Dyson College of Arts and Sciences

D Y S O N C O L L E G E O F A R T S A N D S C I E N C E S 27 At the 18th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, which was held at William Paterson University on April 12, Jazmin Contreras '25, working with Associate Professor Eric Brenner, PhD, won first place in the category of Physiology, Behavior and Toxicology. Her work was entitled "The Effect of Electrical Stimulation on Circumnutation of Arabidopsis thaliana Shoots." Evan Smith '27, Communication and Media Studies, is serving as digital media intern for a boutique, where he helps manage the brand's social media account. Smith sta ed rating Instagram profiles as pa of a trend but now brings in thousands of dollars a month with his reviews and a pa nership with Adobe Lightroom. "I want to turn this into something long-term," Smith said, acknowledging how fame and money can recede for influencers a er a few years. Dyson Students Honored at the 2025 Pace Commencement Trustees' Award Winners The Trustees' Award is presented to the graduating student whose positive contributions to university life and whose academic accomplishments exemplify the highest level of achievement a ainable for an undergraduate. This year, two Dyson students were recipients of this award. Layne Davis '25, Peace and Justice Studies, Political Science, New York City campus, has distinguished herself as a gi ed student with a strong commitment to advocacy and a steadfast dedication to justice. Davis's senior capstone, entitled "Best of Both Worlds? Understanding Black-White Biracial Identity Formation in Pace University Students Navigating a Predominantly White Institution," has been recognized at several conferences, including the highly competitive Student Peace Conference at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies held at the University of Notre Dame, a conference that a racts master's and doctoral-level applicants from all over the world. Davis also was recognized as a United Nations Millenium Fellow and in fall 2024, delivered a statement at the United Nations (UN) on behalf of youth working worldwide for disarmament at the First Commi ee, which focuses on international security and peace issues. During her junior year, she completed an internship with the international humanitarian organization ACT Alliance at the UN, and in summer 2024 she was the program assistant for the Transparency, Accountability, and Pa icipation (TAP) Network. At TAP, she a ended the High-Level Political Forum at the UN and advocated for UN Sustainable Development Goal 16— peace, justice, and strong institutions—and created an SDG 16 Now toolkit to mobilize pa ners for fu her advocacy. Brianna Shea '25, Applied Psychology and Human Relations, Pleasantville campus, has become the epitome of what it means to be a Pace Se er—serving the Pace community through exemplary leadership, service, and academic excellence. Shea earned a 3.84 cumulative GPA while maintaining an active role as a campus community leader. She has illustrated what it means to be a Pace Se er both on and off the field. "Shea"—as she is known by her teammates on the so ball diamond—has been a key member of the Pace University So ball squad, always leading by example. Shea also has been recognized as a No heast 10 First Team All-Conference Athlete, a First Team All-Region Athlete, and is a three-time recipient of the Scholarly Athlete Award. She served as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Commi ee (SAAC). SAAC is a 30-member commi ee of student athletes for which she both advocated for student athletes and helped organize initiatives to suppo local communities. She also served as Pace Student Government Association Athletic Senator, providing an impo ant representative voice for student athletes. As founder and organizer of the Black History Month representation programs, Shea has created a pla orm for Black student athletes to share their experiences both on and off the field while collaborating with faculty, staff, and student organizations. Community Service Award Winner Jasmine Cintron-Soto '25, Peace and Justice Studies, Political Science, is the recipient of the Community Service Award on the New York City campus, presented to the graduating student whose active contributions to the life of the University community and to the endeavors of our neighbors in the surrounding community most admirably embody an appreciation for the value of social responsibility. Cintron-Soto has taken pa in many programs at

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