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Professor of Criminal Justice and Security Kimberly Collica-Cox, PhD, has been recognized for her instrumental work in supporting incarcerated individuals with both a proclamation and an award.

As part of Women’s History Month, the Office of County Executive, Westchester County presented a proclamation to Collica-Cox, a “female trailblazer” with unwavering commitment to the Westchester County Department of Correction (WCDOC)’s core values, providing education, healing, and hope to hundreds of incarcerated individuals over the past 28 years on a federal, state, and county level. In addition, she received an award from the WCDOC in recognition of her outstanding vision and dedicated service to the individuals at the county jail.

As part of her extensive career in criminal justice, Collica-Cox, also an author, has shared her passion for providing meaningful educational services to incarcerated individuals at both the WCDOC, a county jail, and other correctional institutions, such as the Metropolitan Correctional Center and the New York State Department of Correction, with Pace students, who, in turn, have gained valuable experiential learning opportunities.

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One of those students, Alicia Bennett, English, Criminal Justice ’24, MS in Publishing ‘25 has been a teaching and research assistant for Collica-Cox over the years, assisting her with projects as part of the award-winning, evidence-based Parenting, Prison, and Pups program, provided to female jail-based prisoners, as well as the Inside-Out College course where students learn alongside adult learners at the WCDOC.

Three-year initiative will increase accessibility for nursing students with physical disabilities through education, infrastructure and policy change

The Lienhard School of Nursing, part of the College of Health Professions at Pace University, has received a $206,711 grant from the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation to lead a three-year initiative aimed at removing barriers for students with physical disabilities in nursing education.

Founded in 1930, the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation is the only national foundation solely dedicated to improving the education of health professionals. Its Disability Inclusion in Nursing initiative supports the inclusion of learners with disabilities to help build a nursing workforce that reflects the communities it serves. Support for the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation grant program was provided in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The project, Enhancing Inclusivity in Nursing Programs for Students with Disabilities, will implement infrastructure improvements, educational programming, and policy revisions—all designed to create more inclusive and supportive learning environments. Based at Pace’s Pleasantville Campus, the initiative aims to reimagine how students with physical disabilities access and experience nursing education.

“Pace University and the Lienhard School of Nursing are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation to build a nursing workforce that is representative of the patients we serve,” said Michele Lucille Lopez, DHEd, MA, RN, CNE, assistant professor of nursing. “Our project aims to reimagine the role of the nurse and foster an inclusive learning environment by removing barriers that may otherwise prevent students with disabilities from being successful.”

Led by Dr. Lopez, the team includes Elizabeth A. Berro, Ph.D., RN, CHSE, CNE, assistant professor and director of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program; and Marie Lourdes Charles, Ed.D., RN-BC, FNYAM, associate professor of nursing. The team will work alongside Jennifer Tokash, OTD, OTR/L, CBIS, CPAM, and John Damiao, Ph.D., OTR/L, of Pace’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program. Together with clinical partners, they will develop inclusive, hands-on learning environments and ensure equitable clinical experiences for students with disabilities.

The initiative also seeks to build partnerships with clinical agencies and raise awareness among health care educators and providers. By addressing systemic obstacles in nursing education and clinical training, the program aims to expand access, strengthen workforce diversity and advance health equity.

“Creating inclusive and accessible environments in nursing education and practice is essential to advancing health equity and supporting the potential of all of our learners,” said Macy Foundation President Dr. Holly Humphrey. “These six projects will identify strategies to promote inclusion for those with disabilities so that we may build learning environments and a nursing workforce that reflect and serve the diverse needs of all students and patients. The Macy Foundation is delighted to collaborate with the project leaders at local nursing schools alongside our exceptional Advisory Committee to achieve this vital goal."

For more information, visit the Macy Foundation website.

About Pace University

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

About the College of Health Professions at Pace University

Established in 2010, the College of Health Professions (CHP) at Pace University offers a broad range of programs at the bachelor, master's, and doctoral levels. It is the College's goal to create innovative and complex programs that reflect the changing landscape of the health care system. These programs are designed to prepare graduates for impactful careers in health care practice, health-related research, or as educators, and equip graduates to work in health policy and global health fields. Students in clinical programs receive hands-on training in the College's interprofessional Center of Excellence in Healthcare Simulation and have the opportunity to apply their developing skills in real-world settings at many of the regions' leading clinical facilities. In addition to Nutrition and Dietetics, the College currently comprises several growing and important areas of study, which include Nursing, Physician Assistant, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Health Science, Occupational Therapy, Health Informatics, and Public Health.

Andrew Neiderman ’09 joins us on The Lubin Link podcast to share his journey from a Pace student with big ideas to a successful entrepreneur in marketing and media production. After earning his degree from the Lubin School of Business in 2009, Andrew launched Fill in the Brand, a marketing agency focused on crafting bold and memorable brand identities. He also runs Beyond Werds, a video production team specializing in dynamic micro-documentaries.

While at Pace, Andrew was an active member of the Advertising Team and began laying the groundwork for what would become his creative career. What started as website development soon evolved into a thriving business. In this episode, Andrew dives into the lessons he's learned building his brand, his take on authentic storytelling, and what it takes to launch and grow a creative enterprise.

This episode was recorded on March 11, 2025

• Listen to Andrew on Spotify
• Listen to Andrew on Apple Podcasts

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

The moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here. We’re proud to announce this year’s Honorary Degree Recipients, speakers, and honorees—an extraordinary group of leaders and changemakers who bring a wealth of experience, innovation, and inspiration to the Class of 2025.

Among them are the CEO of Etsy and longtime tech innovator, a Golden Globe-nominated actor and Pace alumnus, a nationally recognized nurse leader and Pace nursing graduate, and New York City’s Fire Commissioner and Haub Law alumnus. These remarkable individuals will help us mark the occasion with wisdom, creativity, and heart as we celebrate our graduating students this May.

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Josh Silverman

Chief Executive Officer, Etsy

Honorary Degree Recipient and Speaker at the Main Ceremony

Josh Silverman is Etsy’s chief executive officer, leading the company as it builds a platform that empowers creative entrepreneurs around the world. He is also a member of Etsy’s board of directors.

Josh’s two decades of leadership experience include growing consumer technology companies and scaling global marketplaces. He previously served as president of Consumer Products and Services at American Express, CEO of Skype, and CEO of Shopping.com, and he held various executive roles at eBay. Earlier in his career, Josh co-founded Evite, Inc., where he also served as the company’s CEO. He is currently on the board of directors of Shake Shack.

Josh was previously a member of the Stanford Business School Management Board and the Lincoln Center Theater board.

Lorelai Atalie Vargas

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Chief Community Impact Officer, Trinity Church Wall Street
Winner of the Opportunitas In Action Award

Lorelei Atalie Vargas has three decades of experience in the nonprofit and government sectors, creating community-level opportunities that strengthen the lives of children and families. She currently serves as chief community impact officer of Trinity Church, where she developed and leads a place-based initiative to address the well-being of communities in Lower Manhattan. This initiative combines targeted philanthropic investments with on-the-ground support to meet immediate needs and address root causes. She also sits on several boards, most recently joining the board of the Puerto Rican Women’s Foundation—the first and only women’s fund in Puerto Rico—supporting organizations that serve and advocate for women, girls, and the nonbinary community.

Prior to her current appointments, Lorelei served as deputy commissioner for child and family well-being with the City of New York’s Administration for Children’s Services. There, she advocated for, designed, developed, and administered the country’s first child welfare division dedicated to using a two-generation approach to strengthen programs, leverage existing resources, and build on the assets inherent in families.

She also previously served as New York City’s deputy commissioner of early care and education, leading the country’s largest publicly funded, subsidized child care system—serving nearly 110,000 children with an annual budget of over $1 billion. In this role, Lorelei successfully led reforms that expanded access to and improved the quality of care for low-income children.

Before entering city government, Lorelei spent more than a decade at a Westchester-based nonprofit, where she led the organization’s work to implement a trauma-informed organizational culture model across more than 300 child-serving organizations worldwide. Her career has included work in New York City government and nonprofit settings in New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Philadelphia, providing her with a rich understanding of the systems that support low-income and oppressed communities. She uses that knowledge to shape sustainable change for families, communities, policies, and systems.

Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, Lorelei earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Bryn Mawr College, where she currently serves on the board of trustees and on the board of advisors for Bryn Mawr’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. She also holds two master’s degrees—one in public policy and one in education administration and policy—from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow.

Lorelei was named a Pahara Fellow (2017) for her work on equity in early childhood education and an Ascend Fellow (2018) for her leadership in developing two-generation systems from the Aspen Institute, where she is a member of the Aspen Global Network. In 2020, she was named to City & State New York’s Responsible 100 list for her thought leadership in creating transformational social change during the pandemic. In 2024, she received the Partnership for Afterschool Education’s Afterschool Champion Award for her career-long commitment to advancing educational opportunities for youth.

Cooper Koch ’18

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Actor

Speaker at the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Sands College of Performing Arts, and School of Education Undergraduate Ceremony

Cooper Koch is an American actor who received a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Erik Menendez in the biographical crime drama series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. He has also appeared in the slasher film They/Them and the body horror film Swallowed. Cooper graduated from Pace School of Performing Arts with a BFA in acting in May 2018.

Launette Woolforde, EdD ’93

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Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Northwell Health

Honorary Degree Recipient and Speaker at the Lubin School of Business, College of Health Professions, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems Undergraduate Ceremony

Dr. Launette Woolforde is the deputy chief nursing officer for Northwell Health and assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.

With 88,000 employees, including 19,000 nurses, Northwell Health is the largest employer and largest health system in New York State. Dr. Woolforde developed its system-wide nurse residency program, which is accredited with distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She established the health system’s infrastructure that enabled growth from three Magnet hospitals to eleven—the most of any health system in New York.

Dr. Woolforde began her 32-year nursing career as a student at Pace University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Lienhard School of Nursing. She earned a master’s degree from Hunter College and a post-master’s certificate from the College of New Rochelle. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Case Western Reserve University as well as a Doctor of Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College—pursuing both degrees simultaneously and becoming the first nurse at Northwell to earn two doctoral degrees.

Dr. Woolforde has served as an executive board member at the National League for Nursing, the country’s oldest nursing organization, and on the board of the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD). For her many contributions to the profession, she received the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society for Nursing International Founders Award, was named the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s National Certified Nurse of the Year, and was inducted into Columbia University Teachers College Alumni Hall of Fame. She holds two board certifications and is a fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, the Health Management Academy, and the esteemed American Academy of Nursing.

Robert Tucker ’96

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New York City Fire Commissioner

Honorary Degree Recipient and Speaker at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law Ceremony

Robert S. Tucker is the 35th New York City fire commissioner. A lifelong New Yorker, Commissioner Tucker grew up in Manhattan and attended George Washington University. He went to law school at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University at night while working as the special assistant to the late Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. The experience allowed him to work closely with an extensive network of executive-level members of the New York City Police Department and the city administration, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, and other public safety entities.

In 1999, he founded T&M USA, an international security and investigations firm. During his time at T&M, he was also devoted to philanthropic work. This included service as a trustee of the New York City Police Foundation and on the board of directors of White Plains Hospital, Pace University, and the FDNY Foundation.

As a 1996 graduate of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, Commissioner Tucker has a deep connection to his alma mater and served on Pace University’s Board of Trustees from 2018 until 2024. In 2017, through his generous support, Haub Law established the Robert S. Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to criminal prosecution and exemplify excellence in prosecutorial practice.

Commissioner Tucker prides himself on being a son of the city and the father of three children—two daughters and a son. He is the grandson of the late Richard Tucker, an American operatic tenor and cantor long associated with the Metropolitan Opera.

Serving as the FDNY commissioner is the realization of Commissioner Tucker’s lifelong dream.

Anjali Sud

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Chief Executive Officer, Tubi

Honorary Degree Recipient and Speaker at the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems Graduate Ceremony

Anjali Sud is CEO of Tubi, America’s most-watched free TV and movie streaming service. Under Sud’s leadership, the company has exhibited exciting growth and momentum—scaling to over 97 million monthly active viewers, expanding globally, and solidifying its position as a major entertainment destination.

Prior to Tubi, Anjali served as CEO of Vimeo, the global online video platform. During her six-year tenure, she took the company public and established Vimeo as the home for video creators and professionals worldwide, building a community of over 300 million users. Before that, she held various positions in e-commerce and media at Amazon and Time Warner.

Anjali has been featured in Fortune’s “40 Under 40,” The Hollywood Reporter’s “Most Powerful Women in Entertainment,” Bloomberg’s “Ones to Watch,” and CNBC’s “Changemakers.” She is a designated Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

She serves on the board of directors of Dolby Laboratories and SiriusXM, and as chair of the board of Change.org. Anjali grew up in Flint, Michigan, and lives in New York City with her husband and two young sons.

Stay tuned to the Commencement website for more information about speakers and nominees, important information about deadlines (application to graduate, ticket ordering, and caps and gowns), the full schedule of events for May 19 and 20, and more. Can’t wait to see you on your big day!

The countdown is on.

Commencement season is almost here, and we can’t wait to celebrate all that our graduates have accomplished. This is one of my favorite times of year—it’s a moment to reflect on how far our students have come and to look ahead to all the incredible things they’re about to do next.

This year, we’re excited to welcome an outstanding group of speakers and honorees whose stories speak to the very heart of our mission—Opportunitas. They’re creators, leaders, changemakers. And they exemplify what’s possible when talent meets determination and opportunity. Find out more about our speakers, FAQ, and other important information about Commencement.

As we close out the semester, this issue of Pace Now shines a light on members of our community who are going for it every day. You’ll meet international student Lizi Imedashvili ’26 and student-athlete Jabari Nurse—who brings leadership and positivity to everything he does. You’ll also hear from SOE professor Carieann Sipos, whose dedication to preparing future educators is helping shape the next generation.

We’re also highlighting some important resources to support your well-being, including Mental Health First Aid training. And if you're a student, remember: it’s time to plan ahead. Graduate registration opens April 7, and undergraduates can start registering on April 14. Here’s how to get started.

Let’s finish the semester strong—and I’ll see you at Commencement.

Warmly,

Marvin Krislov
President, Pace University