What does it mean to learn in an AI-driven world? Pace University staff, faculty, and leadership weigh in on the concerns, challenges, and opportunities that AI presents for students, both during their education and within future careers.
For decades, artificial intelligence (AI) has been a cornerstone of industries such as computer science, data analytics, game design, and more. For those outside of these fields, AI has been (until recently) a science-fiction buzzword, a concept tied to the far-off future.
With the introduction of accessible generative artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT and Claude, AI is no longer reserved for just the highly technical. Now, students and researchers can harness the power of AI tools in their studies; marketers and content creators can cultivate content at incredible speeds; designers can expand their horizons by crowdsourcing inspiration.
AI is no longer a thing of science-fiction. It’s a present-day reality, reshaping industries and revolutionizing the way we learn and teach. In a world where someone can create code without ever learning programming languages, or craft an essay with a few quick prompts, what importance does education hold? What value is there to learning in an AI world?
Standing on the precipice of perhaps the single-most important innovation of the modern era, those in higher education are bracing for impact.
I believe AI will be incredibly transformative, creating as many opportunities (for those that are willing to adapt) as there will be for jobs that may be replaced by AI. —Feyl
James Brusseau, PhD, is a professor of ethics in Pace’s Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, so he’s accustomed to big questions that don’t have answers. “What does it mean to think? What does it mean to be a person? If a machine acts just like a person, does it count as a person?” he asks. “AI allows me to talk about these philosophical questions scientifically.”
Many of the philosophical questions that have arisen with the popularity of generative AI have to do with not only how this will impact careers, but how it impacts career preparation. Are there students getting degrees in fields that will be ‘taken over by AI’? How can educators ensure students are doing their own work and learning the skills they need? What skills can’t AI replace?
Pace has been committed to the study of AI for decades, primarily from a computer science perspective. There are faculty exploring the applications and theory of AI across the fields of healthcare, forensics, UX, fashion, game design, and more. Pace’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems is in the process of getting approval for two graduate degree programs and one undergraduate degree program in AI. Recent initiatives include the Seidenberg AI Internship Experience, and the ongoing Seidenberg Undergraduate Research, where students collaborated with faculty on AI-related projects (with presentations slated for the fall).
Here at Pace, we are focused on reskilling and upskilling our students, emphasizing the development of creativity and emotional intelligence to prepare them for the new opportunities that AI will bring. —Krislov
You can't talk about AI at Pace without mentioning Christelle Scharff, PhD. Scharff has been studying AI throughout her entire career, diving into research topics related to machine learning and bias in datasets, and most recently she became director of the newly launched AI Lab on the New York City Campus.
As someone who has been in the trenches with AI for years, Scharff understands why it’s suddenly become such a buzzword. “I believe that the big deal is that the tools related to AI are now in the hands of everybody, while earlier advances were confined and used by people in tech,” she explains.
This widespread applicability of AI has sparked growing concerns about its far-reaching impact on the job market. The rapid advancements in AI technology are not just theoretical—they are transforming industries and creating new opportunities, as well as challenges, for today's workforce.
AI will transform the labor market by automating routine tasks but also creating new job categories. —Krislov
Opinions on how the workforce will change vary from the cynical to the optimistic, but there is one constant: AI will have an impact, one way or another. “AI will transform the labor market by automating routine tasks but also creating new job categories,” president of Pace University Marvin Krislov says.
Scharff agrees that not only will new jobs arise, but AI will become a standard tool for many industries. “We already see prompt engineer as an emerging job,” she says, referring to professionals who know how to craft effective inputs for these AI models. “Everybody will have to be able to use AI and this will be a differentiator. Large Language Models (LLMs) and image generators will permit professionals to be more productive and be used as supportive tools in all possible sectors.”
Brusseau notes some of the more unique applications of AI to industries some might not expect, indicating that how various sectors might grow or change is still hard to predict. He and Scharff collaborated on a study of AI as it relates to African fashion. “We wrote a paper about how AI can be used to help clothing designers produce new kinds of clothes,” he explains. “This is a terrific opportunity for someone from Pace to find or create a kind of job for themselves, using AI to make fashion.” More recently, he studied how artists are using AI to infuse audience interactions into musical performances, by monitoring audience biometrics and using that to inform the musical piece. “This new way of making music opens opportunities for careers combining AI, music, and performance arts.” And in a way more ethically sourced than silly songs generated solely by AI.
AI tools should permit students to extend their knowledge and infuse curiosity, instead of just providing answers to copy and paste. —Scharff
Considering this, the role of higher education firmly lies in ensuring students understand these tools to better incorporate them into the fields they are preparing to enter. “Here at Pace, we are focused on reskilling and upskilling our students, emphasizing the development of creativity and emotional intelligence to prepare them for the new opportunities that AI will bring,” Krislov explains.
University Librarian Steven Feyl has been watching the expansion of generative AI with interest, curious to see how it impacts learning. Even so, he too shares this optimistic view. “I believe AI will be incredibly transformative, creating as many opportunities (for those that are willing to adapt) as there will be for jobs that may be replaced by AI.”
‘For those that are willing to adapt’ is a key differentiator.
Early adopters who understand the opportunities and limitations of AI are more likely to reap the long-term benefits. Brusseau believes this is also the case when it comes to education. “The big change that we’re going to see from AI is not so much in how education works—it’s going to be that students more than ever are going to be responsible for their own education,” he says. “Students who want to learn a lot are going to be able to learn more information at a quicker rate, while those who are clever and just want to get through will also be empowered to do that.”
The role of higher education is to teach critical thinking, creativity, and ethical decision-making.
Feyl similarly sees the benefits and challenges of AI, especially in higher education, as a double-edged sword. “I characterize generative AI as both a daunting opportunity and a daunting challenge,” he explains. “The potential that AI presents for ideation, information retrieval, resource discovery, and the correlation of ideas is just incredible. This is juxtaposed with the daunting challenge to keep the human component at the center in the research process, to be constantly critical of AI, and to adapt to the speed at which AI tools are developing.”
That is where higher education comes in. Education is not built only on the premise of understand course material. We have Google (and now generative AI) for simple information retrieval. The widespread use of AI is a reminder that the purpose for higher education is in the depths of understanding, the cultivation of the human abilities to learn, think, and reason. “The role of higher education is to teach critical thinking, creativity, and ethical decision-making—I will always preach an emphasis on the humanities,” insists Krislov. “While AI can handle many technical tasks, at Pace, we focus on preparing students to use these tools responsibly and understand the broader implications of their use, ensuring they are ready to navigate an AI-driven world.”
Scharff takes the perspective that AI is not something that will replace learning but is a tool that can be used to enhance it. “AI tools should permit students to extend their knowledge and infuse curiosity, instead of just providing answers to copy and paste.” From a faculty standpoint, these tools can also help educators automate tasks that allow them to instead focus on personalized attention. “AI can help faculty generate slides, quizzes, and even grading, providing them with more time to give individual attention to students and creating engaging experiences.”
The potential that AI presents for ideation, information retrieval, resource discovery, and the correlation of ideas is just incredible. —Feyl
Though he generally considers AI overall positive, even Brusseau acknowledges there will be complications. “The risk of artificial intelligence is that students will become careless. They will let AI, in essence, do their work,” he says. “That’s a legitimate downside. On the other side, AI does allow us to learn about things very quickly. I think the big change will be growing inequality in educational outcomes.”
Studies continue to reveal that AI detection tools do not accurately detect AI use and plagiarism, so the responsibility for educators lies less in policing AI use and more in promoting ethical use and AI literacy. “Ensuring that students are genuinely learning and not just relying on AI for their assignments is a top priority,” Krislov explains. “At Pace, we emphasize academic integrity, so we’re proactive in addressing issues like plagiarism and the misuse of AI tools to maintain the authenticity of student work.”
Scharff’s recent work with AI in African fashion had a deep tie to the truth that these tools have implicit bias that must be accounted for. “The main concerns related to AI and ethics are biased data that do not represent the diversity of our world, even in terms of languages,” she says. “Another concern is about privacy. We want to be sure that our data is used the way we want it to be and be aware of the possible intended uses.”
The main concerns related to AI and ethics are biased data that do not represent the diversity of our world, even in terms of languages. —Scharff
This means that the conversation about AI in higher education cannot just be about plagiarism, but also data privacy, algorithm bias, and the ethical impact of AI on individuals, such as artists whose work was used without their consent to train image generating models. Pace has even formed a dedicated committee of faculty and staff, from AI specialists from the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, faculty within the humanities, and staff across many departments. Staff co-chair Beth Gordon, PhD, Pace’s Chief Information Officer, is helping steer the AI Committee to build on the groundwork laid by her and her colleagues at ITS, focusing on the ethical integration of AI at the University, from academic integrity to AI literacy across the entire Pace Community.
We aim to prepare our students not just to adapt to an AI-driven world but to lead in it, ensuring they are equipped for successful and ethical careers. —Krislov
While the AI Committee is diving into larger, institution-wide questions, there are plenty that staff, faculty, and students can do to equip themselves with AI skillsets and expand their AI literacy. Starting this fall, a six-week module dedicated to AI (designed by AI Committee faculty co-chair and Seidenberg professor David Sachs, EdD) has been incorporated into the CIS 101 curriculum and there are wider plans to expand this content into University-wide training. For faculty concerned about testing student knowledge in this new AI era, Brusseau has a simple, but effective, recommendation. “I think that what universities can do is return to the old tradition of oral exams,” he suggests. “That will help students focus on learning from AI instead of letting AI do the learning for them.”
At the heart of the conversation about artificial intelligence is this concept of learning. AI models learn from data, but their understanding is limited by the data they are given and the fact that they are not human. When a human thinks, information is filtered through their personal perspectives, contexts, and emotions. Further, AI cannot initiate thought. The decision to begin thinking remains uniquely human.
...Students more than ever are going to be responsible for their own education. —Brusseau
As optimistic as Brusseau is about the impact of AI on the world, he still believes there is a value to human thought that AI at present cannot replicate. “AI, more than anything else, is just a tool,” he says. “That is, I do not think it is capable of producing thought as you and I do.”
So long as the cultivation of human thought remains a pinnacle of higher education, universities and colleges still have a crucial role to play. Universities like Pace that embrace AI as a tool of innovation, while balancing the importance of human critical thinking and ethical usage, will equip the never generation of thinkers who will go further, equipped with AI, but not reliant on it. “At Pace, we are committed to integrating AI responsibly into our curriculum and research,” Krislov says. “By doing so, we aim to prepare our students not just to adapt to an AI-driven world but to lead in it, ensuring they are equipped for successful and ethical careers.”
This article was organized, outlined, and edited with the assistance of a custom GPT from OpenAI. However, the content and insights are entirely human-generated.
At Pace University, we're redefining humanities education to meet the needs of the 21st century. Through hands-on community projects, research-based course experiences, and a focus on digital humanities, we're preparing graduates to be leaders and innovators. Our mission is to link curiosity-driven learning with real-world impact, creating a future where knowledge truly pays the best interest.
Pace’s Sands College of Performing Arts is getting a brand new, state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center at One Pace Plaza East. This ambitious project will feature cutting-edge classrooms, creative arts spaces, and a premier Performing Arts Center, making Pace University a hub for the arts.
Discover incredible stories that showcase the amazing achievements and initiatives happening at Pace. From top rankings to groundbreaking programs and student journeys, there’s something to inspire everyone.
Pace’s Sands College of Performing Arts is getting a brand new, state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center at One Pace Plaza East. This ambitious project will feature cutting-edge classrooms, creative arts spaces, and a premier Performing Arts Center, making Pace University a hub for the arts.
“We are becoming the premiere school for performing arts in New York City. Our programs and faculty have always attracted top students and collaborators, but the state-of-the-art facility will make us a leader in advancing the field of performing arts,” says Jennifer Holmes, PhD, executive director of the Sands College of Performing Arts.
In Fall 2023, Pace University embarked on an ambitious revitalization of One Pace Plaza East (1PPE), marking the start of a transformative era for both the campus and the Downtown Manhattan community. This comprehensive reconstruction aims to create a modern, inviting building featuring top of the line classroom and creative arts spaces, collaborative areas, and a world-class Performing Arts Center.
Sands College is quickly becoming known for its rigorous training, distinguished faculty, and exceptional alumni who have graced prestigious stages and screens worldwide. With the addition of this state-of-the-art facility, our programs will now have a home that matches their excellence. This investment underscores our dedication to providing an unparalleled educational experience, ensuring our students have access to unparalleled resources and opportunities.
The new Performing Arts Center will fortify the already robust pipeline between Sands and leading roles in the performing arts industry. By enhancing our most competitive program, we are not only elevating the academic reputation of Sands but also positioning our graduates for continued success in their careers. This strategic synergy between top-tier education and premier industry connections will solidify Pace’s standing as a leader in performing arts education, shaping the future of the arts for generations to come.
We are becoming the premiere school for performing arts in New York City. Our programs and faculty have always attracted top students and collaborators, but the state-of-the-art facility will make us a leader in advancing the field of performing arts.
Not only will the new Performing Arts Center support Pace’s esteemed Sands College of Performing Arts programs; it will also act as a central gathering space, welcoming artists, students, faculty, and local residents alike.
The renovations to 1PPE will include a proscenium theater, replacing the Schimmel Center, plus other theater and support spaces. This transformation ensures up-to-date instructional, creative, and performance spaces that a robust Pace experience requires, keeping our large gathering space—used by the entire University and the broader community—at the center of our campus.
"The three new theaters will be able to engage in dialogue with each other, and one theater opens out into our courtyard offering opportunities for audiences to move through the spaces and experience performance in new and dynamic ways," explains Holmes. "This will be exciting for our directors, designers, and performers who can creatively reimagine the audience experience and expand their storytelling."
This project, more than just a physical transformation, also signifies a bold step toward a sustainable future, significantly reducing our carbon emissions and enhancing energy efficiency. The renovation of Maria’s Tower will offer modern residential spaces for our students, fostering a thriving campus life.
“Pace, as an institution, is very outcome-focused; we want students to be learning in environments that are like their work environments are going to be. You can't really put someone in a 50-year-old classroom with a chalkboard at the front and expect them to go on to excel in some really high-tech professional environments,” explains Vice President for Strategy and Partnerships Jean Gallagher. “We want to give our students the space and tools they’ll need to envision themselves where they want to be after graduation.”
"These facilities will support our responsiveness to the needs of the industry. We can ensure that our curricula is forward-thinking, preparing our students for the performing arts industry of tomorrow and for them to be the changemakers for the future of the industry," adds Holmes. "To do that, we need to ensure our spaces are flexible and prepared for new and emerging technologies. These spaces will be able to support our training in VR/AR, video projection, and other areas of growth."
The project builds on the previous reimagining of the West side of One Pace Plaza, work that was completed in 2018, envisioning a more connected campus community. With the recent addition of 15 Beekman to Pace’s footprint downtown and the overhaul of One Pace Plaza East, Pace will, in a sense, bring our community closer together.
One of the key components to re-envisioning a university space is not just the way a building is constructed, but accounting for the ways in which it will be used by the people who inhabit it. “Our team is very focused on creating better connectivity between the East and West sides of One Pace Plaza to improve circulation, wayfinding, and accessibility,” adds Ibi Yolas, vice president of Campus Planning and Facilities.
We want to give our students the space and tools they’ll need to envision themselves where they want to be after graduation.
These renovations, expansions, and revitalizations are wonderful for the Pace Community, but even more importantly, we want the changing shape of campus to benefit our neighbors downtown. “A university should be a community resource. We want to be seen as that by employers, other businesses in the community, and also by people who live here,” asserts Gallagher. “We want our downtown neighbors to know that Pace does events, we do have an art gallery, we do offer performances.”
Holmes echoes the excitement, “Pace is becoming a household name, and we honestly deserve the recognition! Pace is such a bold and dynamic community, and as we grow, more and more people will be able to see, and experience it.”
The new Performing Arts Center will be a place for audiences to see Broadway and Hollywood’s best artists, for a fraction of the ticket cost, engage in new immersive performing arts experiences. Holmes continues "Pace will be part of a thrilling downtown arts corridor that includes PAC NYC, Battery City Dance, and many other organizations that are drawing audiences from around the world to lower Manhattan."
Yolas agrees, “I believe the investment we are making in our campus is a clear indication of our commitment to improve not only the Pace Community experience, but also the experience of the wider community, our neighbors, and Downtown New York City. I firmly believe we can be the leading destination for the arts in downtown.”
At Pace University, we're redefining humanities education to meet the needs of the 21st century. Through hands-on community projects, research-based course experiences, and a focus on digital humanities, we're preparing graduates to be leaders and innovators. Our mission is to link curiosity-driven learning with real-world impact, creating a future where knowledge truly pays the best interest.
What does it mean to learn in an AI-driven world? Pace University staff, faculty, and leadership weigh in on the concerns, challenges, and opportunities that AI presents for students, both during their education and within future careers.
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A group of 20 students from Haub School of Law and Dyson College took a life-changing journey to Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama. Guided by esteemed professors Randolph McLaughlin, Debra Cohen, and David Dorfman, they immersed themselves in civil rights history at the Equal Justice Initiative and Legacy sites.
For the first time, Pace students cast their votes directly on campus! Thanks to student leaders and the Center for Community Action and Research, Pace is now an official polling place, boosting voter accessibility and engagement like never before.
In a whirlwind 1,906 hours, the Pace Community rallied together, raising $279,823—surpassing our $250,000 goal! With 922 generous donors, we’re paving the way for future Pace students.
Pace University is excited to launch "The City and the Sea: A New York City Fellowship in Civics and Public Service," thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Teagle Foundation. This fellowship will empower the next generation of leaders in New York City's waterway governance.
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PaceDocs premiered The Cooper: Crafting the Soul of the Cask at the Jacob Burns Film Center, with a historic debut in both English and Spanish. The Spanish language version premiered in Montilla and Cordoba, Spain, showcasing our global reach.
During NYC Tech Week, Pace’s Front Yard highlighted immigrant startups, with a keynote by Dr. Javier Navarro-Machuca, CEO of IO Connect Services. His inspiring journey and insights on digital transformation and cloud security left the audience in awe.
Our Brand Marketing Team snagged the “Best Chemistry” award at the 2023–2024 National Student Advertising Competition for their stellar Tide campaign. Big applause for their creativity and teamwork!
Pace University received a $350,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to enhance experiential learning in humanities courses. This funding strengthens our leadership in experiential education and our partnerships with NYC’s cultural and service organizations.
Meet alumnus Drew D’Auteuil ’21, a true Pace Go-Getter! Despite battling a rare blood condition as a child, Drew transformed his experience into a passion for medical research. Today, he's a research technician at the same hospital where he received life-saving treatment. Read his inspiring journey of resilience and determination.
Sands College of Performing Arts has a new faculty member, who you may know from her many starring and scene-stealing roles over the years. Meet Professor Kathleen Turner, who shares her passion for teaching in a candid Q+A.
From campus renovations to pioneering research, the Summer 2024 edition of Pace Magazine captures the vibrant spirit and accomplishments of our community. We are proud to share stories of our top-ranked Environmental Law program, new faculty members, and much more.
Joseph R. Ianniello '90 is the newest recipient of the Peter X. Finnerty Leadership Award. He'll be presented with this honor at the 2024 Pace Athletics Hall of Fame Brunch and Awards Ceremony, which will be held on Sunday, October 27.
The Pace University Department of Athletics has selected Joseph R. Ianniello '90 as the newest recipient of the Peter X. Finnerty Leadership Award. Ianniello will receive the award as part of the 2024 Pace Athletics Hall of Fame Brunch and Awards Ceremony, which will be held on Sunday, October 27 during Homecoming Weekend on the Pleasantville Campus.
The Peter X. Finnerty Award is presented to members of the Pace University Athletics community for outstanding leadership and service to the University or to society as a whole. Honorees exemplify those characteristics for which Peter Finnerty was best known: hard work, a spirit of competition, and the ability to serve and lead with integrity and to inspire others to do the same. This will mark the 10th time this honor has been awarded since its creation.
Ianniello earned a Bachelor's of Business Administration at Pace, and was a member of the University's football team and the Alpha Chi Epsilon fraternity on campus. Over the years he frequently mentored Pace students, returning to Pace's Lubin School of Business to share career and industry advice.
In April 2015, it was announced that Ianniello made a $2 million commitment to the construction of a new athletics field house at the University's campus in Pleasantville. Ianniello Field House was completed later that year and became a flagship facility of Pace University Athletics. Ianniello's contribution was a part of the University's Campaign for Pleasantville, which transformed and revitalized the 200-acre campus that also included new residential facilities, an expanded student center, and a new environmental center.
The Ianniello Field House is one of the most heavily utilized buildings on campus, with thousands of visitors per year. Pace athletes and coaches use this facility for practice, conditioning, and meetings, while the space is also used for special events with alumni, family, friends, and recruits. The 14,010 sq. ft. facility includes a strength and conditioning center and a sports medicine component.
Ianniello has also been a member of the Board of Trustees of Pace University since 2014. He joined the Board during a time of great change and significant investment in learning and living facilities at both the Westchester and New York City campuses.
"Over the course of my tenure here at Pace, no other gift has been as impactful as the support of Joe Ianniello," said Director of Athletics Mark Brown. "His visionary gift allowed for the construction of the Joseph R. Ianniello Fieldhouse and that building has transformed our entire athletic operation. In addition to his philanthropy, he also has provided his athletic perspective through his participation on the Pace Board of Trustees and his support of the entire Pace community. I acknowledge and thank Mr. Ianniello for his tremendous leadership and his belief in our athletic department."
Ianniello will be recognized with this year's Athletics Hall of Fame inductees. The newest members to be inducted into the Pace Athletics Hall of Fame will be Jeane Drury (Softball and Women's Basketball '15), Al Elliott (Men's Basketball '02), Casey Gelderman (Women's Lacrosse '18), Brian Pirone (Football '96) and Claudia Stable (Head Softball Coach/SWA). The Pace Athletics Hall of Fame was started in 1997 with this year's ceremony marking the 21st induction class.
Tickets for the event are available for $115 per person. For more information on the 2024 Pace University Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, please contact Director of Athletic Development Drew Brown at (914) 773-3271 or dbrown4@pace.edu. Register for this event.
Congratulations to Jeane Drury '15, Al Elliott '02, Casey Gelderman '18, Brian Pirone '96, and Claudia Stabile, who will be inducted into the Pace Athletics Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 27 as part of Homecoming Weekend.
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During the 2023–2024 academic year, Pace student-athletes recorded some big wins both on and off the field.
Pace University’s first-ever Game Development Playtesting Day saw nearly 30 students showcase more than a dozen homemade videogames. From small aesthetic tweaks to major gameplay changes, students like Brennan Moores '26, a computer science major, gained invaluable feedback on their creations.
This past spring, 27 students gathered for a Game Development Playtesting Day, showcasing their in-progress games to peers and visitors. The event featured 19 games created by 8 teams and 11 individual developers.
Playtesting is a key component of any game development, especially for video games where there are more technical variables. Having people test a new game not only helps gauge logistical functionality but also explores the player experience and, most simply, whether or not audiences enjoy the game. For students, it’s an invaluable opportunity to receive feedback and grow more confident in responding to constructive criticism, essential skills for their future careers.
Games are another way for people to express themselves and tell stories, just like film, music, theater. —Guida
Seidenberg Professor Carmine Guida, PhD, head of Pace’s new game development major, highlighted the importance for student’s to showcase their work. "I really want students to see what other students are up to in other courses so they get excited," he said. “Games are another way for people to express themselves and tell stories, just like film, music, theater.”
The playtesting day also offered students a valuable opportunity to see firsthand how others interacted with their creations. Brennan Moores ’26, a computer science major minoring in game development, shared how valuable it was to see the responses to his game, Trigger Happy. “It felt really good to have others play and test my game,” says Moores. “When each player was done, I received helpful feedback from them, ranging from small aesthetic tweaks to major changes in gameplay.”
It felt really good to have others play and test my game. —Moores
The event not only fostered peer-to-peer learning but also highlighted the collaborative and artistic nature of game development. “Game development is very collaborative,” Guida says. “I'm looking forward to seeing students who are interested in art, music, coding, etc, come together to build great things."
In the Seidenberg Lounge of 15 Beekman, Pace students have set up an arcade machine displaying games made by the Pace Community, for the Pace Community. Learn more about how this machine not only celebrates the love of gaming, but the importance of accessibility.
Discover incredible stories that showcase the amazing achievements and initiatives happening at Pace. From top rankings to groundbreaking programs and student journeys, there’s something to inspire everyone.
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Meet alumnus Drew D’Auteuil ’21, a true Pace Go-Getter! Despite battling a rare blood condition as a child, Drew transformed his experience into a passion for medical research. Today, he's a research technician at the same hospital where he received life-saving treatment. Read his inspiring journey of resilience and determination.
As a child, a rare blood condition changed Pace alumnus Drew D’Auteuil ’21’s life forever. Now, armed with a Pace education, he’s using the lessons of that experience to serve others.
In June 2009, as the end of fourth grade approached and the days warmed with summer’s arrival, ten-year-old Drew D’Auteuil was preparing for the next chapter of his typical Amherst, New Hampshire, childhood. He was a standout student with many friends, an avid soccer player and talented gymnast, a dog lover, a Nickelodeon watcher, and the third child of three.
Another school year was ending, another year passing in what had been a happy, healthy adolescence. But over the next several months, a series of debilitating medical challenges, rare diagnoses, prolonged hospitalizations, and miraculous recoveries would upend Drew’s typical childhood and change his life forever, setting him on a path that would lead him through Pace University’s Biology Department and into a research position at the same hospital where he had received pediatric treatment.
It started with shortness of breath, skin rashes, and the odd bruise after gymnastics practice. “Being young, I didn’t think much of it,” Drew said. “You don’t take those things seriously at that age.”
When his mother, an attentive nurse practitioner, noticed the severity and persistence of his symptoms, she brought him in for blood work. The results were immediately alarming, and Drew was rushed to the hospital for further evaluation.
It wasn’t long before Drew and his family received the diagnosis: aplastic anemia, an extremely rare blood condition resulting from damage to the bone marrow.
“Basically, your bone marrow ceases to produce the blood cells your body needs,” Drew said. “Even today, we don’t really know what caused it. It could have been a fluke, maybe a virus. Who knows? But my bone marrow stopped producing enough white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.”
Drew and his family spent those first weeks of summer vacation adapting to the new normal of his condition and working with doctors to devise a way forward. The first treatment option involved specialized chemotherapy designed to clear the damaged bone marrow and revitalize blood cell generation. When that failed to produce the desired results, a full bone marrow transplant was scheduled for the fall.
The date was set, a donor was identified, and just weeks after his eleventh birthday, Drew received his transplant. The procedure was a success, and the next 100 days—a crucial period for transplant patients during which the risk of significant side effects is at its highest—elapsed with no sign of major complications. The new bone marrow was doing its job, and while Drew would never fully return to the typical childhood that had been so suddenly disrupted, it seemed that the worst was finally behind him.
But then, just a few months later, he started to develop a cough. “It just wouldn’t go away,” Drew said. “And then I started feeling tired.”
He was taken to the emergency room, where doctors discovered that his oxygen levels were plummeting fast.
“The next thing I remember was waking up and not being able to move,” Drew said. “Then my parents told me I had been in a medically induced coma for a week.”
It was definitely a full circle moment for me.
Drew had suffered from acute respiratory distress syndrome, an often-fatal condition in which the body is deprived of essential oxygen due to fluid in the lungs’ air sacs, likely resulting from the immunocompromising effects of his aplastic anemia treatment. That critical oxygen depletion led to multi-organ failure. His condition quickly turned grave, and his family began to prepare for the worst. Visitors came to the hospital for what they feared might be their final goodbyes. Last rites were given.
And then, one week after arriving at the hospital, he woke up. He didn’t know where he was, he didn’t know what he had experienced, he could not move his neck without extreme difficulty, but he had survived.
“It can be traumatic to think about,” Drew said. “For someone like me, a bone marrow transplant patient, an immunocompromised person, to go through something like that—the prognosis is basically in the negatives. But thankfully, I got through it. It was kind of miraculous.”
Recovery was arduous. The next year was spent relearning to walk, and more than five years of intensive physical therapy were required to regain the majority of his strength. But the unfaltering support of his family and his own inexhaustible perseverance continued to carry him through.
“My own memory is a little hazy, but my parents and my doctors always tell me that I rarely, if ever, complained,” he said. “I guess I realized that this was my new normal. This is how it was going to be, and I was going to roll with it.”
When high school was ending, Drew knew that he wanted to attend college in the big city, and he knew that—inspired by his mother’s success as a nurse practitioner and by his own history of health challenges—he wanted to pursue a career in the medical field. When Pace recognized his record of high achievement with a generous scholarship package, the decision of where to enroll was an easy one.
“It was a great community and great sense of camaraderie in Pace’s Biology Department,” Drew said. “It was very easy to get to know my classmates, and I was able to make connections with almost all the students in my program. My time at Pace cemented for me that, yes, I definitely want to be in a STEM-related field.”
In 2021, Drew graduated from Pace magna cum laude with a degree in biology and a determination to build vital medical research experience. He immediately began submitting applications to major hospitals in his native New England, including the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, which had played a crucial role in his own treatment as a child.
After emailing the principal investigator of a Dana-Farber neuro-oncology lab about a vacant position, Drew secured a role as a research technician helping to explore novel treatments for brain tumors.
Just over a decade after Drew first began visiting Dana-Farber as a patient, he was now a member of the Dana-Farber team, contributing to groundbreaking research with the potential to change lives.
“It was definitely a full circle moment for me,” Drew said.
Today, while lingering side effects often remind Drew of the health crises that turned his typical New Hampshire childhood upside down, he is driven to use the lessons of those memories and the education he received at Pace in service of those who, like him, have been forced to navigate life-altering illness.
“I think I bring to the table an empathetic approach,” he said. “I know on a very personal level what patients are going through. It’s beyond studying something in a textbook. I’ve dealt with these things myself.”
From campus renovations to pioneering research, the Summer 2024 edition of Pace Magazine captures the vibrant spirit and accomplishments of our community. We are proud to share stories of our top-ranked Environmental Law program, new faculty members, and much more.
Why do humans speak the way they do? College of Health Professions Associate Professor Sethu Karthikeyan, PhD, is exploring the evolutionary biology behind voice pitch.
Lubin’s Ivan Fox Scholar and Professor of Law Jessica Magaldi, JD, is helping to close the gap between what’s reflected in course material and reality, by examining representation of women as protagonists and antagonists in case studies.
Through the exceptional achievements of men's and women’s lacrosse, baseball, and softball, Pace celebrated a spring season to remember.
Pace University Athletics boasted a spring season filled with success. Throughout the four spring season programs—men’s and women’s lacrosse, baseball, and softball—Pace celebrated several All-American honors, memorable moments, and postseason victories.
Women’s lacrosse earned their first-ever Northeast-10 Championship in program history, defeating Adelphi University, 16-14, at Northwell Stadium. Despite falling short in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) tournament, the Setters put together an impressive season, finishing with a 21-1 overall record. The team was honored with four All-America selections, as Angelina Porcello and Alexandra Quinn earned IWLCA First Team All-America honors, while Delilah Doyle and Samantha Tanguay were selected to the IWLCA All-America Second Team. Regarding NE-10 major awards, Porcello earned Midfielder of the Year, Tanguay was selected as Goalkeeper of the Year, Quinn captured Defender of the Year, and Maddie Schubert took home Rookie of the Year while head coach Tricia Molfetta was honored as Coach of the Year. Porcello solidified herself as one of Pace's greatest athletes ever as she became the all-time points leader in Pace history with 284 points (206 goals, 78 assists).
Men’s lacrosse reached new heights on the field in 2024. The squad ended their season with a 13-4 overall record and earned their first NCAA Tournament win in program history against Mercyhurst University. Their NCAA Tournament run ended in the quarterfinals, but the Blue and Gold exceeded expectations in 2024. Their stellar season led to a handful of USILA All-American selections. Ryan Kemp was chosen for the first team, while Rafael Rodriguez, Jr. and Chris Caputo were named to the second team. The trio of Rowan Kelly, Maxwell Streety, and Daniel Zabbia were given honorable mentions. The season had a notable milestone for Head Coach Tom Mariano, as he earned his 100th career win.
Softball matched a program record for wins, finishing with an overall record of 33-16. In their outstanding season, the Setters earned an NCAA Tournament win over Bridgeport University that included a no-hit performance from Gisselle Garcia, her fifth of the year. After the season, Garcia was selected as the first-ever All-American in Pace softball history, earning NFCA Third Team honors and a D2CCA Second Team selection. Garcia put together one of the best pitching displays in Pace history, which included breaking the record for career strikeouts and earning NE-10 Pitcher of the Year. Garcia and Brianna Shea were chosen for the D2CCA All-East Region First Team, while Raelle Gorman earned a Second Team selection.
Baseball had an accomplished season in 2024, concluding with a 28-19 overall record. The Blue and Gold took home a win in the Northeast-10 tournament, defeating the College of Saint Rose 8-5. Although the team came up short of back-to-back Northeast-10 titles, they had many positive takeaways from their season. Dan Brown was selected as the Southwest Division Pitcher of the Year, along with an NCWBA All-East Region Second Team honor and his impressive year led to Brown signing with the Windy City Thunderbirds of the Frontier League. Freshman Dylan Koch earned the Southwest Division Rookie Hitter of the Year and an All-Rookie team selection. 13 total All-Conference selections were earned which marked the most from a spring team.
With the abundance of success in each program, it certainly was a spring season to remember at Pace.
Joseph R. Ianniello '90 is the newest recipient of the Peter X. Finnerty Leadership Award. He'll be presented with this honor at the 2024 Pace Athletics Hall of Fame Brunch and Awards Ceremony, which will be held on Sunday, October 27.
Congratulations to Jeane Drury '15, Al Elliott '02, Casey Gelderman '18, Brian Pirone '96, and Claudia Stabile, who will be inducted into the Pace Athletics Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 27 as part of Homecoming Weekend.
During the 2023–2024 academic year, Pace student-athletes recorded some big wins both on and off the field.
Alumni, we’re excited to announce the follow-up to our 2019 survey, launching on September 10, 2024! Your feedback has been vital in shaping the Alumni Association, and we need your input to continue improving.
In 2019, Pace University’s Office of Alumni Relations made a significant investment in its alumni community. By implementing our first comprehensive all-alumni survey, we sought to understand how we could enhance the alumni experience. Through email, mail, and social media, we asked you to “Join the Conversation” and share your insights. Your feedback was invaluable and led to the creation of the Alumni Association, which has provided new and exciting ways for alumni to engage with the University.
Since its inception, the Alumni Association has enabled Pace alumni to build community, support current students, and make impactful changes. Now, as we continue to strive for excellence, we want to hear from you again. Our work is far from complete, and we are inviting you to “Reflect, Respond, and Reconnect” to help shape the future of our alumni program.
We are excited to announce the launch of our follow-up survey on September 10, 2024. Please keep an eye on your emails and our social media channels for more details. In the meantime, ensure your contact information is up to date. Your participation is crucial in helping us build a stronger, more connected alumni community.
Let’s work together to continue making meaningful changes for all Pace alumni.
Meet alumnus Drew D’Auteuil ’21, a true Pace Go-Getter! Despite battling a rare blood condition as a child, Drew transformed his experience into a passion for medical research. Today, he's a research technician at the same hospital where he received life-saving treatment. Read his inspiring journey of resilience and determination.
From the uplifting words of LaChanze to the accolades for our esteemed honorees, Pace University's Commencement was a day to remember. We celebrated 4,093 graduates at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, marking a new chapter filled with promise and potential.
Pace’s Sands College of Performing Arts is getting a brand new, state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center at One Pace Plaza East. This ambitious project will feature cutting-edge classrooms, creative arts spaces, and a premier Performing Arts Center, making Pace University a hub for the arts.
In a remarkable career that spans over four decades, Barbara Farrell, EdD, CPA, has been an indomitable force in the field of accounting education at Pace University. The Lubin School of Business professor was recently honored with the prestigious Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her unwavering commitment to teaching, service, scholarship, and her significant contributions to the Pace community.
In a remarkable career that spans over four decades, Barbara Farrell, EdD, CPA, has been an indomitable force in the field of accounting education at Pace University. The Lubin School of Business professor was recently honored with the prestigious Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her unwavering commitment to teaching, service, scholarship, and her significant contributions to the Pace community.
Professor Farrell's journey with Pace began humbly in 1980, when she joined as an adjunct professor while concurrently working in public accounting and the private sector. Her expertise in auditing information systems quickly became an asset, and by 1983, she transitioned to a full-time faculty role. Over the years, she has taught a myriad of accounting courses, imparting knowledge that has shaped the careers of countless students.
The impact of Professor Farrell's dedication is evident in the success of her students. Many of them have risen to prominence in the business world and continue to give back to the university. The establishment of the EY Tutoring Lab, the EY Scholarship program, and the Deloitte Video Conference rooms in both New York City and Pleasantville are testaments to the enduring influence of her mentorship and teaching.
Beyond her teaching responsibilities, Professor Farrell has been a stalwart supporter of student organizations and university committees. Since 1983, she has served as the faculty advisor to the Robert S. Pace Accounting Society, nurturing the next generation of accounting professionals. Her leadership extends to numerous committees, including the Budget Committee, the Curriculum Committee, and the Audit and Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees, where she has played a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the university.
Professor Farrell's academic credentials are as impressive as her professional achievements. She earned her BBA/MBA from Pace University in 1978, passed the CPA exam that same year, and joined Touche Ross, NYC, in June 1978. Her pursuit of knowledge led her to Columbia University, where she completed her EdD in 1993.
The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award is a fitting tribute to Professor Farrell's extraordinary career and her unwavering dedication to excellence in her discipline. Her legacy at Pace University is not just one of academic rigor and professional success but also of profound personal connections and lasting contributions to the university community. As we celebrate her achievements, we are reminded of the indelible mark she has left on Pace University and the generations of students who have benefited from her wisdom and guidance.
Celebrating half a century of dedication! Barbara Egidi and Rosa Ament have devoted a combined 105 years to Pace University, shaping countless lives with their passion and commitment. Join us in honoring their incredible contributions to our community.
From the uplifting words of LaChanze to the accolades for our esteemed honorees, Pace University's Commencement was a day to remember. We celebrated 4,093 graduates at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, marking a new chapter filled with promise and potential.
Meet alumnus Drew D’Auteuil ’21, a true Pace Go-Getter! Despite battling a rare blood condition as a child, Drew transformed his experience into a passion for medical research. Today, he's a research technician at the same hospital where he received life-saving treatment. Read his inspiring journey of resilience and determination.
Congratulations to Jeane Drury '15, Al Elliott '02, Casey Gelderman '18, Brian Pirone '96, and Claudia Stabile, who will be inducted into the Pace Athletics Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 27 as part of Homecoming Weekend.
Pace University Athletics is thrilled to announce the 2024 class of the Pace Athletics Hall of Fame presented by Northwell, scheduled to be officially inducted on Sunday, October 27 as part of Homecoming Weekend.
This year’s Hall of Fame class, the 21st in program history, will include Jeane Drury '15 (Softball and Women’s Basketball), Al Elliott '02 (Men’s Basketball), Casey Gelderman '18 (Women’s Lacrosse), Brian Pirone '96 (Football), and Claudia Stabile (Head Softball Coach and Senior Woman Administrator).
"This is an exceptional group of inductees and I look forward to welcoming this class into our Athletics Hall of Fame this fall," said Pace Director of Athletics Mark Brown. "Through their contributions and achievements, each of these individuals has brought incredible pride to Pace University, our department, and their teams. This will be a very special weekend for all of us and I cannot wait to celebrate their careers."
"Through their contributions and achievements, each of these individuals has brought incredible pride to Pace University, our department, and their teams. This will be a very special weekend for all of us and I cannot wait to celebrate their careers."
Drury finished fifth all-time in softball program history in hits (189) and tied for second in home runs, leaving the park 22 times. In addition to those marks, she also finds herself in the top-10 all-time in multiple other statistics including, batting average (.365), doubles (33), RBI (104), stolen bases (33) and runs (114). On the basketball court she appeared in 52 career games, tallying 132 points, 99 rebounds and 46 assists.
Elliott, who was named Pace Male Athlete of the Year in 2002, has his name etched into the history of Pace University Men's Basketball. He is fifth all-time in career points with 1,775 while also ranking 11th in assists with 336, and hauled in 633 rebounds, which is good for 15th all time. He is also tenth in career steals with 166 while also being tied for tenth in career triples made with 163.
Gelderman was instrumental in establishing an incredibly successful women's lacrosse team at Pace as a member of the first roster in program history in 2015. She became the first IWLCA All-American in program history, earning the honor as a junior. Gelderman finished her illustrious career as the program record holder with 218 career goals, a mark that still stands today, and 252 career points, which is currently second all-time.
Pirone is one of the most accomplished defensive players in Pace football history. He is the only three-year captain and was a two-time Pace Homecoming MVP. He is fourth in program history with 18.5 sacks and second all-time with 412 career tackles. Pirone holds the record for most tackles in a game (28) and most tackles in a 10-game season (142). During his career, he earned four ECAC All-Conference honors, and was also a four-time Don Hansen Gazette Division II Non-Scholarship honoree.
Drury's coach, Claudia Stabile, has been the only Pace softball coach during Pace's Division II era, and is the longest-tenured active head coach across all NCAA Divisions. Stabile has earned over 800 career victories in her 43 seasons at the helm of the program, with her 800th coming during the 2023 campaign in a 5-2 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas College. Stabile has had the Setters finish at .500 or above 25 times, including numerous trips to the Northeast 10 championships, and the NCAA East Regional.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will be honored during halftime of the Pace Homecoming football game against American International College on Saturday, October 26. The induction ceremony and awards brunch will be held Sunday, October 27 in the Stephen J. Friedman Room of Wilcox Hall on the Pleasantville Campus, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Register for the Pace Athletics Hall of Fame and Awards Brunch presented by Northwell.
Joseph R. Ianniello '90 is the newest recipient of the Peter X. Finnerty Leadership Award. He'll be presented with this honor at the 2024 Pace Athletics Hall of Fame Brunch and Awards Ceremony, which will be held on Sunday, October 27.
Through the exceptional achievements of men's and women’s lacrosse, baseball, and softball, Pace celebrated a spring season to remember.
During the 2023–2024 academic year, Pace student-athletes recorded some big wins both on and off the field.