Pace University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni

Pace University, since its inception, has cultivated a diverse community of alumni who have left indelible marks across various professional landscapes. From its roots as a pioneering accountancy school to its current status as a comprehensive university, Pace has consistently produced individuals who excel in business, law, entertainment, politics, and public service.

The Foundation of Pace University

Founded in 1906 by brothers Homer St. Clair Pace and Charles Ashford Pace, Pace University began as a one-classroom school at 154 Nassau Street in Manhattan. Recognizing the need for formal business education, Homer Pace, preparing for the CPA exam, found "very little and very poor instruction along these lines" and accounting literature in the United States "practically nil." With a borrowed $600, the Pace brothers established Pace & Pace, a coeducational institution from the start.

Presidential Leadership Through the Years

The university's growth and evolution have been guided by a succession of dedicated presidents, each contributing unique strengths and vision.

Homer St. Clair Pace (1906-1942)

Homer St. Clair Pace served as president from 1906 until his death in 1942. He expanded the institution from a one-room school to a recognized center for business education. Recognizing that the need for formal business education presented opportunity, he and his brother Charles Ashford Pace opened a one-classroom school. He found "very little and very poor instruction along these lines" and accounting literature in the United States "practically nil." He borrowed $600 and, with his brother Charles Ashford Pace, opened a one-classroom school at 154 Nassau Street in Manhattan. Their first class comprised of both men and women in rented classroom space; the Pace brothers determined that from the start Pace & Pace will be coeducational. By 1919, enrollment had grown to over 4,000 students through standardized accountancy courses offered at multiple locations. Additionally, Pace introduced field experience programs in 1924, emphasizing practical training.

Robert Scott Pace (1942-1960)

Robert Scott Pace was appointed president of Pace Institute in 1942, following the death of his father, Homer S. Pace. Robert Pace served in the armed forces but returned in 1945 to see the school through a hectic post-World War II period, which saw the institution mature physically and intellectually and become accepted into the ranks of colleges and universities. During Pace’s tenure, from 1942 to 1960, Pace Institute became Pace College; New York State approved the BBA and BA degrees; Pace moved from a few rented floors at 225 Broadway to its own 16-story building at 41 Park Row; and the Graduate Division was established.

Edward Joseph Mortola

Edward Joseph Mortola came to Pace Institute in 1947 as assistant dean. Holding increasingly important leadership positions, over the next 43 years he provided visionary leadership, dramatically increased enrollment, and expanded the University’s academic programs. During Mortola's tenure the Undergraduate School of Business Administration (1965), the Schools of Arts and Sciences (1965), as well as the schools of education (1965), nursing (1966), law (1976), and Computer Science and Information Systems (1983) were established. He also increased the reach of Pace’s landscape of learning by establishing new campuses in Westchester County: Pleasantville in 1963, White Plains in 1975, and Briarcliff in 1978. In 1969, a $20 million campus building complex (One Pace Plaza) was completed on the site of Pace’s first location on Park Row in lower Manhattan, across the street from City Hall. A midtown center opened in 1976 to serve corporations and business professionals.

William G. Sharwell (1984-1990)

William G. Hardly a newcomer to either Pace or the management of higher education when he was named President of Pace University in 1984, William G. Sharwell had served on the University's Board of Trustees since 1973 and had been Chairman of the Board since 1983. Prior to becoming president of Pace, Sharwell was a senior vice president at AT&T. As Pace president from 1984 to 1990, Sharwell applied his considerable business expertise to stabilizing enrollment and funding both existing and new programs. The Graduate Center in downtown White Plains was completed during his tenure. Graduate law programs were expanded and the University's newest component, the School of Computer Science and Information Systems, achieved international recognition. Despite these considerable achievements, Sharwell will probably be best remembered for his unwavering support of student activities, ranging from theatrical productions to proms.

Patricia O’Donnell Ewers (1990s)

The first in her family to graduate from college, Chicago native Patricia O’Donnell Ewers maintained Pace University’s commitment to Opportunitas throughout the 1990s. Recognizing the increasing importance of technology in the classroom, in the business of higher education, and as a fundamental skill needed to succeed in many careers, she invested in human and technology resources for Pace. Her most notable accomplishment was the completion of the Campaign for Pace, which, by raising $61 million, quadrupled the University's endowment. Another of her priorities was to enhance the way Pace presented itself-many halls and buildings were renovated during her tenure. Ewers, like Homer S. Pace before her, was not only an administrator, but a teacher; she taught courses in literature and film.

David A. Caputo (2000-2006)

David Armand Caputo became the sixth president of Pace University in July 2000, and presided over its 100th anniversary in 2006. During Caputo's tenure, Pace accelerated its regional and national leadership, following a five-year strategic plan titled "Reaching New Heights." Funded research grants for faculty grew from about $500,000 to nearly $7 million. The Pace Academy for the Environment forged a consortium of nearly 50 colleges and universities in the Hudson River Valley to address environmental concerns. Conferences and a Pace Downtown Index of economic activity involved the University in the revitalization of lower Manhattan.

Stephen J. Friedman (2007-Present)

Stephen J. Friedman became the seventh president of Pace University on June 4, 2007. As president of Pace, Mr. Friedman has presided over a substantial increase in core enrollment while sustaining the University’s historic commitment to providing access for students from all economic backgrounds. An advocate of education for the professions, he regards the combination of liberal arts and career preparation as critical for creating opportunity and improving the nation’s global competitiveness.

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Notable Alumni

Pace University's alumni have made significant contributions across diverse fields, reflecting the university's commitment to providing practical education and fostering leadership. According to EduRank, Pace University is ranked 670th in the world, 246th in North America, and 227th in the United States based on aggregated alumni prominence. The following list highlights some of the notable individuals who have attended Pace University:

Arts and Entertainment

Paul Dano: An acclaimed American actor known for his roles in films such as Little Miss Sunshine and There Will Be Blood. He won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance for his role in L.I.E. (2001) and gained wider recognition for playing a troubled teenager in Little Miss Sunshine (2006). For playing identical twins in Paul Thomas Anderson's period drama There Will Be Blood (2007), he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Rachael Ray: A celebrated 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.
Michelle Borth: An American actress known for her roles on The Forgotten and Hawaii Five-0, where she played Catherine Rollins.
Ailee: An American singer and songwriter based in South Korea, known professionally as Ailee. 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: An American actor best known for his portrayal of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on the HBO series The Sopranos.
Dominique Fishback: An American actress who played Billie Rowan on Show Me a Hero, Darlene on The Deuce, and Deborah Johnson in Judas and the Black Messiah. In 2023, she began starring in the Amazon Prime Video psychological horror series Swarm.
Yancy Butler: An American actress known for her roles in Hard Target, Drop Zone, and as Detective Sara Pezzini on the TNT series Witchblade.
Stephanie Andujar: An American actress, director, producer, writer, singer, dancer and songwriter known for her roles in Precious, Pariah, and Orange is the New Black.
Yuhua Hamasaki: A Chinese-born American drag queen, singer, actor, and reality television personality who gained recognition on RuPaul's Drag Race.
Nabiyah Be: A Brazilian actress and singer who originated the role of Eurydice in the musical Hadestown and portrayed Simone Jackson in the television show Daisy Jones & the Six.
Kathleen Herles: An American voice actress best known for being the original voice of Dora on Dora the Explorer for the first four seasons.

Business and Finance

Ariane de Rothschild: A Salvadorean-French banker and CEO of Edmond de Rothschild Group.
Mel Karmazin: An American executive who served as the CEO of Sirius Radio (later Sirius XM Radio).
Richard Grasso: The former chairman and chief executive of the New York Stock Exchange.
Charles A. Agemian: A professor of Business; banker; former executive vice-president of Chase Manhattan Bank; former chairman and CEO of Hackensack Trust Corp.

Politics and Public Service

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: An American politician, environmental lawyer, author, anti-vaccine activist, and conspiracy theorist.
Kash Patel: An American lawyer and former federal prosecutor and official who served in various roles during the Trump administration.
Andrea Stewart-Cousins: 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.
Godwin Obaseki: A Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the governor of Edo State from 2016 to 2024.
Mohamed Mounir Majidi: A Moroccan businessman and the personal secretary of King Mohammed VI.
Tony Vargas: An American politician and former educator who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from 2017 to 2025.
Nathaniel Barnes: A Liberian diplomat, politician and member of the Liberian Destiny Party (LDP).
Barbara Farrell Vucanovich: 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.

Sports

Lalit Modi: An Indian businessman and former cricket administrator, founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Jay Glazer: A television personality and sports reporter for Fox Sports' NFL pregame show, FOX NFL Sunday.
Tim Morehouse: An American Olympic fencer.

Other Fields

David Barnea: The current Director of the Mossad.
Andrew Revkin: An American science and environmental journalist, webcaster, author and educator.
Mary Anastasia O'Grady: An American editor and columnist for The Wall Street Journal.
Nina Freeman: An American video game designer known for her games with themes of sexuality and self-reflection.
Jeff Boss: An American conspiracy theorist and perennial candidate.

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