Last month, more than 865,000 people tuned in to MTV’s Video Music Awards. In addition to seeing a 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.

For many of the Pace students and alumni performing, this was your first time performing at MTV’s Video Music Awards (VMAs). What did the experience mean to you, and would you consider your 'demons' performance the first of many big gigs to come?

Jada Clark: This experience meant the world to me. Ever since I was a little girl I was dancing in front of the TV when any music video or award show would come on. I have dreamed of being able to perform on a stage as big as the VMAs, so to finally be able to do it felt like I was not only making my younger self proud, but I was doing what I believed I was always meant to.

Tiffani Russell: Being able to dance at the VMAs was truly a dream come true for me. When I was a kid, I was enamored of the dancers on TV. Having the opportunity to be part of such an iconic performance and an annual tradition celebrating both music and dance is an honor beyond measure. There is no doubt in my mind that I made my little self proud. From rehearsals to the performance, the experience was extraordinary. From this experience, I have gained a stronger appreciation for performing for artists and amplifying their stories. The manifestation of much more is therefore on its way.

Joanne Daquigan: In the commercial dance program, we are required to take a Choreography on Camera class during our LA semester where we would analyze different types of on-screen choreography such as film, television, commercials, and more. One of our projects was to study a live award show performance and plan our own. I chose Ariana Grande's “God is a Woman” VMA performance in 2018 and would always think how cool it would be to be a part of something like that.

Jada: It was my first time dancing on national television, first time dancing behind a music artist, let alone one as big as Doja Cat, and apart from theater it was the first commercial dance job I have booked since graduating. Although this was a big first I would definitely consider it the beginning of many opportunities to come. I was able to build so many connections with the choreographer, her assistant, and all of my fellow dancers which makes me certain our paths will cross again.

Joanne: I had "VMAs" on both my list of dream jobs and vision board for this year, right underneath "movie musical or film," which I also got to complete this year when I booked my first job with Mean Girls the Musical coming to theaters in 2024. Getting to cross both of those experiences off those lists was truly an indescribable feeling. I can't wait to continue crossing off that list as my career continues.

With the level of talent in the room, did you feel like you were prepared as performers? Did your education inform your performance?

Joanne: I was most definitely nervous, but I believe that I was very prepared walking into those rehearsal rooms. As previously mentioned, we studied VMA performances during our LA semester and did many exercises that involved dancing in front of the camera in class. It was surreal getting to experience everything behind the scenes that you used to talk about in class. I would be in the middle of dancing and think "Oh, wow—That's the type of camera that our professor taught us about.” It was so interesting getting to apply everything that I learned into real life.

Jada: Although the level of talent in the room was equal parts inspiring and intimidating, I felt fully equipped to handle this experience. My education at Pace has played a significant role in how I navigate professional dance opportunities. Since my training was so diverse I am able to feel comfortable and capable doing almost anything that is asked of me. Another huge takeaway from my time at Pace was the countless number of experiences we had working with guest choreographers and teachers. Having already been exposed to working with industry professionals has made me feel more confident in my ability to take direction and communicate with not only my peers, but those who are leading the room as well.

Tiffani: Our Commercial Dance Lab teaches us how to audition and how to act through rehearsals with both resident choreographers and guest choreographers. Although Pace University provided me with valuable knowledge, it was not the only factor that contributed to my success. It was a pleasure to be surrounded by 29 talented females who contributed to an atmosphere of positivity created by Ebony Williams and Ardyn Flynt, the choreographer and associate choreographer, respectively. Due to the amount of laughs shared, eight-hour rehearsal days did not feel like eight hours. It was fun.

What was it like to perform alongside Doja Cat, a veritable megastar, in such a highly visible way?

Tiffani: Doja Cat—Amala—is an exceptional human being who is both visionary and kind. A true superstar, she is. The creativity she exhibited was inspiring, and I am grateful to have seen it in person.

Jada: Performing alongside Doja Cat was such an amazing once in a lifetime experience. She was so kind and appreciative of all of our hard work as dancers to help her put on such a big performance. It was also so inspiring to see how hard she worked and that made me want to push myself just as much in support of her and all of the talented individuals in the room.

Joanne: I love commercial dance because it is so accessible! My family hasn’t seen me dance in about five or six years since I moved to New York for Pace, so getting to book the VMAs gave them the opportunity to watch me through their television screens. I also didn't grow up seeing a lot of professional dancers that looked like me or came from my hometown. Pursuing a career in the performing arts industry was looked at more like a pipe dream to my peers growing up, but this was an opportunity to show them that I did have the capability to make my goals a reality.

Jada: Getting to see the humanity in someone who is regarded as such a superstar by the world was special and is one of the biggest things I will takeaway from that day. As dancers, the music that these artists create drives our careers and is a significant point of inspiration for us, so to create art alongside her was an energy unlike any other.

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How did you land the job and how intense were rehearsals? How do you balance life, school, and career?

Joanne: I received this private audition through my agency, MSA. It was about 60 women initially, which later got cut down to about 30. I was fortunate to book the job through that audition and start two weeks later on my birthday.

Tiffani: The rehearsals were intense; my body was so sore. There was a day that I could barely move my neck and back. However, I would not trade it for anything in the world. In order for me to do this job, I had to take off my side job at Body Roll Studio and push back choreography dates. My sole focus for two weeks was rehearsals for this particular gig.

Jada: The work load of rehearsals was intense, but it was such a fun environment which made it all completely worth it. The choreographer, Ebony Williams, and her assistant, Ardyn Flynt, created beautiful yet very physical and challenging movement. That combined with thirty dancers and all of the technical elements that were incorporated into the performance, required a lot of work and focus from everyone.

Joanne: I was actually booked on another dance job at the same time. I was in my second week of rehearsals with Step One Dance Company/RWS Entertainment for the Holland America Cruise Lines. Usually, jobs don't allow you to do double duty like I did, but the team at RWS was so gracious and allowed me to do so. The rehearsals for Doja were long with 12:00 p.m.–8:00 pm. days. Although the choreography was intense, rehearsals did not feel overbearing because the wonderful choreography team (Ebony Williams & Ardyn Flynt) just treated us so well and made the learning process so smooth. Doja Cat, herself, also was incredibly kind to us. Going to work every day that week was the epitome of the phrase "Do what you love, and it will never feel like work." It did get a tad bit difficult, personally, to come from VMAs rehearsal to learn choreography that I missed for the cruise off of video at night, but I made it work because I was so passionate about both jobs.

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On the YouTube video of the performance, there's a comment that got 23,000+ upvotes. The comment is "The backup dancers deserve a raise cuz… WTF 😭 ." What's your first response to that?

Jada: FACTS! I am very happy to see comments like this one because it shows that other people can see not only our hard work, but the value in what we do. Often times dancers get overlooked in terms of fair pay and treatment on sets, when we are asked to do more work and take significant safety risks. Fortunately the room was lead by a fellow dancer who was able to look out for us in this regard, but a lot of people don’t realize how physically taxing dance can be. A lot of hours of strenuous work goes into creating a performance of that magnitude. It only lasts minutes for the audience and there are lots of things that don’t even get seen on television. I love what I do and all of the hard work that comes with it and I don’t do it for the recognition, but it feels amazing to be appreciated and seen as more than just something in the background. The dancers were a significant part of that performance and I am truly honored to have been apart of it.

Tiffani: The incredibly high speed wind, paper flying, hours of getting painted red, and wig installation were amazing features that added to the vision that was created for this performance. The comment is really funny; I think I saw it when I watched it back on YouTube the following day. We were well-compensated for our time and abilities. I am just very grateful to be on the stage.

Joanne: I thought the comment was hilarious. We all saw it on the bus on the way back and just laughed, but honestly, we do deserve a raise and not just for this job. I believe that dancers should be recognized and paid more for all types of commercial jobs. It is the job of dancers to highlight the artist, make them stand out, and be a reason why a viewer decides to keep watching. The most popular award show performances on TikTok or YouTube are the ones with phenomenal visuals or choreography. Aside from award shows, dance is everywhere—commercials, billboards, or even movement direction for actors. Many don't realize how vital dancers are for entertainment.

Sue Maxam, EdD, has been at Pace for 35 years! She began as a Cooperative Education Coordinator and was most recently the Assistant Provost for Special Projects and Retention Initiatives. However, as of September 1, Maxam stepped into her newest role as Assistant Provost for Wellness, where she will oversee Pace’s Center for Wellbeing and all the initiatives and opportunities related to wellness.

She shared with us more details about what the center is doing, its upcoming plans, and her hopes for how the Pace Community can get involved.

What is the Center for Wellbeing and why is it important to the Pace Community?

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The American Psychological Association (2022) reported that in a recent survey, 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem, and almost three quarters of students suffered from moderate or severe psychological distress over the past few years. Of course, mental health issues are not limited to college students. TimelyCare (2023) reported that two-thirds of higher education professionals have experienced mental health issues, such as anxiety, psychological distress, depression, and burnout, at some point in their career.

By partnering with departments and students throughout the entire University, the newly established Center for Wellbeing seeks to create a culture of wellness and kindness by connecting students, faculty and staff to resources and opportunities that prioritize wellbeing and empower them to take action.

In your new role, what are some things you hope the Center for Wellbeing can accomplish?

Building upon the foundation that the former Chief Wellness Officer Harriet Feldman, had put in place, and working in partnership with so many people and units throughout the University, we have already been able to accomplish a great deal in a short amount of time.

We would like to continue creating a “community of care” that prioritizes health, wellbeing, kindness, and inclusion. To that end, below are just a few recent initiatives, carried out in close partnership with members of the Pace Community:

• Wellness Wednesdays, which are weekly common hour sessions relating to the eight dimensions of wellness
• Kindness Committee, which comprises 60+ students, faculty, and staff working to promote kindness throughout the University
• RADical Health Program, a four-week mental health and wellness program focused on resilience, connections, engagement, and stress management
• Healthy cooking demos hosted by the Nutrition and Dietetics Department
• Food Insecurity Task Force
• Partnerships with outside organizations like Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation; The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation; Inspiring Futures; and RADical Hope Foundation.
• Wellbeing Fairs: To be held the week of February 12, 2024
• Mental Health First Aid and Kognito: Virtual and in-person training programs to promote mental health and wellbeing.

More and more, there’s a greater focus on self-care—we see it online, on TV, in pop-culture—but what does self-care really mean and why is it important?

Research shows that self-care fosters positive health outcomes, such as strengthening resilience, living longer, becoming better equipped to manage stress, and feeling more physical, mentally and emotionally healthy.

Self-care means taking care of yourself so that you can be healthy (in every sense of the word), do your job, help and care for others, and do all the things you need and want to accomplish in a day. After all, as the saying goes, you cannot serve from an empty vessel!

There are myriad ways to engage in self-care, including exercise; eating nutritious foods; journaling; meditating; praying; connecting with others; going for a walk; spending time in nature; reading or listening to a book; asking for help; scheduling a routine medical appointment; going screen-free for a few hours; engaging in hobbies; getting enough sleep; etc. The list is endless! Everyone needs to make the time to prioritize self-care!

October is Emotional Wellness Month. What are some ways that members of the Pace Community can participate?

There is so much going on at Pace that people can tap into as well as activities they can do on their own throughout the month and beyond! Here’s a sampling:

• Participate in wellness-related sessions at Social Justice Week the last week of October
• Join the kindness and/or wellbeing committees by emailing kindness@pace.edu or wellness@pace.edu
• Participate in our Wellness Wednesday series on each campus
• Attend one of HR’s Health Fairs on each campus
• Learn about and practice Mindfulness as highlighted on CHP’s website
• Refer students to the Counseling Center’s Welltrack Boost app, a self-guided, clinically supported set of wellness tools
• Take Born This Way Foundation’s asynchronous mental health certificate program “Be There”

If there is one thing you want the Pace Community to know about the Center for Wellbeing, Pace’s wellness initiatives, or the importance of taking care of oneself, what would it be?

Partnerships with the Pace Community are key to our success! Please contact us at smaxam@pace.edu or wellbeing@pace.edu to offer feedback/input; make recommendations; ask questions; or collaborate and/or take advantage of the many initiatives, resources and programs we currently offer and/or will be rolling out. We are all in this together in our collective efforts to foster a culture that prioritizes health, wellbeing, kindness, and inclusivity!

Adulting is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone.

There are many life lessons you can’t learn in the classroom, and the Pace Library is helping fill in the gaps with their community-led workshop series Adulting 101.

Think you might have something worth sharing? The Library is looking for faculty and staff who can share their expertise in brief, conversational, fun talks. Past workshops have included “Financial Literacy” and “Job Search, Resume Writing, and the Interview.” A recent survey shows particular student interest in subjects such as:

• Mindfulness/mental health: looking for helpful strategies, understanding available resources and how to use them.
• Sewing: looking for info on homemade clothing, tailoring, and repair
• Insurance: understanding the purpose of insurance, kinds of insurance, and when and how to get insurance.
• Local politics: understanding different kinds of local offices and how to get involved.
• Parenting: learning how to prepare a baby bottle, how to handle teething, potty-training, etc.
• Taxes: learning how to prepare your taxes, how to hire a tax professional, what to avoid, and what resources to use.

If you’re interested in leading a workshop on any of these topics, or any others not mentioned, send an email to Rose Gillen at rgillen@pace.edu (for Pleasantville) or to Jennifer Rosenstein at jrosenstein@pace.edu (for NYC).

Danny Canales

Class of 2024

Currently Studying: BBA in Arts and Entertainment Management

Member Of: Frequency Acapella, Latin American Student Organization (LASO), Pace Volleyball Club

Pronouns: He/Him

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Although he's far away from home, Danny Canales '24 is finding his on-campus family at the Lubin School of Business. Not only is the native Los Angeleno building a network within our AEM program, but he is also creating a community within several organizations that promote culture, the arts, and athletics.

Why did you choose Pace University and the Lubin School of Business?

It has always been a dream of mine to study in New York City, and the Lubin School of Business BBA in Arts and Entertainment Management program merged my love for the entertainment business and management into one immersive major. Pace University offered my desired course of study, and I haven't looked back since.

Clubs provide a sense of "family" on campus. Being from Los Angeles, these organizations have introduced me to lifelong friends and have granted me opportunities I would have never imagined. These clubs have enriched my student experience because they allow me to be a contributing member of the Pace community and ensure I always have something to do while on campus.

How have clubs on campus helped enrich your student experience?

They provide a sense of "family" on campus. Being from Los Angeles, these organizations have introduced me to lifelong friends and have granted me opportunities I would have never imagined. These clubs have enriched my student experience because they allow me to be a contributing member of the Pace community and ensure I always have something to do while on campus.

You serve as the President of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO). Why was it important for you to go after this leadership role?

As the son of two immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador, I've always been taught to view my heritage with the highest level of pride. LASO has granted me the opportunity to lead the Latinx student body—it's important to me because it allows me to be the voice and representation for my people on campus. This honor that was humbly bestowed on me, and the notion of being the leader of this organization, is a blessing.

How has being part of LASO impacted your experience as a student?

Being part of LASO has given me a family on campus that I can rely on and relate to on a spiritual level. Being surrounded by people with similar upbringings and the same appreciation for our culture has been a true blessing. It has also allowed me to network with so many other cultural organizations around campus and opened my eyes to the endless collaboration opportunities with them.

Why is it important for students to be involved with student organizations?

Being involved allows students to take advantage of what our school offers. Being a student goes beyond the four walls of the classroom, and being a contributing member of your school and the surrounding community is of great importance.

What has been your favorite opportunity at Pace?

My favorite memory at Pace was, by far, winning the ICCA Quarterfinals with Frequency Acapella.

Do you have any advice for other Lubin students?

Value the excellent professors and advisors that Lubin offers and enjoy your four years at Pace because they will pass by before you even know it.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

#LubinLife means being blessed enough to attend an award-winning business program at an award-winning school in the greatest city in the world.

Follow Danny Canales on Instagram.

Sachin Archer knows what it’s like to defy expectations.

“I'm a very artsy person. So, when people see my photography, or how I dress, or know my music, they’re shocked to find I’m a computer science major,” he says. “I'm now at a point where I can blend both my tech side and my artistic side.”

Sachin is a computer science major and photography minor who, in his home country of Jamaica, used to dream about the big things in life he’d accomplish. “To come from a third world country and even live in New York City is kind of crazy,” he shares. “I remember the month before I moved to America, I was watching Home Alone 2, where they're lost in New York. Now to be able to wake up and see the Brooklyn Bridge outside my window, it's surreal. To not only do that, but now even go on a global scale and go to Europe and go to Switzerland, it’s amazing.”

Now to be able to wake up and see the Brooklyn Bridge outside my window, it's surreal.

Sachin had the chance to experience Europe as the youngest member of Pace’s NYC Design Factory during the Fall 2022 semester. For two weeks, Sachin and the other members of Team Fusion learned how CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, uses technology to address the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. “We visited the largest particle accelerator in the world,” he says. “We also got to go to the United Nations Headquarters, sit in on a meeting, and got a full tour.”

He made sure to maximize his trip by bringing his other passion into the mix, photography. “When I had some free time, I had the chance to meet some other people and models to help get my name out there,” Sachin explains. “It was amazing, to hit multiple birds with one stone.”

Once the students returned stateside, the work really began, as his team dived into redesigning New York City streets to not only support sustainability but to make way for advancements, like artificial intelligence. “I would say overall the Design Factory experience was a transformation, both mentally, physically, and politically,” Sachin says. “I was the only undergraduate student, and I was youngest one there. To be the youngest person involved, and to be the only Black male from a third world country, that was very important.”

To be able to represent myself on a bigger global scale was a big deal.

While it was a new experience, it evoked familiar feelings. “I've always been the only Black child in the room while I was growing up,” he says. “I knew that I had to work twice as hard, because of the color of my skin, unfortunately. To be able to represent myself on a bigger global scale was a big deal.”

The experience has left him marveling at the connections he’s made, and the connections he hopes to forge. He’s made friends from places he’s never been, from Germany to Australia. Over the summer he worked at a summer camp in his home in Connecticut and had the chance to share his experience with those young students. “I’ve been able to give these kids hope, and show them that you can leave home, that it's okay. Opportunities like this do happen for people like us.”

Sachin initially considered Pace because his sister was an alumna, but he believes now it was the best choice he could have made. “I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t until last semester that I really realized all the opportunities that Pace really had,” he admits. “That's when I got really close with my advisors and I started getting my name out more. I'm close to my dean now, which helped me find more opportunities, and now I work at Goldman Sachs. I'm very grateful for Pace and the environment that it creates.”

I'm doing all these amazing things. And I'm only 19.

Sachin’s Pace experience so far has been so rewarding, and he’s hoping to slow down and enjoy next last two years. “I have two years left, and I feel like I haven't done enough, you know?” he says. “I want to tell the freshmen to just do it all. The city really is your campus. Not only that, the faculty is your biggest help. They know so many people, and just one conversation can change your life forever.”

Take it from him, it’s never too early to dive in. “The best thing I always get is people asking, ‘How old are you?’ I'm doing all these amazing things. And I'm only 19.”

Read more about the Fall 2022 Design Factory experience.

“Any college can teach you how to use a camera and edit. But when I was choosing a college, I wanted something more. I didn’t know anything about drones until I took a tour at Pace, and I thought that was something new and innovative that I hadn’t seen.”

These are the words of Adam Ng ’23, ‘24. Having recently earned a Bachelor of Science in Digital Cinema and Filmmaking, Adam is currently completing a master’s in communication and digital media; all while working as a post-production assistant at The View. His busy schedule–typical of an ambitious Pace student–is a product of his curiosity, drive, and the fact that while at Pace, he took advantage of unique opportunities Dyson’s department of Media, Communications, and Visual Arts had to offer.

Looking to expand his horizons and skill-set as an undergraduate, Adam enrolled in MCA 350: Making Media with Drones during the spring of his sophomore year. The class, which was launched in 2017 by Dyson Associate Professor of Media, Communications, and Visual Arts Kate Fink, PhD, explores drone usage, regulations, and prepares students for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Commercial Drone Pilot License exam.

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Fink, who first became interested in the uses of drones in journalism and storytelling about a decade ago, created the class to help anyone at Pace interested in drone usage to obtain their pilot’s license, understand drone usage in a larger context, and apply this ever-evolving technology to a wide variety of fields.

“There are so many applications of drones–not only in cinematography and film, but in a growing number of other industries–agriculture, construction, real estate,” says Fink. “We learn about the different ways drones are used, and the legal and ethical issues–issues related to privacy, trespass, conflict between national and local regulations. It gets really complex and interesting to look at the legal and ethical challenges that come up due to drones.”

After taking the class–which he describes as one of his favorites at Pace–Adam took the FAA exam and obtained his pilot’s license. Immediately, he put his newly official skill to use, serving as the drone pilot for the last two student-produced documentaries for Pace’s Producing the Documentary course. In addition to getting the opportunity to fly drones in Cape Cod for From Tide to Table, he took his talents internationally with For the Love of Food, which filmed in France to examine the slow-food movement.

“It was amazing to go to a different country and fly a drone,” said Adam. “Before coming to college, I did not think I’d ever be doing that.”

Success stories like Adam’s will now be increasingly possible, thanks in part due to a recent recognition–Pace was recently accepted into the FAA’s UAS Collegiate Training Initiative, and is the first four-year institution in New York State to join. This designation, given to colleges and universities that are preparing students for careers in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones), also strengthens Pace's relationship with the FAA, which is important as regulations and industry demands change.

Fink hopes to build on the recent designation to expand drone offerings at Pace to remain on the forefront of drone technology, and provide students an entry-way into this ever-growing field.

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“I’m working with faculty at other departments at Pace to expand this into a certificate program; including the current course, but also other courses that let us offer a more interdisciplinary approach to drones so that students can not only get more experience with drones, but see how drones are being applied and get experience in other fields using drones,” says Fink.

Among the fields Fink hopes to expand the program into include computer science and environmental sciences and management, where drones are currently on the forefront of environmental monitoring and issues pertaining to climate change.

“There’s exciting things happening with drones used in environmental monitoring and management as well as issues related to climate change. It’s been really cool to work on that and learn more about these issues; and the amazing potential that drones have to make advancement in those areas,” added Fink.

As the usage of drones continues to evolve, Pace is committed to remaining on the cutting-edge of the industry; and in the process, elevating the potential and career aspirations of our students to bold new heights.

Richelle Fatalo

Class of 2025

Currently Studying: BBA in Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications with a minor in Fashion Marketing

Member Of: Pace Profashionals, Women Who Lead (Vice President)

Pronouns: She/Her

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Richelle Fatalo '25 isn't afraid to step out of her comfort zone. When the opportunity to study abroad arose, Richelle went after it—despite having never set foot in the country that she would soon call home. Not only did she get to visit new cities and see historic landmarks, but she also gained valuable insight into how marketing is done in other countries.

Why did you choose Pace University and the Lubin School of Business?

When I was first looking at schools, I recognized that Pace University and the Lubin School of Business had more opportunities for students to achieve success compared to other schools I looked at. During my search, I also really liked the classes and majors offered here—I knew that with these kinds of courses and opportunities, I would succeed, especially with Pace being in the heart of Manhattan. The connections students can make here are so important and not found anywhere else.

How have clubs on campus helped enrich your student experience?

During my sophomore year, I joined our on-campus fashion business club, Pace Profashionals. This club has made me feel much more comfortable with my style and who I am as a person, while also helping me see that so many students are confident in their style. It made me feel welcomed.

What has been your favorite opportunity at Pace?

My favorite opportunities include receiving hands-on help from professors who want you to succeed and being handed opportunities from—not only career fairs but also from professors who see the potential to shape your future career and build your resume.

You studied abroad at Lorenzo de Medici Institute in Florence, Italy. What motivated you to study abroad?

I really wanted to experience new and different cultures and lifestyles that I never experienced before. I also really wanted to learn how people from different countries live in all aspects—from food, clothing, language, religion, and housing. Seeing different towns in Italy really opened my eyes to how different and unique they are compared to towns in America. I also always wanted to visit Italy, so studying abroad was the perfect opportunity.

How did the Lubin School of Business help you prepare for your courses abroad?

I felt prepared for my time abroad in Italy, thanks to the different marketing courses I took and the professors I had within Lubin. I took a class in Italy to fulfill my minor in fashion marketing, and it was a breeze because I had already learned the bulk of it through Lubin.

What was the highlight or most enjoyable aspect of your time abroad?

Taking the weekends to go see different places! I think it is super important to use your time abroad to see different cities or countries because you'll be able to experience different lifestyles and visit landmarks. I would definitely take the opportunity to go somewhere else, even if it's only for a weekend.

Studying abroad made me more excited about my career choice and goals. I learned that other countries market products and services differently than in America. While most stores stay the same, the marketing is different, which opened my eyes to how creative other countries are when targeting their audience, even if it is for the same product.

How did your experience shape or impact your career goals?

Studying abroad made me more excited about my career choice and goals. I learned that other countries market products and services differently than in America. While most stores stay the same, the marketing is different, which opened my eyes to how creative other countries are when targeting their audience, even if it is for the same product. It just made me happy to see all the creativity.

How will your international business school experience impact your time at Lubin?

It gives me more experience in marketing and advertising, which will help me apply what I learned abroad to what I will learn in the future as I keep growing and learning.

What is one skill or piece of knowledge that you learned abroad that you brought back to Lubin with you?

Perseverance. Everything in life is going to be hard no matter what you do, but you cannot just give up because you think you can't do it. You must push yourself sometimes to achieve your goals.

Do you have any advice for other Lubin students that are considering studying abroad?

Do it. It may seem scary, especially if you have never traveled to another country before—let alone by yourself—but it is not that scary. I was terrified—I did not know what to expect, but I am glad I went for it because I would regret it if I graduated college and did not do it. If you're unsure, you don't have to do a semester! I only spent one month abroad because I was scared that a semester would be too long, but now, I wish I had done the full semester! Do not be worried about making friends abroad, either—everyone is in the same boat. It is like being a freshman again! Overall, face your fears now and go, or you'll regret it later.

Connect with Richelle:

• Connect with Richelle Fatalo on LinkedIn
• Follow Richelle Fatalo on Instagram