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“Why did you become a nurse?” is a question that many of the Pace University’s College of Health Professions (CHP) Lienhard School of Nursing community are asked and each has a different answer.

When we asked Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) class of 2024 graduate and Outstanding Academic Achievement in Nursing awardee, Emily Fitzgerald, she shared that her inspiration came from volunteering. Emily had been working as a victim advocate in the emergency room as part of the Beth Israel Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Intervention program.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Emily worked as a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) registered nurse (RN) for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Then COVID-19 hit, and her life changed.

In addition to her full-time job at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Emily took on working at the U.S. Army’s emergency field hospital for Covid positive patients in the Jacob K. Javits center. According to an article published in Military Medicine in 2022, the work done at the Javits center during the pandemic was largest non-wartime pandemic-response field hospital mobilization in the U.S. medical history.

“My experience as a civilian RN collaborating with active-duty navy and military personnel to provide care for COVID-19+ patients in a deployed environment inspired me to pursue higher education,” Emily shared.

After choosing AGACNP as her program concentration because it aligned with her background experience working in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit (ICU) and PACU and wanting to continue her career in a hospital setting, Emily discovered CHP while talking to a friend and colleague, Isabella Henry. Isabella herself had recently graduated from the AGACNP program in 2021, and it was her recommendation that led to Emily attending Pace.

Once the program started, Emily’s favorite part was how hands-on the learning opportunities were. The clinical skills days, organized by professors Kristina Demarco, DNP, and Rhonda D’Agostino, DNP, were stand-out moments in the program.

“We have dedicated lab skills days for our acute care nurse practitioner students to introduce evidence based bedside skills. We expand the students’ didactic knowledge by providing procedural and diagnostic reasoning training ranging from diagnostic test interpretations, performing urgent procedures such as intubation, point of care ultrasound, arterial blood gases, chest tube management, chest x ray readings, and Ventilator management,” explained Professor DeMarco. “As the students advance in the program, we incorporate rapid response training case studies, code stroke, and other acute care scenarios to prepare them for clinical practice as they approach graduation.

In addition to the simulation labs and in-classroom opportunities, Emily had multiple clinical rotations including in the medical intensive care unit (MICU), emergency department, and leukemia inpatient unit.

“Each setting provided unique learning opportunities,” she explained. “While working alongside experienced providers, I was able to gain hands-on experience that reinforced the information we were studying in class.”

The graduate program is not an easy one, which Emily knows firsthand. She worked full time and also welcomed her first child while getting her degree, making it a challenging and exciting time. Emily expressed her gratitude for the support she received from her husband, which allowed her to balance both her academic and personal responsibilities.

In addition to the encouragement she received at home, the faculty were the other large pillar of support.

The faculty mentorship, encouragement, and dedication set me up for success in the program and after graduation.

—Emily Fitzgerald, RN

One professor in particular made the program stand out to Emily; Clinical Professor Elliott Fielding. Professor Fielding leads his groups through case studies and provides additional support during clinical rotations. He enriched students’ clinical experiences by sharing his real-world experience as a nurse practitioner (NP). His insights and teaching style made complex concepts more applicable to practice.

Upon graduating in December 2024, Emily received the Outstanding Academic Achievement in Nursing award for the AGACNP program. This honor is only given to one AGACNP student each year and symbolizes their dedication to their education and to the program.

Post-graduation, Emily plans to continue working for Memorial Sloan Kettering as a nurse practitioner in an inpatient hematology/oncology service. She is currently preparing to take the national boards exam to become certified as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.

On April 3, 2025, the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems hosted the annual Seidenberg Innovation Awards (SIA) at Pace University’s New York City campus, bringing together leaders in technology, education, and business to recognize innovation, community impact, and the next generation of tech professionals. The event celebrated leaders who support the continued advancement of education, raising critical funds to enhance access and elevate students of diverse backgrounds to be appropriately prepared for meaningful careers in tech.

For this year’s edition of SIA, co-chaired by Vipul Nagrath '94, MS '96, Nicholas M. Donofrio, and John Gibbons, MS '14, we honored three exceptional individuals who embody the spirit of the event.

Sridhar Potineni, Chief Information Officer of Newmark, was recognized for his innovative work in driving digital transformation across the commercial real estate industry. With over two decades of experience, Sri has led pioneering efforts in AI, data strategy, and global technology platforms that support real estate investment and automation on a massive scale. His leadership reflects a commitment to pushing industry boundaries through innovation.

Heather M. Schneider ‘99, partner at a leading intellectual property law firm and President of the New York Intellectual Property Association, was celebrated for her influential role in shaping the legal landscape of technology and life sciences. Her litigation and transactional work spans biotech, software, and IP strategy, with involvement in high-profile matters including COVID-19 treatment development and cutting-edge medical technologies. Heather's dedication to intellectual property rights and equitable access to innovation has always stood out as a defining force in her career.

Yolanda Stancil, Senior Vice President of Wireline Network Field Operations at Verizon, was honored for her decades-long leadership in building and maintaining one of the nation's most complex broadband and telecommunications infrastructures. Yoli oversees a team of over 16,000 professionals and has led major operational efforts in the New York Metro region and beyond. A passionate advocate for education and community equity, she was also recognized as a 2023–2024 Fellow for the NYC David Rockefeller Fellows Program, playing an active role in shaping the future for NYC.

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While the evening’s main focus was on celebrating the achievements of Sridhar, Heather, and Yolanda, it was also a powerful reminder of Seidenberg’s mission: to prepare students through experiential learning, applied research, and real-world engagement. The event featured networking opportunities and a formal awards program, while also shining a spotlight on Seidenberg students in attendance. Several students had been personally mentored by the honorees and shared heartfelt introductions that reflected the impact of those relationships.

Proceeds from the event will directly benefit student scholarships and strategic initiatives within the Seidenberg School, supporting hands-on education for students who will shape the future of technology. As we are already beginning to look forward to the 2026 edition of SIA, the Seidenberg team would like to thank all the students, faculty, staff, honorees, and guests who made the celebration such a memorable night.

See the numerous photos from the event.