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As the Class of 2023 prepares to cross the stage on May 15 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, graduating students from the arts and humanities shared their plans for the future and reflected on their most memorable moments from their time at Pace—from meaningful mentorship from professors to career-altering courses to unforgettable extracurricular experiences. See more from the Class of 2023 in the natural sciences and social sciences.

Kailey Liddell ’23, English

New York City campus

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Post-grad plans: This summer I have the opportunity to live and work in the East Village, which I am super thrilled about. Creatively/academically I plan on continuing my research/creative work on The African Company and will forever be writing the stories that I feel need to be written as a playwright.

What has been most memorable about your time at Pace?

Absolutely the people. I remember touring Â̾ÞÈËÊÓƵin the spring of my senior year of high school and thinking about how nice everyone was. Professors, coworkers, my fellow RAs, mentors, best friends, fellowships, English Department, honors college, etc. have all made my time here. Finding my community at Â̾ÞÈËÊÓƵis something that I will always be so thankful for.

Which faculty member(s) had the most impact on your experience?

I would definitely say Professor Sid Ray has impacted my experience at Â̾ÞÈËÊÓƵthe most. She has been the most supportive and uplifting mentor I could ever possibly ask for, my biggest achievements while at Â̾ÞÈËÊÓƵhave been thanks to her encouragement. I also want to shout out Professor Melvin Williams who taught Race and Representation my freshmen year. Thank you for seeing me and being the first to believe in me. I cannot stress the importance of making meaningful connections with professors who want to uplift, teach, and learn with you.

Jaeden Pinder ’23, English

New York City campus

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Post-grad plans: I will be pursuing an Editorial Fellowship at Pitchfork! I hope to continue into a full-time career there, but if not, I hope to land a position at a New York City-based publication and pursue music criticism.

What has been most memorable about your time at Pace?

´¡³Ù The Â̾ÞÈËÊÓƵPress, I've honed my journalistic skills and built a community and network of young and aspiring writers. When I joined the organization during the pandemic, I never saw myself becoming the executive editor/vice president two years later, and I've learned invaluable skills from my time there. Seeing how it has blossomed over the years, especially with our recent panel featuring major journalists, makes me very proud of our accomplishments, and I'm excited to see how it grows after I graduate.

What were your favorite course(s) and why?

I'm quite indecisive, but if I had to narrow it down, my favorite courses at Â̾ÞÈËÊÓƵinclude Caribbean Literature, Disability Studies, Modernism, and Linguistic Discrimination. In all of these courses, the professor was extremely engaging, which only made the material that much more exciting to work with. I believe that if you have an amazing professor, a course is accessible and appealing to all, regardless of the subject.

Mariana García Tinoco ’23, Art

New York City campus

Post-grad plans: I am an aspiring artist hoping to establish my practice and potentially work in some area of the entertainment industry.

What were your favorite course(s) and why?

I liked most of my classes, it is easier to count those I didn't like!

What advice would you give students in their first and second years at Pace?

Please don't hesitate to ask for help if needed. You'll be surprised that most people will say, "How can I help?" Grade your professors, too, and look up other students' experiences prior to class. Don't stay where you're not comfortable. Choose your battles and challenge yourself; some things are to finish the course, but others are opportunities to grow as a human and a professional.