2023 Trustee Award

The Trustee Award is presented to the graduating student or students whose positive contributions to University life and whose academic accomplishments exemplify the highest level of achievement attainable for an undergraduate

New York City

During her time at Pace, Marisa Medici has distinguished herself as a gifted student with a strong commitment to advocacy and a “go-getter” spirit.

Marisa has taken part in many programs at Pace, such as the Leadership Engagement and Action Program for first-generation college students; twice as Co-chair of the Program Selection Subcommittee for Social Justice Week; as tour guide for Pace’s Welcome Center; and as an outreach volunteer for the Center for Community Action and Research, to name a few. Despite this wide roster of responsibility, she has remained committed to her studies as a double major and is graduating with a 3.98 GPA.

Marisa has also displayed a passion for civic engagement through voter education. She’s worked as a Vote Everywhere Ambassador at the Andrew Goodman Foundation, where she registered 500 students to vote, and as a political public statements research intern at Vote Smart. In 2021, Marisa authored legislature and successfully lobbied to declare Election Day an asynchronous class day at Pace, a motion that was passed unanimously. Thanks to her efforts, Pace students will now be able to vote without compromising their course schedule.

Outside of Pace, Marisa furthered her political education as a constituent services and public affairs intern for Senate Democratic Majority Leader Charles Schumer and continued to expand her prowess in the field of public relations through several internships. To prepare herself for her intended career in human rights advocacy, Marisa completed a semester abroad, doing extensive human rights fieldwork in Nepal, Jordan, and Ecuador.

As a UN Academic Impact Millennium Fellow—an honor granted to only six percent of students globally—she and two other students tackled food insecurity on campus with the creation of Fare Trade, a mutual aid program that allows students to reallocate their meal plan funds to food insecure students. Fare Trade launched on the New York City Campus in 2021 and is now being developed on the Westchester Campus. Marisa also joined the administration’s food insecurity task force to continue serving as a liaison for food insecure students.

Marisa’s commitment to civic engagement, community service, and political advocacy have set her apart as a globally-minded leader with a bright future in advocacy.

For exemplifying the core values of Opportunitas and Pace University, today we honor Marisa Medici with the 2023 Trustee Award.

Pleasantville

During her time at Pace University, Tinuade McClish maintained a steadfast commitment to serving the Pace Community through exemplary leadership, service, and academic excellence.

Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology alongside a minor in creative writing, Tinuade has been able to balance her exceptional academic pedigree with a steadfast commitment to leadership and service outside the classroom. As a model student at the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Tinuade earned a 3.83 cumulative GPA while maintaining an active, visible role as a campus community leader. As an exemplary resident assistant, Tinuade has been dedicated to cultivating positive living environments by promoting social and academic well-being, and taking the time to understand individual student’s needs, aiding in managing crisis situations and resolution. In simple terms, she has proven time and time again that she’s there for her fellow Pace students.

Tinuade has immersed herself in several community-building endeavors during her time at Pace. As an excelsior scholar mentor, Tinuade has made strong connections with undergraduate BIPOC, working to encourage positive, productive college experiences. Through her role as Vice President of Communications of the Student Government Association, she ensured that the machinery of student government was able to function properly and effectively and built relationships and skills to advocate for student causes. And as a writing consultant for Pace’s Learning Commons, Tinuade leveraged her skill set to improve students’ motivation, learning, and success, helping to develop students into independent learners and promoting a diverse and inclusive learning environment.

In the educational realm, Tinuade has consistently challenged herself by exploring her academic interests outside of the classroom. She participated in the Pace’s Student Faculty Undergraduate Research Award program, working with Associate Professor Courtney Gosnell to develop independent research examining how politically divisive media alters the way we perceive close friends and family members with opposing political views. Tinuade earned the Provost’s Research Award, offered to only a handful of students each year, for both the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 academic years.

For her commitment to Pace and her extraordinary accomplishments in leadership and academic achievement, it is a pleasure to award Tinuade McClish the 2023 Trustee Award.