Author: iharrell

Alum Keeps Security Threats at Bay Working in the Caribbean

Heriberto photo

Heriberto Acosta-Maestre is a proud Shark, graduating from NSU’s College of Computing and Engineering in 2021 with a doctorate in Information Systems Security. Since 2009, he has worked in a variety of high-end technical and managerial roles at the U.S. Army National Guard in Puerto Rico, currently as a program manager, overseeing multiple technical projects. In 2023, shortly after earning his Ph.D., he became a Cybersecurity Research Fellow at the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies in Washington, D.C.

“I pursued my Ph.D. at the NSU Davie Campus while living and working full-time in Puerto Rico,” Acosta-Maestre said. As part of the program, he completed his studies online and traveled to campus once a semester for required weekend seminars. “One of the key reasons I chose NSU was the flexibility of its hybrid program that allowed me to continue my professional career while earning my doctorate. NSU’s format made it possible to balance both effectively.”

Although working full-time while earning a degree can be challenging, Acosta-Maestre’s strong time management and support from his supervisors made it possible. “They were incredibly understanding and instrumental in helping me complete my studies while maintaining my professional responsibilities,” he said.

According to Acosta-Maestre, earning his NSU Ph.D. immediately positioned him as a recognized expert in the field, giving his opinions greater credibility. His advanced education created opportunities for him to speak at conferences and, most importantly, led to his current role as a Cybersecurity Research Fellow.

“The Ph.D. taught me how to work independently, analyze complex problems, communicate effectively with both executives and technical experts, and present ideas in a clear and structured manner,” he said. “Without the Ph.D., I would not have been considered for this role.”

Through Acosta-Maestre’s doctoral dissertation, he gained an understanding of behavioral factors that influence threat avoidance and a unique perspective when developing strategies to mitigate cybersecurity risks. “At the Perry Center, I integrate this knowledge into discussions on cyber defense, helping inform policies and training programs that improve cybersecurity awareness and resilience among government agencies and international partners.”

Acosta-Maestre said he enjoys his work at the Perry Center and plans to contribute to its mission, collaborating with United States hemispheric allies and advancing cybersecurity research and education.

“Looking ahead, I hope to further explore leadership opportunities in cybersecurity policy and strategy while continuing to mentor and educate the next generation of professionals in the field.”

NSU Opens MBA Doors to Palm Beach Employees

FPL MBA program

NSU knows a strong and talented workforce is critical to South Florida’s business community and is committed to fulfilling this need. So when it heard employees from NextEra/Florida Power & Light (FPL) were asking for a local Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, it sprang into action.

The NSU H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship began designing a program on NSU’s Palm Beach campus that would cater to employees at NextEra, as well as other organizations, while offering affordability, convenience, and flexibility. Students would be able to finance the program through their corporate reimbursement allowances.

Stewart

Tshoy Stewart

Tshoy Stewart, a senior GIS specialist/senior development technology specialist with NextEra Energy Resources, leaped at the Palm Beach MBA opportunity when it was brought to her attention by her employer. Stewart has previous bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University.

A St. Lucie County resident, Stewart has been employed by NextEra since 2020. She is one of the 60 students enrolled in the program, and one of the 52 students working for NextEra/FPL.

“So far, I have enjoyed the program, and it will help improve my managerial skills,” she said. “I’m no stranger to managing schoolwork and my career. This time, though, it feels more manageable than my prior experiences because of NSU’s accelerated semesters.”

With NSU’s program format, a typical four-month semester is broken into two-month semesters. Instead of taking the traditional route with three to four classes over four months, students take one to two classes for two months at a time. This makes the course load easier to manage, Stewart said.

Working with the faculty and advisers at NSU has also been a plus.

“I so greatly enjoy and appreciate the graduate advisers that have been working with me this school year,” Stewart said. The Palm Beach MBA program appeals to working adults who are looking to advance their careers. Current students come from diverse professional backgrounds, including fields such as engineering, finance, human resources, city government, law enforcement, and more. Based on the success of this initiative, a new cohort MBA program will be planned for the future.

“Programs like this are crucial because they enable us to collaborate with local organizations to develop future leaders and support their leadership succession planning,” said Millicent Kelly, the director of graduate admissions at NSU’s Palm Beach Regional Campus. “Additionally, the program is designed with the needs of working adults in mind, offering flexible course structures that accommodate their various roles and responsibilities.”

Stewart says she wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the MBA program to others.

“I think it is great that my company supports their employees to continue education to learn new skills and elevate themselves in that manner,” she said. “The graduate team at NSU are amazing and that has made this experience easy, educational, and fun.”

NSU Grad Dedicates Her Career to Helping Voices Be Heard

Melissa Grassia-Chisholm

Melissa Grassia-Chisholm work with a speech language pathology patient.

Speech language pathologist Melissa Grassia-Chisholm has built her career on a specialty practiced by only 5 percent in her field– treating voice, swallow, and airway disorders. The enthusiasm and passion for her job is evident when she talks about her journey in health care.

“Let me warn you, I talk a lot,” said Grassia-Chisholm, who graduated in 2011 with a Master’s of Science in Speech at Nova Southeastern University. “Remember after all, I’m a speech language pathologist.”

Grassia-Chisholm says music has always been her passion and that she still sings locally today. Before coming to NSU, she studied vocal performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston. It was at Berklee that famous performers such as composer and record producer Quincy Jones and saxophonist Branford Marsalis developed their skills.

However, Grassia-Chisholm’s career interests shifted after she suffered a vocal cord hemorrhage while singing.

“There was no ‘me’ in South Florida that could help me with my injury,” she said, referring to a skilled professional treating voice disorders. “So, I decided to change that in the future.”

After earning her degree, she worked for Memorial Healthcare System and Catholic Health Services for five years each. Grassia-Chisholm then became manager of Cleveland Clinic’s Speech Pathology Department for seven years.

“One of the first things I did at Cleveland Clinic was to make sure that they had a student program,” she said, adding how she recruited several NSU students for an opportunity to work with adults who faced speech-language challenges. “I love NSU, I love teaching, and mentorship is my big thing.”

After Cleveland Clinic, Grassia-Chisholm started her own business, Voice Rehab LLC, and began working exclusively with South Florida ENT Associates, building a speech pathology program across 12 locations in South Florida ranging from Homestead to Boca Raton. (ENTs are ear, nose, and throat specialists.) She also created a “virtual voice rehab clinic” on her website that provides tutorial videos and free live-voice coaching in English and Spanish.

Voice Rehab LLC works with a variety of clients, much to the delight of Grassia-Chisholm.

“On one hand, we work with people recovering from spinal surgery and cancer, as well as stroke patients,” she said. “On the other, we treat athletes, musicians, public speakers, and CEOs.”

In the case of strokes, spinal surgeries, head and neck cancers, and thyroidectomies, patients often exhibit swallowing problems, which can lead to other health complications such as pneumonia, according to Grassia-Chisholm. And athletes, such as football players and runners, often experience airway disorders and seek medical help in learning how to moderate their breathing patterns when physically expending a lot of energy.

Grassia-Chisholm says head and neck cancer patients have been her toughest patients but also her most rewarding.

“I had a patient who had been in speech therapy for a year and never got better. His voice was still raspy,” she said. “I scoped him and found out he had full-blown cancer of his vocal cords, which required having his larynx removed. His symptoms had been mistaken for Parkinson’s. He thanked me profusely for identifying the problem before it turned deadly.”

As Grassia-Chisholm continues to expand her business model, she hopes to find a better way to serve more of the senior community through hosting educational seminars and assessments.

“I really feel like that’s our underserved — the baby boomer population,” she said.

Students Unlock Secrets of the Brain Through Escape Room

Often innovations in education involve thinking outside the box. Just ask Associate Professor and Researcher James Munoz with the NSU College of Psychology.

When he’s not conducting research, Munoz is teaching Neuroanatomy and Research Methods in Neuroscience on the NSU Davie Campus. During a recent “light bulb” moment, Munoz thought of a captivating way to ingrain neuroscience concepts in the brains of his students: creating an escape room.

“Developing the individual challenges was a labor of love and pain,” Munoz said. “I based each challenge on a learning objective. First, I thought about an objective. For instance, the action potential, cranial nerve innervation, control of eye movements, etc. Then the real challenge began with trying to think of ways to turn those concepts into physical puzzles. In some instances, it meant walking around looking at arts and crafts for hours until something clicked.”

Munoz says that once the first puzzle came together, the others started to fall into place more quickly.

“Developing an escape room changes how one thinks.”

Munoz made the escape room a supporting event outside of class time. The rules were simple:

  • There would 13 teams of four, picked on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • Students majoring in neuroscience, exercise science, biology, and psychology would be invited to participate.
  • There would be six challenges.
  • Each team would have 30 minutes to decipher the clues and escape.
  • Each member of the first-place team (escape artists with the best time) would receive a $100 gift card provided by the Office of Student Success.
  • Each member of the second-place team would receive $25 gift cards provided by the College of Psychology.
  • The College of Psychology also would provide gift bags and snacks for all participants, as well as purchase all the supplies.

“Registration filled up within 20 minutes,” Munoz said.

Each challenge was focused on a learning objective for the Introduction to Neuroscience and Neuroanatomy courses. Each challenge that a team solved revealed a lock combination to one of several locks on a Plexiglas box with the mold of a brain inside. The objective: unlock the box, release the brain, and thus, escape.

Munoz staged the escape room in one of the conference rooms. The students met challenges with a combination of fun and frantic as they scurried about the room relying on teamwork to crack the winning codes.

“I’ve only participated in two escape rooms, but I enjoyed how we kept talking about it after and appreciated how it challenged us,” he said. “I thought if we could create a similar experience for our students, they might appreciate using their knowledge in a fun, challenging way – similar to how the best movies are the ones that make you think and prompt discussion.”

When the smoke cleared from the competition, one conclusion was evident: The students loved the escape room, and so did fellow faculty. It’s safe to say the experiment has opened new doors.

“I’m currently collaborating with two other faculty for our next escape room,” Munoz said.

Munoz, who has been at NSU for 14 years, has a Ph.D. in neuroscience with an emphasis in gene therapy. His research examines factors that regulate the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of neural stem cells. The transplantation of certain types of neural stem cells has the potential of curing several neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and spinal cord injuries.

National Champ Returns as Coach, Chases 3rd NCAA Hoops Title

Celebration

Coach Crutchfield and Assistant Coach R.J. Sunahara celebrate the Sharks’ Sunshine State Conference championship victory.

Nova Southeastern University graduate R.J. Sunahara will find himself in familiar territory this weekend when the men’s basketball team – fresh off their first-place finish in the Sunshine State Conference (SCC) tournament – competes in the first round of the NCAA Division II regional tournament at Rick Case Arena. But instead of suiting up to play, Sunahara will be in a suit on the sidelines as a first-year assistant coach for the Sharks.

The men’s team is currently ranked second in NCAA Division II at 30-1. Their first NCAA game is Saturday, March 15. This past Sunday, the team set an NCAA Division II record with 81 consecutive home game victories while winning the SSC tournament.

“Coming back as a coach, I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to give back to the program that game me so much,” Sunahara said. “I’m excited to see what’s in store for our team the rest of the way.”

Sunahara returned to South Florida as an assistant coach job under one of the most successful Division II head basketball coaches in the nation: NSU’s Jim Crutchfield. Crutchfield was recently honored as SSC Coach of the Year.

Trophy photo

Assistant coaches R.J. Sunahara and Nick Smith hold the SSC championship trophy.

“When Coach Crutchfield and Coach (Nick) Smith approached me about being on the staff, it was a no-brainer. We have a program that has been very successful, and it is a fun group to be around every day.”

It was under the coaching of Crutchfield that Sunahara helped lead the Sharks in the 2022-23 perfect season to become the sixth team in NCAA Division II history to finish as unbeatable national champions. Sunahara dominated the game in his three years at NSU, setting records in blocks (172), free throws (342), as well as ranking second in Sharks history in points (1,579) and field goals (594). His play and leadership on the court earned him the SSC, Division II College Commissioners Association South Region, and National Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year.

Now, he’s sharing those lessons and experiences with NSU’s current roster of players.

One of the key lessons Coach Crutchfield instilled in Sunahara is there’s always more effort that you can give.

“Coach taught me that if you think you are out there giving 100% effort, you can always give more and play harder.”

Sunahara earned a degree in business management at NSU in 2023 after helping lead the men’s basketball team to an undefeated championship season. With one year left of college ball eligibility, Sunahara transferred to the Division I University of Georgia Bulldogs, getting the opportunity to play in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

Interestingly, Sunahara began his college basketball career at Fairmont State University in northern West Virginia under the tutelage of another highly successful coach, Joe Mazzulla, now the head coach of the Boston Celtics. The two still stay in touch until this day.

It was Coach Mazzulla who planted the seeds of a solid work ethic, says Sunahara.

“He would get on me every day, and tell me that I didn’t work hard enough, tell me I wasn’t good enough, when in reality he was just trying to push me to be the best player that I could be.”

Once he entered the transfer portal after his first year in college, Sunahara received a call from Coach Crutchfield inviting him to come to campus and look at NSU’s basketball program.

“After my visit, I knew NSU was the place for me,” he said.

Working with Crutchfield this season as a coach, Sunahara has been learning the true ins and outs of a game strategy that fostered Sunahara’s past success. He says that a top coaching takeaway from Crutchfield thus far has been the importance of coaching every player a little differently.

“It’s all based on personalities,” he said.

Also in Sunahara’s corner is his longtime role model, Rex, his older brother. Rex, 28, is the long snapper for the NFL Cleveland Browns.

“He has always pushed me to be my best and hold myself accountable,” he said.

Sunahara credits the support of his mother, Laura, and father, Reed, who has coached collegiate women’s volleyball for several years. His father also won a national championship during his coaching career.

The 2022-2023 NCAA Division II Championship sticks in Sunahara’s mind as his proudest collegiate moment … something he hopes the team will get to experience later this month.

“I hugged my mom, I cried a bit, I hugged my dad,” he said, remembering that day.

Sunahara says spending his time in college at NSU, and returning to Shark Nation, has been a magical journey.

“One of the advantages of coming to NSU was the great education I received,” he said. “Another one would be the relationships I’ve made with the people here. They have treated me like family since the start and made my career here unforgettable.”

And now, he is part of a winning coaching team with its players headed to a national championship.

“My dad always told me, you don’t just take, you’ve got to give back. I’ve felt that during my college basketball career that many people have given me so much. And now, it’s my turn.”

NSU Men’s, Women’s Swim Teams Make All-America Splash

The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced the selection of 781 teams from 459 institutions for the Scholar All-America Team for the Fall 2024 semester. Both the Nova Southeastern Men’s and Women’s Swimming teams were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements.

To earn the prestigious recognition, teams are required to achieve a grade point average (GPA) above 3.0 during the Fall 2024 semester. Of all the selected teams, 654 – including both NSU programs – recorded a GPA of 3.30 or higher, qualifying them for the Intercollegiate Coach Association Coalition All-Sport Academic Standings.

The Nova Southeastern University Women’s Swimming team was recognized for their academic excellence with a 3.59 GPA, while the NSU Men’s Swimming team earned their honor with a 3.47 GPA.

Head Coach Ben Hewitt, who has guided the Sharks swim programs since 2016 and led the NSU women’s swim team to back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships, continues to uphold a tradition of excellence both in the classroom and in the pool.

“I’m proud of the team’s continual growth in the classroom, and I am excited to report we’ve once again been named a CSCAA Scholar All-American program,” stated Hewitt. “This is a true team effort, and I’m so pleased to see our student-athletes are maintaining a high level of achievement.”

President Moon Outlines Plan to Propel NSU to New Heights

President Harry K. Moon

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.

Fischler Alumnus Inducted Into National Teacher Hall of Fame

Hueck

Hueck

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice alumnus Erick Hueck, Ed.D., has been inducted into the National Teacher’s Hall of Fame.

Hueck, who has served as an educator for more than 36 years, is the 152nd inductee to the Hall of Fame. There are currently 160 inductees.

The National Teachers Hall of Fame was founded in Emporia, Kansas, in 1989 to honor teachers and the teaching profession through a recognition program and museum. Nominees must be certified public or non-public schoolteachers, active or retired, with at least 20 years of experience in teaching grades pre-K through 12th grade.

Hueck was part of the class of 2023, along with four other inductees. He currently teaches chemistry and advanced placement chemistry at Miami Senior High School, where he has worked since 1988.

Hueck was previously named Miami Dade Teacher of the Year in 2003. He also received the 2011 Florida Governor’s Excellence in Education Award, was named as an Outstanding Science Educator in 2013 by the Florida Association of Science Teachers, and in 2022, he received the Yale Educator Award and the NEA California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence.

Faculty Member Gives Presentations on Stress at Conferences

Sharon C. Siegel

Sharon C. Siegel

Sharon C. Siegel, DDS, MS, MBA, gave two presentations this fall, both of which focused on coping with stress.

She gave a presentation on Sept. 26 at the Emerald Coast Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) meeting in Destin, Fla. The title of her presentation was “Reducing Your Stress, Restoring Your Sleep and Managing Your Burnout: One Breath at a Time.”  The presentation was well-attended, and participant feedback was positive.

Siegel also presented at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) Annual Session in Orlando on Oct. 26 with two ACLM colleagues. The title of her presentation was “Combatting Provider Stress: The Solution May be Right Under your Nose.”

The session was sold out. The ACLM is a specialty in the American Medical Association that uses the six pillars of healthy lifestyle to focus on addressing chronic illness in their practices. The six pillars are nutrition, exercise, sleep stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and social connection.

NSU Announces Provost’s Research and Scholarship Awards

It has been 14 years since we first launched the Provost’s Research and Scholarship Award. This program offers awards across two career stages and two disciplinary categories. This year, we are grateful for an added recognition provided by NSU Business Services, where each winner will receive a year’s membership to the NSU Faculty Club, valued at $300.

Arts, Business, Humanities, Law, and Social Sciences

weissman

Weissman

Assistant Professor Award goes to Jeremy Weissman, assistant professor in the Halmos College of Arts & Sciences.

Jeremy was honored for his significant contributions to research and scholarship, particularly in the ethics of technology and biomedical ethics. His work addresses timely and relevant issues, positioning him as a future leader in these fields. Notably, his book, “The Crowdsourced Panopticon: Conformity and Control on Social Media,” published in 2021, has garnered many positive reviews and has been featured on platforms like the Academy of Ideas.

Beyond his research, Jeremy has actively engaged with the NSU community, addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in higher education. He has delivered talks, participated in podcasts, and contributed to initiatives aimed at inspiring students in their research endeavors. Through his efforts, he is not only advancing academic discourse but also fostering the development of responsible professionals for the future.

Neymotin

Neymotin

Professor Award goes to Florence Neymotin, professor in the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Florence was recognized for her outstanding contributions to research and scholarship, having been trained by a Nobel Prize winner who instilled in her a commitment to excellence. Throughout her academic career, she has published over fifty journal articles in top-tier journals, including Health Economics, Journal of Economic Psychology, and Obesity. Notably, her work on the economics of education was selected as an editor’s pick in Science and has received significant media attention.

In addition to her research, Florence is dedicated to mentoring junior colleagues and fostering collaboration across disciplines. She has developed courses in economics and related fields and has received excellent evaluations for her teaching. By linking research with education, she is shaping the next generation of scholars and leaders.

Banks

Banks

Professor Award goes to Jonathan Banks, associate professor in the College of Psychology.

Jonathan was recognized for his impactful research on attention control, exploring how factors like stress, mindfulness, and exercise influence cognitive functions. His work has significantly advanced the understanding of mind wandering as both a consequence of poor attention control and a contributor to cognitive impairments related to stress.

He has published 34 peer-reviewed articles, with notable contributions to high-impact journals such as Emotion and Journal of Experimental Psychology. Jonathan has also presented his findings at 42 national and international conferences, often including student co-authors.

His research has received external funding, including a recent NSF award with Dr. Jamie Tartar, aimed at examining the interplay between stress, mind wandering, and cognitive function. Through his innovative work, Jonathan is making vital contributions to cognitive psychology and enhancing our understanding of how mindfulness can mitigate stress-related cognitive challenges.

STEM and Health/Medicine

Cheema

Cheema

Assistant Professor Award goes to Aman Cheema, assistant professor in the Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Aman was recognized for her impactful research in complex multi symptom illnesses. She has secured significant funding, including three Department of Defense awards, and published in top-tier journals.

Notably, she led the first Phase II trial funded by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, focusing on veterans. Her work has garnered 161 citations, highlighting her influence in the field. She is a Co-Chair of the NSU IRB and Director of the INIM office of Clinical Research.

Aman is also a dedicated mentor, guiding numerous students in research and contributing to the establishment of an interdisciplinary PhD program at KPCOM. Her collaborative efforts and leadership in the SHIELD TOXIC EXPOSURES conference further underscore her commitment to advancing research and supporting the next generation of scientists.

Kawai

Kawai

Professor Award goes to Toshihisa Kawai, professor in the College of Dental Medicine.

Toshi was recognized for his outstanding contributions to research, having published 143 original papers and secured over $20 million in extramural funding. He is internationally acclaimed for his innovative monoclonal antibody platform and has five issued patents.

Since joining Nova Southeastern University in 2016, Toshi has expanded his research to include microbiology and osteoimmunology, focusing on mucosal infectious diseases. His NIH R21 and R01 grants led to groundbreaking discoveries in autoimmune responses related to bone diseases, including periodontitis, TMJ disorder, and osteoarthritis, and he is currently developing a novel humanized mouse model to enhance preclinical drug testing.

Toshi’s expertise is recognized globally, with numerous invited lectures at prestigious institutions and conferences, and service on numerous NIH study sections. He actively mentors junior researchers and students, fostering a collaborative and supportive research environment. His commitment to advancing dental and biomedical research and training the next generation of scholars makes him a highly respected figure in his field.

Figueiredo

Figueiredo

Professor Award goes to Joana Figueiredo, associate professor in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences.

Joana was recognized for her pioneering research in coral reef restoration, a critical area of study with significant scientific, social, and economic implications. Since joining Nova Southeastern University in 2014, she has secured millions in external funding and currently serves as the Interim Executive Director of the National Coral Reef Institute.

With over 2,000 citations and an h-index of 24, Joana has published extensively in prestigious journals such as Nature Climate Change, Ecology, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. She actively contributes to the academic community as a reviewer for multiple journals and topic editor for Coral Reefs.

Her expertise has led to invited presentations at renowned institutions, including the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research in Germany. Joana also plays a vital role in mentoring students, having advised over 40 master’s students on their thesis projects and including them in numerous publications. Her leadership and commitment to coral reef research make her a valuable asset to the field and the university.

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