When Natasha Depaoli 鶹ý26 transferred to 鶹ý, she made a last-minute decision that shaped her college experience: she gave up her dorm assignment and chose to commute. Her family worried she wouldn鶹ýt get involved in the college experience. But Natasha threw herself into campus life鶹ýand today, she鶹ýs helping others find the same sense of belonging.
鶹ýFor me, being a commuter actually forced me to get involved and go to events,鶹ý she said, explaining how living off-campus required her to take the reins and actively cultivate the community she was seeking. 鶹ýI wanted to have a college experience and get involved and make friends, and being a commuter got me out of my shell.鶹ý
For me, being a commuter actually forced me to get involved and go to events.
Natasha, a criminal justice major on the Pleasantville Campus with a double minor in psychology and homeland security, has certainly challenged herself to get involved鶹ýand she鶹ýs risen to the challenge. Beyond her studies, she鶹ýs also president of the Criminal Justice Society, chief of communications for , and a peer leader for first-year University 101 students.
What began as a personal effort to find community soon evolved into a drive to build it鶹ýfor others as well as herself.
That sense of purpose carries into her academic and career goals. Over the summer, she interned with Homeland Security Investigations in New York City and returned to her internship this spring. 鶹ýI鶹ýve assisted with e-discovery on investigations, which is really cool to directly work with cases they鶹ýre working on,鶹ý she said.
Don鶹ýt graduate with regrets. If there鶹ýs something you want to do on campus, do it.
Her long-term goal is to become a special agent鶹ýsomething she鶹ýs dreamed about since childhood. 鶹ýI never knew specifically what agency I wanted to work for鶹ý but ever since I like got this internship I really fell in love with this agency because it feels like a community.鶹ý For Natasha, this emphasis on community brings things full circle鶹ýit's something she鶹ýs prioritized across her college experience.
To other students, especially first-year students and commuters, Natasha鶹ýs advice is simple. 鶹ýDon鶹ýt be afraid to ask for help and ask questions.鶹ý And for those like her who are entering their final chapter of college this fall, she offers simple advice: 鶹ýDon鶹ýt graduate with regrets,鶹ý she says. 鶹ýIf there鶹ýs something you want to do on campus, do it.鶹ý
President Krislov welcomes the Pace community to Fall 2025 with reflections on resilience, connection, and the importance of caring for ourselves and each other. Read his message to kick off the semester with purpose and momentum.
When Vidhi Kothari 鶹ý25 began her journey at 鶹ý, she didn鶹ýt expect to become the founder of a startup. But what she did know, was that she wanted to create meaningful value in the world. That desire鶹ýto build, to contribute, and to empower through employment鶹ýbecame the foundation for her path as an entrepreneur.
Questions about registration, financial aid, or student accounts? The Pop-Up Student Solutions Centers are your go-to resource as the semester kicks off. No appointments, no stress鶹ýjust the answers you need to keep moving forward.