The Amelia A. Gould Assistantship: Providing Faculty and Students with a Canvas for Creative Expression

Dyson College of Arts and Science

This past summer, Clinical Assistant Professor of Art Derek Stroup, MFA, and Katie Romanyshyn ‘25, Film and Screen Studies, engaged in a faculty-student collaboration through the Amelia A. Gould Assistantship that expanded both of their creative boundaries and artistic possibilities in the most unexpected of ways.

Pace University's Art professor Derek Stroup
Pace University's Art professor Derek Stroup
Antonia Gentile

This past summer 2023, Clinical Assistant Professor of Art Derek Stroup, MFA, and Katie Romanyshyn ‘25, Film and Screen Studies, engaged in a faculty-student collaboration that expanded both of their creative boundaries and artistic possibilities in the most unexpected of ways.

Their work together was made possible by the Amelia A. Gould Undergraduate Research Assistantship, offered through the Provost Office’s Center for Undergraduate Research Experiences Summer Undergraduate Research (CURE) program. This exciting new funding opportunity at Pace supports projects in the creative arts, pairing faculty who are working professionals in their fields with an undergraduate student.

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Pace University's Art professor Derek Stroup and Film and Screen Studies student Katie Romanyshyn

Stroup, an artist who also coordinates a partnership Pace has with the International Center for Photography, where students take innovative, professional studio courses that complement the curriculum offered on the New York City campus, joined forces with Romanyshyn, a student in his digital photography class. Together, they created a series of large-scale photographic screen prints on canvas, a continuation of Stroup’s Radiant Fields series.

The faculty-student team began their work together with a necessary two-person endeavor, the crucial first step of stretching the canvas in Stroup’s studio in Brooklyn. The intricate process that followed included coating large pieces of canvas with a light sensitive photo emulsion, covering them, once dry, with a large negative, and then exposing them to light. After a final water rinse, the resulting images were something between a painting, screen-printed textile, and photography.

Said Romanyshyn, “One of the main things I learned was how to work for and with a fellow artist since artwork has always been a solitary endeavor for me. Professor Stroup has so much knowledge he’s willing to share and made me feel comfortable and excited to try new things.”

Over the next couple of weeks, active steps interchanged with the art of waiting, until the piece was complete, requiring the kind of discipline, skill, and patience artists know well.

To elevate the mundane

Unlike the vast, monumental spaces captured by American landscape photographer Ansel Adams, Stroup’s images in his Radiant Fields series are that of weedy environments—that is, places where nature runs wild, such as overgrown fields and cracked sidewalks—and in which plants such as dandelions inherently recognize how to use the sun’s rays to thrive. With the format of canvas print, as opposed to something digital, Stroup is thus making solar radiation tangible, tactile, and physical with his art.

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Numbered grid for Pace University's art professor Derek Stroup's Radiant Fields artwork series

In showcasing these “radiation landscapes,” Stroup is also highlighting an aspect of nature that is not traditionally regarded as existing for humanity’s benefit, but rather pursuing life in its own inconspicuous way, while also being part of an ecosystem that adapts and changes with a beautiful complexity that is often beyond human awareness.

And it is this “ordinariness” that really interests Stroup.

He said, “I am much more in this category of artists who try to work in the ordinary world and, much more, the kind who is trying to reawaken myself, and to re-sensitize myself, and hopefully viewers, to the possibilities of regular things.”

Experiential learning

Back on campus in the Art department, Romanyshyn also worked with Stroup to rebuild his professional website, involving the very detailed task of documenting his prolific works, which go beyond photography and include posters, books, and other publications. Romanyshyn mastered WordPress—the industry standard for web content management—in the process.

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Pace University's Art professor Derek Stroup and Film and Screen Studies student Katie Romanyshyn working together on artwork made possible by the Amelia A. Gould Undergraduate Research Assistantship

As a faculty mentor, Stroup also understands the importance of getting out of the studio and into the world, echoing the theme of experiential learning at Dyson that goes beyond the classroom. With this in mind, they embarked on an early morning on-location photo session at Jacob Riis Beach.

Earlier, Romanyshyn had read the unpublished manuscript for a new book of fiction by Stroup, and she encouraged him to finish it. Together, they decided to create a series of photographs for the text. Romanyshyn found a model, researched visual ideas for the photographs, and worked on all aspects of this on-location production at Jacob Riis.

On the importance of funding artists

For too long, and as exemplified in its extreme form by the phrase “starving artists,” artists have often sacrificed material well-being to bring their creative talents to the world.

Stroup, however, stresses the importance of not accepting this as the norm, and contends that artwork qualifies as real work. He notes that he could not have completed his recent projects if it were not for Romanyshyn and the financial support of the Amelia A. Gould Foundation, which provided a generous stipend for Romanyshyn over the course of the summer.

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Numbered grid for Pace University's art professor Derek Stroup look over and with artwork from his Radiant Fields series

He said, “I hadn't done anything like this before in my career, and it was a really, really positive experience for everybody. And I could not have done that without the grant.”

An exhibition of equity

The mission of the assistantship, which is to both provide faculty with research support while enhancing opportunities for student-faculty collaboration in the creative arts, had also been wonderfully fulfilled in the case of Stroup and Romanyshyn.

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Pace University's Film and Screen Studies student Katie Romanyshyn working on an artwork project made possible by the Amelia A. Gould Undergraduate Research Assistantship

Stroup is grateful to Romanyshyn for making his studio practice more visible to the world and in a better way, and Romanyshyn, a Film and Screen Studies major whose interest lies in digital storytelling, received professional training in various documentary practices while also working in an actual artist studio.

In addition to the artistic skills she developed as part of this work, Romanyshyn, who stepped out of her comfort zone with a move from a small New Jersey town to New York City to attend Pace, learned something less tangible but equally important: to put herself out there and to not fear rejection, which she contends resulted in her personal growth.

This did not go unnoticed by Stroup.

He commended her for her drive and bravery when she first asked him to be mentored as part of this assistantship, which in turn motivated his desire to make this collaboration come to fruition. And so, both faculty member and student worked to complete the application process together, and the rest is artistic history.

Said Romanyshyn, “This whole experience was very, very meaningful for me. Professor Stroup’s belief in me as a student and artist is probably the most meaningful part of it and his admiration for my commitment and work ethic was the cherry on top.”

Stroup’s prints on canvas completed with Romanyshyn will be featured in his solo exhibition, “Radiant Fields” at KPNZ gallery in Walton, New York in 2024.

All photos accompanying this article by Katie Romanyshyn.

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Dyson Digital Digest: Fall 2023

Students

On Wednesday, October 11, Political Science and Peace and Justice Studies students Ellis Clay ‘25, Antje Hipkins ’24, and Jasmine Cintron Soto ’25 delivered statements to the United Nations General Assembly First Committee, a forum focused on global disarmament and international security.

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When asked about his Haub Law experience so far, the first words Daniel Reyes mentions are "support system." Daniel grew up with a close-knit family who looked to one another for support, so seeking out the same environment for his educational pursuits was paramount.

Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University student Daniel Reyes
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Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University student Daniel Reyes

When asked about his Haub Law experience so far, the first words Daniel Reyes mentions are "support system." Daniel grew up with a close-knit family who looked to one another for support, so seeking out the same environment for his educational pursuits was paramount. “I am a first-generation college graduate and law student; my parents always preached the importance of education to my brother and me and the importance of having people you can depend on. My brother recently became the first engineer in the family, and I am now working towards becoming the first lawyer in the family. Haub Law showed immense faith in my potential and had a very family-oriented feel to its campus.”

For Daniel, his involvement with the Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) has been where he found his support system. “The members of LALSA have been mentors for me and have truly guided me throughout my first two years at Haub Law. I am truly grateful for each and every one of them and it was so rewarding to serve as a mentor for the incoming 1L class in return.” Daniel is also a member of the First Generation Law Students Society, which he notes has connected him with so many others who share a similar background and upbringing as him.

As a 2L, Daniel participated in Haub Law’s competitive Federal Judicial Honors Program (FJHP), where he worked in the federal courts for the Southern District of New York for twelve hours a week. “The experience was both challenging and rewarding. Having the opportunity to have your writing and research skills put to the test at a judge’s standard is intimidating, but a very valuable learning experience. The practical and hands on knowledge I gained is amazing.”

While law school wasn’t always at the forefront of Daniel’s mind, today, he can’t imagine another educational pursuit. “For most of my life, I wanted to become a police officer. However, I began studying accounting during undergrad and discovered a new passion. After graduating from Rutgers in 2020, I decided that going to law school would be the best way to merge my two interests in criminal justice and accounting. I try to keep an open mind and think outside of the box. Attending Haub Law has solidified for me that I made the right choice.”

Although Daniel still has another year left of law school, he hopes to work in private practice one day. “Right now, I am interested in corporate, banking, securities, and tax law. However, each new experience I have at Haub Law makes me realize how vast the profession of law is and that there truly is no limit to what you can do with your degree.”

When Daniel isn’t studying, he enjoys playing chess, soccer, and snowboarding. He is also a huge New York Jets fan. His advice for a successful law school experience: “The first step to success is believing in yourself! Once you truly have faith in your capabilities, the only person that can stop you is YOU.”

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Division II Pace Stuns Rick Pitino-Led St. John's 63-59 In Exhibition

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1010 WINS spoke with former NYPD Lieutenant Darrin Porcher, a criminal justice professor at Pace University, who said the worst is yet to come in the trend of thieves utilizing mopeds and scooters in their crimes. “If we introduce a regulatory process, which requires license plating on these vehicles that have motors, that would now allow us to capture the information from a license plate, to further move towards an enforcement action against that moped,” Porcher explained despite expressing a lack of faith that the city will pursue this regulatory process.

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O.P. Jindal Global University and Pace University Sign Agreement For Short-Term Study Abroad Programme

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An agreement for short-term study abroad programme for JGU students at Pace University was also signed between Pace University & O.P. Jindal Global University.

A delegation from Pace University, New York, led by Professor Marvin Krislov visited O.P.

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Thought Leader Chris Rabb Delivers Impactful 2023 Dyson Distinguished Lecture

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, Chris Rabb delivered the 2023 Dyson Distinguished Lecture at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. Chris Rabb is a family historian, author, and thought leader at the intersection of social identity, civic innovation, and equity. His lecture was entitled: “Navigating Identity, Purpose and Belonging in a Society in Flux.”

Chris Rabb presenting the 2023 Dyson Lecture at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
Chris Rabb presenting the 2023 Dyson Lecture at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, Chris Rabb delivered the 2023 Dyson Distinguished Lecture at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. Chris Rabb is a family historian, author, and thought leader at the intersection of social identity, civic innovation, and equity. His lecture was entitled: “Navigating Identity, Purpose and Belonging in a Society in Flux.”

Haub Law Dean Horace Anderson spoke about the history of the Distinguished Dyson Lecture and thanked Mr. Rabb for delivering this year’s lecture. University Distinguished Professor of Law, Bridget Crawford, followed with a formal introduction of Mr. Rabb, speaking about his background and impressive accomplishments. Professor Crawford attended Yale College at the same time as Mr. Rabb and noted his role in the ultimate renaming of one of Yale’s residential colleges. She described Mr. Rabb as an incredibly hard worker who has dedicated his life to ending institutional, interpersonal, and all other forms of injustice.

Mr. Rabb began his engaging lecture discussing the important difference between “fitting in” and “belonging.” He noted that the two are not synonymous, as “belonging is about connectedness, being accepted for exactly who you are.” Mr. Rabb described his personal journey as a genealogist, which he began over thirty years ago in order, as he describes it, to find out “who his people were.” He discussed at length his lineage and family connections to both enslaved people and their enslavers. This has given him a complex perspective on the intersection of identity, purpose, and civic engagement. He noted that each of us has a social identity that influences our connectedness, community building, and placemaking, especially in divisive times.

As Mr. Rabb continued his lecture, he touched on the important difference between ancestry and heritage and how this played into his own personal journey of discovering his own social identity. “Ancestry is what you are: your pedigree, your parents, grandparents,” he noted. “Genetically that is what makes you up. Heritage is very different. Heritage is about who you choose to become. You have choice over that.” Mr. Rabb has been an outspoken critic of the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard. During his lecture, he discussed the connection between and among opportunity, privilege and social identity, along with the future of affirmative action in higher education.

He rounded out his riveting and personal lecture by discussing the roles to which all are called. “We all have gifts. What do we do with them? That is your exploration,” he encouraged students. Mr. Rabb acknowledged that the role that one may find oneself in at any given moment may require embracing an “inconvenient truth;” it may be an unanticipated role, but each of us must rise to the occasion. “If you can find the community of conscience that you can participate in that role with, it will give you so much wealth. That is the real wealth that matters,” said Mr. Rabb. “Community wealth. The wealth that transcends finances and social status, wealth that brings you joy that gives you a sense of purpose. I implore you to step up.”

Following the lecture, Mr. Rabb was presented with the Dyson Medal by Dean Anderson and Professor Crawford. He then participated in an insightful Q&A session with the audience. In response to a question regarding belonging, Mr. Rabb encouraged the audience to look inward for a sense of belonging. “Wherever you show up, that is where you are supposed to be. I am not going to let anyone tell me that I don’t belong somewhere,” said Mr. Rabb. “You know your own value. When you know your own self-worth, it is really hard to be intimidated.” The conversations continued at a post-lecture reception held at Haub Law.

Chris Rabb is a proud father, author, and public speaker. While a visiting researcher at Princeton University, he wrote the book, Invisible Capital: How Unseen Forces Shape Entrepreneurial Opportunity (2010). He also taught at Temple University's Richard J. Fox School of Business and Management where he was the Social Impact Fellow at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute and taught social entrepreneurship and organizational innovation. He has appeared as a guest with several local and national media outlets, including: The New York Times, The Huffington Post, MSNBC, NPR, Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer and the Associated Press. Mr. Rabb is a graduate of Yale College and the University of Pennsylvania.

The Dyson Distinguished Lecture was endowed in 1982 by a gift from the Dyson Foundation and made possible through the generosity of the late Charles H. Dyson, a 1930 graduate, trustee, and long-time benefactor of Pace University. The principal aim and object of the Dyson Distinguished Lecture is to encourage and make possible scholarly legal contributions of very high quality in furtherance of Haub Law's educational mission. Prior Dyson lectures have been delivered by many distinguished guests, including Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, Dr. Cornel West, and more recently Monica Hakimi, William S. Beinecke Professor of Law at Columbia University.

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