IMPACT AWARD

Marilyn Hawrys Simons, Ph.D.

Co-Founder Simons Foundation

Marilyn Simons is a philanthropist and advocate focused on funding basic science research. A co-founder of the Simons Foundation, Marilyn currently serves as a co-chair of the foundation’s board of trustees.

Since 2019, Marilyn has served as chair of the board of trustees of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory - an outstanding U.S. research facility specializing in molecular biology and genetics; she has been a member of the Lab’s board since 2008. Marilyn is also a member of the boards of trustees of the National Museum of Mathematics and the Turkana Basin Institute, and she serves as an advisory board member of Sandbox Films, a documentary studio dedicated to illuminating the art and beauty of scientific inquiry.

In 2014, Marilyn founded the Stony Brook Women’s Leadership Council, a mentoring program for outstanding undergraduate women at Stony Brook University, where she currently serves as the Council’s chair.

In addition to her work to advance basic science research, Marilyn is active in supporting K–12 education for underserved communities. She is a member of the board of trustees of the LearningSpring School, a New York City-based school for children diagnosed on the autism spectrum as well as the East Harlem Scholars Academies in New York City. With her husband, Jim, Marilyn oversees the philanthropic work of the MJS Foundation, a private family foundation in New York. Marilyn and the MJS Foundation have supported countless Pace students through internship opportunities as well as scholarships for OASIS [Ongoing Academic Social Instructional Support], STEM, and upperclassmen students. Their generosity allows students to take on new challenges and reach higher in pursuit of their dreams.

Marilyn Simons received a B.A. and Ph.D. in economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

About the Impact Award

The Impact Award is given to an individual who has made a lasting impression on the Pace community. It recognizes a person who has gone above and beyond to impact students, faculty, and the entire institution.

Host

Gabriela Hernandez ‘24 is a rising senior in the BFA Musical Theater program in the Sands College of Performing Arts and earning a minor in Arts and Entertainment Management from the Lubin School of Business.

Gabriela is a student in the Pforzheimer Honors College and has just presented her Thesis. She has been working with Donor Relations for the past three years through the making of videos and emceeing other events. She worked as a Tour Guide and Student Ambassador at the Pace Welcome Center for three and a half years interacting with prospective students and families. She is going on her third year as a Musical Theater student representative that aids in the recruitment process, converses with the parents and students looking to join the BFA Musical theater program and helps welcome in the freshman class. Outside of Pace she has worked as the Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service Assistant at CUBE USA in Miami, Florida where she is the head proofreader and the official voice of some of their marketing videos.

During her time at Pace, Gabriela has played Steven Kodaly in She Loves Me and Kathy (Understudy for Judy and Maria) in 9 to 5 as a part of the Pace Performing Arts Mainstage Production season. She has also had the chance to workshop brand new musicals, has made her 54 Below Debut, and performed at the Don’t Tell Mama Piano Bar.

About the Sands College of Performing Arts

The Sands College of Performing Arts at Pace is one of the most sought after performing arts schools in the nation. As a center of excellence at Pace, the college offers BA and BFA programs that balance strong academics with intensive pre-professional training. We prepare graduates to enter the workplace as knowledgeable, disciplined artists devoted to the integrity, pursuit, and preservation of their craft. Sands College of Performing Art offers majors in:

• Acting (BFA)

• Acting for Film, TV, Voice-overs & Commercials (BFA)

• Commercial Dance (BFA)

• Musical Theater (BFA)

• Production & Design for Stage & Screen (BFA)

• Acting – International Performance Ensemble (BA)

• Directing – International Performance Ensemble (BA)

• Stage Management (BA)

Thank You To Our Sponsors Underwriter

Robert MBA '78 and Suzanne Robotti

BENEFACTOR

MJS Foundation PATRON

Photeine Anagnostopoulos & James Stynes

Chartwells

Collins Building Services Inc.

Newmark

The Ianniello Family Charitable Trust

NewYork-Presbyterian

Sands Family Foundation, Inc.

The Spruce House Partnership

Richard and Anna Zannino

Thank You To Our Sponsors

FRIEND

Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC

DBI Projects

Evensonbest LLC

Ficalora Family Foundation

Gallagher

Gabelli Funds

General Plumbing Corp.

Havas, Health & You

JRM Construction Management

Lyter Group, Inc.

Shant Mardirossian ’89, MBA ’00

Liliane and Christian Haub

KPMG LLP

SL Green Realty Corporation

Turner Construction Company

Trinity Wall Street

Kenneth Wasiak ’72, MBA ’75 to Bob and Su Robotti and Shaun Smith on recognition of their outstanding service to Pace University.

Congratulations to the Pace University students for your hard work, passion, creativity and determination to follow your dreams and achieve your goals!

We celebrate Pace University for providing an exemplary education that prepares and propels students for success in their lives and careers.

Driven by the passionate commitment to the Pace mission of opportunitas, Robert, Su and Shaun’s impact on the success of Pace and its students will be felt for decades to come.

With deep respect and appreciation, we thank Robert and Shaun for their exceptional board leadership and dedicated efforts.