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Partner, professor, and playwright—Addison O’Donnell ’14 has built a career that blends law and creativity. In this episode, he walks us through his journey from Arts and Entertainment Management at Lubin to becoming a partner in just a few years. We dive into the value of mentorship, problem-solving, and hard work. He also shares how he continues to pursue his love of writing musicals alongside his legal career.

This episode was recorded on September 24, 2025

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Tune into the Lubin Link podcast to hear how guests went from go-getting Lubin students to successful entrepreneurs, social media mavens, directors, CEOs, and beyond. They offer their best tips to students and share how you can make the most out of your #LubinLife.

Educators, industry leaders, and students converge to explore how AI is reshaping higher education, workforce development, and the future of learning

A Google executive spoke to a packed room of business leaders, faculty, and students about the power and importance of harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) in their academic and professional lives.

In speaking at Pace University’s inaugural Actionable AI Conference in Pleasantville on Friday, Charles Elliot, head of industry at Google Cloud, advised attendees that when using AI tools, they should lean into learning, focus on the end-user, and be curious about the application of evolving technologies.

“Think ‘what if,’ ” he told attendees. “Everybody needs to be curious— be a skeptic as well— but be curious. Now is a great time to lean in. I think we’ll see education evolve to adapt to lots of new ideas being brought into the classroom, and that really promotes sophisticated learning. I’m excited about that opportunity.”

Nearly 200 people attended, many eager to learn how to use AI to improve instruction, streamline operations, and prepare for new workforce demands.

During his remarks, Elliot highlighted practical tools already in play: “When it comes to higher education, Google’s goal is to have a tutor for every learner, and a [teaching assistant] for every teacher.”

Throughout the day, attendees explored how AI is being applied across campus and industry — from data analytics and marketing curriculum design, chatbots, and student support systems. Sessions emphasized practical and responsible adoption of AI, spotlighting topics like:

• AI ethics and audits for academia and private industry
• Prompt engineering and search optimization for research
• AI-powered learning management systems that improve retention and engagement
• Workforce development and new career pathways in AI and data
• Custom-built bots for communications, advising, and classroom use
• The future of AI research, including Neurosymbolic and Embodied AI, among other tools.

“We’re seeing tremendous potential in generative AI to streamline operations and support students at scale,” said Beth Gordon, chief information officer at Pace University. “From 24/7 chatbot services to AI-assisted transcript reading and recruitment tools, we’re piloting real applications that are already improving efficiency and access. As tools evolve, affordability and strategy remain key. Our approach is hands-on and intentional—and we’re excited to keep pushing forward.”

The event was supported by sponsors including Carahsoft, D2L, and Google, whose collaboration helped bring hands-on tools and insights directly to attendees.

On the academic side, faculty are also embracing this evolution.

“What began as a small task force has become a vibrant, cross-disciplinary community,” added David Sachs, professor in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems and faculty co-chair of the University’s AI Committee. “We’ve built training programs, redesigned courses, and launched our AI in the Workplace series—all to ensure our students and faculty aren’t just keeping up, but leading. This work is still evolving, and that’s what makes it exciting.”

The event follows a recent visit from the Google Education team, which brought Google Gemini Pop-Up events to Pace University’s campuses in New York City and Pleasantville last week. These sessions gave students hands-on-experience with AI tools designed to support learning, productivity, and academic success — including free access to Google Gemini for Education Plus.

Students responded enthusiastically to both events: “It was eye-opening,” said Emma Seijo, sophomore criminal justice major from Ossining, New York, who attended both the conference and the Gemini Pop-Up. “Seeing how AI could help me stay organized, find new ideas faster, and actually support my learning made it feel a lot less intimidating. I’m walking away feeling more confident and more curious about what else it can do.”

In addition, Pace University now offers a free, four-week AI in the Workplace course designed to help students, faculty, and staff build real-world skills using tools like ChatGPT, Claude, DALL·E 3, and Julius.ai. Participants earn a digital badge while learning to navigate AI tools, tackle real-world challenges, and future-proof their careers.

The day concluded with tabling and networking opportunities, giving participants time to connect across industries, academic disciplines, and student groups. From technical demonstrations to strategic discussions, the event reinforced Pace University’s leadership at the intersection of education, innovation, and ethical AI adoption.

“Today’s conversations make clear that artificial intelligence will play a defining role in how we teach, learn, and lead,” said Jonathan H. Hill, DPS, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Pace University. “Through events like this and the ongoing work of our faculty and staff, we’re creating a model for what responsible and innovative AI use in higher education can look like.”

About Pace University

Since 1906, Pace University has been transforming the lives of its diverse students—academically, professionally, and socioeconomically. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to 13,600 students in its College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, Sands College of Performing Arts, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

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Rajni Jaiswal

Class of 2025
Master of Public Administration

Why did you enroll in the Master of Public Administration program at Pace?

Even though I once imagined attending an Ivy League school, when I received my acceptance letter from Pace, my brother, who lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, encouraged me to attend Pace because it was both close to family and well recognized. I now realize that Pace has given me opportunities I may not have had elsewhere—internships, conferences, and strong faculty support. After meeting Professor Gina Scutelnicu-Todoran, PhD, in my first class, I decided I wanted to take full advantage of the program and do my capstone under her mentorship.

How did you become interested in the pursuit of public administration as a course of study?

Originally from Calcutta, India, I completed my undergraduate and master’s degrees in political science, then a research degree called MPhil in international relations, which is a prerequisite for a PhD in India. Coming from a political science background, I’ve always been passionate about public service. Public administration allows me to serve communities directly and bring meaningful change.

Tell us about the research experiences you’ve had while in the program.

I’ve had two significant research-oriented internship opportunities as a student. The first was with the New York Public Library (TechConnect Department), where I worked on research and data analysis, examining 20 years of program data and suggesting improvements for classes. I also connected with Bengali-speaking communities in the Bronx, provided feedback, and helped organize events. At the Trust for Public Land, an opportunity through Pace’s Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship, I worked as a program assistant, doing GIS mapping of potential school playground sites, conducting site visits, and participating in community outreach activities.

Pace has given me countless opportunities, from internships to conference funding to mentorship by faculty. I truly believe it doesn’t matter whether you attend an Ivy League or another school—what matters is how much the institution supports and values its students, and Pace does that wholeheartedly.

You have also attended research conferences as a student. What has been the focus of your research and what were those conference experiences like?

My research focuses on equity, leadership, and systemic reform in public administration, with a commitment to advancing inclusive governance and civic participation. In both 2024 and 2025, I attended the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) conferences, and in 2025, I presented my paper in Washington, DC. Funded by Pace, it was my first time presenting as an international student, and I was proud to represent Pace. My research paper focused on gender and racial pay disparities among women municipal officials in New York City and Westchester County, and the study highlighted the underrepresentation of women, especially of color, in leadership positions and the persistent pay gap despite holding similar roles to men.

I also won two awards—the 2025 SWPA (Section on Women in Public Administration) Scholarship Award and the 2025 SPOD (Section on Personnel and Organization Development) Scholarship Award from the ASPA.

How else are you involved at Pace and what are your career goals?

I currently serve as president of the MPA Student Association (MPSA) and co-president of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) chapter at Pace, through which we are planning a future career panel with alumni. As far as my career goals are concerned, my first priority is pursuing a PhD in public administration, and in the long term, I want to teach and continue conducting research.

How do you feel about your journey at Pace thus far?

I feel very lucky. The university has given me countless opportunities, from internships to conference funding to mentorship by faculty, who have been very supportive and approachable. I truly believe it doesn’t matter whether you attend an Ivy League or another school—what matters is how much the institution supports and values its students, and Pace does that wholeheartedly.