The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is proud to announce that two students, Andrea Barba Sánchez and Alicia Scampoli, have been awarded the Justice Sondra M. Miller Scholarship by the Westchester Women’s Bar Association Foundation (WWBAF). The scholarship honors the legacy of the Honorable Sondra M. Miller, a founding member and past president of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association, whose lifelong commitment to justice, equality, and mentorship continues to inspire generations of legal professionals.

Susan Corcoran, President of the WWBAF, praised this year’s recipients, stating, “Both award recipients exhibit extraordinary dedication to community service and the study of law. They clearly fulfill the mission of the WWBAF—to promote the fair and equal treatment of all people in society, the workplace, schools, and court system.”

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Andrea Barba Sánchez has distinguished herself through exceptional academic achievement and an unwavering commitment to immigration advocacy. A magna cum laude graduate of Albion College, Andrea has earned a place on the Dean’s List every semester at Pace Haub Law, serves on the Pace Law Review, and was a First-Year Moot Court Finalist. Her accomplishments have been recognized through honors including the Pace Law Opportunitas Award, Pace Law Grant, NYS Wireless Association Award, and the NYC Bar Association Diversity Fellowship.

Beyond her academic success, Andrea has dedicated herself to helping individuals secure legal immigration status, including advocating for members of her own family. As a DOJ BIA Accredited Representative with Neighbors Link and Catholic Migration Services, she has provided critical immigration counseling and support. Her professional experience also includes serving as a summer associate at Troutman Pepper Locke LLP and as a judicial extern for the Honorable Nelson S. Román of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Prior to law school, Andrea owned and operated a restaurant in Michigan.

“Award recipients like Andrea demonstrate the resilience, compassion, and determination that Justice Sondra Miller championed throughout her career,” said Corcoran. “Her commitment to serving immigrant communities while excelling academically is truly inspiring.”

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Fellow scholarship recipient Alicia Scampoli has likewise demonstrated remarkable academic excellence, leadership, and public service. Alicia graduated summa cum laude from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and served as the Case Note and Comment Editor for the Pace Law Review. She has been named to the Dean’s List every semester, was a Semi-Finalist in Advanced Appellate Advocacy, and is the recipient of both a Merit Scholarship and the Honorable James R. Caruso Scholarship Award.

Alicia’s extensive legal experience includes positions as a summer associate at Jackson Lewis PC, a summer intern with the Erie County Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyer’s Project in the Family Law Unit, and an intern with the New York State Unified Court System’s Office for Justice Initiatives. She has also served as a legal assistant with Robert C. Ulon, Esq., a judicial intern for the Honorable Andrew L. Carter, Jr. of the Southern District of New York, and as a research assistant to Professor Jessica Miles for four semesters.

“Alicia exemplifies the values of intellectual excellence, leadership, and service that are central to the mission of the WWBAF,” Corcoran added. “Her dedication to advancing justice through both scholarship and community engagement makes her exceptionally deserving of this recognition.”

The WWBAF awards the Justice Sondra M. Miller Scholarship to law students who demonstrate a strong commitment to public service, academic achievement, and advancing fairness and equality within the legal profession and society. Applicants are evaluated on a range of factors, including community service, participation in clinics and internships, work history, financial need, personal challenges, and their potential to contribute meaningfully to Westchester County and the legal profession.

Justice Sondra M. Miller, who passed away in 2024, served as an Associate Justice of the New York State Appellate Division, Second Department, and was a founding member and past president of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. After retiring from the bench, she remained deeply engaged in legal education and advocacy as a distinguished judge-in-residence at Haub Law and through her work promoting No Fault Divorce and Maintenance Guidelines legislation. Her legacy continues through the ongoing work of the WWBAF and leaders such as former WWBA President Dolores Gebhardt, who continues advocating for mandatory parental education in contested custody cases.

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University celebrated the Class of 2026 on Thursday, May 21, at its 48th Commencement Ceremony, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. The Honorable Francesca E. Connolly ’82, Associate Justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Second Judicial Department and a proud Pace Haub Law alumna, delivered an inspiring commencement address and received the Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, the highest honor conferred by the Law School.

This year’s commencement ceremony speakers highlighted resilience, service, and the limitless possibilities of a legal education. The Law School conferred 261 Juris Doctor degrees, 18 Master of Laws (LLM) degrees in Comparative Legal Studies, 11 LLM degrees in Environmental Law, and 1 Doctor of Juridical Science degree. In addition, 59 Advanced Certificates were awarded, and 6 students earned joint degrees, including 5 JD/Master of Environmental Management degrees with the Yale School of the Environment and 1 LLM/MA joint degree with the University for Peace. Among the graduating class were 53 Flex JD graduates who balanced the demands of law school alongside careers, families, and other responsibilities.

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During her commencement address, Justice Connolly reflected on her own journey from Pace Haub Law student to one of the state’s most respected jurists, encouraging graduates to embrace perseverance, integrity, humility, and compassion throughout their careers.

“Success in this profession does not require perfection,” Justice Connolly told graduates. “It requires persistence. It requires preparation. It requires integrity. And most of all, it requires a belief that you are capable of much more than you imagine right now.”

Success in this profession does not require perfection. It requires persistence. It requires preparation. It requires integrity.

Justice Connolly shared personal stories about overcoming financial hardship, working multiple jobs while pursuing her education, and discovering confidence through her experiences in moot court at Pace Law. She described preparation as “the antidote to fear” and urged graduates to remain grounded in integrity and public service as they enter the legal profession.

“The true measure of your career will be the doors you open for others: the clients you steady, the voices you amplify, the injustices you confront, the communities you strengthen,” she said.

In his remarks, Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. reflected on the significance of the occasion as the Law School marks its 50th anniversary year and emphasized the enduring strength of the Pace Haub Law community.

“This year, as we celebrate 50 years of Pace Haub Law, you are joining a community that spans generations,” Dean Anderson said. “Fifty years of alumni who have gone on to lead, to serve, to advocate, and to shape the law in meaningful ways.”

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Dean Anderson also highlighted Justice Connolly’s extraordinary career, noting that she became the first Pace Haub Law graduate appointed to the Appellate Division, Second Department, and later served by designation as an Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.

“Your law degree is not a script. It is not a narrow path,” Dean Anderson told graduates. “It is a key—one that opens doors you cannot yet see.”

The Class of 2026 student address was delivered by Daniel Khieninson ’26. The Dean’s Award, the Law School’s highest honor for academic excellence, service, and leadership, was presented to three outstanding graduates: Rebecca Parlante, JD, Emily Katherine Lombardi, Flex JD, and Zander Graham, LLM. The Barbara C. Salken Outstanding Professor of the Year Award was presented to Jessica Miles, Full-Time Faculty, and Jared J. Hatcliffe, Adjunct Faculty Award. The Student Bar Association President, Rachel Gillian Greene, delivered closing remarks.

Watch Judge Connolly's Commencement Speech:

NBC’s Lester Holt Addresses Graduates at 2026 Pace University Commencement

Pace celebrates more than 4,300 graduates at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

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Pace University’s Class of 2026 crossed the commencement stage this week as award-winning journalist and Dateline NBC anchor Lester Holt reflected on the risks, setbacks, and unexpected opportunities that shaped his path from aspiring broadcaster to a renowned journalist.

Speaking to more than 4,300 graduates and nearly 25,000 family members, friends, and supporters gathered at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, Holt encouraged students to resist the pressure to “play it safe” and remain open to the possibilities that can come from taking chances and challenging expectations.

“How far a leap are you willing to make to realize your dream?” Holt asked graduates. “Playing it safe seems like a smart strategy on the surface, but you will find yourself at moments where the reasonable choice feels unreasonable.”

Holt, who received a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, was among several distinguished speakers recognized throughout Pace’s two-day Commencement celebration, which included six ceremonies, student speakers, a food village, music, and other celebratory festivities.

Wednesday’s undergraduate ceremonies featured several distinguished speakers: Dr. Mitchell Katz, president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, addressed graduates of the College of Health Professions, Lubin School of Business, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

Pedro Rivera '12, an Emmy- and LA Press Club Award-winning journalist and co-anchor of ABC7 Eyewitness News on WABC-TV, spoke to graduates of Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, the Sands College of Performing Arts, and the School of Education. Reflecting on his own journey from Pace student to broadcast journalist, Rivera encouraged graduates to stay focused on long-term goals and define success on their own terms.

“Manifest your success,” Rivera told graduates. “Say your goals out loud. Write them down and really embed them into your mind, because everything you do — the jobs you take, the people you surround yourselves with — will lead you toward that success. And success is not about money or status. It’s about happiness.”

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The celebration continued Thursday with graduate and professional school ceremonies, including the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, which recently earned the No. 1 ranking for Environmental Law by U.S. News & World for the sixth consecutive Year.

Hon. Francesca E. Connolly '82, associate justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Second Judicial Department, addressed law graduates and received a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

Justice Connolly shared personal stories about overcoming financial hardship, working multiple jobs while pursuing her education, and discovering confidence through her experiences in moot court at Pace Law. She described preparation as “the antidote to fear” and urged graduates to remain grounded in integrity and public service as they enter the legal profession.

“Success in this profession does not require perfection,” she said. “It requires persistence. It requires preparation. It requires integrity. And most of all, it requires a belief that you are capable of much more than you imagine right now.”

Peter Muller, founder and CEO of PDT Partners, addressed graduates of the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems and Lubin School of Business. Judith M. Watson '94, RN, BSN, MPH, CEO of Westchester Community Health Center, spoke to graduates of Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, and the College of Health Professions. Pace also awarded Cedric Bobo, founder of Project Destined, with its Opportunitas in Action Award.

The student recipient of this year’s Opportunitas Award, Suraj Sharma, earned a combined bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s degree in applied quantitative economics from Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. As captain of Pace’s National Federal Reserve Challenge team, Sharma helped lead the University to a national championship title, outperforming 136 competing schools, including Harvard and UCLA.

Sharma graduated with a 4.0 GPA and earned numerous honors during his time at Pace, including the Award for Excellence in Academic Research and induction into the International Economics Honor Society. Following graduation, he will join PIMCO as an institutional client management account analyst.

“Every opportunity in life exists because someone else paid a price for it,” Sharma said. “Pace not only gave us degrees, it gave us those opportunities and taught us to relentlessly seize them ourselves.”

During the main ceremony, Pace University President Marvin Krislov reflected on the experiences that shaped graduates throughout their time at the University and the lessons they will carry into a rapidly changing world.

“Graduates, your education unfolded in classrooms, in residence halls, in internships, in rehearsal studios, in clinics, in courtrooms and labs and communities throughout New York and beyond,” Krislov said. “Some of you found your direction immediately. Others discovered it gradually through exploration, through setbacks, through conversations, and seizing new opportunities. That is all part of what higher education is meant to do.”

Students celebrating this achievement included undergraduate, graduate, law, and doctoral candidates preparing for careers in nursing, physician assistant studies, business, cybersecurity, education, law, the arts, public service, and more.

Number of graduates by Ceremony

Undergraduate Degrees

• College of Health Professions, Lubin School of Business, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems: 1,077
• Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Sands College of Performing Arts, and School of Education (undergraduate and graduate): 1,140

Graduate Degrees

• Lubin School of Business and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems: 1,049
• College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, and School of Education: 814

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

• Total graduates receiving degrees: 291
• Juris Doctor degrees: 261
• Master of Laws in Comparative Legal Studies degrees: 18
• Master of Laws in Environmental Law degrees: 11
• Doctor of Juridical Science degree: 1
• Advanced certificates awarded: 59
• Additional joint degrees recognized: 6
• Flex JD graduates: 53

About Pace University

Founded in 1906 and celebrating 120 years of preparing students for success in 2026, Pace University pairs real-life learning with strong academics to launch meaningful careers. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace serves 13,600 students across a range of bachelor, master, and doctoral programs through the 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.

Only months after its launch, the Gale Epstein Center for Technology, Policy and the Environment at Pace University is already emerging as a hub for civic innovation, experiential learning, and environmental advocacy. Housed within Pace’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, the Center is turning its mission into action through award-winning student projects, sustainability initiatives, and youth-led environmental engagement.

The momentum reflects the vision behind the Center’s creation: bringing together technology and public service to address environmental challenges. Guided by Executive Director John Cronin and supported by philanthropist Gale Epstein, the Center is empowering Pace students to tackle real-world challenges surrounding water quality, public health, and environmental justice.

Our goal is to fulfill the public's right to know the environmental conditions in which they live by making Blue CoLab's information systems and tools available to schools, libraries, and local governments.

One of the Center’s first major successes came through the annual Project Planet competition, which is presented by Speedemissions, Inc., an Atlanta-based clean air testing company, in partnership with The Front Yard at Pace University. Out of 63 student proposals submitted across the University, only five grants were awarded.

A team of Seidenberg students—Silas Gonzalez, Lizi Imedashvili, and Victor Lima—earned one of those grants for a proposal to develop a business incubator connected to the Gale Epstein Center. Their project received $12,000 in funding through a combination of the Project Planet award and matching support from Gale Epstein herself.

The students’ proposal focused on expanding public access to environmental information systems developed through Blue CoLab, a nonprofit initiative connected to the Center’s mission.

Silas Gonzalez explained that “our goal is to fulfill the public's right to know the environmental conditions in which they live by making Blue CoLab's information systems and tools available to schools, libraries, and local governments.”

The project reflects the same emphasis on technology-driven environmental transparency that has become central to the Center’s identity. It also demonstrates the kind of hands-on, mission-focused work Pace leaders hoped the Center would inspire among students.

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This spirit of hands-on, mission-focused work was also on display during the Center’s first-ever Student Environmental Congress on the Pleasantville Campus. The event welcomed 28 students from San Miguel Academy in Newburgh, New York, and St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, for a day focused on technology-driven environmental transparency.

The event centered on the theme “The Future of Urban Rivers.” Students spent the morning presenting research on the environmental conditions affecting their home waterways, the Hudson River in New York and the Passaic River in New Jersey, including studies on water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and pollution. In the afternoon, students broke into working groups to develop recommendations for making urban rivers more sustainable.

“The day was an inspiration,” said Lizi Imedashvili, who serves as the Center’s project manager and helped organize the event. “These students, from some of the nation’s toughest neighborhoods, rose up with an optimism and vision that should grab the attention of every environmental decision maker in America.”

Both of these initiatives reflect the Gale Epstein Center’s commitment to technological innovation, civic engagement, and youth leadership. Even though the Center only officially opened this semester, this approach has already earned it national and international recognition. Earlier this year, John Cronin was appointed to the Millennium Campus Network’s Civic Learning Council, a global leadership body that advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through student-led initiatives on campuses around the world.

Through projects focused on water transparency, sustainability, and environmental justice, Pace students are moving beyond the classroom to develop solutions with real-world implications. The Center’s early successes offer a glimpse of what’s ahead: a growing community of students using technology, innovation, and civic engagement to shape a more informed and sustainable future.