EVENING PROGRAM

Gabriela Hernandez ’24 BFA Musical Theater

Marvin Krislov President

Lubin Alumni Achievement Award

Award Presentation

Pace Performing Arts Performance

Music Director

Dinner Intermission

Remarks

Impact Award Award Presentation

Lawrence Singleton

Dean, Lubin School of Business

Shant Mardirossian ’89, MBA ’00

Partner, Chief Operating Officer Kohlberg & Company

Marianna Ban ’24

Georgios Kalogeropoulos ’24

Swetha Vissapragada ’25

Sean Pallatroni

Robert S. Sands, JD ’84 Chairman

Patricia Weisenfeld Managing Director

MJS Foundation

Marilyn Hawrys Simons, Ph.D.

Co-Founder

Simons Foundation

Leaders in Management Award

Award Presentation

Sherone Smith-Sanchez, EDD

Shaun's sister CEO, Talawah Turf International

Smith ’96, JD ’02

Group SVP and Chief People and Culture Officer

NewYork-Presbyterian

Lifetime Achievement Award

Award Presentation Marvin Krislov President

Robert Robotti, MBA ’78, and Suzanne Robotti

Philanthropists

June 8, 2023

Dear friends,

On behalf of the Pace University Board of Trustees, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2023 Spirit of Pace Awards at such a special time.

I’m excited for this moment in Pace’s history, and I am inspired by the vision for the University’s future. In fact, I am so confident about what lies ahead for Pace and our remarkable students that last month my wife, Pamela, and I unveiled a $25 million gift to the University in support of that strategic vision. As a result, the new College of Performing Arts will be named in our honor, and we’re deeply gratified that we’ll be so closely identified with this proud tradition of ambition and student success.

We’ve had a wonderful year at Pace, and we have a lot of great things ahead of us.

But right now is a moment to come together, celebrate our community, and honor a group of remarkable leaders who set an example for all of us—and especially our hard-working, ambitious students.

Tonight we recognize Shant Mardirossian ’89, MBA ’00, partner and chief operating officer at Kohlberg & Company, with our Lubin Alumni Achievement Award; Trustee Robert Robotti, MBA ’78, president of Robotti & Company, and his wife, Suzanne, with our Lifetime Achievement Award; Marilyn Simons, co-founder of the Simons Foundation, with our Impact Award; and Trustee Shaun Smith ’96, JD ’02, group SVP and chief people and culture officer at NewYork-Presbyterian, with our Leaders in Management Award.

I am happy that we are able to assemble and recognize such an extraordinary group. We remain grateful to them—and to all of you—for the friendship, support, and commitment that allow this University to thrive. Proceeds from tonight’s event support scholarships and other investments in student success. Together, we’re ensuring that we can continue to create opportunities for the next generation of Pace students.

Thank you all for helping us honor our Spirit of Pace Award winners, thank you for helping us celebrate Pace, and thank you for supporting our students.

Sincerely,

Robert S. Sands, JD ’84 Chairman, Board of Trustees

June 8, 2023

Dear friends,

Welcome to the 2023 Spirit of Pace Awards.

Each year, this night is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our special community— and this year we’re thrilled to be back at Cipriani 42nd Street for another in-person evening of connection, recognition, and Opportunitas.

On a beautifully sunny day in Queens just a few weeks ago, we wrapped up an extraordinary year for Pace University at Commencement 2023. Our students are doing amazing things, our placement rates remain astronomical, and earlier this spring we announced the creation of a brand-new standalone school within our University: the Sands College of Performing Arts.

And we have even bigger things lined up for next year, including the opening of our brand-new residence hall and academic space at 15 Beekman Street and the start of work on the transformation of the east side of One Pace Plaza, including a renovated Maria’s Tower and a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center to serve Sands College, the broader Pace Community, and our downtown neighbors.

We are able to accomplish so much thanks to the generosity and leadership of amazing people like Shant Mardirossian ’89, MBA ’00, Bob MBA ’78 and Su Robotti, Marilyn Simons, and Shaun Smith ’96, JD ’02—and, of course, all of you.

For more than 100 years, we have created opportunities for the hard-working, ambitious go-getters who come to Pace. Your friendship and support directly fund scholarships and other student success initiatives that enable us to continue our long tradition of providing access to the transformative power of higher education. Together, we make a real difference in countless lives.

We’re proud of the work we do, proud of our students, and proud to have your support. Thank you—for your partnership, your generosity, and your commitment to our students and our future.

Sincerely,

Marvin Krislov President