Sung-Hyuk Cha, PhD is a Professor of Computer Science in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems (NYC). His research spans data science, pattern recognition, and machine learning, with a strong emphasis on theoretical foundations and practical impact.

During his 25-year career at Pace University, Prof. Cha has published more than 200 scholarly articles. His work has received significant recognition, with over 8,900 citations and an h-index of 32 according to Google Scholar -- placing him among the most impactful and influential research scholars at the university. His recent research includes methodological advances in dynamic time warping for improved machine learning accuracy and the development of generalized kernel density functions applied to linear regression and clustering. In 2020, Prof. Cha published 7 Algorithm Design Paradigms, developed from over two decades of teaching. It is used in graduate and doctoral-level algorithms courses. Prof. Cha has supervised 10 doctoral and 13 master’s theses. He serves as co-chair of the Seidenberg Annual Research Day and has edited its proceedings and the Seidenberg school’s technical reports.

Prior to joining Pace University, Prof. Cha earned his PhD from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where his doctoral research resulted in a U.S. patent on biometric and handwritten sample analysis. He previously worked at Samsung SDS’s Information Technology R&D Center in Korea, where he developed PACS and teleradiology systems for Samsung Medical Center and a telemedicine system for Seoul National University Hospital.

Christian N. Madu, PhD is Professor of Management and Management Science in the Lubin School of Business (NYC). His multidisciplinary research focuses on sustainability, disaster risk reduction, and chemical security management. A prolific scholar, he has published extensively across diverse subject areas and has served as a consultant to major organizations. His contributions to academia have earned him numerous awards for excellence in both research and teaching.

Prof. Madu served as Editor-in-Chief of a leading international journal for over two decades and currently serves on the editorial boards of more than 30 academic journals worldwide. He has supervised numerous master’s and doctoral students and has examined PhD dissertations at top universities across several continents.

A recognized authority in chemical security management, Prof. Madu has led national initiatives to strengthen safety and risk management practices in Nigeria. He is the Lead Subject Matter Expert on Chemical Security Management in Nigeria and has conducted training workshops across the six geopolitical zones under programs sponsored by the U.S. Chemical Security Program and CRDF Global. He also organized a national workshop for Nigerian universities, in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC), on curriculum development in Chemical Security Management.

Prof. Madu is a Fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), the Institute of Policy Management and Development, the Chemical Society of Nigeria, the Society of Professional Disaster Risk Managers (SOPDRM), and the Institute of Strategic Management (ISM).

Anthony Mancini, PhD, a clinical psychologist and Professor in the Psychology Department (PLV, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences), studies how people respond to loss, trauma, and acute stress. A New York City native with degrees from Hunter College and Columbia University, he challenged traditional trauma models by documenting wide variability in post-adversity outcomes and the surprisingly common pattern of psychological resilience. His theoretical framework proposes that acute adversity can catalyze social affiliation, prosocial behavior, and improved psychological functioning—processes he terms psychosocial gains from adversity.

Prof. Mancini is completing a $440,000 NIH-funded grant examining COVID-19-related economic stressors and their psychological consequences in regions varying in social capital. His research increasingly examines psychological outcomes to adversity in broader social contexts, often through international collaborations. In a meta-analysis with Gabriele Prati at the University of Bologna, cited over 1,000 times, he found COVID-19 lockdowns had modest to no effects on overall psychological functioning (Psychological Medicine, 2021). Other findings include slight improvements in happiness in Italy post-pandemic (International Journal of Disaster and Risk Reduction, 2024), especially among people with partners, and that resilience was the predominant response to COVID-19 in a large adolescent cohort (JAMA Network Open, 2025). His recent work has also explored pandemic-related media exposure (Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 2024), depression trajectories in European samples (Journal of Psychiatric Research, 2024), increased social behavior and improved well-being in response to worries about COVID-19 (Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 2024), a post-pandemic disengagement syndrome across four countries (Psychological Assessment, 2023), and mental health comparisons across US and Italian regions (Clinical Psychological Science, 2022). Several manuscripts include Pace students as co-authors.

In addition, Prof. Mancini serves as Chief Editor of Anxiety, Stress & Coping, runs the Trauma, Social Processes, and Resilience Lab, and is completing a book, Counterfactual: A Memoir of Childhood Loss, Alternate Lives, and the Surprising Science of our Resilience, that examines childhood adversity from a personal and scientific perspective.

In November, a Pace delegation of two students and three faculty members attended the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) conference in Aotearoa New Zealand to present original research alongside peacebuilding scholars and practitioners from around the world. Lily Lockwood (a senior double majoring in PJS and WGS) presented a project on Intersectionality as Applied to the Asian American Pacific Islander Categorization while Cassidy Burry (a junior double majoring in PJS and CMS) presented findings on Intersectionality and the School-to-Prison Pipeline. They were joined on their panel by Garrett FitzGerald, PhD (Peace and Justice Studies Program, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) and Emily Welty, PhD (Peace and Justice Studies Program, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) who presented on abolitionist approaches to peacebuilding, while Matthew Bolton, PhD (Political Science, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) chaired a workshop on the Nuclear Truth Project and the ethics of working with impacted communities. Professor Welty also presented alongside other international anti-nuclear campaigners on one of the conference’s keynote panels, titled “Now More Than Ever: Nuclear Justice, Organizing and What We Owe Each Other.”

The IPRA conference theme, officially titled in both English and te reo Māori, was “Peace, Resistance and Reconciliation / Te Rongo i Tau, Te Riri i Tū and Te Ringa i Kotuia.” The Taranaki region where the conference was held is significant for its history of nonviolent resistance and on-going Māori cultural preservation, and conference participants were generously welcomed and hosted by the Ōwae Marae and Māori community of the area. In addition to attending presentations of academics and activists from around the world, the Pace group also took time to connect with the local Land and Water, taking daily outdoor walks and getting to know the ecology of the area.

IPRA is a global association of peace researchers and has received the UNESCO prize for Peace Education. Professors FitzGerald and Welty currently serve as IPRA’s representatives to the United Nations in New York City. The Pace delegation’s attendance at the conference was made possible through the generous support of a private donor to the PJS department as well as the Dyson College Center for Undergraduate Research.

Left to Right: Prof. FitzGerald, PJS students Cassidy Burry and Lily Lockwood, and Prof. Welty at the IPRA conference with the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).

Michelle Chase, PhD (History, PLV, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) co-edited a book about the global impact of the Cuban Revolution. Titled The Cuban Revolution and the New Left: Transnational Histories of Gender, Sexuality, and Family (University of Florida Press), this volume reconsiders revolutionary Cuba’s global influence by shifting the focus from high-level political leaders to perspectives traditionally sidelined, offering new insights into how everyday lives, family dynamics, and notions of gender and sexuality impacted revolutionary transformation. Its expansive scope uncovers ties among Cuba and Latin America, the United States, Africa, and Asia, examining the interplay of global forces including new models of mass consumption, feminist and LGBTQ+ movements, and national liberation struggles.

Melvin Williams, PhD (Communication and Media Studies, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) published “Analyzing Feminism, Hip-Hop Sexual Scripting and Empowerment in Beyoncé’s Discography,” Popular Culture Studies Journal 13.2 (2025). This article analyzes Beyoncé’s discography to investigate the artist’s Black and hip-hop feminist themes, empowerment narratives, and her overall evolution as a multihyphened entertainer with varying social roles in business, film and television, music, politics, and, most importantly, to Beyoncé, her family. The article further extends on Prof. Williams’ academic and public media scholarship as an expert on the acclaimed entertainer. 

The Center for Community Action and Research is excited to announce Laura Tamman, PhD (Political Science, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) has been awarded a grant for spring 2026 civic engagement initiatives through the university’s partnership with Project Pericles. Project Pericles is a consortium of colleges and universities committed to advancing nonpartisan, community-engaged civic learning grounded in the liberal arts and humanities.

The Project Pericles Civic Story Lab is a new initiative designed to empower undergraduate students to document and participate in civic transformation through hands-on engagement and storytelling. By combining hands-on learning with storytelling, the Civic Story Lab seeks to cultivate a new generation of civic leaders and public storytellers. 

Prof. Tamman’s project partners her Politics & Media course with Hell Gate, a worker-owned NYC news outlet, to engage students in original reporting on civic issues and City Council hearings, particularly those relevant to young people. Under Prof. Tamman’s mentorship, students will work in groups to cover public hearings, produce news stories, op-eds, videos, and social media content, and contribute to local journalism, amplifying their work through university and partner channels. Three experienced student fellows will provide peer mentorship and help organize a Congressional District 10 candidate forum, which students will report on in multiple formats. 

Elmer-Rico E. Mojica, PhD (Chemistry and Physical Sciences, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences)  co-authored a paper with his former undergraduate student Eric Nguyen (Chemistry ’16) titled “Probing the Binding of Tetracyclines With Bovine Serum Albumin Using Computational and Spectroscopic Methods,” Luminescence (October 2025). The study reveals that tetracycline and its breakdown products can still bind strongly to bovine serum albumin (BSA), a model for human blood protein. Two compounds. anhydrotetracycline (ATC) and 4-epianhydrotetracycline (EATC), showed the strongest interactions, with EATC reported for the first time to bind tightly to BSA. These findings suggest that even degraded antibiotics may remain biologically active and warrant further investigation into their toxicological and environmental impact.

In addition, Prof. Mojica co-authored another paper with his former undergraduate students Tamara Duval (Forensic Science ’23), Carly Sullivan (Forensic Science ’23), and Alena Romanova (Biology ’23) titled “Beyond Caffeine Quantification: Fingerprinting Red Bull Energy Drink Variants by UV-Vis Spectroscopy and PCA/HCA,” Journal of Undergraduate Chemistry Research (October 2025). The study shows that direct UV-Vis measurements are unreliable for caffeine quantification in energy drinks due to strong matrix effects, but that full spectral fingerprinting combined with chemometric analysis can successfully differentiate nine Red Bull variants. The work highlights a rapid, non-destructive approach for beverage quality control.

Faculty and leadership from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law participated in the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Annual Meeting, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Centered on the theme “Impact. Excellence. Resilience. The Enduring Contributions of Legal Education,” the conference brought together legal educators from across the country for the largest convening of law schools in the United States. Through panels, workshops, and section meetings, the Annual Meeting serves as a critical forum for sharing scholarship, shaping national conversations on legal education, and fostering cross-institutional collaboration on emerging legal and policy challenges at a time of significant social, technological, and regulatory change. Several Pace Haub Law faculty presented their scholarship and represented as leaders and organizers at the conference, underscoring the school’s national engagement and leadership within AALS sections and committees.

Bridget J. Crawford, JD, PhD currently serving as Secretary of the AALS Section on Aging and the Law, helped coordinate the section’s program, “Aging with Dignity: Legal Challenges to Federal Cuts and Their Impact on Vulnerable Older Adults.” She also presented her scholarship at multiple sessions, including “Working the Unrecognized Shift: Informal Labor, Tax Compliance, and the Structural Limits of Employee Benefits” at the Section on Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, and “Privacy, Personhood, and the Trusts of Tomorrow: Embryos and Emerging Fiduciary Challenges” at the Section on Trusts & Estates annual program.

Lauren Roth, JD, PhD Chair Elect of the AALS Section on Law, Medicine and Health Care and a member of the Executive Committee of the Section on Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, played a significant role in coordinating Annual Meeting programming for both sections. She presented on Trump 2.0’s Impact on Employee Benefits, participated in the Aging and the Law panel on federal cuts affecting older adults, and moderated a works-in-progress session focused on employee benefits law.

Jessica Miles, JD served as the Pace Haub Law delegate to the AALS House of Representatives Meeting.

Achinthi Vithanage, LLM Executive Director of Environmental Law Programs, delivered a presentation titled “It Takes Two to Transition: Utilizing AI-driven Digital Twins in the Just Transition” as part of the flagship panel for the Natural Resources and Energy Law Committee. She also participated in the annual gathering of Environmental Law Center directors and joined the Environmental Law Field Trip to St. James Parish with Rise St. James.

Visiting Assistant Professor Sara Gonzalez-Rothi, JD participated in the Works-in-Progress session for Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources, workshopping a paper applying institutional design principles to the advancement of marine protected areas in the United States.

Adjunct Professor Danielle M. Kocal, JD was recognized as the newly elected Secretary of the AALS Section on Balance and Well-Being in Legal Education. She is also a member of the Section on Academic Support.

Left to Right: Dean Horace Anderson, Prof. Leigh Ellis ’15 (Creighton University School of Law), Prof. Bridget Crawford, Prof. Achinthi C. Vithanage, Prof. Lauren Roth, Adj. Prof. Michael Hamersky, Prof. Jessica Miles, Adj. Prof. Danielle M. Kocal, and Prof. Thomas M. McDonnell. Asst. Visiting Prof. Sara Gonzalez-Rothi not pictured.

Ji Hoon Park, a student in the PhD program in School Psychology, won a grant from the American Psychological Association (Division 10), the "Division 10 Early Career Research Micro Grant Funding Initiative". For his project, titled "Creativity and Critical Thinking in the Age of AI: A Cross-Cultural Study of Education in the 21st Century."

Ji Hoon Park is the Principal Investigator, and Pace Faculty Nils Myszkowski, PhD (Psychology, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) and Weihua Niu, PhD (Psychology, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) are both Co-Principal Investigators on this grant.

The rise of artificial intelligence marks a profound shift in education. Advocates see opportunities for efficiency, enhanced creativity, and innovative teaching, while critics worry about ethical concerns, diminished creativity, and reduced critical thinking. This project will investigate how stakeholders in education perceive the integration of AI in schools, with a focus on its impact on students' creativity and critical thinking. Importantly, this study will examine how cultural background (U.S. vs. China) and individual differences in educators' own creativity and critical thinking shape openness or resistance toward AI in education.

Bennett L. Gershman, JD (Elisabeth Haub School of Law) published his op-ed, "Race Discrimination Still Infects Jury Trials," in the New York Law Journal. This article highlights ongoing racial bias in U.S. jury trials, focusing on a Mississippi case where prosecutors, led by Doug Evans, repeatedly removed Black jurors to secure a death sentence. Despite clear evidence of discrimination, appellate courts, especially the Fifth Circuit, have used overly technical reasoning to uphold these convictions, effectively dismissing claims of racial bias. The article criticizes this approach as unjust and damaging to the principles of fair justice, emphasizing that legal technicalities should not override the pursuit of racial justice in capital cases.

Samantha Miller, BS, Program Manager for Pace's Suburban Biodiversity Conservation Center, received a 2025 NY State Parks and Recreation Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquaria (ZGBA) operational support grant to help fund the Conservation Center's operational costs. This funding will support the Conservation Center's ability to maintain and operate natural collections and facilities like pollinator gardens, hiking trails, wetlands, and animal enclosures, and offer educational programs interpreting those collections. The Conservation Center offers public programs related to topics like ecosystem protection, wildlife conservation, and sustainability. The Center also supports academic programs within the Department of Environmental Studies and Science, including an Environmental Conservation Certificate program, undergraduate degrees, a graduate degree, and minors.

Jillian McDonald's, MFA (Art, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) recent works in video, drawing, and sculpture were on view from Dec 12th, 2025 - Jan 18th, 2026 in Down a Hole Darkly at PS122 Gallery.



Featuring video, drawing, painting, and sculpture by New York artists Jillian McDonald and Heather Merckle, the exhibition spanned two adjoining galleries, a connecting corridor, and an architectural column. It featured tunnels, passageways, and portals as both physical structures and symbolic thresholds. Together, the artworks positioned the tunnel as a site of suspension and transformation where time stretches, boundaries blur, and wonders lie beyond our reach. Down a Hole Darkly presented an alluring exhibition that is a journey between descent and emergence, darkness and illumination.

Exploring Prestigious Fellowships for Undergraduates:

Fulbright and Millennium 

Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m. 

Register to join via zoom

Join us for an information session designed for undergraduate students of all majors and years to explore prestigious opportunities such as the UN Academic Impact-Millennium Scholarship and the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Discover how these competitive awards provide valuable experience, foster social impact, and support your academic goals while funding global opportunities that can launch your next chapter after graduation. 

Presenters: Anna Beskin, PhD (Director of Faculty and Graduate Research) and Sue Maxam, EdD (Assistant Provost for Wellness) 

Annual Spring Research Conference

The Human Experience: Research, Creative Work, and Interdisciplinary Dialogue

Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., NYC Campus

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. We invite you to register now to save the date and submit a proposal to participate by Friday, February 20, 2026. This inclusive event welcomes scholars, artists, practitioners, and graduate students from all fields. Together, we will exchange ideas, share research, and discover new ways to collaborate across disciplines. The conference will also highlight perspectives from the majority world—regions often underrepresented in global discourse—emphasizing the importance of diverse voices in addressing today’s most pressing challenges. We encourage submissions from all disciplines and career stages.

For questions or additional information, please contact the Program Chair, Anna Beskin, PhD, at abeskin@pace.edu.

The Office of Research and Graduate Education is seeking to identify faculty members who currently maintain a research lab at Pace University or who are considering to establish one. If you have an existing lab or are planning to create one, we kindly ask that you contact us at researchoffice@pace.edu with additional details. We are in the process of compiling a comprehensive list of labs to be featured on our website and want to ensure that our information is complete and up to date.

The Center for Undergraduate Research Experiences is accepting applications for the Spring Research Day, the Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program, and the Faculty Undergraduate Research Mentor Award.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO PRESENT!

Spring 2026 Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Day

Thursday, May 7, 2026 | New York City Campus | In-Person Session

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Day will showcase undergraduates from across the schools and colleges who have engaged in faculty-mentored research and creative inquiry during the academic year. Students will present scholarly or artistic/creative work as part of a course-based research (or creative inquiry) assignment; award program; co-curricular project; or in fulfillment of their Senior Capstone or Honors College thesis requirement. Please encourage your students to apply to present!

Apply Here to Present!

Deadline to apply: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program 2025-2026 Academic Year funded by Federal Work Study (FWS)

The goal of this program is to increase faculty research assistantships and student research experiences.

The program requires:

1)   faculty proposals for assistantship positions, and

2)   student awareness that FWS awards can be used for faculty-mentored research assistantships. Students sometimes decline FWS awards in their financial aid packages and take more loans because they do not understand how they can earn FWS dollars.  

To apply, propose a research assistantship position to support your scholarship or creative inquiry. To recruit qualified student applicants, inform your students about the research opportunity so they can better understand the value of their Federal Work Study funds and how those funds can be earned while serving as your research assistant!

Click here to propose your undergraduate research assistantship position

Faculty Undergraduate Research Mentor Award

Application Deadline: April 30, 2026

This award honors faculty members who have demonstrated exemplary mentoring of Pace undergraduate students in research and creative inquiry projects. Recipients will receive a monetary award and a plaque in recognition of their achievement.

Call for Self-Nominations Available Here

Spring 2026 Student Undergraduate Research Webinar Series

Monday common hour – 12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.

Tuesday common hour – 3:25 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.

Maria Iacullo-Bird, PhD, Assistant Provost for Research



Applying for a Summer 2026 National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | 3:25 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.

Getting Started in Research/Creative Inquiry Projects and Meet the Pace PURLs

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 | 3:25 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.

How to prepare a Research Proposal

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 3:25 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.

Designing Posters for in-Person Presentations    

Monday, April 20, 2026 | 12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | 3:25 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.

Register in advance for Monday’s meeting

Register in advance for Tuesday’s meeting

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Spring 2026 Faculty Undergraduate Research Webinar Series

Monday common hour – 12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.

Maria Iacullo-Bird, PhD, Assistant Provost for Research

Creating Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs)   

Monday, February 9, 2026 | 12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m. 

How Faculty Grants can include Student Research

Monday, March 2, 2026 | 12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.

Learn about the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)

Monday, April 6, 2026 | 12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.

Register in advance for Monday’s meetings

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

For questions contact:

Norma Quiridumbay, CURE Director of Operations at nquiridumbay@pace.edu



Maria Iacullo-Bird, PhD, Assistant Provost for Research at miacullobird@pace.edu

The Nutrition and Dietetics Department is seeking 15 staff/faculty volunteers to receive FREE nutritional counseling in late February! If you are seeking some preliminary and practical information about weight loss, high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, IBS, or any other medical conditions this is a way to get some answers to your questions and learn some nutritional information for your personal goals. Sessions are either over the phone or zoom by a Dietetic Intern and Professor Mary Opfer. Volunteers in the past have reported that they found the sessions valuable and learned some practical skills from this experience. This is a win - win for both the graduate students and volunteers! Past volunteers who would like to do so again for another nutritional challenge are more than welcome!! These sessions are 100% confidential and HIPPA-compliant!



Interested? Contact Professor Mary Opfer at: mopfer@pace.edu!

PACE UNIVERSITY’S 4 ANNUAL WELLBEING FAIRS

Join Pace University for 4^th our annual Wellbeing Fairs on each campus where departments, clubs and community organizations will offer activities, information, demonstrations, and giveaways to highlight the many aspects of wellbeing!

• Haub: Wednesday, February 11 – 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. -Tudor Room, Preston Hall
• NYC: Wednesday, February 18 – 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. – Student Center, 1 Pace Plaza
• Pleasantville: Wednesday, February 25 – 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Gottesman Room, Kessel Student Center

For more information, please contact 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, Sponsored Research

at ebloch@pace.edu