Pace University Director of Athletics Mark Brown has made a generous estate gift to support future generations of Pace student-athletes. His hope? That his investment will inspire others to do the same.
For 14 years, Pace University Director of Athletics Mark Brown has worked tirelessly to position student-athletes for success. During his tenure, he has overseen national championships and legendary seasons, spectacular highlights and clutch performances, unforgettable wins and record-breaking moments. But for Mark, there's one thing that has always meant more than the thrill of victory: The knowledge that his work is making a meaningful, enduring difference in students' lives.
It's that same spirit of giving back that inspired Mark to extend his proud Pace legacy through a planned gift to the University. By establishing the Mark R. Brown Athletics Leadership Fund through a gift from his estate, Mark will provide future generations of student-athletes new opportunities to excel in their competitions, fullfil their full academic potential and create memories that will last a lifetime.
"I am choosing to make this commitment to Pace because Pace made a commitment to me 14 years ago," Mark said. "In my role, I know I am making an impact in the lives of students, and I find that immensely satisfying. I could not imagine doing anything else at any other place. Pace has become my family."
Before arriving Pace, Mark spent 18 successful years as an associate athletic director at Old Dominion University in Virginia. Mark said that the opportunity to lead the Setters' athletics programs presented itself at the perfect time in his career—just as he was beginning to explore transition pathways out of Division I athletics and into a Division II environment where he could have a more direct, tangible impact on student success.
Pace gave him exactly what he was looking for. He felt a deep resonance with the University's mission of Opportunitas. As a first-generation college student himself, he recognized the transformative power of Pace's unique educational model for students from a broad variety of different backgrounds and he felt called to play a part in helping those students pursue their dreams.
It also didn't hurt that Pace's Pleasantville campus reminded him of his rural Vermont hometown.
"Every person I met on campus was so kind and authentic, and I could really tell how much they cared about the students and this community," Mark said. "I felt, and continue to feel, a genuine warmth that is hard to describe."
Mark's list of accomplishments at Pace are many. Four years ago, he became the longest-tenured director of athletics in the Northeast 10 Conference. His vision and dedication has resulted in significant increases in enrollment, academic and athletic achievement, and donor engagement and support. He oversaw the development of a multi-million-dollar master plan for athletics facilities, such as the 14,010 square foot Joseph R. Ianniello Field House, as well as renovations to Pace Stadium (Northwell) and Peter X. Finnerty Field. And under his watch, academic success and student-athlete welfare have soared. In the 2023-24 season, Pace Athletics posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.37, and 311 Setter student-athletes, or 80.3%, made the NE10 Academic Honor Roll—second most of any school in the conference.
When it came time to further deepen his commitment to Pace student-athletes through an estate gift to the University, Mark decided to make a contribution through his retirement plan. He worked closely with Pace philanthropy professionals to find the giving vehicle that worked best for him—one that allowed him to reaffirm his dedication to the University's mission today while establishing a source of student support that will benefit Pace athletics in perpetuity.
Designating Pace as a beneficiary of a retirement plan or IRA like Mark did is easy and can be done by completing a one-page form offered by your plan or account custodian. No need to revise wills or trusts, and no need for any cumbersome attorney fees.
Moreover, gifts that pass from a retirement plan or IRA to Pace are not subject to income tax, since Pace is a charitable organization. Conversely, if your retirement plan or IRA assets were to pass to surviving loved ones or family members, they would be the ones to foot the tax bill.
While Mark may not have personally benefited from the privilege of an outstanding Pace education, he has seen time and time again the profound difference the University makes in the lives of its students, their families and their communities. Ultimately, he hopes his gift inspires others to consider how they might leverage their estate plans to invest in tomorrow's Pace students.
"I feel incredibly blessed to have found an occupation that I find so meaningful," he said. "Because I feel so fortunate, I feel it is only appropriate to share my good fortune in as many ways as I can. I'm not a guy who has to live in the largest house or drive the newest car; I get profound satisfaction from being a servant leader and helping other people become successful. I feel incredibly blessed and proud to be able to make this commitment to a place that has become so special to me."
You can join Mark in extending opportunities to future Pace students through a gift in your estate plan. Contact Marc Potolsky at 212-346-1619 and mpotolsky@pace.edu to learn more.
