Author: Christie Williams

Alumni Spotlight: Education Alumna Honored as Visionary Supervisor of the Year

JoAnne Negrin, Ed.D.

JoAnne Negrin, Ed.D., graduate of NSU’s Abraham S. Fischer College of Education and School of Criminal Justice was honored last month as Visionary Supervisor of the Year by the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association.

Negrin is Supervisor of English Language Learners (ELL), Bilingual Education, World Languages, and Performing Arts for Vineland Public Schools. Under her leadership, Vineland’s K-5 Bilingual Program has become a New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Model Program for 2016-2018 and four other programs were designated NJDOE Model Programs for 2018-2020.

Additionally, she is also Immediate Past President of New Jersey Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages/New Jersey Bilingual Educators and current Council Member and Chair of the English Language Learners Committee of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association.

Dr. Negrin earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice in 2014.

To view the video from the NJPSA awards ceremony, please click here.

Arthur J. Falcone, CEO and Chairman of the Falcone Group to Receive 2020 Horatio Alger Award

Arthur Falcone

Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education, today announced that Arthur Falcone, CEO and chairman of the Falcone Group, and co-founder and managing principal of Encore Capital Management, has been selected for membership in this prestigious organization. Mr. Falcone joins 13 other exceptional business, civic and cultural leaders from across North America in receiving 2020 honors. For more than 70 years, the Horatio Alger Award has been annually bestowed upon esteemed individuals who have succeeded despite facing adversities, and who have remained committed to higher education and charitable efforts in their communities.

Mr. Falcone was born in Queens, New York. His parents were first-generation Italian immigrants and who worked long hours to support their three children. Although they didn’t have much, Mr. Falcone was taught the importance of giving back at a young age. His father, a police officer, who was one of the first appointed officers to run the Police Boy’s Club and began mentoring at-risk and disadvantaged youth in their neighborhood. Although he took a few classes at Nassau Community College, Mr. Falcone never graduated and instead decided to join the workforce. After completing the McDonald’s Management Training Program, he became the company’s youngest franchisee at just 22. Due to his success in this role, he met Dave Thomas, founder and CEO of Wendy’s, who offered him territorial rights for 40 Wendy’s restaurants in South Florida.

As Mr. Falcone continued to build his franchise portfolio, he realized that he would much rather build his own restaurants than pay a construction company and then pay them rent. This sparked his interest in real estate and in 1988, he founded Transeastern Properties, which later become the largest homebuilder in Florida and the one of the top 25 homebuilders in the United States. Mr. Falcone sold Transeastern Properties for $1.6 billion. Since 2004, he has served as CEO and chairman of Falcone Group, a real estate company specializing in residential, retail and apartment assets. He is also the co-founder and managing principal of Encore Capital Management, which encompasses two private equity funds, a private multifamily REIT, and numerous other investments valued at $2 billion in capital and $10 billion in portfolio development value.

“For decades, Art Falcone has been living out the Horatio Alger mission in his own life,” said Terrence J. Giroux, executive director, Horatio Alger Association. “He embodies the values of hard work and integrity. His corporate achievements are to be admired and his charitable giving has impacted the lives of thousands – particularly those who need it most in his own community in South Florida. We are honored to present Art with the Horatio Alger Award in 2020.”

 Mr. Falcone has harnessed his entrepreneurial spirit to empower young people to improve their lives through the free-enterprise system. Inspired by the late H. Wayne Huizenga, past president of the Horatio Alger Association, he became involved in Junior Achievement of South Florida. Mr. Falcone funded Junior Achievement BizTown, an engaging, hands-on program that introduces fifth graders to business, finance and economics. Mr. Falcone serves on the board of trustees for Nova Southeastern University, where, in 2006, he was inducted into the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.

“Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to have been inspired by those who are both great entrepreneurs and outstanding philanthropists, like Wayne Huizenga, who have shaped me into the person I am today,” said Mr. Falcone. “Wayne’s civic-minded approach to life and his belief that we must use our good fortune to help others set an incredible example for me and so many others.”

Thanks to the generosity of its Members, the Association awards need-based scholarships to outstanding high school students who are committed to pursuing higher education and giving back to their communities. The Association also educates young people about the limitless opportunities afforded to them by the free-enterprise system through hard work, honesty and determination. Like Association Members, Horatio Alger Scholars have faced significant adversities, but have also displayed unmatched resilience in overcoming their challenges. Since the scholarship program was established in 1984, the Horatio Alger Association has provided more than $180 million to 27,000 students in need, all of which has been funded solely through the generosity of Association Members and friends.

Mr. Falcone and the Member Class of 2020 will be formally inducted into the Association on April 2-4, 2020, during the Association’s 73rd Horatio Alger Award Induction Ceremonies in Washington, D.C. The annual three-day event honors the achievements of both Members and National Scholars, affording both groups the opportunity to meet and interact as well as exchange stories of hardships and triumphs.

 

Two NSU Colleges Partner for Society for NeuroSports Conference

Faculty from two NSU colleges created a conference that attracted researchers from around the world in the fields of neuroscience and exercise/sport science.

The Society for NeuroSports was founded by Professor Jaime Tartar, Ph.D., of the College of Psychology and Associate Professors Jose Antonio and Corey Peacock, both Ph.D., of the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences. The society and the conference grew out of multiple research projects that Tartar, Antonio, and Peacock have collaborated on in recent years. The society’s goal is to provide an outlet for research in the increasingly integrated fields of neuroscience and exercise/sport science.

The conference, which took place November 15-16 in Deerfield Beach, attracted over 140 visitors, which was about double what was initially expected, Tartar said. Attendees came from across the country, but also Canada, England and Belgium.

“People liked talking to other people outside of their area who are doing similar research,” Tartar said about the conference’s multidisciplinary nature.

That sentiment was echoed by Antonio. “The most interesting part of the conference was the fact that you had two completely different fields merging as one.”

The conference included presentations on topics like “Sleep Science and Swoleness,” a keynote on “Cognitive Contributions to Motor Learning,” poster presentations and a data blitz, where participants had exactly one minute to present findings on their research.

Following the inaugural conference, the society will debut a journal in January, with the debut issue featuring the abstracts from the conference. The Journal of the Society for NeuroSports will be edited by Assistant Professor William Kochen, Ph.D., of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience.

“I’m a brain injury and stress researcher, so it fits perfectly with neurosports,” Kochen said. “It’s marrying the concepts and putting them together.”

The second annual conference will take place November 13-14, 2020.

“We were proud to bring 150 participants together with leading scholars across the country to advance science and practice as it relates to sports,” said College of Psychology Dean Karen Grosby, Ed.D. “Such a venture set a unique stage for future research and practice  collaborations.”

For more information, visit https://www.neurosports.net/.

College of Psychology debuts NSU chapter of Nu Rho Psi

Students at NSU’s College of Psychology have established a local chapter for Nu Rho Psi, the National Neuroscience Honor Society.

The honor society was founded in 2006 by neuroscience faculty and students at Baylor University, Baldwin-Wallace College and Macalester College. Including NSU, the society has grown to 90 chapters with over 5,800 members as of 2009. The honor society has multiple goals, including advancing the discipline of neuroscience, encouraging professional interest in neuroscience, raising public awareness of the field, promote career development and serve the community.

“The NRP society is a chance to grow and give back to the major that has allowed me to truly flourish as a scientist and as a person. Our major has a unique identity that, in its essence, sparks happiness and excitement,” said Esha Parikh, president of the NSU chapter. “I really wanted to create something that I can leave behind that can really allow neuroscience students to showcase their accomplishments and grow their passion.”

Member Emely Ruiz said she was excited about being part of an organization of like-minded people. “I’ve always wanted to connect with individuals who want the same things in life- crushing goals and meeting professionals that we admire,” she said.

Assistant Professor Allie Holschbach, Ph.D., of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, serves as the chapter’s faculty advisor.

“Nu Rho Psi connects students even more strongly to their fellow students and the local faculty who love neuroscience, but also gives them life-long membership in a community of passionate experts in the field of neuroscience from all across the nation.”

Holschbach said being part of that community can help students find graduate school advisors or career mentors in the field.

For more information, contact mholschb@nova.edu.

Alvin Sherman Library Celebrates Chinese New Year, Jan. 19

The Alvin Sherman Library presents its annual Chinese New Year event. Song, dance, music and more highlight performances from and coordinated by the Chinese Performing Arts Group of South Florida.  This group is well-known in the South Florida area where they perform ten shows a year. The event will be held in the Performance Theatre located in the Don Taft University Center on Sunday, January 19, 2020 and starts at 2:30 p.m.  The event is free and seating is open on a first come, first served basis. For further information, contact Kimberli Kidd at 954-262-5477 (Public Library Services Department).

Please link to this: https://nova.libcal.com/event/6061679

NSU Alvin Sherman Library Writing Workshops, Jan 11

Do you have an exciting idea for a story? Come prepared to learn and create in workshops led by published authors from local writing organizations. Writers of all genres welcome. Writing workshops take place on Saturdays from 2pm to 3:30pm in Room 4009 on the fourth floor of the Alvin Sherman Library.

RSVP at lib.nova.edu/writers or call 954-262-5477

Saturday, January 11 | Understanding Point of View with Victoria Landis

This interactive workshop will help you determine those answers, as well as help you understand how to use POV to enhance your characters (and make your reader love them) and avoid mistakes. Victoria Landis is a professional writer, editor, and artist. A 16-yr member, and former board member, of Mystery Writers of America, she Co-Chaired the SleuthFest Writers Conference from 2015-2018.

Saturday, January 25 | The A to Z-z-z-z-s of Writing Children’s Books with Gloria Rothstein

Whether you’re writing a bedtime book, a friendship story, or simply imagining your first manuscript, have fun discussing the children’s market, the magic of picture books, and those treasured titles that kids reach for night after night. GLORIA ROTHSTEIN is the author of Sheep Asleep (HarperCollins)—a picture book PBS Parents calls “hysterical;” Real-Life Writing Activities, Read Across America, (Scholastic); “Curious George” cartoons (Fremantle); and more.

Saturday, February 15 | Using Structure and Beats to Inspire Your Mystery Novel with Neil S. Plakcy

Learn about the different genres of mystery (cozy, thriller, suspense, police procedural, etc.) and how to approach writing one of them. NEIL S. PLAKCY is the author of nearly thirty full-length novels and many stories and story collections. He is a journalist, book reviewer and college professor. He is a past president of the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America. A four-time finalist for the Lambda Literary award, he teaches at writers’ conferences and can often be found walking his two golden retrievers.

Saturday, February 29 | Populating Your Plot with Dorian Cirrone

Learn how to build a cast of characters who will interact with your protagonist and drive your story forward. DORIAN CIRRONE is the author of five books and several short stories and poems. Her most recent novel, The First Last Day, won the Florida Book Award’s Gold Medal, was on Bank Street College’s Best Books List, and has been translated into Azerbaijani, Swedish, Finnish, and Norwegian. She is the Co-Regional Advisor of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Florida Region and has taught writing on the university level and at many workshops throughout the state.

Saturday, March 14 | Self-Publishing Made Simple with Nancy J. Cohen

Learn to set up your own imprint, buy and assign ISBNs, prepare your manuscript, create front and back material, choose options for ebook and print formats, author branding and marketing tips. Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Her instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery, was an Agatha Award finalist, won a gold medal in the President’s Book Awards and earned first place in the Royal Palm Literary Awards.

Saturday, April 18, 2019 | The Business of Agents and Publishing Houses with Rochelle Weinstein

The who, what, where, why, and how of securing the right agent and securing your path to publishing. Learn from an agented author the best tips for finding the right fit for you and your work and the benefits to hiring a seasoned professional. We will discuss sample query letters and the best resources for agent-hunting. ROCHELLE B. WEINSTEIN, author, speaker, and former entertainment industry executive, will share her personal experiences as a published and self-published author, as well as tips and tricks she learned while working in the marketing and promotional sectors.

Saturday, May 2, 2019 | Building Author Visibility with Rochelle Weinstein

Learn from a USA Today Bestselling author how to promote your work in an over-crowded market. Discover tips and strategies to build your audience and connect with readers and bloggers. ROCHELLE B. WEINSTEIN, author, speaker, and former entertainment industry executive, will share her personal experiences as a published and self-published author, as well as tips and tricks she learned while working in the marketing and promotional sectors.

 

AVCA Names Boone, Ford Honorable Mention All-Americans

After earning All-Sunshine State Conference recognition and AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) All-South Region honors, Alex Boone and Ally Ford of the Nova Southeastern volleyball team have each been named to the 2019 AVCA Division II Honorable Mention All-American Team. This marks the first time that a Shark has earned All-American recognition since Denvyr Tyler-Palmer in 2017. FULL RELEASE

Telehealth: The Future Is Now, Jan. 24

The health care industry is undergoing transformation through the new era of telehealth.  Telehealth adoption is progressing rapidly, with patients and providers using electronic information and telecommunications technologies for long-distance health care.

Join us for a telehealth conference event on Friday, January 24, 2020 from noon – 4:00 p.m. to discuss the implementation and legal considerations in telehealth and identify the need and driving force for it.

Save the Date

January 24, 2020  |  Noon – 4:00 p.m.

For more information or to RSVP, visit nova.edu/telehealth.

 

NSU’s Mailman Segal Center for Human Development Shares Expertise with Fellow South Florida Educators

Research has demonstrated that children clearly benefit from top-quality, early childhood programs, providing better outcomes both socially and academically. However, state-funded prekindergarten programs in Florida rank in the bottom 30% nationally for quality by the National Institute of Early Education Research. The A.D. Henderson Foundation and Nova Southeastern University’s Mailman Segal Center for Human Development (MSC) are working together to change that.

Under a two-year grant from the Foundation, MSC launched the Innovative Instructional Institute (i3) community outreach initiative to help address this educational disparity. “It is well documented that children who start kindergarten behind their peers academically and socially experience compounding challenges that prevent them from catching up,” said Lorraine Breffni, Ed.D., executive director, Early Learning Programs, MSC.

Over the initial year of the i3 project, MSC ‘s lead teaching staff provided in-depth training to Jack & Jill Children’s Center lead instructors on how to create meaningful learning experiences using open-ended natural and found resources.

In addition, monthly training was held at MSC’s i3 – a specially-designed training environment. A key element covered how to implement the Constructivist Approach in early childhood classrooms. Mentors at MSC were paired with mentees at Jack & Jill to implement these techniques. They also focused on the following:

  • How to ask questions to encourage children’s learning,
  • How to add “invitations” in the classroom that ignite children’s curiosity, and
  • How to create a community of learners where teachers wonder and learn alongside children.

Now, in the second year under the grant, the impact is expanding. The lead Jack & Jill and MSC teachers have teamed up as peer mentors in at least 16 community-based, early childhood programs in Broward County.

Breffni added, “Sharing our expertise as a team will surely benefit a large number of South Florida preschoolers. We are so thankful to the A.D. Henderson Foundation for supporting this outreach effort.”

“We support programs to improve early childhood education in Broward County,” said Monica Menahem,  program director, A.D. Henderson Foundation. “One of the best ways we can do that is by funding high-quality teacher training through grants like this one with MSC.”

Please contact Nathalie Sloane, director of development, Nova Southeastern University, to further contribute to programs like these. Sloane can be reached at nsloane@nova.edu or 954-262-7123.

M.S. in Nutrition Program Hosts Inaugural RDN White Coat Ceremony

The Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Master of Science in Nutrition program held its inaugural white coat ceremony for graduate student dietitians (RDNs) on November 13. Family members, faculty and staff members, and senior leadership enjoyed a touching ceremony to honor the students as they entered practicum training.

Lucille Beseler, M.S., RDN, LDN, CDE, former president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, inspired everyone with a keynote address, challenging the students to champion excellence. Students were then welcomed into the profession of nutrition and dietetics as they proudly donned their new coats after taking a pledge to the academy’s code of ethics. The white coats displayed a new patch design, closely resembling that of the D.O. program, with a fun twist to showcase nutrition with an apple.

“The evening provided warm and fulfilling moments that captured why we do this,” said Stephanie Petrosky, M.S., RDN, LDN, FAND, program director and department chair. “We are proud of the hard work and dedication of our students and faculty members to this new program.”

The inaugural cohort of students in the RDN program are Sara Brobeck, Jessie Brownstein, Yasmin Chauan, Katie Emerson, Cassandra Evans, Angelica Green, Cara Milman, Christina Perez, and Luciana Perasso.

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