Fischler Inaugural Faculty Fellowship Program Awards 3 Research Projects

NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School and Criminal Justice Faculty Research Fellowship Program is a new initiative designed to expand the College’s research capacity and cultivate new faculty scholars. This innovative program supports faculty who are new to research by providing structured support and dedicated time to pursue impactful scholarly projects.

The first three projects were awarded to Drs. Melinda Coleman, Gabriela Mendez, Wilma Robles-Melendez and Jia Borror. Below is a brief summary each one: Stimulating Skills through Simulation by Dr. Melinda Coleman with collaborative partner Dr. Laura Cohen (NSU College of Psychology): This project evaluates the use of simulation-based training to enhance leadership and decision-making skills in PK–12 school administrators and counselors. Participants in graduate-level educational leadership and counseling courses will complete simulations individually and then in interdisciplinary teams. The study uses pre- and post-assessments of self-efficacy, along with qualitative feedback, to measure the impact of simulations on participants’ confidence, collaboration, and leadership development. By comparing individual and team-based outcomes, the research aims to show how joint simulations foster interprofessional understanding and cooperation.

The findings are expected to contribute to professional training models that better prepare future school leaders Everglades Classroom: A Citizen Science Initiative to Investigate Vertebrate Community Composition and Change Using Environmental DNA, Dr. Gabriela Mendez with collaborative partner Dr. Neymi Mignocchi (Eye of a Scientist company): This interdisciplinary project combines environmental science and experiential learning by engaging middle and high school students as citizen scientists in a year-long biodiversity study of the Florida Everglades. The study will use environmental DNA (eDNA) to assess vertebrate species diversity across multiple microenvironments and seasons. Alongside scientific data collection, the project will evaluate how participation impacts students’ science self-efficacy, academic interests, and awareness of endangered species.

A mixed methods design will incorporate pre/post surveys, focus groups, and biodiversity sampling to measure learning outcomes and ecological trends. The project aligns with NSU’s values of scholarship, community, and innovation and seeks external funding from the William T. Grant Foundation to scale the work. Hope and its Role in the Resilience and Experience of Immigrant Caregivers, Dr. Wilma Robles-Melendez and Dr. Jia Borror with collaborative partner Dr. Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez (Texas Women’s University) This qualitative study explores how immigrant early childhood caregivers experience and define hope, and how that hope contributes to their resilience and professional well-being.

Through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and storytelling, the project will gather narratives from 20–30 immigrant caregivers across South Florida. The goal is to uncover how hope supports these caregivers in overcoming stressors such as cultural adaptation, economic challenges, and emotional strain, while maintaining high-quality caregiving. Data will be analyzed using NVivo and narrative analysis techniques. Findings will inform policies and support systems to promote immigrant caregivers’ well-being and, by extension, enhance outcomes for the children in their care.