The Best in Westchester

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Pace University was voted the best college/university as part of Westchester Magazine’s Best Of Westchester 2023 list. We’re hoping to keep the title in 2024, so keep your eyes peeled for information about how to vote.

Going Green(er)

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As a Better Climate Challenge partner, Pace implemented a coordinated energy management strategy, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 25 percent, earning us a 2023 Better Practice Award! Did you know that we’ve demonstrated an active role in energy management since 1973? The University has implemented over 350 projects, aimed at conserving electricity, natural gas, steam, or water, resulting in several million dollars of total savings.

Most Representation on Broadway

Kimberly Akimbo. Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Hamilton. Beetlejuice. Dear Evan Hansen. Pace people clearly knows how to make it to the main stage. We’re once again on Playbill's Big 10 list of schools and colleges with the most representation on Broadway in the last season. Nearly 35 Sands College students and alumni performed on a Broadway stage during the 2022–2023 season.

Breaking Records in Trial Advocacy

Haub Law’s team for the National Trial League Competition broke a record this year as they were the only school to ever remain undefeated in the National Trial League’s regular season, with a solid finish of seven wins and zero losses.

Dancing with Doja Cat

More than 865,000 people tuned in to MTV’s Video Music Awards this past fall. In addition to seeing a

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wild amount of celebrities and A-listers, viewers also got the opportunity to watch as twelve Pace students and recent graduates of the BFA in Commercial Dance program took the stage alongside powerhouse performers like Doja Cat, Shakira, Olivia Rodrigo, and Karol G. We spoke with Joanne Daquigan '22, Jada Clark '22, and Tiffani Russell '23 who performed with Doja Cat alongside her Pace peers Aaliyah Zolina, Gabby Rembert, and Jada Ballard. Read about their experiences on stage at the VMAs.

It’s Official: 15 Beekman is Open!

With a lobby full of excited students, faculty, staff, and community members, Pace University cut the ribbon to celebrate the official opening of its brand-new building at 15 Beekman on October 11. The new building is a 26-story mixed use vertical learning hub that represents the next step in the years-long investment that Pace is making in its lower Manhattan campus. At the corner of Beekman and Nassau streets, the building features a residence hall housing nearly 500 students, dining facilities, a state-of-the-art library and learning center, tech-enabled classrooms, and three floors that constitute a dedicated home for the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

The Best for Vets

Pace University has once again received recognition for its exceptional support for military service members and veterans. In the latest rankings of Best for Vets: Colleges by Military Times, Pace secured the third spot among 29 state-wide institutions, ranking ninth among private colleges nationwide and 66th overall. “Student veterans have a holistic view of the importance of their education,” said Neath Williams ‘24. “Most have goals set for after school, and they’re focused on that. They may be more focused on learning the actual content rather than on passing the class. This is the stuff we came here for, and Pace provides the resources for us to be successful.”

Flower Power

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Pace student and UN Millennium Fellow Lucie Belle Flagg ’24 channeled both her frustrations and her energy into bringing greater awareness of hidden disabilities to the Pace Community. Through her tireless efforts, Pace University has become the first university in New York to officially launch Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, empowering those with hidden disabilities to take up the sunflower icon as a means of representation and self-advocacy. “Anyone that self-identifies as having a hidden disability should consider getting involved by representing the sunflower on campus and educating their peers about hidden disabilities,” Lucie says.

Inclusive Theater

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Our Neurodiversity in Theater panel brought Broadway's How to Dance in Ohio cast members including Hunter Hollingsworth and Sands College alumnus Liam Pearce '22 to campus to explore the power of inclusion and representation with Seidenberg’s James Lawler, DPS, and School of Education’s Jennifer Pankowski, EdD. The conversation about autism, disability, and inclusion in theater was moderated by Jesse Carlo and Amanda Grace Flynn of the Sands College of Performing Arts.

A New Name for CHP’s Simulation Labs

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Pace University dedicated the simulation lab on the NYC Campus in honor of the Stout Family and the Hugoton Foundation. With more than 20,000 hours of simulation conducted per year at Pace, the design of the Simulation Labs is to replicate various healthcare settings, including pediatrics, maternity, and medical-surgical and critical care units providing the students an opportunity to practice skills at basic and advanced levels across the curriculum.

It was 2018. Married couple Timothy Myers, PhD, and Kimberly “Kimmi” Stephens, PhD, were settling into their seats at a movie theater to watch The Incredibles 2 for Tim’s birthday.

They didn’t finish the film. During the title sequence, Kimmi had a seizure. She had never had one before, but as a computational and cellular/molecular neuroscientist specializing in an area called network hyperexcitability, he recognized the signs immediately.

He knew it was a seizure, but he didn’t know what to do.

Kimmi’s seizure not only marked a significant shift in their personal lives, but also in the trajectory of their careers, bridging the gap between Tim’s theoretical studies with the stark reality of what it’s like to live with epilepsy.

Tim and Kimmi

Kimmi and Tim met in 2014 at UC Riverside, when Kimmi invited Tim to a Thanksgiving potluck with the Biology Department. Tim was pursuing his PhD in neuroscience, and Kimmi her PhD in entomology. A year later, in December 2015, they married.

Kimmi’s academic expertise is vast, encompassing a wide range of fields including vector biology, host pathogen interactions, reproductive physiology, and circadian rhythms. Her passion for research provided her with an extensive background in protein biochemistry and molecular genetics. She finished her PhD in 2016 while Tim continued work on his degree.

It was kind of ironic that I was a specialist in the field by the time 2018 came along. —Tim Myers

Since 2014, Tim’s research narrowed in on understanding seizure disorders and the process by which the brain develops epilepsy. “I specifically look at the cellular and molecular mechanisms of epilepsy, so trying to figure out what makes certain types of epilepsy start,” Tim explains. “It was kind of ironic that I was a specialist in the field by the time 2018 came along.”

Neither of them knew how much his research would eventually intertwine with their personal experiences.

The Accident

Six months before that day in the movie theater, Kimmi was in an accident where she was struck by a raised Ford F-150. “The car was going about 50 miles per hour, and she flew and hit her head on the asphalt about 40 feet from where she was struck,” Tim recounts. Her survival probability was estimated at 20 percent. Her physical injuries included a compression fracture of her upper cervical vertebra, multiple lacerations, contusions, concussion, loss of consciousness, and severe traumatic brain injury.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. “While Kimmi was in the ambulance leaving the scene, she got a call from our escrow agent saying we closed on our house in Southern California,” Tim said, thrusting the couple into severe financial strain.

But it wasn’t just financial pain, but deep, physical pain that plagued Kimmi. “She has two types of neuropathies, which involves damage to peripheral nerves.” Tim explains. “One is occipital neuralgia, and the other is something called trigeminal neuralgia.” Additionally, Kimmi developed postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) a condition where standing up causes an unusually large increase in heart rate, leading to symptoms including: dizziness, fatigue, loss of muscle tonicity and, in her case, syncope—loss of consciousness.

So profound is the pain caused by this type of nerve damage that it has earned an ominous name. “It’s not a diagnostic name,” Tim says. “But trigeminal neuralgia is called ‘the suicide disease’ because a significant number of people who develop this pain attempt to commit suicide … and Kimmi has both trigeminal AND occipital neuralgia.” Even the American Association of Neurological Surgeons indicates that trigeminal neuralgia is “sometimes described as the most excruciating pain known to humanity.”

This pain went untreated for years.

For years Kimmi dealt with this excruciating pain. —Tim

While there is some relief for the occipital neuralgia via monthly injections directly into the damaged nerve, there is very little that can be done for trigeminal neuralgia aside from invasive surgery. “For the longest time, nobody would give her any medication or help with any therapeutic efforts (with respect to pain management and the seizures) because they just thought she was faking it,” Tim recounts. “For years Kimmi dealt with this excruciating pain. I wasn't even aware of how bad it was because she was so good at hiding it. And she would just walk through life smiling, having conversations with people.”

And then six months later, she had her first seizure in that movie theater. Her form of occipital epilepsy can be challenging to detect and diagnose correctly through conventional electroencephalography—the gold standard of epilepsy diagnosis. Following her epilepsy diagnosis, Kimmi started the next new (and somewhat ironic) chapter in her life post-injury.

The Unbreakable Kimmi Stephens

“I'm going to share something that I know Kimmi hates,” Tim says. “Kimmi is a genius. In third grade, she tested into college level English and math.”

Tim recounts how Kimmi not only turned down an invitation from Mensa, the world’s oldest high-IQ society, but also a full ride to the University of Oxford. Tim marveled at her ability to remember huge amounts of information with ease. “If she had to go grocery shopping for a hundred items, she didn’t even bring a list.” He’d be amazed when they returned home and not a single item had been forgotten.

Then came the car accident, and then the seizure that completely transformed Kimmi’s life.

It had gotten to the point where I basically wasn't doing anything on my own, because of the fear of a seizure. —Kimmi Stephens

She and Tim jokingly recount her hesitation about getting married because she had always been fiercely independent and feared losing any sense of her autonomy. Not only was she set back by the pain and process of healing from a traumatic brain injury, but the epilepsy diagnosis usurped her independent spirit with fear and anxiety.

“It was actually pretty bad,” Kimmi admits. “Because it had gotten to the point where I basically wasn't doing anything on my own, because of the fear of a seizure. If I'm cooking and I have seizure, I’ll get burnt, or pass out and have a severe injury. I was terrified to be on my own. And it's not a healthy dynamic, because I have to be able to do stuff on my own. For me, it's been really hard, not just accepting help, but the fact that I require the help at some points.”

A New World

But life needed to continue. Kimmi was finally prescribed the proper dosage of her antiepileptic medication in early 2019 which facilitated the healing process.

Kimmi came out of a brain fog in mid-2019, Tim insisted that Kimmi find a fulfilling job that she wanted to do, anything, anywhere. He told her, “We'll drop everything in California, I don't care where it is. We'll just start over.”

Kimmi accepted a postdoctoral research position at Mount Sinai School of Medicine focused on developing a treatment for genetic disorders. And so, they packed their bags and moved across the country. Kimmi moved to New York City in early January 2020, where she hoped to reclaim some of the independence she had lost. The couple agreed she’d go alone at first in the hopes that she could establish herself and foster her independence for a few months in the city. However, neither of them could anticipate the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic just a month later. The shutdown kept them apart for nearly a year, leaving Kimmi to navigate all of her disabilities, a new city, work as essential personnel at a major NYC hospital in the middle of a pandemic, and life without accessible familial support.

I have all this knowledge, but I didn't know what to do.—Tim

When Tim finally arrived in NYC, he took a part-time job teaching neuroscience at Columbia University. It was in this role that he decided to inject epilepsy awareness into his classes, because even with his background there was so much for him to learn.

“When Kimmi had her first seizure, I recognized it for what it was, but I had no idea what to do,” he says. “It was the most frightening and humbling experience of my life. I have all this knowledge, but I didn't know what to do.”

Tim finished his PhD in 2021 after leaving his graduate program in 2018 to care for Kimmi and work multiple jobs for better insurance and financial security. “I'm really, really proud of him for finishing his PhD,” Kimmi says. “It was sort of traumatic, because his PhD research was on epilepsy, and then I developed epilepsy. Then he had to go back and look at the research and there's trauma there.”

In the Classroom

Tim’s teaching began to focus not just on understanding the neuroscience behind brain pathologies, but the real world impact for people living with it.

“I realized that my teaching was very static. I'm going to teach you about all this neuroscience, about Alzheimer's, about epilepsy,” Tim says. “But there was no humanistic component to it, which was not something I cared about in the past. But all of a sudden, I realized there is so much value there.”

He and Kimmi formed a relationship with Epilepsy Foundation of Metropolitan New York (EFMNY), whose parent company provides online seizure first-aid and recognition training. When he began teaching neurobiology at Pace during the Spring 2022 semester, he brought this work with him, and now all of his Pace students get certified in seizure recognition and first aid as part of their coursework.

I talk about the mechanisms, what's going on inside the human brain, and then she talks about what it's like to live with these conditions.—Tim

Tim continued to stay mindful of how the impact of his work affected Kimmi. “There’s a fine line in my brain between exploiting Kimmi’s condition and teaching people about her condition,” he explains. So, it seemed a natural progression when Tim asked Kimmi to come and speak to his students in her own words, and she began sharing her experiences with his Pace and Columbia students. Tim thought it would not only be beneficial for his students to get exposure to someone impacted by the issues they were studying in the classroom, but hopefully provide some catharsis for Kimmi.

“I'm not going speak for Kimmi about how it affected her, but personally I've seen her able to open up more and more,” he says. “And the students, particularly the female students, seem to have really positive feedback, because Kimmi doesn't only talk about her experiences with epilepsy, but her wider experiences as a female scientist.”

Tim thinks this personal element is key to teaching their students. “I talk about the mechanisms, what's going on inside the human brain, and then she talks about what it's like to live with these conditions. And I think that's probably one of the most powerful things that we've done for the students.”

In the Lab

Tim and Kimmi’s work is not just confined to the classroom, though. After completing her post-doctorate, Kimmi came to work at Pace as an adjunct professor beginning the 2023 fall semester. In early 2023, Kimmi officially joined the lab on Pace’s Pleasantville Campus to further develop a comprehensive, and much-needed seizure and traumatic brain injury research program with Kimmi supplying her background on molecular biology and Tim bringing his experience as an electrophysiologist and computational neuroscientist.

Their initial research goal is to examine proteins in the brain linked to the neuroinflammatory response following traumatic brain injury to determine how that might induce seizure activity.

“We jointly decided to take this direction, to conduct research in the area of Kimmi's pathology,” Tim explains. “We hope to increase understanding of epilepsy and potentially contribute to future pharmaceutical interventions.”

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Their students have the opportunity to collaboratively explore this epilepsy research. “We currently have three Pace students that have joined the lab this year,” Tim says. Tim developed a computational model of specific proteins and cell interactions within the traumatized brain. In the lab, the students (alongside Tim and Kimmi) will be able to interact and assist in the development of this model, simulating changes in these proteins to observe ‘seizure’ activity within the in silico (computer simulated) environment.

There is also some research equipment at Pleasantville that you wouldn't necessarily find at a smaller university.—Tim

They hope to soon receive approval to expand the lab’s research into the ‘wet lab’ (experiments that use a physical specimen) in which they can study seizure activity in zebrafish. Aaron Steiner, PhD, manages the zebrafish facility on the Pleasantville Campus and utilizes these animals in his research. “Aaron’s expertise, advice and mentorship with respect to fish research has been invaluable,” says Tim. “There is also some research equipment at Pleasantville that you wouldn't necessarily find at a smaller university.”

Their plan is to try to secure more funding, working with organizations such as the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) through the Department of Defense. Aside from reagent and general lab expenses, their hope for this funding is to compensate Kimmi for her lab work (which she currently conducts on a volunteer basis) and to expand the scope of their research into the hereditary nature of hyperexcitability and explore the delay between a TBI and the manifestation of epilepsy—projects which would necessitate the use of zebrafish. They also hope to be able to continue their advocacy efforts and bring epilepsy awareness to a larger audience.

These students have never had a person sort of open up to them like that—Tim

They both express the joy they have at not only finding a home for their lab at Pace—where state-of-the-art lab facilities and collaboration across disciplines has enabled further research—but in the opportunity to mentor these students, from offering their insights into navigating the science field, writing recommendations, and even assisting with PhD applications.

Kimmi has found that she especially has an impact on female students. “I think this is because she talks about what it’s like to be a female scientist, and shares harassment that she’s experienced,” Tim suggests. “These students have never had a person sort of open up to them like that, and just be willing to talk about things that are often considered taboo.”

Teaching the Human Impact

Neither Tim nor Kimmi anticipated how much their life would change after Kimmi’s accident. Their research in the lab and advocacy in the classroom was not something they set out to do but was a natural progression of their work adapting to new challenges. According to Tim, “We were just kind of doing what we think is right. It's what we have to do for our own sanity.”

What they’ve discovered is that while they’re doing work within their fields, they are now equipped to bring something to their science students that is so often missed: the human element.

Kimmi explains, “A lot of our students want to study these conditions or be in the medical profession. I think knowing or interacting with someone with this condition in a less professional situation allows them to actually see the human behind it. In which case, when they go in, they start doing work in these fields, they have a little more compassion for the people that they're treating.”

I think knowing or interacting with someone with this condition in a less professional situation allows them to actually see the human behind it.—Kimmi

Some of their students even experienced the harsh reality Tim had to face that day in the movie theater on a day where Kimmi came to speak as a guest. As she was answering a student question about what she remembered from her accident, she had an absence seizure, which involves a sudden and often brief lapse of consciousness. “It literally happened while she was talking upfront, and everybody got concerned,” Tim recounts. But he was able to remind his students, “I said, ‘Look, you guys are trained in epilepsy recognition and first aid. You’re okay.’”

When Kimmi came to, it was a powerful moment for the students as she reassured them that she chose to come in and speak, and that this is part of her disability. Kimmi admits she has some anxiety about speaking in front of people, and she has the added worry that she could have a seizure at any point. But as both Tim and Kimmi pointed out, the lack of awareness has created stigmas around disabilities, and about what people with disabilities are capable of. Especially, as Kimmi points out, in the sciences.

“Science, in particular, can be a little bit toxic,” she says. “They push people to be super productive to the point that a lot of people don't really get a chance to relax or take care of themselves.” For her, she has the added worry that her epilepsy and POTS might cause people to doubt her abilities.

I think it's really important that they see and hear the human aspect of it.—Kimmi

But Kimmi, despite her anxiety, and despite her seizure, continued to speak to the class, offering a once-in-a-lifetime insight to students who may one day be on the forefront of epilepsy research. “It’s all about awareness,” Tim says. “People with these conditions can absolutely do amazing things.”

Kimmi agrees, saying, “And I think it's really important that they see and hear the human aspect of it.”

From their budding research into the science of epilepsy, to their integration of their personal experiences in the classroom for a new generation of scientists, and to their deep dedication to advocacy for people with disabilities—Tim and Kimmi’s journey embodies a relentless pursuit for a better world.

At the heart of their story is a powerful message: the true impact of science and education lies in its ability to transform lives, not just in theory, but in the tangible, everyday world.

If you are interested in learning more or getting involved in Tim and Kimmi’s research, reach out to tmyers@pace.edu and/or kstephens2@pace.edu.

Being a trailblazer isn’t easy. Nevertheless, every year, first generation students take up this mantle as they bravely begin their educational journey, making a new path for themselves. It’s a daunting challenge, but Pace’s First Generation Program is dedicated to supporting these students, making sure they don’t have to go it alone.

But, before we go on, we have to answer a really important question: what is a first generation student? A person can consider themselves a first generation student when neither of their parents (this includes step-parents and legal guardians) have completed a bachelor’s degree OR if they earned a degree outside of the US. According to Valentine Rojas Abreu ’24, “Some people don’t even realize they’re a first generation student.”

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Valentina knows this better than most, as she has a deep connection to the first generation program at Pace, and the people it serves. As a first-gen student herself, she participated in the program as a mentee during her first year at Pace, before becoming a mentor herself. Now she’s the president of the program, offering new students the same support she found when she first started.

Many first generation students share similar feelings on the unique challenges they face navigating college. “My family members don’t always understand the stories I tell them about my college experience,” says Amber Brouwer '24. Danielle Shoulders ’24 has felt this too, saying, “I’m not able to ask about the college experience from my parents. I have overcome this by making my own support system.”

Having to figure things out on your own can help students reach for the stars.—Valentine Rojas Abreu

That’s where the First Generation Program can help, and both Amber and Danielle agree that building a community of other first-gen students helped ease some of the growing pains. According to Amber, “They understand the struggles you’re going through and remind you that you aren’t alone.”

The program also connects students with tools that help them in the transition into college. “Pace has a wide range of resources and events that college students can attend to learn more about the ins-and-outs of college,” says Danielle. D’Andre Butler ’25 says the program has done wonders to help him build connections. “Networking has been the best part of my experience,” he says. “Since my first year I have grown so much by creating opportunities for myself and making connections with pretty important people.”

I saw these four years as the time for me to try every club, job, and opportunity that I found interesting. —Amber Brouwer

Some first generation students believe that their unique challenges strengthen their resolve and even benefit them in the long run. “Yes, things were harder at first, because figuring out all of the right paperwork and financial aid on your own can be hard,” Amber admits. “But I also wanted to take every opportunity I had. I saw these four years as the time for me to try every club, job, and opportunity that I found interesting.”

This thirst for more is something Valentina sees in many of the students in the program, and she believes this spirit of independence ultimately encourages success. “Having to figure things out on your own can help students reach for the stars,” says Valentina. “They have to find opportunities and have higher aspirations because they know they’ve always had to.”

With the help of Pace’s First Generation Program, these students are not just navigating uncharted waters but transforming their challenges into assets as they begin to build their own legacies.

To learn more about Resources for First Generation Students, visit the First Generation Program site

When it comes to cybersecurity education, Pace is securely one of the premier destinations in the northeast. In fact, our Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems has even been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security.

Seidenberg has remained at the forefront of the field by consistently providing students cutting-edge opportunities to sharpen their skills through practical, real-world scenario-building. One example of this philosophy in practice can be found at the Cybersecurity Education and Research Lab (CERL), Pace’s hub for cyber curriculum and practice. Constantly looking to innovate, the CERL is now offering students and researchers an incredibly unique space for cybersecurity training and exploration through Pace’s newly launched Cyber Range.

What is Cyber Range exactly? Located on the Pleasantville Campus, a passerby might observe the sophisticated equipment and setup and think it’s some sort of CIA-style high tech control room. In a sense, that’s not too far off from its intention.

“The purpose of this room is to conduct cybersecurity exercises and scenarios that are hard to do in a regular room,” says Seidenberg Executive Director of Cybersecurity Li-Chiou Chen, PhD. Meaning, it employs the use of machines and containers pre-equipped with tools to help students and researchers train on various attack/defend scenarios.

The purpose of this room is to conduct cybersecurity exercises and scenarios that are hard to do in a regular room

“We’re using it as a training range for collaboration; and preparing students to go into emergency situations and network operations centers,” adds Clinical Assistant Professor Joseph Acampora.

As Acampora notes, Cyber Range is far from a typical classroom. There is for instance, a video wall with the capability of hooking up eight stations to enable instantaneous collaboration among students during scenarios designed to simulate what they might face after graduation, while working for Fortune 500 companies or a prestigious government agency. This hands-on training enables students to move well-beyond theory and gain incredibly valuable experience that is not typically this accessible at the college level.

“The environment here is stimulating for people in this field; people in this field aren’t your typical computer users. We have a different mindset for being absorbed in this technology,” says cybersecurity student Andrew Kirk ’24.

As Kirk further notes, as the damage conducted via cyber warfare is only increasing, initiatives like Cyber Range is helping equip the next generation of cybersecurity leaders with the tools and abilities to truly make a difference.

“Anyone that has internet and a computer could do so much damage,” said Kirk. “We’re learning ethical hacking; we’re learning the tools the bad guys are using so we can defend against it. In that sense, this education is priceless.”

To learn more about Cyber Range and cybersecurity initiatives at Pace, visit the Cyber Range website.

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Pace Field Hockey capped off another successful season, finishing near the top of the NE-10 Conference with a 13-8 record, which earned the team an appearance in the NCAA tournament. On an individual level, the team is proud to boast not one, but two First-Team All-Americans.

For the first time in program history, two players, Krista Dietz ’25 and Noëlle Meij ’24 were recognized as two of the nation’s top players, as selected by National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).

The pair, who combined 11 times this season, were instrumental in pushing the team to the NCAA tournament, in which they competitively bowed out to the eventual Division II National Champions Kutztown University in a tough 2-1 loss. Dietz, who was named NFHCA East Region Player of the Year, Northeast 10 Player of the Year, and First Team All NE10, posted an incredible offensive season; leading the nation in goals (24) assists (14), assists per game (.67) points (62), and points per game (2.95). She also owns the mark for most points in a single game this season with her 11-point performance, five goals one assist, against the University of New Haven. Meij, who was also First-Team All Northeast 10, finished the year with 10 goals and 10 assists. Her .48 assists per game was among the top in all of Division II, and she recorded at least one point in six straight matches to help build momentum early in the season.

All in all, this dynamic duo—who now occupy many of the top spots in the Pace record books—helped turn in a very positive season for Head Coach Kayte Biordi and her staff. Meij, who will graduate with a degree in psychology and was also a United Nations Millennium Fellow while at Pace, will be missed by the squad, but will certainly bring her on-the-field grit and determination to wherever the future takes her.

"This accomplishment makes me happy and proud as an athlete, but field hockey is a team sport so it’s always difficult to praise individuals," says Meij. "I am very happy and proud of the improvement that we made as a team in the last three seasons and that we made it to the NCAA tournament. I hope the team will make it even further next year!"

"Being part of the Pace Field Hockey team has had a profound impact on my personal growth," adds Dietz. "It has provided me with numerous opportunities to meet new people, develop on and off the field, and show self-improvement not only as a player but also as an individual. As a team, we have faced many challenges, setbacks, and failures. However, the team has helped me learn to cope with defeat, bounce back from setbacks, and maintain a positive attitude towards our success."

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Esports is alive and well at Pace.

Since the program, formerly a student-run club, was formalized into a varsity sport at Pace it has witnessed major growth, epic victories, and a growing reputation for excellence in competitive gaming.

Recognition

The program was voted the top Esports program in the nation a March Madness-styled bracket by Esports Foundry. Furthermore, program director Jesse Bodony was named 2023 Collegiate Program Director of the Year at the Esports Awards in Las Vegas in November 2023. “Being named Director of the Year is a tremendous honor,” says Bodony. “Our students are the ones who are deserving of all the credit—they make me look every day.”

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#1 Esports Program in the Nation
2023 Collegiate Program Director of the Year

Track Record

Last year, Pace Esports teams contributed to a 100–19 total overall record across the fall and spring season, with all varsity teams making playoffs across all game titles in both seasons. To date, they have won Conference Champion titles four times.

100-19 Total Record
4x Conference Champion Titles

Growth

The program has grown significantly since its beginnings. At the launch of the program, 40 students played across 8 teams, which doubled during the 2023–2023 school year to 90 students across 18 teams. During the 2023–2024 year those numbers have continued to grow to 130 students across 25 teams, with over 900 students in the entire casual and competitive community. The amount of nonbinary and female players has grown from 19% to 28% of total players in the program, highlighting the inclusive community that the program has continued to promote.

28% Nonbinary and Female Players
2 All-Women and Nonbinary Teams

More growth is expected now with the launch of Pace’s new bachelor’s degree in Game Development, which the Esports program collaborated on, this Fall 2024.

The foundation is set, numbers growing, and more eyes than ever are looking to Pace Esports to lead the way in Collegiate Esports. Assistant Director of the program Julia Cardillo ’22 says “I'm just excited to see where we go without all the noise of these new changes, and seeing what we can do now that we’re established. I’m excited to see that momentum build and to see what we can do.”

6 Titles | 25 Teams | 130 Team Members

2 Facilities | 900 Students in Entire Community

Bodony is likewise anticipating bigger and better things for the program with success driven by the Pace Community who build Pace Esports to what it is today. “The ascension of Pace Esports to national prominence has truly been a team effort,” he says. “With the support of a forward thinking administration, allies across the institution, and an impassioned gaming community the sky is the limit for our program.”

Check out Pace’s Esports site to keep up to date with everything Esports. Show your support for the teams and catch a match on their Twitch channel.

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State of the art stadium? Check. Big time sponsor? Check.

Completed in 2015, Pleasantville’s multi-sport stadium already has seen its share of great moments; it’s home to the emergent football and women’s soccer teams in the fall, as well as the nationally ranked men’s lacrosse and national championship-winning women’s lacrosse squad in the spring.

Now, the stadium finally has a naming rights deal worthy of its stature.

Prior to the 2023–2024 athletics season Pace’s Department Athletics and Recreation announced Northwell Health as its Official Healthcare Partner, a partnership which will continue for the next five seasons.

The exclusive partnership includes a medical services agreement, which connects Northwell Health and Pace Athletics through the Setters' athletic training and sports medicine department, as well as a marketing and branding component that includes naming rights to Pace University's multi-sport stadium–Northwell Stadium.

"This partnership accomplishes a great deal as it associates our Athletic Department with a top health care system in the region while ensuring our student-athletes will be receiving world class medical care from a team of elite doctors in the Tri-state area," remarked Pace Director of Athletics, Mark Brown. "Nothing is more important than the health and wellness of our students and this relationship fortifies this priority."

Nothing is more important than the health and wellness of our students and this relationship fortifies this priority.

Through the partnership, the team physician will be Victor Khabie, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon and Co-Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Northern Westchester Hospital and member of Somers Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Group. Dr. Khabie has a very accomplished resume when it comes to working with athletes—having worked with the LA Lakers, LA Dodgers, LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, LA Sparks and the USC Trojan football team.

"We are excited to partner with a collegiate sports powerhouse and look forward to bringing the expertise and compassion of New York State's largest health care provider to Pace Athletics," said Kevin Beiner, senior vice president and regional executive director of Northwell's Western Region. "It's through our two Westchester hospitals, Phelps and Northern Westchester, that we'll forge a pathway, both on and off the field, to build a healthier and stronger community and student body."

Nestled in a corner of the 16th floor of the iconic 41 Park Row, a building steeped in history, the Pace Study is a hidden gem. Erected in 1854 and later revamped in 1888, this landmark building was the original home of the New York Times and found its way into the hands of Pace College in 1951. Within its walls, the Study served as the workspace for Robert S. Pace, the second president of Pace University and son of co-founder Homer Pace. Nowadays, it's a haven for small, but significant University meetings.

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Situated on the University’s executive floor, tucked away amidst the ultramodern office spaces and well-lit hallways, is a living memorial to Pace’s rich history. Through the anteroom, adorned with a decorative plaster ceiling and an oil painting of Robert S. Pace, is the Pace Study—restored, curated, and well-cared for.

Though impressive at first look, it’s the little details that tell the greatest story. Look closely and you'll find a trove of treasures reflecting the diverse passions of Homer Pace, a number-cruncher by trade and an avid book collector and wordsmith at heart.

Special thanks to the Campus Planning and Facilities team, University Curator and Dyson professor Kim de Beaumont, PhD; and University Archivist Ellen Sowchek for providing context and information regarding the contents of the Pace Study.

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On October 22, the Pace University Department of Athletics inducted its Hall of Fame Class of 2023 during Homecoming Weekend at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, NY.

This year's class, the 20th enshrined class, was an all-female one, celebrating the long and storied tradition of standout women student-athletes on the heels of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX. The Class of 2023 includes: Lesly Sanchez Alvarez '18, the first field hockey player; Marta Anderson-Winchell '06, representing women's soccer and women's basketball; Shea Hansen '11, women's volleyball; and current head women's basketball coach Carrie Seymour.

The Peter X. Finnerty Leadership Award was presented to women's basketball alumni Elizabeth Hernandez '83. She was inducted into the Pace Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.

"I am so excited for this year's Hall of Fame class and what it represents for our institution. The circumstances surrounding this class, fresh off the 50th anniversary of Title IX is a testament to our institution's long-standing commitment to gender equity, remarked Director of Athletics Mark Brown. "Our women's teams have been paving the way nationally for many years, with field hockey at the NCAA Semifinals in 2018, women's basketball making the Elite Eight three times, and most recently women's lacrosse winning the 2023 Division II NCAA National Championship this past spring."

In addition to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, presented by Northwell Health, Wanda Maynard-Morris ’02 was presented with her award for being inducted into the Northeast-10 Conference Hall of Fame by Commissioner Julie Ruppert.

Want to recognize someone for their outstanding contributions to Pace Athletics? Make a Hall of Fame nomination.

Pace has long been at the forefront of providing students with whatever they may need to succeed—a mission that particularly applies to our neurodiverse students.

Thanks to innovative programs such as our Ongoing Academic Social Instructional Support program (OASIS), and faculty members such as School of Education Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for Special Education Jennifer Pankowski, EdD, the University doesn’t just talk to the talk when it comes to empowering our students.

This fall, Pankowski was awarded the NYSED Enhancing Supports and Services for Students with Disabilities for Postsecondary Success (SWDPS) Grant. Totaling $63,807, the grant ensures that students with disabilities at Pace will now have access to a range of expanded support services, including one-on-one meetings with social workers and academic coaches, adaptive technology for accommodations, and training for neurodiversity support in the Learning Commons.

“This grant allows us to take what we already know we’re doing really well and make it accessible to students across all three campuses,” said Pankowski.

“This grant allows us to take what we already know we’re doing really well and make it accessible to students across all three campuses.”

As Pankowski notes, the grant is helping the University better bridge the gap between the educational setting and the real world by providing students with accommodations that are appropriate for each student’s respective fields. Laptops designed for certification exams such as the bar exam or the CPA exam, for example, ensure a student can become familiar with the machine that they would actually be accommodated with when taking those tests. Pankowski believes this philosophy—empowering students to become comfortable with tools that don’t solely exist in a classroom—is incredibly important and is not always the norm at secondary and postsecondary schools.

“What happens very often students, are given all these accommodations that don’t carry over to college, grad school, the workforce; it becomes this learned helplessness and we want to squash that.”

The grant has also enabled Pankowski and the University to look for ways to continually make Pace a more accessible and fruitful place for students no matter their disability. An order of smart pens, for instance, will enable students who might otherwise have difficulty processing lectures to have a reliable resource alongside them.

“These smart pens will essentially translate the lecture live, which is really fantastic for students with dyslexia for example, or fine motor or auditory processing issues. We want these to be accessible without a hefty cost.”

Pankowski expressed additional excitement about the way in which this grant is opening up conversations with each school at Pace regarding their particular needs, helping increase accommodations that actually make an impact—as she notes, helping to expand upon and diversify what faculty and students know is already working, and change course when something is not. And by collaborating with the Learning Commons to engage in systematic workshop training, this initiative is helping neurodiverse students receive improved academic support.

All in all, this grant—and Pace’s continued commitment to empowering students with learning disabilities—is helping students reach their full potential not just as students, but as individuals ready to make an impact on the world.