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The Sands College of Performing Arts community mourns the passing of Ruis Woertendyke, former Chair of Theatre at Pace School of Performing Arts (PPA). For more than three decades, Ruis dedicated his career to educating artists, mentoring faculty, and playing an integral role in shaping the performing arts programs that would ultimately become the Sands College of Performing Arts.

A visionary educator and leader, Ruis fostered a culture of artistic excellence that continues to define Sands College. During his tenure, he recruited a new generation of faculty, many of whom remain part of the Sands community today. Ruis also oversaw the creation of the renowned Musical Theater and Commercial Dance programs, as well as the evolution of the BFA Acting and BA Acting and Directing programs.

Ruis established Pace’s first collaboration with La MaMa, launching repertory seasons featuring one-act plays by celebrated playwrights. He was also instrumental in founding Methods: A Journal of Acting Pedagogy, which became an important forum for advancing scholarship and dialogue about the craft and teaching of acting. In 2017, Ruis was honored with the Kenan Award for Teaching Excellence in recognition of his outstanding teaching, dedication to students, and intellectual leadership.

Those who knew Ruis remember him not only as an accomplished educator and administrator but also as a mentor who nurtured artists with curiosity, rigor, and generosity. His legacy lives on in the countless students, alumni, and colleagues he inspired, and in the vibrant artistic community he helped create at Pace.

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is pleased to announce the appointments of Professor Margot J. Pollans as Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Professor Josh Galperin as Associate Dean of the Environmental Law Program, further strengthening the Law School's academic leadership.

"Margot and Josh are exceptional scholars, dedicated teachers, and thoughtful leaders who have each made extraordinary contributions to our community," said Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. "Margot's leadership in faculty development and Josh's vision for our nationally recognized Environmental Law Program will help build upon the extraordinary momentum of the Law School as we continue investing in academic excellence, faculty scholarship, and innovative legal education."

Professor Margot J. Pollans has been appointed Associate Dean of Faculty Development, succeeding Professor Emily Gold Waldman, who has served in the role with distinction for the past decade. During her tenure, Professor Gold Waldman played a pivotal role in advancing faculty scholarship and development, strengthening faculty policies, and helping implement key elements of the Law School's strategic vision. In her new role, Professor Pollans will lead the Law School's faculty development initiatives, supporting faculty scholarship, mentoring colleagues throughout their academic careers, and helping advance the Law School's strategic priorities.

A nationally recognized scholar in environmental law, food law, administrative law, and social justice, Professor Pollans has established herself as one of the country's leading voices exploring the intersection of food systems, public health, and environmental governance. Earlier this year, she was named the Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law, recognizing her significant contributions to environmental legal scholarship. She previously served as the James D. Hopkins Professor of Law from 2023 to 2025.

Since joining Pace Haub Law, Professor Pollans has distinguished herself not only through her scholarship and teaching, but also through her commitment to mentoring students and supporting faculty. She serves as Faculty Director of the Pace Food Law Center, where she has helped expand the Law School's leadership in food law scholarship and policy. She also launched the Junior Faculty Workshop to support emerging scholars within the Law School, serves as a lead organizer of the nationally recognized Future Environmental Law Professors Workshop, and has played an active role on the Faculty Appointments and Faculty Development Committees, including serving as Chair.

Professor Josh Galperin has been appointed Associate Dean of the Environmental Law Program. Since joining the faculty in 2021, he has played an instrumental role in advancing Pace Haub Law's nationally recognized environmental law program through his scholarship, teaching, and institutional leadership. As Associate Dean, Professor Galperin will oversee and continue advancing one of the nation's premier environmental law programs, strengthening its academic offerings, expanding strategic partnerships, supporting faculty and students, and further enhancing its national and international reputation. Earlier this year, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law was once again ranked the #1 Environmental Law program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report—the seventh time, and sixth consecutive year, it has earned the top distinction—further solidifying its position as a global leader in environmental legal education.

A leading scholar of environmental law, administrative law, constitutional law, and sustainable business, Professor Galperin has helped position Pace Haub Law at the forefront of innovative environmental legal education. As Faculty Director of the Sustainable Business Law Hub, he has helped prepare future leaders in sustainable business and private environmental governance while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across law, business, and policy. Professor Galperin has also played a central role in strengthening the Law School's longstanding partnership with the Yale School of the Environment, helping advance the innovative joint JD/Master of Environmental Management degree program and co-hosting the prestigious New Directions in Environmental Law Conference, which brings together leading environmental law scholars and practitioners from across the country. Through his scholarship, teaching, and leadership, Professor Galperin has helped further elevate Pace Haub Law's national reputation as a leader in environmental law.

These leadership appointments build upon the Law School's continued investment in faculty excellence. Pace Haub Law recently announced the appointments of Professor Allison Pincus, who joins the faculty as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Law, and Professor Jason J. Czarnezki, who returns to the Law School as a tenured Professor of Law and Faculty Director of Bar Strategy and Performance. Additional faculty hiring announcements will be forthcoming as the Law School continues to expand its distinguished faculty and strengthen its academic programs.

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The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) announced its selection of highly distinguished nurse leaders for its 2026 class of Academy Fellows, including Marie Lourdes Charles, EdD, RN-BC, FNYAM, associate professor at the Lienhard School of Nursing.

Dr. Charles will be recognized for her significant contributions to health and health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place October 8–10, 2026, in Washington, DC. The theme of this year’s conference is “Digital Health: Promise, Responsibility.”

Dr. Charles is a community health nurse, researcher, and educator with over 40 years’ experience. Her practice, research, and scholarship aim at improving health outcomes by focusing on underrepresented populations, especially individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as people living in resource-poor communities. She is a founding member and vice-president of the Health Education Action League for Haiti (HEAL Haiti), collaborating with community partners in Haiti to provide resources, health screening, and education to underserved populations. She has also served as a liaison between Pace University and Caribbean Communities of Brooklyn and Queens to execute the All of Us Educational Program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Currently, she is involved in the PrEP Ring study in Uganda which was funded by several Pace University grants. Dr. Charles has received many awards for her contributions to Public Health including the Caribbean Impact Award from Caribbean Life and Advancing Health Equity Award from the Association of Community Health Nurse Educators (ACHNE).

According to the AAN press release, the 2026 Class of Fellows represents 39 states, the District of Columbia, and 17 countries, and reflects the powerful role nurses play in promoting health and well-being. Induction into the Academy is a significant milestone in which past and current accomplishments are honored by colleagues within and outside the profession.

AAN President Debra J. Barksdale, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, ANEF, FADLN, FAAN, said the vision, dedication and accomplishments of this year’s inductees represent the best of the nursing profession.

Through evidence-based innovation, leadership, and scholarship, they have improved outcomes, shaped policy and practice, strengthened nursing education and care delivery, and advanced scalable solutions that promote healthy lives for all people. Their accomplishments demonstrate the depth and reach that define Fellowship in the Academy.

Dr. Charles joins the following Pace Lienhard School of Nursing faculty Fellows:

• Harriet Feldman, PhD, RN, FAAN
• Sandra Lewenson, EdD, RN, FAAN
• Andréa Sonnenberg, PhD, WHNP, CNM-BC, FAAN, FNAP, FNYAM
• Joanne Singleton, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN, FNAP, FNYAM

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When students arrive at Pace University, they expect more than classrooms and coursework. They expect a community where they can learn, work, perform, research, and grow while feeling safe, respected, and supported. Behind much of that work is Pace’s Office of Civil Rights Compliance (OCRC), a team focused on helping ensure discrimination and harassment do not become barriers to anyone’s education or career.

Led by Assistant Vice President and Pace’s Title VI and Title IX Coordinator Bernard Dufresne, the office oversees the University’s compliance with major federal civil rights laws, including Title IX, Title VI, and Title VII as well as state and local laws that prohibit discrimination and harassment. While many people are familiar with Title IX through conversations about sex-based discrimination and sexual misconduct, the office’s work extends much further, addressing concerns connected to race, national origin, shared ancestry, gender, and other protected characteristics.

This summer, the office will formally transition from the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX Compliance to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, a change designed to better reflect the full scope of the office’s responsibilities and provide a clearer path for community members seeking support.

“Our office exists to make sure discrimination and harassment don’t interfere with your education or job, and to help you understand your options if something goes wrong,” says Dufresne.

A growing area of focus nationally—and at Pace—is Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin at institutions receiving federal funding. The law also applies to discrimination tied to shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, making it increasingly relevant as colleges and universities navigate incidents involving antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and national-origin discrimination. The office’s expanded focus also reflects recent changes in New York State law requiring colleges and universities to designate a Title VI Coordinator to oversee compliance and response efforts related to discrimination and harassment covered under the statute.

“Our office exists to make sure discrimination and harassment don’t interfere with your education or job, and to help you understand your options if something goes wrong,” says Dufresne.

Title VI protections can apply in a range of situations: a student targeted for wearing a yarmulke or Star of David, a student harassed for wearing a hijab, or a faculty member mocking a student’s accent or native language. In these cases, the Office of Civil Rights Compliance reviews both the conduct itself and the impact it had on the individual(s) experiencing it.

Importantly, the office is not solely focused on formal investigations. Dufresne emphasizes that support often begins long before a complaint process formally starts.

“Central to our trauma-informed approach is acknowledging the difficulty of coming forward and whenever possible, we give the affected individual agency over how they wish to proceed,” he says. “We do that by explaining the difference between a formal complaint and supportive measures, allowing individuals to receive help without necessarily triggering a full investigation if they aren't ready.”

That support can include connecting individuals with resources, explaining reporting options, helping implement supportive measures, and coordinating with other offices across the University. The office works closely with Residential Life, Human Resources, Student Conduct, the Counseling Center, the Dean for Students offices, and the Office of Sexual and Interpersonal Wellness to ensure concerns are addressed appropriately and compassionately.

At the same time, Dufresne notes that one of the biggest misconceptions about the office is that it handles every form of conflict or misconduct at the University. The OCRC specifically addresses concerns involving discrimination and harassment tied to protected characteristics. Other workplace or student conduct concerns may fall under different offices, such as Human Resources or Student Conduct.

“Obviously, misconduct comes in various forms and our goal when we receive a report is to make sure that it’s being handled promptly by the right office,” says Dufresne.

The office also continues to evolve in response to feedback from students and the broader campus climate. Recent student survey data at Pace found that while many students believe reports of sex-based misconduct would be taken seriously, fewer students fully understood investigation procedures and available rights. The findings highlighted an ongoing need for clearer communication, stronger awareness, and more peer-based prevention efforts.

For Dufresne, building trust remains at the center of the work.

“Trust is a long-term project,” he says. “We cannot guarantee a specific outcome for every case, but we can guarantee a consistent, respectful, and dignified process.”

And for anyone unsure whether their experience falls within the office’s scope, his advice is simple: reach out anyway.

“You do not need to know whether something ‘counts’ as discrimination to reach out,” Dufresne says. “The office exists to ensure that your identity never becomes a barrier to your education or career.”

The Pace Community can expect to hear more from the office during the Fall 2026 semester.

Students, staff, faculty, families, and members of the broader community can learn more about available resources or to share a concern through Pace’s Guardian reporting system.

Pace Magazine brings Pace University’s people, ideas, and achievements to life through dynamic, high-impact storytelling. Published twice a year and distributed to alumni, donors, friends of the University, and the entire Pace Community, the magazine highlights the work and influence of our students, faculty, and alumni around the world.

For inquiries or submissions, please email University Relations.

• Winter 2026 Digital Issue
• Summer 2025 Digital Issue
• Winter 2025 Digital Issue
• Summer 2024 Digital Issue
• Winter 2024 Digital Issue
• Summer 2023 Digital Issue
• Winter 2023 Digital Issue
• Summer 2022 Digital Issue
• Fall 2021 Digital Issue
• Spring 2021 Digital Issue