Notable Pace University Alumni: A Legacy of Achievement
Pace University, since its inception in 1906, has fostered a diverse community of alumni who have made significant contributions across various fields. This article highlights some of the most distinguished graduates and former students who have left their mark on the world.
A Foundation in Practical Education
Founded by brothers Homer St. Clair Pace and Charles A. Pace as a one-room school of accountancy, Pace University has evolved into a comprehensive private university with campuses in New York City and Westchester County. The institution enrolls over 13,000 students in programs spanning business, health professions, law, and the arts. This emphasis on practical education has enabled Pace graduates to excel in competitive industries. For example, the Lubin School of Business has produced numerous executives in finance and management, while the Elisabeth Haub School of Law has contributed significantly to legal practice and policy.
Leaders and Innovators
Homer St. Clair Pace
As the co-founder of Pace Institute (now Pace University) in 1906, Homer St. Clair Pace established a coeducational business school in Manhattan that emphasized practical accounting and business training. Serving as president from 1906 until his death in 1942, he expanded enrollment to over 4,000 students by 1919 through standardized accountancy courses offered at multiple locations and introduced field experience programs in 1924.
Robert Scott Pace
Robert Scott Pace succeeded his father as president from 1942 to 1960, guiding the institution through post-World War II expansion after his own military service.
David Barnea
David "Dadi" Barnea is the current Director of the Mossad, having taken over from Yossi Cohen in June 2021.
Read also: Baylor's Notable Alumni
Ariane de Rothschild
Ariane de Rothschild is a Salvadorean-French banker, CEO of Edmond de Rothschild Group since March 2023. She is the first woman and the first person without Rothschild lineage to run a Rothschild-branded financial institution.
Lalit Modi
Lalit Modi is an Indian businessman and former cricket administrator. He was the founder, first chairman and League Commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and ran the tournament for three years until 2010. He also served as the Chairman of the Champions League from 2008 till 2010 and was Vice President of the BCCI from 2005 till 2010. He has also served as the President of the Rajasthan Cricket Association from 2005 till 2009 and then again from 2014 till 2015, and as the vice president of the Punjab Cricket Association from 2004 till 2012.
Mel Karmazin
Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin is an American executive. From 2004 to 2012, he was the CEO of Sirius Radio (re-branded Sirius XM Radio after XM merged with Sirius in 2008). In October 2012, Karmazin announced that he would be stepping down on February 1, 2013.
Richard Grasso
Richard A. "Dick" Grasso was chairman and chief executive of the New York Stock Exchange from 1995 to 2003. He started in 1968 when he was hired by the Exchange as a floor clerk.
Godwin Obaseki
Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the governor of Edo State from 2016 to 2024.
Read also: Columbia University Legacy
Mohamed Mounir Majidi
Mohamed Mounir Majidi is a Moroccan businessman. He has been the personal secretary of King Mohammed VI since 2000 and president of the royal holding, SIGER, since 2002.
Nathaniel Barnes
Milton Nathaniel Barnes is a Liberian diplomat, politician and member of the Liberian Destiny Party (LDP). In early 2022, he announced his intention to run as an independent candidate in the 2023 Liberian presidential election.
Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Andrea Alice Stewart-Cousins is an American politician and educator from Yonkers, New York. A member of the Democratic Party, Stewart-Cousins has represented District 35 in the New York State Senate since 2007 and served as Majority Leader and Temporary President of that body since 2019.
Tony Vargas
Anthony Vargas is an American politician and former educator who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from 2017 to 2025. Vargas represented the 7th district, which covers all of downtown Omaha and much of southeastern Omaha.
Barbara Farrell Vucanovich
Barbara Farrell Vucanovich was an American Republican politician who was the first woman from Nevada elected to the United States House of Representatives, in which she served representing Nevada from 1983 to 1997.
Read also: Excellence at Hofstra University
William B. Franke
William B. Franke held positions as Under Secretary of the Navy from 1953 to 1954 and as Secretary of the Air Force from 1955 to 1956 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He graduated from Pace Institute of Accountancy, predecessor to Pace University, circa 1917.
Joy Mangano
Before she turned her peculiar inventions into a billion-dollar business empire, Joy Mangano had worked as an airline assistant and a waitress. Her best-known invention has been the Miracle Mop, a self-wringing mop made of plastic. She has also penned a memoir and has inspired the 2015 film Joy.
Notable Figures in Law and Activism
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
A well-known environmental attorney and an activist, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has tirelessly worked for prosecuting governments and companies responsible for polluting environment and waterbodies like the Long Island Sound and Hudson River. Moreover, he has written books and articles on issues affecting the environment. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s work have won him prestigious awards and inspired numerous films and documentaries.
Kash Patel
Kashyap Pramod Vinod Patel is an American lawyer, former federal prosecutor and official, and conspiracy theorist.
William Kunstler
William Kunstler was a prominent American lawyer and civil rights activist known for defending controversial clients.
Celebrated Figures in Arts and Entertainment
Paul Dano
Popular American stage and screen actor, Paul Dano is recognised for his performances in films like Little Miss Sunshine, L.I.E., There Will Be Blood and Love & Mercy as well as television miniseries Escape at Dannemora. The versatile actor, who began his career on stage as a child artist, has also ventured into direction and scriptwriting with the movie Wildlife.
Rachael Ray
Rachael Domenica Ray is an American cook, television personality, businesswoman, and author. She hosted the syndicated daily talk and lifestyle program Rachael Ray. Other programs to her credit include 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels, $40 a Day, Rachael Ray's Week in a Day, and the reality format shows Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off and Rachael Ray's Kids Cook-Off. Ray has written several cookbooks based on the 30 Minute Meals concept, and launched a magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray, in 2006. Ray's television shows have won three Daytime Emmy Awards. Ray also played herself in the Netflix revival of Gilmore Girls in 2016.
Michelle Borth
Michelle Borth is an American actress who has portrayed characters on The Forgotten and the HBO series Tell Me You Love Me. Borth played Catherine Rollins on the CBS crime-drama Hawaii Five-0.
Ailee
Amy Lee, known professionally as Ailee, is an American singer and songwriter based in South Korea. Amassing digital sales success in South Korea, she has released four studio albums, six extended plays, and twenty one singles, six of which charted within the top five of the Gaon Digital Chart.
Vincent Pastore
Vincent Pastore is an American actor. Often cast as a mafioso, he is best known for his portrayal of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on the HBO series The Sopranos.
Dominique Fishback
Dominique Fishback is an American actress. She played Billie Rowan on Show Me a Hero, Darlene on The Deuce, and Deborah Johnson in Judas and the Black Messiah, the latter of which earned nominations for a Critics' Choice Movie Award, and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. In 2023, she began starring in the Amazon Prime Video psychological horror series Swarm; her performance in the series has received universal praise, earning her a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Yancy Butler
Yancy Victoria Butler is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Natasha Binder in the 1993 film Hard Target, Jess Crossman in Drop Zone (1994), and Detective Sara Pezzini on the TNT supernatural drama series Witchblade. For her performance in Witchblade, she won a Saturn Award for Best Actress in a Television Series.
Jay Glazer
Jason Charles Glazer is a television personality and sports reporter. Since 2004, he has worked as a National Football League (NFL) insider for Fox Sports' NFL pregame studio show, FOX NFL Sunday, on which he reports exclusives, late-breaking updates, injury news, and other reports.
Stephanie Del Valle Diaz
Stephanie del Valle Díaz is a Puerto Rican musician, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World 2016. She became the second contestant from Puerto Rico to win the Miss World title, after Wilnelia Merced in 1975. She previously won Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico 2016.
Osas Ighodaro
Osariemen Martha Elizabeth Ighodaro is a Nigerian actress, television host and philanthropist born in the United States. She won the 2010 Miss Black USA Pageant and founded the Joyful Joy Foundation, a fundraising organization for malaria.
Kathleen Herles
Kathleen Herles is an American voice actress best known for being the original voice of Dora on Dora the Explorer for the first four seasons.
Stephanie Andujar
Stephanie Lee Andujar, nicknamed StephA, is an American actress, director, producer, writer, singer, dancer and songwriter. She is known for her comedic and dramatic roles. Starring in the Academy Award-winning film Precious (2009), Pariah (2011), See Girl Run (2012), Babygirl (2013), A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014), and the film Marjorie Prime (2017).
Sharon Carpenter
Sharon Lee Carpenter is a British broadcast journalist, television host, and producer. She has worked as an on-air personality for a number of top American television networks including CBS, BET, Sean "Diddy" Combs' REVOLT TV, and VH1.
Yuhua Hamasaki
Yuhua Hamasaki is the stage name of Yuhua Ou, a Chinese-born American drag queen, singer, actor and reality television personality who came to international attention on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Jessica Lynn
Jessica Lynn is a country music singer and songwriter.
Nabiyah Be
Nabiyah Be is a Brazilian actress and singer. She originated the role of Eurydice in the musical Hadestown and portrayed Simone Jackson in the television show Daisy Jones & the Six.
Aleisha Allen
Aleisha Allen is a former child actress featured in School of Rock (2003) and Are We There Yet?
Jarah Mariano
Jarah-Evelyn Makalapua Mariano is an American model best known for her appearances in the 2008 and 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editions, as well as Victoria's Secret.
Nina Freeman
Nina Marie Freeman is an American video game designer known for her games with themes of sexuality and self-reflection.
Voices in Media and Journalism
Mary O'Grady
Mary Anastasia O'Grady is an American editor, and columnist who works for The Wall Street Journal. She has, also, been a member of The Wall Street Journal editorial board since 2005.
Deneen Borelli
Deneen Laverne Borelli is an American conservative author, radio and television personality, and columnist. She is the author of Blacklash: How Obama and the Left are Driving Americans to the Government Plantation, a political critique of what she describes as progressivism, crony capitalism, and elitism under the Obama administration.
Andrew Revkin
Andrew C. Revkin is an American science and environmental journalist, webcaster, author and educator.
Other Notable Alumni
Jeff Boss
Jeffrey Harlan Boss is an American conspiracy theorist and perennial candidate.
tags: #famous #Pace #University #alumni
