Pace University has highlighted several achievements and initiatives from the winter of 2026, reflecting progress across healthcare, arts, technology, environmental policy, and student engagement.
The university received a grant of over $3 million from the New York State Department of Health to launch the College of Health Professions Pathways to Practice Initiative. This program aims to strengthen the healthcare workforce in the Lower and Mid-Hudson Valley by expanding student access, improving pre-health advising, and creating new training opportunities. The initiative is designed to help advanced healthcare students enter high-demand clinical fields and better serve their communities.
Pace also reported increased representation on Broadway stages. According to Playbill’s Big 10 list of schools with the most alumni on Broadway, Pace ranked fifth nationally—above both Yale and Juilliard—with its graduates appearing in productions such as Wicked, & Juliet, Suffs, The Outsiders, Hamilton, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, among others.
In national rankings, Pace moved up 15 spots in The Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges Rankings. The university was recognized for its performance in student success metrics as well as affordability and diversity. Pace achieved a perfect score for diversity.
On Giving Tuesday this year, more than 1,453 donors contributed $270,691 to support Pace students—surpassing a goal of 1,000 donors within a single day. These funds are supporting academic innovation and expanded services across campuses.
Professor Kimberly Collica-Cox and Pace’s Puppies on the Block program were honored by Paws Crossed Animal Rescue along with the Westchester County Department of Correction. The recognition highlighted efforts that provide second chances for rescue dogs while offering rehabilitative experiences for both students and incarcerated individuals. “Congratulations to Professor Collica-Cox for her leadership in strengthening communities, paws and people alike,” stated the announcement.
At the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, ten policy motions led by students were adopted at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi. A team including faculty members, students, and alumni participated in negotiations and presentations that advanced environmental advocacy internationally.
Pace introduced Westchester County’s first undergraduate degree dedicated to artificial intelligence through its Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. The Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence prepares students with skills in machine learning, natural language processing, data analysis, AI ethics—and offers hands-on experience through research projects and industry partnerships connected to New York’s tech sector.
Students have also played a central role in wildlife protection through a partnership between the Animal Policy Project and New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. Their work included data collection for policy development as well as hands-on conservation activities like rehabilitating wildlife at Pace’s Suburban Biodiversity Conservation Center.
Thirty-four students were selected for the United Nations Academic Impact Millennium Fellowship—placing them among only four percent accepted globally into this competitive leadership program. This marks five consecutive years that Pace has had fellows chosen for this initiative.
Additionally, Charles Elliot from Google Cloud addressed attendees at Pace’s inaugural Actionable AI Conference about how artificial intelligence is changing higher education and future workplaces. He emphasized “the importance of curiosity, user-focused design, and continuous learning when working with AI tools.”
