 He lost in the run-off with 44.4% of the vote to John Liu, who had more support among union members and minority groups.On February 26, 2014 Pace University School of Law announced that Yassky was named the new Dean, assuming the role April 2014.Yassky was succeeded in April 2018 as Dean of Pace Law by Interim Dean Horace Anderson, Jr.

Yassky has been married to Metropolitan Opera CFO Diana Fortuna since 1990, and they live in Brooklyn Heights with their two daughters.