Computer science major Mackenzie Dolishny ’20 had no coding experience when she first came to Pace. She worked hard to catch up, landing internships at the likes of IBM and American Express, and even a full-time job at Microsoft.

Mackenzie Dolishny ’20 is passionate about facilitating connections between people. It’s why, she said, she decided to pursue a career in the STEM field despite having no coding experience when she applied to colleges. “In the beginning of my first programming class at Pace, I did not do well on the first few assignments,” she told us. “I wallowed in self-pity for a few days and then put my head in the books. I spent countless hours reading the textbook, developing different projects, and doing challenges on HackerRank.”

She not only learned how to code, but she worked her way up to the top of her class—with a 3.99 GPA, no less. Talk about serious dedication. “My advice to incoming students would be not to confuse movement with progress,” Dolishny said. “Many times, we complete assignments and finish tests with good grades. However, I challenge every student to ask themselves: are you actually learning? Are you actually improving?”

In an effort to improve and hone her skills, Dolishny added a mathematics minor to her busy schedule, as she says, “computer science is heavily rooted in calculus and probability.” She even included an economics minor! “[It] has broadened my education beyond engineering and math and has made me a more well-rounded individual.”

“This big picture thinking completely redefined the goals I have for myself and redefined the way I perceive the world around me.”

It really comes as no surprise, then, that Dolishny’s drive attracted the attention of a Seidenberg professor who offered her a position as lead developer on the Pace University Multi-School Environmental Sensors Project. “An opportunity like [that] won’t find you in a classroom of 400 students in a big lecture hall,” she explained. “Working on this project as lead developer helped me attain interviews and internships further down the line that completely changed my career path. If I hadn’t gone to Pace, I would not have been as successful as I was.”

Since then, Dolishny’s internships have been numerous: data analyst at Seidenberg, application development at IBM, software engineering at American Express, and most recently, a full-time position in software engineering at Microsoft in Seattle come Fall 2020. But like all exceptionally successful people, Dolishny initially struggled with imposter syndrome. “In the beginning of my internship [at IBM], I was worried that I didn’t know enough to be working for such a great company and I was nervous that I wouldn’t do well,” she told us. “I realized during that internship that so many of the skills we use at work, we learn on the job. This gave me more confidence and that confidence carried into future internships.”

Dolishny is also a Grace Hopper Scholar, having been selected to participate in the Challenge Based Innovation Project, which allowed her to study abroad. “I had the opportunity to work with renowned physicists at CERN in Switzerland, which is home to the world’s largest science experiment, the Large Hadron Collider,” Dolishny explained. “This big picture thinking completely redefined the goals I have for myself and redefined the way I perceive the world around me.”

That level of knowledge and experience has opened doors for her even beyond Pace. In her sophomore year, Dolishny was asked to guest lecture a graduate class at NYU on big data and non-relational databases. “I felt so honored to be teaching such intelligent and brilliant students. It made me realize that one of my greatest passions is giving back and teaching others,” she told us.

As Dolishny climbs to even greater heights in her career, she’s also reaching for the sky in other ways, too. Did you know she parasails? “I parasail frequently with my family on summer vacation,” she said, in addition to playing basketball, softball, volleyball, dodgeball, and a variety of other sports, including skiing and snowboarding in the winter months. “I love to stay active and play sports in my free time,” Dolishny explained.

Alysa LeBon ’23 gets it done. As a dual-enrollment transfer student, she’s the president of Pace’s Her Campus chapter, voting ambassador for CCAR, co-recruitment chair for P.A.C.E. Board, student ambassador for PaceBound, and so much more

Communication studies major Alysa LeBon ’23 experienced what she describes as a “weird process” getting to where she is in her academic journey. She’s currently a dual-enrollment transfer student who came to Pace with 35 existing credits, which was a boost that enabled her to minor in two subjects: arts and entertainment management as well as anthropology and sociology. That’s a lot for one person to take on! But she had her heart set on coming to the NYC Campus—and taking full advantage of our offerings here.

“When I visited Pace’s open house, I instantly felt connected to the community and campus,” Alysa said. “I could see myself walking from 182 Broadway to One Pace Plaza, and even began making friends. When I returned, I knew Pace was the place for me.”

“It allowed me to recognize how important it is to raise your voice and speak up for others who cannot speak for themselves,” Alysa said.

Alysa is the president of the Her Campus chapter here at Pace, and an active member of several clubs and organizations including the Programming and Campus Entertainment (P.A.C.E.) Board as co-recruitment chair; PaceBound as a student ambassador; The Pace Press as a contributor; among many other roles. “I know it can be hard making friends and finding your place, but there is always an organization waiting for someone new with open arms,” Alysa explained. “I dedicate my time to our community to give other students chances that are unique to Pace.”

As a voting ambassador for the Center for Community Action and Research (CCAR), Alysa tied in her work with Her Campus by leading a campaign between the two. She spoke at one of CCAR’s many successful Instagram live events about the importance of voting in elections, particularly within local communities. “It allowed me to recognize how important it is to raise your voice and speak up for others who cannot speak for themselves,” Alysa said.

Her work has consistently brought many different communities within Pace together. It has enriched the NYC Campus, and it even broadened Alysa’s perspective, too. During the Her Campus Diversity in the Sports Industries event—where guest speaker Chelsey Falzone, senior coordinator of community relations for the Minnesota Twins, spoke—Alysa first became interested in sports. She was surprised and inspired to hear from such an accomplished woman in hockey, an industry largely dominated by men. “I am really interested in empowering women, [and] I would love to see women getting more recognition from coaches to the Women’s National Hockey League,” she enthused. “I hope women like myself can break through into offices that range from on and off the ice. I would love to work in a communications or public relations position in hockey!”

Looking ahead, Alysa is currently wrapping up her work as a Graduate Enrollment student assistant and PaceBound student ambassador, not to mention overseeing Her Campus programming. “I hope we plan even more events including, self-care nights, Her Campus merchandise, and hosting collaboration nights with other organizations,” Alysa said. To learn more about the organization, visit the Pace Her Campus website and be sure to follow them on social media.

We’re excited to see where Alysa goes next! She certainly has a bright future ahead of her.

Morgan Shanske ’21 doesn’t wait for opportunity—she goes out and gets it by launching a new business: Get Morganized LLC. She’s also an aspiring attorney working for a nonprofit and volunteering at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. Keep up!

Morgan Shanske ’21 is taking advantage of every opportunity available to her, and she isn’t slowing down. As a political science major and aspiring attorney, she’s worked hard in several capacities here at Pace—and not just in her studies. Morgan has worked for Lubin’s marketing team, the Legal and Tax department, Pace’s legal council, and even peer leader for Pace President Marvin Krislov’s UNV101 class. Talk about incredible ambition!

When it came to choosing a college, though, it was a unique experience during Accepted Students Day that really sealed the deal for her. She got the chance to sit in on a criminology class with Professor Humphrey Crookendale, and suddenly, the whole game changed. “The class was so interactive and after that experience it motivated me to take more criminal justice classes outside of my political science major,” Morgan said.

Currently, she’s volunteering her time and skills to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Re-Entry Bureau writing resumes for people who were incarcerated to help them re-enter the workforce. “I conducted research my junior year at Pace for Professor Kiku Huckle’s class, where I found that formerly incarcerated people have a significantly harder time landing a job with stable wage growth,” Morgan explained. “My services have provided that opportunity for people and I look forward to expanding my business to be contracted by state-wide organizations moving forward.”

“The class was so interactive and after that experience it motivated me to take more criminal justice classes outside of my political science major,” Morgan said.

That business—Get Morganized LLC—was recently launched by Morgan during quarantine, and she’s excited to see it expand. “I provide professional development for people including writing resumes, which I learned from Helene Cruz and others [at] Pace’s Career Services office,” she explained. Morgan also conducts mock interviews and utilizes her administrative skills in order to organize offices and electronic records for organizations. “Pace has truly shaped me into the professional that I am today,” she told us.

And that’s not all. Morgan is also working for a nonprofit, the 67th Precinct Clergy Council (otherwise known as “The GodSquad”), which works to end gun violence in central Brooklyn. “I absolutely love this work and feel more invigorated to pursue law school now,” Morgan enthused, having recently spoke about her unique career experiences during a virtual Pace Open House event alongside Professor Amy Freedman.

With so many incredible opportunities, Morgan had a few words of wisdom for the incoming class of first-year Pace students. “Remember that you are investing in yourself and dedicating not just money but time into your education and future. Take advantage of all the individualized resources that Pace has to offer in order to truly get that return on your investment.” She added that she signed up for intramural basketball right before COVID-19 hit, and wishes she’d joined the team sooner.

Students travel abroad and return home, eager to share what they learned and committed to changing the world—one step at a time.

It’s the first day of a new semester, and Pace students are ready to move. They packed all the essentials: laptop, charger, textbooks, a few snacks, and of course, their passport. That’s because they’ll be meeting their professor at JFK airport in just a few hours. Wouldn’t want to be late to class in another country!

Study abroad has always been a mainstay in higher education, but what about a more structured travel experience for students looking to take advantage of an education beyond the borders of a classroom?

Enter: faculty-led courses.

“We purposefully use the word ‘led’ in ‘faculty-led’ because we’re not just going there as tourists,” explained Xiao-Lei Wang, PhD, acting dean for the School of Education. “We have to lead them [while] going to school or visiting museums. They are all led by professors who are the experts. We’re guiding students every step of the way.”

Faculty-led courses offer a unique opportunity for Pace students who are looking to fully immerse themselves in every aspect of a new culture. They are able to select from 27 programs based in countries all over the world, and they receive skill- building training from knowledgeable faculty that is specific to their interests. These courses are not just relevant to their major, but their future careers as well.

In March, Dyson Media, Communication, and Visual Arts students returned from filming a documentary in Puerto Rico to raise awareness in the wake of Hurricane Maria. “They [become] educated and aware of what’s going on outside of their classroom,” said Professor Maria Luskay, EdD, the program director. It’s one of the longest running faculty-led courses at Pace, and she has seen firsthand how students transform when exposed to a new culture. They return home eager to share what they learned and committed to changing the world—one step at a time.

Learn more about Study Abroad opportunities.

Barcelona, Spain

Dyson College of Arts and Sciences

This isn’t your typical theater program. In fact, most schools struggle to offer study abroad classes to their performance majors. That’s what makes the Pace International Performance Ensemble such a unique program. Not only do students collaborate on an intensive year-long project they get to produce themselves, but they perform that work abroad—all under the careful guidance of distinguished faculty members. “They are directors, playwrights, actors, dancers, [and] dramaturgs who bring practical, real-world experience,” said Professor Ion-Cosmin Chivu, head of the program. “Our goal is to push young actors and directors to realize their potential by doing.” Most recently, students enjoyed a stroll through Park Güell, an enchanting public park replete with gardens and architectural wonders. Way to set the stage, huh?

Florence, Italy

School of Education

From crossing over the oldest bridge in Florence, to singing for a preschool class, to rolling pasta dough for a traditional Italian dish, young teachers-in-training are offered a hands-on approach to education (literally). It’s thanks to a partnership with the Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici, which offers more than 400 courses to study abroad students from all over the world—including Pace. “The importance of this trip is that future teachers have the opportunity to have international, cultural, and school experiences that will help shape who they become as educators, which will have positive impacts on their own students,” Professor Brian Evans, EdD, told us. “In the School of Education, we would like our teachers to gain international experiences that affect them personally, academically, and professionally.”

Cape Town, South Africa

College of Health Professions

Studying abroad isn’t just about learning—it’s about applying those lessons in a socially conscious way. That’s why Susan Le ’17 and her clinical rotation class decided to start a fundraiser for a palliative care program at Victoria Hospital, where they studied last June. “We thought it would be a great way to repay them for welcoming us,” Le said. “It was amazing to see firsthand the impact it had on patients and their families!” For patients in the US, support for the terminally ill is widely available, but in South Africa, resources remain scarce. Le and her fellow physician assistants aim to change that—continuing with the next rotation of students, and the next, and the next.

São Paulo, Brazil

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

It should come as no surprise that Pace Law students have a passion for making a lasting impact upon the world, and the Environmental Law Colloquium offers them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to apply their studies through extensive field research in the heart of Brazil. It’s an all-new program that was established thanks to Pace’s partnership with BAILE, a nonprofit research, teaching, and policy center dedicated to environmental protection and sustainability. “BAILE grew out of an already deep relationship with Brazilian law students and lawyers, and it continues to grow and thrive in both countries,” Professor David Cassuto, PhD, JD, director of the program, told us. “Pace’s environmental law program has been tremendously enriched by its relationship with Brazil.” Not only did students gain exposure for their research, but they also got to participate in real-world networking opportunities, panels, presentations, and much more.

Shanghai, China

Lubin School of Business

In an ever-changing and competitive market, all business professionals need an edge. It’s necessary for students to cultivate a broad understanding of markets in other countries, which is why Lubin sends their best and brightest overseas. “For most students, this is their first trip to China,” Professor Alan Eisner, PhD, told us. “They engage with a variety of Chinese and multinational firm leaders and experience Chinese culture by walks atop the Great Wall, through the Forbidden City, and along the Shanghai Bund. In 20 years of visits to China, the country has experienced significant changes, and there is always something new to learn.” Lubin also awards scholarships through the Figueroa Family Fund, a much-needed boon for students in need of financial assistance. And when you’re looking down from the rotating glass dome at the top of Dongfang Mingzhu? Anything seems possible.

Helsinki, Finland

Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems

One year. Over 150 participants. Twenty problems. Where in the world is this happening? It’s the Product Development Project hosted by Aalto University, and Pace students were on the ground floor last spring developing their own innovative answers to real-world problems—and they even got to present their ideas to leading companies like Nokia, Porsche, and Infinion. “This is truly one of the best educational experiences that I can imagine,” said Jonathan H. Hill, DPS, dean of Seidenberg. “The students work as a distributed team on very complex, but ultimately deeply satisfying projects with other top students from around the world. The experiences they have replicate what they will be asked to do as professional developers: ask questions, solve problems, create, get feedback, and learn.” Not too shabby for a classroom over 4,000 miles away.

As Hillary Clinton’s executive assistant, Opal Vadhan is living the dream she started building at Pace: She’s making an impact.

Sometimes you meet a person and you just know they are going to do amazing things. Opal Vadhan is one of those people.

Before graduating from Pace in 2015, Vadhan had accomplished more than many people do in their entire careers. She was a two-time recipient of the New York Women in Communications Scholarship. She interned at NBC Nightly News, Sony Music, the Rachael Ray Show and MSNBC. She was a campus editor at large for HuffPo and freelance reporter for TV ASIA. She went on mission trips to Jamaica and was an energetic and devoted resident assistant on campus. And she was awarded one of the most prestigious and competitive internships in the nation—at the White House.

She was living the American Dream—the one that her mother and father had come to this country from India to give her—and she wasn’t ever going to stop.

“After graduating from Pace, I knew I wanted to work in public service and politics,” Vadhan says. “I was interviewing for jobs in the Obama Administration. Then my mentors told me that I would get the best experience and learn a lot by working on a presidential campaign. At the time, I didn’t know a lot about Hillary Clinton, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure if this is what I was supposed to do. But I gave it a try.”

Vadhan got a job on Hillary for America’s advance team. In politics, an advance team oversees all the logistics, including travel arrangements and scheduling, for the candidate’s appearances. Everything from a dinner at a restaurant to a 10,000-person rally—the advance team is responsible for planning it all.

After advance training in New York, Vadhan landed her first stint as a “RON” (remain overnight—the person who stays overnight with the candidate and her traveling party on the road) in Columbia, South Carolina, and then another trip in New Hampshire.

That’s when Vadhan saw firsthand who Hillary Clinton is—and why she was destined to become Vadhan’s hero.

“We were in New Castle, New Hampshire, and she was going to a town hall,” she remembers. “She got in her car, but there were a few hotel guests taking pictures. So she got out of the car to speak with them and take pictures with them. Then she came back to where I was standing with two hotel cleaning staff who were about to clean her room. She spoke to them and took pictures with them—and they were absolutely overjoyed.”

“I was so amazed that this woman who had a town hall to go to took the time to do that,” Vadhan continues. “It was such a beautiful moment! I walked back into the room and started crying. I called my mom and said ‘This is the woman I’m going to work for and going to give my life to.’ Here we are running for president and she’s talking to these women, talking about their kids, what they want to do in the future. Hillary Clinton is doing things for the good of the people and she cares.”

In the months that followed, Vadhan worked hard on the campaign. She loved her colleagues. “I was amazed by everyone’s kindness and willingness to teach younger members of the team,” she says. And each day, she grew prouder of the work she was doing and the “brilliant, kind, and compassionate” person she was doing it for.

Then came Election Day.

“For me, it was one of the biggest days of my life,” Vadhan says. She was on the team responsible for Secretary Clinton’s hotel logistics, which meant she spent Election Day at the Peninsula Hotel in Manhattan. But first, she had something else to do. “We had some members of the senior staff who had arrived off the plane to the hotel around 4:00 a.m.—and then I went home to Queens to vote with my mom around 6:00 a.m. I could not believe the woman on the ballot was the woman I worked for. It was one of the proudest moments of my life.”

As the results rolled in, excitement turned to devastation for Vadhan, her team, and more than half of the country. But there was still work left to do—and a concession speech to give. And that was one of the moments that Vadhan says captured the candidate she had grown to know and admire.

“Right before she’s getting in the car to give her concession speech, Secretary Clinton turned around and said ‘Opal, how was your high school reunion? I know you were excited about it,’” Vadhan recalls. “We had talked about it the week before during a RON in Miami. Things were really busy, but she said ‘you have to go to your reunion.' Now here was Secretary Clinton about to give one of the biggest and most difficult speeches of her life, and she’s asking me about my reunion. Too few people got to see the Hillary Clinton I got to see—the woman who cares about everyone and is determined to make peoples lives better.”

"Growing up, I didn’t see many role models like me. People said my dreams were too big and put me down and I know I want to leave the world a better place than when I found it.”

There was a bigger lesson that day for Vadhan. “Watching her give that concession speech showed not only me but also millions of people that she was still committed to uniting us as a country,” she says. “And no matter how heartbroken we are, it showed that we can keep going and it’s our responsibility to continue to try to help as many people as possible.”

That’s exactly what Vadhan did.

“I knew as soon as the next day that I didn’t want to stop working for her,” she says. “I felt like I had so much more to serve, to give, and to learn.”

Today, Vadhan is Hillary Clinton’s executive assistant.

“I’m grateful and I have to pinch myself every day that this is my job and I’m on a team with incredibly talented people,” she says. “This was my first job out of college, and I get to work for the most accomplished woman in the world—a First Lady, a Senator, a Secretary of State, and the first female Presidential candidate for a major party. My boss has changed lives, saved lives, and made the world a better place. I always knew I wanted to help people and I get to help people through her.”

For Vadhan, each day is a new lesson from her idol. Whether it’s little things like learning how to make really strong tea or big things like fighting for what’s right and practicing the discipline of gratitude, her boss is her teacher.

Here’s one example. “One time, I was with her and [Communications Director] Nick Merrill. I had lipstick in my teeth. She said to me, ‘Go to the bathroom, you have lipstick on your teeth.’ I turned to Nick, and said ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ She said, ‘Us girls have to look out for each other.’”

As for what’s next, Vadhan has come to realize that the best things in life happen when they are completely unplanned. But there’s one thing she’s sure of. “I know that I want to continue to make a difference and help people—whether it’s working for people like my boss or volunteering with kids in need. Growing up, I didn’t see many role models like me. People said my dreams were too big and put me down and I know I want to leave the world a better place than when I found it.”

“My one piece of advice is to always dream big, work really hard, be grateful, pay it forward, never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something…and remember the world is yours.”

Pace University is planning a full return to campus for the Fall 2021 semester, with fully in-person classes, activities, and events at all three of its campuses: lower Manhattan, White Plains and Pleasantville.

In announcing a return to a more traditional campus experience, Pace University President Marvin Krislov expressed gratitude for all of the hard work, dedication and resilience of students, faculty and staff who worked diligently through the global pandemic, and said that the decision to fully re-open campuses for in-person is being guided by federal, state and local public health guidelines.

"I'm very much looking forward to seeing all our students and faculty in person for the Fall 2021 semester, and seeing our campuses bustling again​," said Marvin Krislov, president of Pace University. "I've been impressed at how well the students, faculty, and staff have adapted and succeeded through the last year of pandemic, but I'll be even more pleased to see us all back to something close to normal Pace University life."

At the onset of the global pandemic in spring 2020, Pace University quickly pivoted to remote learning. As the Covid 19 pandemic continued through the year into 2021, the University adapted its operations with a combination of in-person learning, remote classes and hybrid options – all while adhering to the most stringent safety protocols such as regular cleanings and disinfection; social distancing and mask wearing; and routine and consistent testing and monitoring, among many other safety measures aimed at keeping the campus community safe.

As Pace returns to as close to a normal and traditional college experience and we turn the corner on the pandemic, many safety precautions will be kept in place, while paying close attention to public health guidance – all with a goal of providing students a safe environment to pursue their education. There will be online and hybrid course options as well. Additionally, New York State recently announced that universal eligibility for vaccinations – including those 16 and older – would be effective April 6, 2021.

“For so many students and faculty, campus life is an integral part of the college experience, which is why we are eager to return to a more traditional college environment,” said Pace Provost Vanya Quiñones. “The lessons we’ve learned during the pandemic showed how adaptable we are as a community. We will use those lessons to complement our traditional experience, but I’m excited for a return to normal and seeing a vibrant campus.”

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.