From the moment you step onto campus, we hope you’ll feel all the Pace Pride vibes, filled with Insta-worthy memories and “I’ve got this whole adulting thing” moments. To help you start off right, we asked T-Bone to answer some important questions. (Haven’t met T-Bone yet? He’s Pace University’s mascot, a lovable Irish Setter who embodies our University’s go-getter spirit.)

What’s the deal with laundry?

Stained t-shirts and stinky socks are not a good look for anyone. Unless you’re lucky enough to have a family member wash your clothes for you, at some point during your first semester, you’ll have to do laundry. The Pace residence halls have laundry facilities, and you can use LaundryConnect (available via the Pace mobile app) to check machine availability, put in service requests, learn more about how to do laundry, or view the stain guide. Remember: to prevent damage to your clothing and prevent dryer fires, check your pockets and empty the dryer lint trap before you get started.

Where can I get free food?

Who doesn’t love free food? There are lots of opportunities for free eats at Pace. Many community events and student org activities often include food. You can find upcoming events via SetterSync (NYC) and SetterSync (Pleasantville). Also look for the Community Fridge and food pantries on your campus—They're available to everyone, no questions asked.

Wait, Pace has two campuses?

Yes. Our New York City and Pleasantville campuses offer unique experiences, and you’re welcome to participate in many of the activities and events on either campus. The free intercampus shuttle goes regularly between the two. So, if you live in NYC, but want to experience a college football game, get on the shuttle. Conversely, if you’re a Pleasantville student, you can join us downtown for classes and other events. Our campuses are only 45 minutes away from each other.

I’m not a joiner, how else can I get involved?

First, as a new student, one of best things you can do outside of class is to become a joiner and find at least one student group or activity that interests you. It’s a great way to meet new friends, gain experience, and have some fun. If you can’t commit, consider the Center for Community Action and Research, which can help you find volunteer opportunities to fit your schedule and interests. Also look for events hosted by your school, college, or department.

What should I do to get a job on campus?

Visit the Careers website to get started! You will need to create a new applicant account. You cannot use your Pace Portal credentials to sign in because it is a different system. Remember, students with Federal Work Study are eligible to apply to both Federal Work Study and non work study on-campus student employment positions. If you’re an international student, review the following information about on-campus employment: International Student FAQ (PDF) and Curricular Practical Training FAQ (PDF).

Who’s in charge; who do I need to know?

It’s super important for all students to get to know their professors and advisors. Make time to visit faculty office hours and schedule regular appointments with your advisor. Beyond that, it’s worth learning a little about our leadership, including President Marvin Krislov, the Office of the Provost, and our vice presidents and academic deans. Pace University is a big organization and familiarizing yourself with the different departments, resources, and services we offer will be a big help.

Where can I find out what’s going on around campus?

From exciting events to campus updates and faculty news, there’s always something happening. Check out the latest news anytime and watch your Pace email for regular updates via Pace Now, our monthly newsletter, and our Events page. And of course, follow us on social media during the school year, @paceuniversity on shares club and event fliers every day on their Insta Story.

How can my family members stay engaged with Pace?

Info for parents and families is always available on our Parents and Families Hub. Your family members can also register for our Parent and Family Experience for regular e-newsletters and important updates. Be sure to complete the FERPA waiver if you want to give your parent or family member access to your educational and University account information.

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Imagine being concerned that the community park you love may be an unhealthy environment with contaminated soil, air, or water that could make you or someone in your family ill. That is a concern for many in lower Manhattan, and it is one that Pace faculty and students have worked toward alleviating by providing testing and analysis, and offering solutions to help park officials ensure their park is a healthy place for everyone to enjoy.

It is our very own Environmental Studies and Science (ESS) Department that has addressed one such park in Pace University’s backyard in lower Manhattan.

With this issue top of mind, Assistant Professor S. Perl Egendorf, PhD, went into action. Her Fundamentals of Environmental Science II course entailed collaboration with the nonprofit organization Gotham Park in New York City to provide data the organization would use to inform their activities and offerings to the public in the namesake park nestled below the Brooklyn Bridge. (Gotham Park is a new park that seeks to unlock the potential of “the forgotten spaces under the Manhattan side of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge”).

Experiential learning with real impact

The course’s lab component included sampling and analyzing Gotham Park’s soil, air, and water to measure the overall health of the park and to help officials ensure the area remains a safe space for community members. The collaboration gave Pace students real-world opportunities to collect field samples, conduct lab analyses, analyze data, write a scientific report, and report back to stakeholders of Gotham Park.

One of many examples of hands-on, experiential learning at Pace, students worked hard to engage with chemistry concepts in lecture and activity sessions, and then developed real-world skills in the field and lab settings. “They met with local stakeholders at the beginning of the course and then shared the data they had collected and analyzed all semester with these stakeholders at the end. This was not only valuable for the students but also for the park and their continued operations,” said Egendorf.

Brooklyn Stabb ‘26, Environmental Studies, was one of those students. “Applying not only our knowledge, but our learning objectives to a local community was an excellent experience. Using what we discovered left me, and I'm sure most of my classmates, with the most fulfilling feeling about schoolwork. We learned a great amount by having access to our local community and felt like we contributed to it as well, which was a great honor,” she said.

At the end of the semester, students presented their research methods and results, and provided guidance for future testing to Gotham Park administration, staff, and collaborators. They also made recommendations for flora to be planted at the park based on their findings.

Creating a safer haven for communities

“Gotham Park used to be a construction site for many years and is located under the Brooklyn Bridge where heavy traffic flows and children and community members socialize. Based on our analysis, we learned that contamination levels were mostly well below the Federal limits. There were few causes for concern, but with the testing results to inform them, they can be amended. Gotham Park can safely allow the public to utilize the space without concern of contamination levels or poor air quality,” said Abigail Leach, ’26, Environmental Studies.

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Gotham Park officials were pleased to learn that the soil, air, and water quality testing showed that the park is safe for regular interaction and have asked the student researchers to give their presentation again to a wider audience in fall 2024.

ESS + Opportunitas

Environmental Studies and Science Department faculty are focused on providing learning opportunities for Pace University students while supporting environmental conservation in our local New York City and Westchester County communities.

Students work closely with faculty to design these collaborative research projects and gain practical experience by applying what they have learned in the classroom to provide valuable research and support to organizations that are often underfunded, all while creating strong bonds and networks within their local communities.

Holmes to serve as first-ever dean of Sands College

Jennifer Holmes, Ph.D. has been appointed the first ever dean of Pace University’s Sands College of Performing Arts. She has most recently served as executive director of the college since it launched in the fall of 2023 and as executive director of the Pace School of Performing Arts (PPA) since November 2021.

Sands College has achieved a global reputation for cultivating the talent of a new generation of diverse performing artists. Its undergraduate and graduate degree programs in acting, directing, musical theater, commercial dance, production and design for stage and screen, and stage management lead students directly to the highest levels of their industry.

In making the announcement, Pace President Marvin Krislov cited Holmes as an internationally recognized leader in arts education. “It is with great enthusiasm that we announce Jennifer Holmes as the inaugural dean of the Sands College of Performing Arts at Pace University. Jennifer's extensive background and her international recognition in arts education make her the ideal leader for this new college. We are excited to witness her innovative vision and leadership as she guides the Sands College of Performing Arts into a bright and promising future. Her commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment will undoubtedly enrich our community and elevate the already highly acclaimed performing arts at Pace to new heights in the Pace spirit of Opportunitas.”

Holmes is continuing her work at Pace at an exciting time. The Sands College of Performing Arts recently graduated its first class in May after becoming the seventh school and college within Pace thanks to a $25 million gift from Pamela and Rob Sands, J.D. ’84.

The Sands donation is part of a larger campaign for the more than $200 million transformation of One Pace Plaza, its flagship building in lower Manhattan. It will include new academic spaces, a modernized residence hall, and a new state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center. Holmes will collaborate in the construction of the Performing Arts Center which will include a 450-seat proscenium theater, 200-seat flexible theater, and a 99-seat black box theater. The new space will also feature scene and costume shops, dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms, green rooms, dance studios, and public gathering spaces.

“It’s an honor to continue to work with President Krislov and serve as Dean of the Sands College of Performing Arts at such an exciting time,” said Holmes. “The Sands College of Performing Arts has already helped and enriched the lives of so many. I look forward to continuing and advancing my work here.”

Prior to her appointment at Pace, Holmes served as the Dean of the College of Arts, Communications, and Design at Long Island University (LIU) at both the Post and Brooklyn campuses. She was named the inaugural dean of two new schools at LIU: The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment and the George Polk School of Communications.

Holmes holds a PhD and an MA from New York University and a BA from Vassar College and is an internationally recognized leader in arts education. Her work as a performer and director has been seen in theater, film, and television. She is the founder and director of Global Empowerment Theatre, an international non-profit theater organization. She has devised theater in India, Kenya, Myanmar, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the US.

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 Sands College of Performing Arts

Sands College of Performing Arts is a cutting-edge performing arts school that nurtures artistic innovation and develops future leaders and changemakers in the profession. Renowned for its diverse range of highly-ranked programs, Sands College is committed to cultivating top-talent performers, designers, and production professionals. From Hollywood to Broadway, Sands College students and alumni have appeared in major film and television productions and theater performances such as & Juliet, A Beautiful Noise, A Strange Loop, Almost Famous, Hadestown, Hamilton, Kimberly Akimbo, MJ The Musical, Moulin Rouge, Ohio State Murders, Wicked, and the 2022 Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Recognized by Playbill in 2023 as one of the 10 most represented colleges on Broadway, Sands College continues to inspire the next generation of artists on stage and screen.

Dyson College’s anthem video, Go Further, was recognized by the Telly Awards as the Silver Winner for an educational institution promotional video. It was produced by The Cutting Board, with Jeffrey Johnson as director, and Julia Main as producer. Dyson College’s Angela Nally ‘99, ’06, assistant dean for communications, Antonia Gentile ‘98, ’07, assistant director of marketing and communications, and Amanda Delfino ‘23, communications manager, were also producers.

The video featured students Wes Brown ’24, Digital Cinema and Filmmaking; CJ Hodges ’24, Art, Sociology and Anthropology; Cameron Maruszewski ’23, Art History, Psychology; Danielle Roslyn Shoulders ’25, Environmental Studies; Jeremiah Williams ’23, Political Science, and Madz Zhizai Yu-Phelps ’25, Writing for Diversity and Equity in Theater and Media, all of whom shared their unique experiences on the Pace Path.