President Moon Outlines Plan to Propel NSU to New Heights
President Harry K. Moon addresses the audience at his investiture.
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) officially welcomed its seventh president, Dr. Harry K. Moon during an investiture ceremony at the Rick Case Arena on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, on NSU’s Davie Campus.
Dr. Moon – who also serves as chief executive officer of the university – was greeted by members of the Board of Trustees, deans, university officers, faculty, staff, students, and additional guests at the event. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and NASA Administrator and former Sen. Bill Nelson were among the guests who spoke at the event.
Dr. Moon, an internationally renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeon, has had a distinguished medical career and has been instrumental in the development of medical, research, and educational programs in South Florida for the past quarter century.
During the event, Dr. Moon accepted the honor as president and CEO through the passing of the mace from former President and CEO George L. Hanbury II, who stepped down after serving 15 years in the post.
“At NSU, we exist for one very simple and powerful purpose: To ignite the light of discovery and human potential to enrich lives, enhance wellbeing and create a better future for all mankind,” Dr. Moon told the crowd. “This purpose speaks to the collective power of NSU academics, health care, research, and innovation. How they collectively transform lives, careers, personal wellbeing, and communities. They create the future.”
Dr. Moon’s acceptance speech focused on preparing students for purposeful careers and providing a value-driven education model that accelerates the path to undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degrees. He expressed the need to lower the cost and reduce the debt of education.
“Education is the fundamental equalizer and greatest liberator of humankind,” he said.
Also emphasized was NSU’s role as the potential “center of world-changing breakthroughs in life science, technology, engineering, social science, health care delivery, and human services.”
“Our world-class oceanographic research, coastal-resiliency, and professional workforce- development programs are foundational to the development of the blue economy,” President Moon said. “In Florida today, the blue economy accounts for more than $800 billion in economic impact, and … includes everything from our fisheries and boating industries to tourism, transportation, environmental safety, research, and so many other pursuits.”
Among the opportunities Dr. Moon cited was NSU’s future as a premier academic health care system through NSU Health, Moon’s brainchild during his tenure as COO and executive vice president. NSU Health is the university’s extensive health care arm providing a variety of services from medical, dental, and eye care, to pharmacy, physical therapy, and hearing, speech and language services.