Pace University has established the Gale Epstein Center for Technology, Policy and the Environment, made possible by a significant gift from Gale Epstein, a New York City-based philanthropist and business leader. The new center is housed in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.
Dedicated to advancing technologies and policies that ensure the public’s right to know the environmental conditions that can threaten their communities, the Gale Epstein Center’s primary focus includes creating real-time sensing, information and warning systems, as well as advocating for public policy reforms to implement these technologies effectively. A key priority is the development of a nationwide alert system to warn consumers of drinking water dangers before consumption — an initiative that will save millions of people from preventable illnesses, according to the center’s incoming executive director John Cronin. The gift establishes the center’s future for decades to come.
“Sustainability will only be achieved if the communities can make informed decisions about their health and environment based on readily available information generated in real-time,” said Pace President Marvin Krislov. “This requires substantial investments in technology and policy innovation. We are deeply grateful to Ms. Epstein for empowering Pace to carry out this mission.”
The center was officially launched during a signing ceremony honoring Epstein’s generous gift and enduring commitment to environmental advocacy. “I chose Pace University because we share a commitment to the development of new tools and new ideas for protection of the human and natural environment,” said Epstein. “In a time of unprecedented threats, from climate change to microplastics, we must train a new generation of enlightened professionals who can arm the public with the information vital to their well-being and essential to meaningful change.”
Li-Chiou Chen, Ph.D., interim dean of the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, highlighted how the center aligns with the university’s mission of fostering innovation. “This transformative gift will allow the Seidenberg School to lead in developing innovative solutions at the intersection of technology, policy and the environment,” Chen said.
The center builds on Pace’s legacy of environmental leadership, exemplified by John Cronin, founder of the Seidenberg School’s Blue CoLab, former Hudson Riverkeeper, and a Time Magazine Hero for the Planet. Cronin, who also co-founded the Elisabeth Haub School of Law’s Environmental Litigation Clinic in 1986, underscored the global importance of the center’s mission.
Gale Epstein’s philanthropic legacy spans decades of support for environmental, animal rights, social, and arts organizations. As co-founder, creative director and president of Hanky Panky, a global leader in intimate apparel, she has championed sustainability from production to packaging, relying exclusively on U.S.-made fabrics and manufacturing. Epstein has also been the principal supporter of the Seidenberg School’s Blue CoLab since its inception in 2020.
Since 1906, Pace University has been transforming the lives of its diverse students — academically, professionally and socioeconomically. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to 13,600 students.
