Author: iharrell

New Year Brings Fresh Excitement; Exercise Safety

Fellow Sharks,

September is here, and the new academic year is already off to a roaring start!

I am excited to welcome back new and returning students, faculty, and staff as we begin the 2021-2022 academic year at Nova Southeastern University. Despite the continued uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope that you all had an enjoyable summer.

As we are returning to our campuses for the resumption of in-person learning this semester, I urge everyone to remain vigilant about the continued threat of the pandemic. If you are a student who has not yet been vaccinated, I would strongly encourage you to get vaccinated and then voluntarily report your status at https://nsuvaxmax.nova.edu. For those of you in South Florida, the Department of Health has a vaccination site right on our Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus offering the fully approved Pfizer vaccine.

It is important to monitor your health, and if you feel ill, please stay home. If you test positive for COVID-19, please notify your college/unit COVID-19 Coordinator, your supervisor, and/or your HR contact. You can also self-report in the iShark App or by emailing: covidcase@nova.edu. Our team is ready to help you.

The BlendFlex educational model allowed us to deliver quality education that kept our faculty members and students safe, but of course, it was no replacement for the experience of learning in person. By following common sense safety measures, Sharks can enjoy the full experience of learning from professors, making new friends, and participating in on-campus activities.

This semester is an exciting time at NSU for multiple reasons. The fall will see the opening of the HCA University Hospital at our Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus. This state-of-the-art teaching hospital will give our health care students the NSU edge and set them up for success in their careers. The university will also celebrate the opening of the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation, a “public/private partnership” with Broward County, NSU, and the business community that will incubate and innovate “start-up” to “scale-up” businesses and help guide them to success.

I look forward to seeing you all back on our campuses. Have a great semester!

Stay safe and stay healthy!

Fins Up!

George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D.
President/CEO
Nova Southeastern University

College of Business and Entrepreneurship Elevates Virtual Events

The H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship is taking virtual events to the next level with their new 3-D event floorplan featuring the William S. Spears Courtyard Atrium in the Carl DeSantis Building located at the Davie campus.

In May 2020, the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Huizenga Business Innovation Academy (HBIA) faced the difficult task of turning their highly hands-on, experiential learning summer boot camp course  fully virtual, in a matter of three weeks. After much research, they partnered with Remo, an interactive virtual event platform, to facilitate their “live classroom” team and networking activities. Remo allows for camera and microphone sharing between the guests sitting at each table, so conversations are semi-private once all the virtual seats at the table are full. This feature allowed HBIA faculty, administration, and students to meet virtually and feel like they were gathering in a real setting with the autonomy to move freely between tables and speak with other attendees around the virtual conference floor.

Over a year later, the college and the Business Innovation Academy are still using Remo and have held various events such as career fairs, holiday parties, study sessions, academic conferences, business trade shows and recruitment events.

“This platform has allowed us to safely continue working with our community partners throughout the pandemic and is a refreshing break from the traditional Zoom meetings” said, Monica Paneque, director of the Huizenga Business Innovation Academy.

Now, the college is taking the virtual event space to the next level with one of the most popular venues on-campus, the DeSantis building Courtyard Atrium. In innovating the representation of NSU’s first and only virtual event space, the Huizenga Academy’s program manager, Najeeb Ahmed, took his technical design skills and drew sketches from various perspectives of the atrium. With the help of a talented graphic designer, the college was able to bring their vision to life! If you have ever visited the atrium on campus, you will see how this new digital floorplan offers a familiar and amazing NSU virtual experience for events.

With all the excitement around our virtual venue that complements the on-campus experience, the Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship has hosted more than 100 virtual events to date and plans to continue using the platform even into a post-COVID era. For instance, the virtual conference experience allows the college to attract attendees to events from all over the world without the worry of space capacities, travel restrictions or double booking. Should your college, department, or association like to learn more about reserving our virtual atrium, you are welcome to contact us at HBIA@nova.edu.

Halmos Faculty Co-Authors Article with Fischler Faculty

Santanu De, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Santanu De, M.Sc., Ph.D., faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), authored an article in The Quarterly Review of Distance Education with Vanaja Nethi, Ph.D., faculty in the Department of Education in the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice.  The article is entitled, Impact of Science Mobile Applications on Interest and Learning among Undergraduate Science Students.

One of the challenges facing undergraduate science programs is keeping students interested in science and minimizing attrition from their discipline. Prior research shows that showcasing real-life applicability of science is one way to keep students interested. In this exploratory study using secondary data from two undergraduate science courses, we examined the impact of science mobile apps on students’ interest and learning. The results show empirically that students think science mobile apps do help increase their interest in science. Furthermore, the ubiquitous mobile phone allows 24/7 access to these science apps, enabling enhanced learning and mastery of scientific concepts.

De’s research interests include STEM education, pedagogy, reproductive physiology, developmental biology, cell biology, and protein biology. He is a member of  the Human Anatomy & Physiology Society (HAPS), an editorial board member of several journals including The American Journal of BioScience, and faculty adviser of  NSU’s Med-ED student medical organization.

For more information about the article

Men’s Soccer Team Predicted to Finish Third Overall

Head coach Matt Watts and the Nova Southeastern men’s soccer team has been predicted to finish third overall in the Sunshine State Conference following the release of the SSC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
The Sharks were one of just three teams to earn first-place votes – pulling in two – as part of their 72 total points collected in the voting process. Lynn topped the poll with seven first-place tallies and 97 points, while Palm Beach Atlantic was projected runner-up with 90 points and the final two first-place nods. Florida Tech and Tampa rounded out the Top-5.
The COVID-19 pandemic spurned the Sharks from competition in 2020. Still, following three consecutive winning seasons, including a 9-6-3 record in 2019, NSU enters the fall receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches national rankings.
To stay up to date with the Sharks throughout the season, follow them on Instagram and Twitter at @NSU_MSoccer.

Thank You Sharks for Keeping Our Community Safe This Fall

NSU has been busy all summer readying our campus locations for the “Return of the Sharks.” To prepare you for a healthier fall, I wanted to share the latest information on NSU policies related to the ever-evolving landscape of COVID-19.
Medical and health policy experts agree that the safest path forward is to be vaccinated against COVID-19, so I continue to encourage all students to get vaccinated and I have mandated that all employees be fully vaccinated by Sept. 20. Students on the Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus can receive a vaccine on our campus, and everyone can find a location by visiting: www.vaccines.gov. For mandatory staff vaccinations, Sept. 6 is the deadline to get your final Pfizer/Moderna shot or the one shot of Johnson & Johnson vaccine to be fully vaccinated by the Sept. 20 deadline.

  • Because of the emergence of new highly contagious variants and the fact that we have not yet reached the desired threshold of vaccination rates at our various locations, everybody at NSU will be required to wear masks in classrooms, at approved events, and while indoors at any NSU facility, whether you are vaccinated for COVID-19 or not. (On the positive note, Orlando and Jacksonville have both exceeded 70% in Vax Max reporting.)
  • All classes that are scheduled to be face-to-face this fall will be held face-to-face in the assigned NSU classroom, with everyone required to wear a mask. According to medical sources and our own records, high vaccination rates combined with safety protocols like mandatory face coverings and air quality measures result in classroom transmission rates being extremely low.
  • To help us return to a more normal campus experience, please register your vaccination status at nova.edu.
  • Any individual who is exposed to or tests positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate or quarantine off campus, and as such, we highly encourage everyone to have a plan in place ahead of time. Those individuals must report and coordinate with the COVID-19 office (covidcase@nova.edu) and should also consult with the Student Medical Center or their own health care provider.
  • In the case that a student must quarantine, they should contact their College COVID Coordinatorto receive guidance on ways to remain current with their coursework.

Remember, according to the CDC and NSU’s medical experts, vaccination is the best way for a safer and interruption-free university experience for all of us. As always, NSU closely monitors the public health conditions in our communities, and we are hopeful that with rising levels of vaccination reporting on the Vax Max portal we will be able to revisit our safety policies and protocols as appropriate.

 

Thank you for doing your part to keep the Shark community healthy this fall.

 

FINS UP!

George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D.
President/CEO
Nova Southeastern University

Faculty Member Awarded Hispanic Dental Association Award

Elías M. Morón, DDS, MPH, MHL, MHSM – a proud Shark who makes his mark in the community by breaking barriers, aiding minorities, and supporting families in need – was awarded the 2021 HDA/Colgate Faculty award during the Diverse Dental Society (DDS) Multicultural Oral Health Summit on June 17.

Elías M. Morón, DDS, MPH, MHL, MHSM

The event was planned and organized by National Dental Association (NDA), the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) and the Society of American Indian Dentists (SAID). The summit was centered around stakeholders discussing oral health issues that have impacted diverse communities.

“Hispanics are among the largest and fastest growing population in the United States, and they are facing measurable disadvantages when it comes to oral health. Hispanics experience a high prevalence of oral diseases, barriers to access dental care, and less ability to afford dental care,” Morón said. “During my career, I have supported and worked in programs to improve the lives of the homeless, mentally ill, children in foster care, substance abusers, correctional population, children living in poverty, seniors, and pregnant and childbearing high school students. I have also contributed with research, community approaches, teaching, and promoting a better understanding of the social determinants of health in our communities.”

Morón graduated with his Master of Public Health in July 2016 and Master of Science Health Law (Magna Cum Laude) in April 2021. In addition to being a two-time alumnus, he is also a clinical assistant professor at the Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine.

With Morón’s background in health law, he has also been able to utilize his legal knowledge to help advance clinical and community initiatives.

“In my experience working in the healthcare, I feel that in addition to clinical knowledge, there is a huge legal component to practicing dentistry. Expanding my knowledge in health law is allowing me to support my students and colleagues in the complex legal concerns where law and health care intersect including privacy, risk management, patients’ rights and ethics, employment discrimination, copyright issues, health care administrative law, clinical research law, regulatory compliance, and patient issues,” he said.

Morón attributes his success to the university and emphasized NSU giving him an edge in his career.

“Some of the NSU core values are focused on diversity, integrity, research, community, and academic excellence,” he said. “In that way, the different programs reinforced these values. It is an honor for me to have the opportunity to apply the same values as a professor, in the same institution where I completed my health law degree.”

If you are interested in contributing to diverse communities as a healthcare professional or would like to discuss initiatives with Morón, you can contact him at em1293@nova.edu.

College of Law Alumna Tapped for Top Navy Position

Meredith Berger was sworn in as the assistant secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment (EI&E) by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, during a ceremony at the Pentagon Aug. 5.

Meredith Berger/U.S. Army photo by William Pratt

Berger holds a Juris Doctor degree from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law, a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and Spanish from Vanderbilt University, and a Master’s in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.

She has served in various positions in state and federal government including the Florida Department of Financial Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Defense. Berger served as the deputy chief of staff to the Secretary of the Navy from 2014 to 2017. Most recently, she was a senior manager for Microsoft’s Defending Democracy Program.

Having grown up in Florida, Berger is proud to be the sponsor of the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28).

The assistant secretary of the Navy for EI&E serves the Department of the Navy and the nation by enhancing combat capabilities for the warfighter and greater energy security; enhancing climate change resiliency; acquiring and disposing of real property; construction and maintenance of installations; protecting the safety and occupational health of the military and civilian personnel; environmental protection, planning and restoration ashore and afloat; and conservation of natural and cultural resources.

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