The 蜜桃工作室 Energy and Climate Center (鈥淧ECC") is thrilled to announce the 2025鈥2026 Executive Board, which is comprised of three exceptional Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 蜜桃工作室 students committed to advancing PECC鈥檚 mission and outreach.
The 蜜桃工作室 Energy and Climate Center (鈥淧ECC") is thrilled to announce the 2025鈥2026 Executive Board, which is comprised of three exceptional Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 蜜桃工作室 students committed to advancing PECC鈥檚 mission and outreach.
Frances Gothard 鈥26 brings an invaluable global perspective to energy and environmental law using her background in International Studies along with her diverse experiences. At 蜜桃工作室 Haub Law, she has served as the Co-Chair of the New Directions in Environmental Law Conference (鈥淣DEL鈥) and as Vice President of the Environmental Law Society (鈥淓LS鈥). Additionally, she worked as a research assistant for a collaborative law review article exploring the contours of environmental policy specifically on the legal landscapes surrounding natural resources, national parks, and national monuments. She also externed with Consolidated Edison Company of New York鈥檚 Energy and Environmental Law Department. Currently, she is practicing as a student attorney with the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic working with local small businesses and nonprofit organizations and serves as an editor for the national law journal The Urban Lawyer. Looking ahead, Frances is committed to elevating international perspectives on energy, food systems, and environmental policy to shape energy and climate law and advance equitable and sustainable energy and climate solutions.
Carington Lowe 鈥26 has a background in science and brings an interdisciplinary approach to energy and environmental law. At 蜜桃工作室 Haub Law, she serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the 蜜桃工作室 Environmental Law Review, completed an externship with the Land Use Law Center, practiced as a student attorney in the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic, contributed as a research assistant on climate-conscious affordable housing, and serves as a Sustainable Business Law Hub Scholar. These experiences have shaped her commitment to advancing renewable energy transitions. Looking forward, Carington鈥檚 focus is on biofuel, nuclear energy, and identifying climate harm, with the goal of bridging science, technology, and policy to build a more equitable and sustainable energy future.
Kenneth Sumter 鈥26 is a creative professional driven by a deep passion for renewable energy. With a unique eye for design and storytelling, he channels his creativity into advancing clean energy solutions that connect people, places, and purpose. At PECC, his research this academic year focuses on reimagining urban battery storage to build a sustainable infrastructure dedicated to creating resilient cities and making affordable, reliable energy a reality for urban neighborhoods.
Under new leadership from its Executive Director Michael Hamersky and the ongoing expertise of Energy Policy Advisor Emma Lagle, PECC is driving innovative energy and environmental initiatives to tackle the planet鈥檚 most pressing climate and energy challenges. Student involvement is at the core of PECC, which is committed to an open-door policy that encourages all 蜜桃工作室 Haub Law students to engage with the Center by getting involved in projects that spark their interest. Students will also be selected to serve as the Center's Energy and Climate Law Scholars and contribute to research, legal scholarship, and hands-on projects across the diverse initiatives of PECC. The Energy and Climate Law Scholars also have the opportunity to have their writing featured in the Center's newsletter: .
PECC also hosts student interns and externs, including Merc猫 Mart铆 I Exposito LLM 鈥26, Joseph Mayson LLM 鈥26, and Clara Cusanelli 鈥27, who are assisting with PECC鈥檚 innovative work on thermal energy networks, research related to sustainable biofuels, and international issues that PECC will address at IUCN and COP30.
Your Commencement isn鈥檛 just about walking the stage鈥攊t鈥檚 about celebrating the people and values that got you here. That鈥檚 why we want the Class of 2026 to help choose our Commencement speaker and the recipient of the Opportunitas in Action Award. Think of someone whose story will light up the room, inspire your classmates, and leave a lasting mark. Ready? Nominate now.
蜜桃工作室鈥檚 motto, Opportunitas, inspires us to recognize those who create opportunity for others and to celebrate the individuals who embody our community鈥檚 values. This year, you have two ways to take part in these traditions: by nominating an inspiring voice for Commencement 2026 and by honoring a changemaker with the Opportunitas in Action Award.
Who will address the Class of 2026? You tell us.
Each year, 蜜桃工作室 invites nominations for honorary degree recipients鈥攍eaders who exemplify the University鈥檚 values and aspirations, bring distinction to 蜜桃工作室, and help make Commencement unforgettable. Selected honorees may:
All honorees will receive an honorary doctorate鈥攖he highest recognition 蜜桃工作室 can bestow.
Nominations will be reviewed by the Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Jeff Barnett, PhD, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean for Students, and Joe Sgammato, Director of Executive Communications. The committee includes representatives from our student body, staff, and faculty.
Nomination deadline: Friday, October 17, 2025
Bestowed by the President of 蜜桃工作室, the Opportunitas in Action Award honors a leader who has been an innovative thinker and has made positive contributions to the community in the spirit of Opportunitas.
Nomination deadline: Wednesday, November 12, 2025
More 蜜桃工作室 students than ever鈥34 across both campuses鈥攈ave been named UN Millennium Fellows, tackling the world鈥檚 biggest challenges through local action and global collaboration. From clean water to climate change, these Go-Getters are making their mark.
Reconnect with your student and experience the best of 蜜桃工作室 this October鈥攆rom campus events and athletics to Broadway shows and local adventures in Westchester and New York City.
For Anna Shostya, PhD, economics is more than numbers鈥攊t鈥檚 a tool to inspire change, connect students to the world, and build life-long skills.
蜜桃工作室 President Marvin Krislov writes a piece in Forbes calling on higher education to help close the nation鈥檚 growing workforce gap. He highlights 蜜桃工作室鈥檚 leadership in experiential learning鈥攑ointing to 9,000+ student internships and career-readiness programs as a model for preparing graduates to meet labor market demands in fields like health care, education, and management.
Elisabeth Haub School of Law Professor Imre Szalai provides a legal analysis to Bloomberg Law on a closely watched case testing whether bakery delivery drivers qualify for the Federal Arbitration Act鈥檚 transportation worker exemption, which would allow them to bring wage-and-hour claims in court instead of being required to arbitrate. Professor Szalai opined that the Second Circuit could 鈥渃reate an exception of very limited scope鈥 for similar delivery drivers.
Lubin Professor Andrew Coggins speaks to Business Insider about the implications of stricter return-to-office (RTO) mandates. He notes that pushing for full in-person workweeks鈥攅ven in a cautious job market鈥攎ay still lead to attrition among employees who have caregiving responsibilities.
Haub Law Professor Bennett Gershman provides expert commentary to The Hill on the Supreme Court case over President Trump鈥檚 dismissal of independent agency officials. Gershman explains how the outcome could significantly expand presidential authority and weaken oversight protections.
In Roll Call, Professor Gershman further cautions that President Trump鈥檚 own public calls for prosecution could backfire legally, providing potential evidence for claims of selective enforcement in any future cases involving political opponents鈥 and Union-Bulletin has the story.
Partner, professor, and playwright鈥擜ddison O鈥橠onnell 鈥14 has built a career that blends law and creativity. In this episode, he walks us through his journey from Arts and Entertainment Management at Lubin to becoming a partner in just a few years. We dive into the value of mentorship, problem-solving, and hard work. He also shares how he continues to pursue his love of writing musicals alongside his legal career.
Partner, professor, and playwright鈥擜ddison O鈥橠onnell 鈥14 has built a career that blends law and creativity. In this episode, he walks us through his journey from Arts and Entertainment Management at Lubin to becoming a partner in just a few years. We dive into the value of mentorship, problem-solving, and hard work. He also shares how he continues to pursue his love of writing musicals alongside his legal career.
This episode was recorded on September 24, 2025
Tune into the Lubin Link podcast to hear how guests went from go-getting Lubin students to successful entrepreneurs, social media mavens, directors, CEOs, and beyond. They offer their best tips to students and share how you can make the most out of your #LubinLife.
Haub Law Professor John Bandler speaks to Spectrum News NY1 on a major telecom threat recently dismantled by the Secret Service. Bandler discussed the technical and legal dimensions of the breach, shedding light on how evolving cyber vulnerabilities intersect with public infrastructure and investigative authority.
Yonkers Times features a recent panel hosted at 蜜桃工作室, in partnership with The Business Council of Westchester, which brought together leading experts to examine the ethical boundaries of artificial intelligence. Scholars, policy leaders, and industry professionals discussed pathways to regulatory safeguards that balance innovation with societal responsibility.