Sethu Karthikeyan, PhD, is Associate Professor in the College of Health Professions, NYC. Her research focuses on examining human behavior from an evolutionary psychology perspective. 

Prof. Karthikeyan recently published Ethics Trumps Resources in Women’s and Men’s Evaluations of Potential Mates and Competitors with coauthors Toe Aung, PhD and Maryanne L. Fisher, PhD in Scientific Reports (July 2025). She also presented on the topic at the NorthEastern Evolutionary Psychology Society in 2024. The study is motivated by evolutionary interpretations of mating strategies and asks new questions that warrant a reexamination of theoretical aspects. The team is currently working on a follow-up study. Scientific Reports placed her earlier publication entitled Articulatory Effects on Perceptions of Men’s Status and Attractiveness as one of the top 100 downloaded Psychology papers in 2023  of over 1045 Psychology papers published that year. PsyPost also interviewed her about the study. Prof. Karthikeyan co-authored a chapter, with David Puts, PhD entitled Voice Pitch in the Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior. This chapter provides a detailed review on vocal pitch and mating-relevant perceptions and the use of vocal pitch in mating contexts; it further discusses considerations for future research. University Relations at Pace interviewed her about this piece. 

Prof. Karthikeyan served in the program and award committees for the NorthEastern Evolutionary Psychology Society conference in 2024. She is an Editorial Board Member of Scientific Reports for the Human Behavior section. She is currently co-editing with Andrew Gallup, PhD and Glenn Geher, PhD the latest Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology. 

Roy Girasa, PhD (Distinguished Professor, Legal Studies and Taxation, PLV, Lubin School of Business) published Artificial Intelligence as a Disruptive Technology: Economic Transformation and Government Regulation, 2d Edition, Palgrave Macmillan (Oct. 2025). The text highlights the remarkable technological changes taking place today that are profoundly changing almost all of society including job creation and destruction, replacement of human persons with machines, and innumerable other effects. The book focuses on the role of AI within a legal and regulatory context and explores in detail attempts to obstruct major harms to society both within the U.S. and elsewhere. Included in the discussion are issues relating to antitrust and enforcement, intellectual property rights, right to privacy, criminal behavior, facial recognition, environmental concerns, and future disruptions evidenced by superintelligence, singularity, and quantum computing.

Professor Girasa has been a member of the law and tax department of Lubin for over 45 years and is the author of seven other legal texts concerning cyberlaw, law of finance, shadow banking, blockchain, and other related areas affecting the US and globally. He had practiced law since 1962 and is the author of over 135 articles, headed international conferences, taught MBA courses in Shanghai and in Germany, appeared on a number of television shows in the US and South Korea, and numerous other accomplishments. Professor Girasa’s recent publications include “Payback Time: Trump and EU’s ‘Exorbitant” Fines vs US Tech Companies’”, International In-House Counsel Journal, 17. 69 (Autumn, 2024, Jan. 2025); “Poster Child of Securities Fraud – The Sam Bankman-Fried Litigation and Its Aftermath”, NEALSB Conference, May, 2024; published in the European Business Review, in two issues, Spring 2025; and “Revisiting Stablecoins: Regulation, Risk, and Their Role in Enhancing the Competitiveness of an Investment Portfolio”, International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness – SpringerNature (October 2025), with co-authors, Carol C. Huang, PhD, Chris C. Hsu, PhD, and Emilio Collar, Jr., PhD. Prof. Girasa resides in Vermont, commutes to Pace weekly, and at age 88 has no thoughts of retirement.  

Yiqiao Yin, MBA (MS in Data Science, NYC, Seidenberg School of CSIS) published Notes on Agent-based Applications: Era of Agent-based Applications. This book is a comprehensive guide designed to lead readers through the fascinating world of programming, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, from the very basics to cutting-edge applications. Beginning with foundational Python concepts, it gradually introduces readers to the intricacies of machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning architectures like convolutional neural networks. As the journey unfolds, the book delves into more advanced topics such as natural language understanding and the transformative power of large language models (LLMs), including modern developments like transformers and GPT models towards Agentic AI framework. Readers will not only learn how to implement these models but will also explore practical, agent-based applications, enabling machines to act intelligently and autonomously—writing and executing code, solving complex tasks, and interacting with APIs in dynamic environments. With a clear, structured approach and step-by-step tutorials, this book offers both beginners and experienced AI enthusiasts an accessible yet deeply insightful dive into one of the most exciting fields of technology today.  Whether you're aiming to understand the basics or build real-world applications, this book provides a roadmap to mastering AI.  

Professor Yin has been working in the AI and machine learning space since 2015, with a background in data science dating back to 2014. He has led a broad range of AI-backed solutions, including Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Large Language Models (LLMs), and Generative AI. Prof. Yin currently serves as a Principal AI Engineer at a global data analytics company known for providing credit scoring solutions to financial institutions, consumers, and businesses worldwide. Previously, he was a Tech Lead at Vertex Inc., a global leader in tax technology solutions. Prior to that, he worked as a Senior Machine Learning Engineer at LabCorp, an S&P 500 company, where he developed AI-driven solutions in drug diagnostics, drug development, operations management, and financial decision-making for the life sciences sector.

Earlier in his career, Prof. Yin held roles such as enterprise-level Data Scientist at Bayer, a EURO STOXX 50 company, and served as a Quantitative Researcher (apprenticeship) at AQR, a globally recognized hedge fund specializing in alternative quantitative strategies and factor-based trading. He also worked as an Equity Trader at T3 Trading on Wall Street, where he briefly held a FINRA Series 56 license. Since 2011, Prof. Yin has supervised a small fund focused on algorithmic trading. Additionally, he runs a monetized YouTube channel and maintains a professional presence on LinkedIn. Prof. Yin’s career began in finance, but his transition to AI started in academia. He was a PhD student in Statistics at Columbia University, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics and an M.S. in Finance from the University of Rochester. His research interests span representation learning, including feature learning, deep learning, computer vision, and NLP. He also has prior research experience in financial economics and asset pricing.

Teresa Nicole Brooks is a Doctoral Candidate in the Computer Science PhD program, whose research is inspired by both neuroscience and computer science.

Her dissertation explores the use of modified fly olfactory circuits as an ensemble of weak learners for few-shot image classification tasks. This work is motivated by her strong interest in the challenge of learning knowledge representations, in data and resource constrained environments. Teresa's research reflects her passion for biologically inspired models, sensory learning, and the challenge of knowledge representation in both biological and artificial intelligent systems.

Teresa has a unique mix of academic and industry experience. This background has enabled her to tackle a diverse range of technical problems, giving her both breadth and depth in her expertise. She firmly believes that cross-discipline research is essential for developing truly intelligent machines.

In addition to her PhD studies, Teresa currently works as a Senior Research Engineer at Cloudflare.

Carla McNulty is a PhD student in the Nursing program pursuing her dissertation study, “Rompiendo Fronteras (Breaking Barriers): Addressing Language Barriers in Palliative Care for Hispanics with Cancer and Their Caregivers.” Her research focuses on improving equity and communication in oncology palliative care for Hispanic patients and their families. Carla is the recipient of the Foundation of New York State of Nursing’s 2025 Mary J. Finnin Grant for Nursing Innovation in Oncology, awarded annually to a registered nurse committed to advancing innovation in oncology nursing.

From left to right: Lin Drury, PhD, Carla McNulty, Catherine Finlayson, PhD

Esmira Yusufova is a PhD student in the Nursing program conducting her dissertation study, “From Virtual to Reality: The Impact of Virtual-Reality Simulation on Oncology Nurses’ Spiritual-Care Competence.” Her work examines how immersive simulation training can strengthen nurses’ ability to provide spiritually attuned care in oncology settings. Esmira is the recipient of the Debra Spunt Research Grant from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), which supports research aligned with INACSL’s simulation science priorities.

Idalina Afopa, DNP, RN, FNP-BC is a 2025 graduate of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Her doctoral project, “Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Impact on Hypertension,” evaluates the role of home-based monitoring in improving hypertension outcomes. Idalina presented her work at the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York’s annual conference in October, highlighting her contribution to advancing evidence-based practice in primary care.

A Celebration of Book Publications: Honoring Our Faculty Authors 

The Office of Research and Graduate Education is sponsoring a celebration of Pace faculty who have published books between 2020 and 2025. This special event will showcase the creativity, scholarship, and impact of our faculty authors across disciplines through a series of engaging presentations. Join us to hear faculty share the heart of their work—their key ideas, inspirations, and the impact they hope to make through their writing. Please reach out to Anna Beskin, PhD, at abeskin@pace.edu for more details. Refreshments will be provided. 



Presenters: Pace faculty 

When: Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Where: Kessel Student Union, Pleasantville Campus

Register for this celebration

Faculty Research Spotlight:

Interdisciplinarity Through an Evolutionary Lens

In this presentation, Professor Karthikeyan will share an overview of her research career at Pace University, shaped by the theoretical framework of evolutionary psychology and its application to studies on voice, speech, and human mating strategies. The talk highlights how these explorations have refined understandings of mate preferences and how evoluationary perspectives naturally foster interdisciplinary thinking in her classes. 



Presenter: Sethu Karthikeyan, PhD, Associate Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders, CHP, NYC

When: Thursday, January 29, 2026, 3:25 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.  

Where: NYC Campus (exact location TBA); or join via Zoom

Register for this presentation

Annual Spring Research Conference



Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, this year’s research conference invites participants to explore how art, science, technology, and the humanities intersect to shape the contemporary human experience. Through research, creative work, and interdisciplinary dialogue, we will examine how global perspectives and local action can come together to advance equity, sustainability, and the common good. Register today to save the date and look out for more information coming soon. 



When: Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Where: NYC Campus

Register for this conference

Call for Proposals due December 14

Please see the following funding opportunity for faculty, which is coordinated through the Mellon-funded project, “Islands, Archipelagos, and Cultural Ecologies":

Full and part-time faculty are invited to submit project proposals for course-integrated projects that will take place in Spring 2026. These projects, funded in amounts up to $500, must explore the theme of islands and archipelagos as it relates to NY and/or the Caribbean. Student projects should have a visual component that will be featured in a student exhibition held in April 2026. This visual “island storytelling” should connect lived experience with scholarly inquiry through:

• Student posters
• Video or other media
• Demonstrations
• Oral histories/interviews
• Interactive spaces
• Games
• Performance
• Podcasts

These exhibits can be related to field trips, research, technology, or other forms of class creative work. The exhibits should highlight the history, culture, and ecology of New York City and/or Caribbean archipelagos. Projects may be individual or collaborative and should be based on research, field trips and/or creative work connected to the course.

Topics are not limited to but may include:

• The historical, legal, economic, cultural, and ecological dimensions of NYC and Caribbean islands, including Indigenous histories and environmental change.
• NYC’s relationships with global archipelagos—especially the Caribbean—through themes of diaspora, migration, imperialism, and resource extraction.
• How water, coastlines, climate change, sea-level rise, and border geographies shape island life, infrastructure, and cultural identity.
• How islands and oceans are depicted in literature, visual arts, and performance, with emphasis on literary and artistic traditions.

If you are interested in participating in this project, please fill out the short form here by December 14. You will be informed about the status of your application by December 19. If you have any questions, please reach out to Anne Toomey at atoomey@pace.edu

We look forward to your creative and critical approaches to understanding islands and archipelagic life—within NYC, the Caribbean, and beyond!

Pace University's ALM/OER Conference 2026



"Meaningful Change in Education" - Join us online on April 17, 2026!

Consider submitting a proposal to showcase how you support affordable learning and open educational resources for Pace's online conference 2026. 

Pace University educators are invited to join in exploring how we can harness the transformative power of Affordable Learning Materials (ALM) and Open Educational Resources (OER) to create meaningful change in education. If you are using or authoring cost saving materials and resources for your teaching let's broadcast this at the conference and help Pace University be a leader in this movement. Please consider submitting a proposal. This year's theme embraces the creation of OER and offers to reinvent the three As of OER - "Adopt, Adapt, and Author."

Proposals should focus on affordable learning materials and open educational resources, focusing on the conference theme "The Three As: Adopt, Adapt, Author."

Proposal deadline: December 12, 2025.

More information is avaviable here.

For submissions click here.

Upcoming and Rolling Deadlines in NEH's 

Division of Collections and Infrastructure 

Rediscovering Our Revolutionary Tradition 

A grant program from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Rediscovering Our Revolutionary Tradition, honors the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the nation’s principles of equality, liberty, and government by consent.

The program supports activities to preserve and improve access to primary source materials that document: 

1) The history of American independence and the establishment and/or expansion of the nation. Projects will include the experiences of states, territories, and communities—in the original colonies and beyond—in joining the nation. Or: 

2) The history of U.S. government—from federal to local, from federal and state constitutions to governors’ papers and court records. 

Projects may work with collections that include archival records; documents and rare publications; art and material culture; and photographs and sound recordings. Supported activities include conservation treatment and rehousing, digitization and description, transcription and translation, and updating existing digital resources to ensure long-term public availability. 

Application deadline: January 15, 2026 

Maximum funding: $350,000 (individual institutions); $750,000 (consortia) 

More information is available here

Celebrate America! 

Through this program, NEH will award 250 challenge grants of up to $25,000 each for projects that focus on the founding of the American nation, key historical figures, and milestones that reflect the exceptional achievements of the United States. As part of your application, you will need to certify that your organization has secured third-party, nonfederal gifts equal to the amount requested from NEH.   

Allowable activities include, but are not limited to: speakers, screenings, and discussion series; community events and family programs; exhibits; meetings, conferences, and symposia; digital projects and educational materials pertaining to the 250th.  

Application deadline: Rolling. Apply any time at Grants.gov. 

Maximum Funding: $25,000 in federal matching funds 

More information is available here

A list of recently funded projects can be found here. 

National Digital Newspaper Program 

NDNP is a partnership between NEH and the Library of Congress (LOC) to create a national digital resource of historically significant newspapers published between 1690 and 1963 from all 56 states and U.S. jurisdictions. LOC permanently maintains this freely accessible, searchable online database (Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers). NEH makes awards to one institution in each state or jurisdiction to digitize historical newspapers for inclusion in this database. 

Application Deadline: January 15, 2026 

Maximum Funding: $325,000 

More information is available here



To arrange a phone consultation or ask questions about any of these programs, please email collections@neh.gov or call 202-606-8570. 

Join Our Third Annual Wellness-In-Action Program

The Center for Wellbeing and the Office of Research and Graduate Education are excited to announce that Pace will launch the third annual Wellness-in-Action (WiA) Program for faculty and staff/administrators this February 2026! This month-long initiative promotes a culture of wellness and supports healthy lifestyle habits across our community through small teams of Wellness Captains and Wellness Participants. WiA is an opportunity to build community through shared wellness goals while working in small groups; explore the eight dimensions of wellness—emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, physical, occupational, social, and spiritual – and celebrate progress and success together through myriad engaging events and activities. To apply and/or for more information, contact Sue Maxam, Ed.D. at wellness@pace.edu.

Save the Date!



Save the date for Pace’s first annual Virtual Experiential Wellness Summit for staff and faculty on Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.! This energizing and interactive day will focus on cultivating a culture of care, wellness, and connections at Pace. Sessions will feature valuable and concrete strategies as they relate to the eight dimensions of wellness (e.g., emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual) Questions? Contact Sue Maxam, Ed.D., at smaxam@pace.edu or wellness@pace.edu.

Do you have a recent publication, grant, or other updates?

Share your research news here!

Visit the Office of Research and Graduate Education website for information and updates

Questions? Email: Elina Bloch, PhD, Associate Director for Research

at ebloch@pace.edu