the desperate situation at his hospital and many others.

Shaping Policy

Another major issue in the COVID-19 pandemic is the lack of clear strategic policy. As president and chief executive of Vital Strategies, José Luis Castro ’88 is working to change that. Vital Strategies is a leading global public health organization founded to develop effective solutions to major challenges for rapid, large-scale impact.

The organization has mobilized into an incident command structure (led by the Prevent Epidemics team) and partnered with the World Health Organization and Bloomberg Philanthropies in a new $40 million initiative to support global response to the pandemic focusing on Africa and vulnerable lower-income regions.

“We will strengthen systems and drive COVID-19 response with data, science and evidence to save lives,” said Castro, a member of the Dyson College Advisory Board. “Learning and knowledge management is an integral part of our response work, and the lessons learned from COVID-19 will be shared widely in hopes to prevent the next pandemic.”

Providing Information

As the world shuts in, a number of Dyson College alumni are out keeping the rest of us informed, including CNN business and politics correspondent Cristina Alesci ’01, Charles (Charlie) Gasparino ’85, a senior correspondent for Fox Business Network, and News12 reporter Blaise Gomez, ’06, who said she and her colleagues have received an influx of viewers seeking help and wanting to share their stories.

“This crisis is unlike anything I’ve covered in my 13-year career as a journalist in the Hudson Valley,” said Gomez. “Of course, there are always stories that hit close to home, but this is something that we are all experiencing together. That said, I enjoy helping people and giving them a voice they’d otherwise not have. That hasn’t changed during this crisis, and now, more than ever, that job is my duty.”

Inspiring Joy and Hope

While the news media provides the facts and straight talk, others from the Dyson community are working to spread joy.

As reported in The New York Times, aspiring lighting designerMatt Carino ’20, Production and Design for Stage and Screen, used his skills to create a lighted lawn display with the words “Together, Apart” at his family home in Montclair, New Jersey.

“I wanted to send a simple, strong and positive message to the community,” Carino told the paper. “This pandemic is really hitting people hard, from having to work remotely, schools being canceled, and businesses being closed or limited.”

His work is part of a worldwide movement to spark happiness during this dark time with holiday lights.

On-air radio personality Anna Zap (Zapotosky) ’02, co-host of The Anna and Raven Show on Connoisseur Media’s Star 99.9 Connecticut and Walk 97.5 Long Island, says her job during the crisis is to balance providing information while still being entertaining and supportive of advertisers who may be struggling. To that end, Zap and her co-host have devoted more time to communicating via social media and interacting directly with the audience in other ways. They organized Zumba and Rave events on Facebook, shared funny videos of their homes (now their remote studios), and hosted various forums. They have also started "Open for Business," a new daily segment featuring interviews with various advertising clients about how they’re adapting and how listeners can be supportive.

“We've received so many messages from listeners thanking us for providing normalcy, but the truth is that there isn't anything normal about what's happening right now,” said Zap. “What I've found is that in times of emergency...we need to work harder than ever to provide accurate info and familiarity, while staying true to our brand.”

Making Sense of it All

How do we deal with the stress of being shut in? In what ways will the pandemic shape our future? These are important questions, and Dyson faculty members are contributing their expertise to provide answers and help us process what’s happening. Professor of Psychology Sally Dickerson, Associate Professor of Psychology Anthony Mancini, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Economics Todd Yarbrough have all shared their varying perspectives on the pandemic and its implications via Medium.com.

• Read “Managing COVID-19 Stress” (Dickerson)
• Read “Potential Positives Amidst a Major Tragedy” (Mancini)
• Read “The Economic Fallout of COVID-19” (Yarbrough)

“In any crisis, each academic discipline has an important role to play by providing the social consciousness with the best available insights from their work. Psychologists can help us emotionally cope, literary scholars can help us appreciate themes that resonate during bleak times, and economists can assist with understanding the mechanisms of the economy,” said Yarborough. “Interdisciplinary understanding and togetherness are an incredibly powerful force, and I think any academic wants to be a part of that force for good.”

Editor's Note: Dyson College and response to COVID-19 remains an ongoing story. If you'd like to share information for any future updates, please email us at dysonnews@pace.edu.

WESTCHESTER and NEW YORK, N.Y. (April 14, 2020) – Responding to the economic fallout from the global coronavirus pandemic that has wiped out jobs, decimated incomes and is threatening to push the economy into a recession, Pace University is now offering its career services resources to parents of students who have lost jobs, the University today announced.

In extending its full range of resources, relationships, recruitment and know-how to include parents adversely affected by economic fallout of this crisis, Pace’s department of Career Services stands ready to help families in need find employment.

“Pace has a long tradition of creating opportunities for our students,” said President Marvin Krislov. “In this uncertain time, we're very pleased to do the same for Pace families by extending Career Services placement expertise to parents of our students. We know that student success is directly tied to family stability, but, more important, it’s the right thing to do at a time when people need us most.”

In addition to providing career services to adults, Pace University is providing supplies for front-line health care workers, sending volunteers to much needed hospitals and medical centers in the region, and marshaling its resources to assist those who need help, Krislov noted.

This is the first time Pace Career Services is being offered beyond students and alumni population to include current parents. Historically, Pace has some of the strongest job placement outcomes among undergraduate and graduate students. It’s one of the many reasons that Pace is ranked number one in upward economic mobility among four-year private universities according to a study conducted by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights.

“These past few weeks we learned that some of our students’ parents have lost their jobs. As career professionals we know too well the stress a person typically experiences when they lose work, even in the best of circumstances and economies. But to lose a job in the middle of a pandemic – the team is heartbroken to think how overwhelmed some of our students’ families must feel now” said Phyllis Mooney, executive director of Career Services at Pace University. “This is where we can, and are happy to help, no matter what kind of job a Pace parent is looking for. And we are just one confidential phone call or email away”.

Each year, hundreds of companies – everything from Fortune 500s and the major accounting firms to government agencies and small business -- actively recruit from Pace’s New York City and Pleasantville campuses. The department of Career Services, which each year brings more than 450 employers to its campuses through 12 career fairs and many other networking events, connects students to brand name companies in accounting, media and entertainment, nonprofits, health care, science and technology, and hospitality, among many others, is tapping into its traditional resources and contacts, and scouring job boards and online resources to help connect people with the right jobs.

Furthermore, Pace in 2019 had access to roughly 60,000 job and internship postings, of which Pace students completed 8,000+ internships, co-ops, practicums, field experiences – and the University expects that to grow in the coming years.

“From day one, students are introduced to Pace’s expert Career Services team and learn of our many career counseling services, including our robust calendar of employer events for that year,” Mooney said. “At Pace, we help all students no matter who they are, who they know, or what they are majoring in find their unique career path. In addition to introducing them to a huge roster of employers through our mega and ‘boutique’ fairs; we offer students individual appointments and workshops on everything from resume writing, building a professional brand, interview skills and salary negotiation. Now, we’re helping parents with those skills.”

To contact Pace’s department of Career Services, call (212) 346-1950 or email careers@pace.edu.

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 a Law School in White Plains. Follow us on Twitter or on our news website.