Author: iharrell

Undergraduate ‘Virus Hunters’ Present Research at Conference

From left: Nashrah Pierre-Louis, Maria Paula Farez Ochoa, Melissa Bell and Dr. Julie Torruellas Garcia

This fall, incoming freshman students had the opportunity to participate in real, hands-on research as part of the new Introduction to Biology Research I course, taught by Dr. Julie Torruellas Garcia, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences.

A team of 12 undergraduate students have been working on a research project to hunt for new viruses that kill bacteria, known as bacteriophage or phage, to potentially be used as new therapies to treat antibiotic resistant bacterial infections.

The project started with collecting a soil sample in hopes of finding at least one that contained phage. Out of the 32 soil samples collected, phage were discovered in three! Their findings were presented at the Southeastern Branch of the American Society for Microbiology Fall 2021 Virtual Meeting.

Freshman biology major, Nashrah Pierre-Louis, freshman psychology major Melissa Bell, and junior biology major Maria Paula Farez Ochoa gave an oral presentation titled “Phage Hunters: The Discovery of Bacteriophage that infect Gordonia rubripertincta.” Next semester, the students will be continuing their research in the Introduction to Biology Research II course where they will analyze the DNA of the viruses discovered and possibly co-author a scientific paper in a peer-reviewed journal.

Posted 12/12/21

Holly Dolly Christmas Show Comes to Miniaci Center

A Holly Dolly Christmas Tribute with Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. will have you singing along to all your holiday favorites and give you great memories well after the holidays are over. This show at the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center on NSU’s Davie campus will be full of surprises with beautiful stage decorations, and I even heard that Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be stopping by to take pictures with you, Kenny and Dolly after the show.

Becca Braxxon and Tim Sells from Legends are THE TWO PREMIER Dolly and Kenney tribute artists have performed all over the country…and the band (having over a decade of experience between them) will be playing note for note all your Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers hits! NSU faculty, staff, and students can receive a 10% discount off tickets by unlocking the pass code “NSU.”

Buy your tickets now!

Posted 12/06/21

Lifelong Learning Institute Holds Welcome Week Jan. 10-13

Fall 2021 Week of Welcome event with Robert Watson – his talk was called: “The Glorious Burden: The American Presidency, A to Z”

Join the NSU Lifelong Learning Institute for a hybrid, interactive, social-learning environment. Try us out for FREE during the LLI Winter Welcome Week from January 10 to January 13, 2022.

You can attend live in-person or via zoom. In-person attendance is limited to 100 per class. Registration required and register early for in-person attendance. Zoom links will be provided by January 7, 2022.

Daily lectures will be held 10–11:30 a.m. and 12:30–2:00 p.m. Please note the distinction of lecturers who will be in person and who will lecture remotely via Zoom. The classroom is open for all lectures.

Register by emailing lli@nova.edu (Subject Line: LLI Winter Welcome Week).

Posted 12/03/21

Humanities Gears Up for Crossroads Conference, March 26

The NSU Center for the Humanities announces its 4th Annual Crossroads Humanities Student Conference, which will be held at the NSU Davie campus on Saturday, March 26, 2022.  The theme of the conference is “Rebirth, Renewal, Reboot” exploring the nature of human resiliency and how the humanities provides paths to creativity and newness, rebuilding and finding light in darkness. Abstract proposals of 150 words or fewer should be submitted to humanities@nova.edu  no later than January 14th, 2022. Undergraduate and graduate students from all programs of study are invited to present and attend; registration for NSU students is free.  Contact Dr. Marlisa Santos, Director of the Center for the Humanities, at santosm@nova.edu with any questions.

Returning from trauma, tragedy, and loss is a difficult, but also an empowering enterprise.  Historically, humanity has needed to rise from the ashes of war, disease, genocide, and social and political unrest and violence.  Individuals cope on a daily basis with the effects of sexual assault, domestic abuse, and personal battles with death and despair.  In the resolving stages of a global pandemic and continuing struggles of LGBTQ and BIPOC communities, it seems appropriate to consider the nature of human resiliency and what tools we use to begin anew.  How do the humanities help us to process these losses and trauma, and to regenerate, to find new hope and growth?  In addition to solace and comfort, in what ways do the arts, literature, history, film, religion, and philosophy provide paths to creativity and newness, rebuilding and finding light in darkness?  How can the humanities help us design and build more socially and culturally responsible technologies to help communities redress trauma, division, and violence?

Possible topics include, but not limited to:

  • Digital humanities
  • Trauma studies
  • Medical humanities
  • World mythology and folklore
  • Software studies
  • Religious ritual/belief
  • Environmental humanities/climate change
  • Social reform
  • Racial justice
  • Utopias/Dystopias
  • Memoir/autobiography/documentary
  • Renaissance and reform(ation)

Posted 12/01/21

‘Peace’ Musical Comes to Performance Theatre This Week

Join NSU’s ensembles and soloists for “Peace: A Musical Celebration,” a free concert celebrating the holidays hosted by NSU Music and the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences.

Date: Friday, Dec. 3
Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: Performance Theatre

For more information, contact Bill Adams at wadams@nova.edu

Learn more about upcoming events and performances here.

Posted 11/30/21

NSU ALERT System Will Conduct Testing This Week

At Nova Southeastern University, the safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our highest priority. Testing the NSU ALERT emergency notification system is one component of our Emergency Preparedness Plan. The test of the NSU ALERT emergency notification system will begin on Thursday, December 2, 2021, at 2 p.m. It is being conducted university wide.

PLEASE REMEMBER: THIS IS ONLY A TEST.

This is part of the continual process of testing and refining NSU’s emergency notification system and will include several components of our ability to identify, respond to, and notify the NSU community about an emergency on campus. If you have not registered or updated your personal contact information, please take the time to do so right now!

Visit  nova.edu/emergency  for a step-by-step guide to registering.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Public Safety – Emergency Management at (954) 262-8981.

The NSU ALERT emergency notification system capabilities that will be tested are:

  • NSU’s mass notification system including email, text, and voice messaging
    • Emergency Information Hotline (1-800-256-5065)
    • Nova Southeastern University website—main page banner
    • NSU emergency website
    • The NSU SaferWatch App
    • NSU Facebook
    • NSU Twitter
    • Campus outdoor digital signage (Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus)
    • NSU SharkTube displays
    • computer pop-up alerts (all campuses)
    • Outdoor speakers (Fort Lauderdale/Davie, East, Oceanographic, Palm Beach, and Fort Myers campuses)
    • Emergency classroom intercoms and phones
    • Building voice evacuation—public address fire panel systems
    • NSU Public Safety portable bullhorns and vehicle public address systems

Posted 11/29/21

Speech Language Hearing Chapter Donates to Families

Kimberly Lynch, B.S., student vice-president of the CHAPTER NSU SLP NSSLHA

NSU Speech-Language Pathology’s local National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) chapter collected non-perishable food donations for Hanukkah and Thanksgiving. The staff, faculty, and students worked alongside the NSU CARD office to support local groups such as the happy helpers and Craig’s pantry and individual local families.

Student chapter President Lili Cowan, B.S, also assisted chapter mentor, Tambi Braun SLP.D, CCC-SLP, in collecting cookie donations for literacy night at a local elementary school. The chapter has won national chapter of the year twice and continues to work closely with the community in supporting local projects.

Posted 11/29/21

Halmos Faculty Speaks at Experiential Education Conference

Instructional Technology and Design Specialist Judith Slapak-Barski, Ed.D., center, speaks at the 50th Annual Conference for the National Society for Experiential Education.

In September 2021, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences Instructional Technology and Design Specialist Judith Slapak-Barski, Ed.D. was given the opportunity to speak at the 50th Annual Conference for the National Society for Experiential Education.  As an adjunct instructor and course developer who specializes in faculty development, Judith works to improve instructional methods and technologies that enhance student-centric learning and provide students with real world, hands on educational opportunities.  She also collaborates with the Experiential Education and Learning (ExEL) initiative, which helps to grow programs and support experiences for courses that provide students with the chance to gain diverse, meaningful experiences.

Titled “Zoom Behaviors and Expectations: The Non-Obvious,” Judith’s presentation discussed the move to online engagement with students around the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.  It was at first assumed students would know how to act appropriately during ZOOM meetings, but it quickly became obvious that set ground rules were needed. This led to the development and implementation of the “Zoom Etiquette and Expectations” course for students which included a content presentation, interactive simulations, and an assessment.  Successful completion awarded the student a badge to submit to their professors.

National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE) is a nonprofit membership association of educators, businesses, and community leaders. Founded in 1971, NSEE also serves as a national resource center for the development and improvement of experiential education programs nationwide.

Posted 11/28/21

Halmos Legal Studies Major Receives National Recognition

Sommer Sandler

Sommer Sandler, a senior Legal Studies major in the Department of Humanities and Politics (DHP) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center (HCAS), recently earned third place for the 2021 Frank McCown Outstanding Pre-Law Chapter President Award.  Sandler is president of the NSU undergraduate chapter of the national pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta (PAD).

With 368 PAD chapters nationwide, this represents a truly remarkable achievement for Sandler and the NSU undergraduate chapter.  PAD provides students interested in the law or planning to go to law school with numerous opportunities for legal exposure through courthouse visits, LSAT practice sessions, and visits from admissions counselors from various law schools, including the Shepard Broad College of Law at NSU.  PAD is a vital part of DHP and the broader Pre-Law Program.

Sandler credits the support of the department and her fellow Phi Alpha Delta members for much of her success as PAD president and added “I am incredibly grateful and honored to receive this recognition and excited to see how our chapter and pre-law community continues to flourish.”

Vicki Toscano, Ph.D., DHP’s pre-law coordinator and the faculty advisor of PAD, noted that under Sandler’s leadership PAD has developed “programming that educates, prepares, and inspires pre-law students as they chart their course through college. Sommer’s hard work in building our chapter of PAD has ensured that PAD and our pre-law program continues to flourish for years to come.”

Posted 11/28/21

Halmos Biology Major and Faculty Co-Author COVID Article

Stephanie Autore

Stephanie Autore, biology major in the Department of Biological Sciences in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), wrote an article titled “Impacts of COVID-19 on Global Healthcare Management and Research” in the Advanced Journal of Graduate Research. Santanu De, M.Sc., Ph.D., faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences was Autore’s mentor and co-authored the article.

De’s research interests include, STEM education, pedagogy, reproductive physiology, developmental biology, cell biology, and protein biology.

Posted 11/28/21

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