Category: Academics

Honors College Gives High Schoolers College Experience

Students, faculty, and staff in the Knowledge for Freedom program

This summer, the Farquhar Honors College kicked off its Knowledge for Freedom program, a free college-readiness program for high school students in Broward County, FL. During the program, called “One Person Can Change the World,” 15 high school juniors attended college-level humanities seminars with NSU professors and lived in campus dorms for a full college-life experience.

The program, funded by the Teagle Foundation, allowed students to become college students for three weeks over the summer as they navigated the college experience. Students also got to meet distinguished guest speakers, visit educational sites in South Florida, and participate in recreational activities.

“Meeting the students and learning over time how varied their goals and interests are has been [my] favorite part of this program so far,” said assistant program director and lead faculty instructor of the program Aileen Miyuki Farrar, Ph.D., associate professor and associate chair in the Department of Humanities and Politics (DHP) at the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences (HCAS). “Seeing them connect with each other and the group as a whole lift each other up has been an even more rewarding experience.”

During class, Farrar led discussions on humanities texts about equality and change in America alongside guest lecturers G. Nelson Bass III, J.D., Ph.D., assistant professor and associate chair in HCAS, and Vicki Toscano, J.D., Ph.D., associate professor in HCAS.

These seminars prompted students to develop Change Projects—practical plans to create change in their communities that they’ll carry out during their senior year. Their projects focus on issues ranging from voting rights and mental health awareness to homelessness and environmental protection.

“One of my favorite things about this program is that I’ve been able to actually collaborate with other students from all around Broward County [and] see what their Change Projects are and the different views they have,” said Kevin Romero, a student from McFatter Technical High School. “I’ve also been able to have the privilege to be taught by three excellent professors, and I’m so happy to have had this experience.”

Aileen Miyuki Farrar, Ph.D., leads class discussions.

Students will continue to meet with faculty throughout their senior year to receive help with their Change Projects and college applications. The program will culminate with a showcase at the end of their senior year where they’ll present their Change Projects and outcomes and meet the next cohort of students.

“I feel much better prepared for the second round of the program, and [I’m] relieved that everything went well,” said program director Andrea Nevins, Ph.D., M.F.A., dean of the Farquhar Honors College. “I am also very thankful that the Teagle Foundation believed in us and gave us the opportunity to host this program.”

Nevins, Farrar, and the program’s assistant director Melissa Dore, Ph.D., director of academic support and administration in HCAS, worked together to bring the program to life. Various departments across NSU and the teaching and resident assistants also contributed to the success of the program, which will repeat for the next two years.

Learn more about what the Change Scholars have been up to this summer.

Posted 08/13/23

Faculty, Students Present Research at Public Health Conference

From left, Shannon Parma, MS; Samhita Doranala; Christi M. Navarro, Ph.D.

Faculty and students from the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences recently presented their latest research at the 2023 Florida Public Health Association Annual Educational Conference, July 25 – 26, at The Florida Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando.

Sonia Rao receives the 2023 Florida Public Health Association Undergraduate Scholarship.

Christi M. Navarro, Ph.D.; Samhita Doranala (Department of Public Health); and Shannon Parma, MS (Department of Couple and Family Therapy), gave poster presentations on the social determinants of mental health literacy. Their research presented preliminary findings from a larger mental health literacy study funded by a QOL grant.

Sonia Rao (Department of Biological Sciences) gave a poster presentation on the relationships between suicide and attempts and state-level education policies, preliminary findings from her honors research thesis through Farquhar Honors College. Sonia was also awarded the 2023 Florida Public Health Association Undergraduate Scholarship.

Stacey Pinnock, DHSc., MSW (Department of Public Health), presented outcomes from her program to improve mental health literacy to Spanish-, Creole-, and Portuguese-speaking parents of children attending Broward County schools. Her project was funded by a Florida Blue grant.

From left, Kristi Messer, DHSc, LCSW, MPH; Shannon Parma, M.S.; Christi M. Navarro, Ph.D.; Sonia Rao; Stacey Pinnock, DHSc., MSW

Posted 08/13/23

Psychology Students Present at Research Conference

On Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023 from 1 to 3 p.m., College of Psychology students presented in the College’s fourth Student Virtual Research Conference.

Student presenter Kiara Williams

The Zoom event consisted of presentations on Trauma/Bipolar Disorder, Substance Use/Adolescence, and Clinical issues, and were offered simultaneously, which allowed participants to move from session to session. The presentation and presenters were:

  • A Literature Review on Treatment Options and Effectiveness for Anorexia Nervosa in Adolescence by Leeza Camilo
  • Alcohol Use Disorder and the Impact on Family Systems by Kathleen Andre
  • Clinical Recommendations for Treating Latine Migrant Populations that Have Experienced Trauma by Sabrina Dominguez
  • Deafness and Psychosis: All of What We Don’t Know by Alexis Israel
  • Human-Canine Bonding as a Diversion Program for Adolescents with Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders by Morgan Lawrence
  • Medical & Frontline Worker Burnout in the Age of COVID by Danny Bui
  • Neurocognitive Effects of Adolescent Depression by Chloe Christian
  • Peer-Related Social Interventions for Pediatric Survivors of Cancer A Review by Jake Metsky
  • The Intersection Between Bipolar Disorder and Trauma and Implications for Treatment by Ashley Kimbrough
  • Understanding the Phenomenology and Treatment Experience of Bipolar Disorders in the African American Population by Kiara Williams

After each presentation, the student presenters participated in a Q & A with attendees.

Student presenter Morgan Lawrence

College of Psychology faculty Amy Ellis Ph.D., Barbara Gracia-Lavin Ph.D., and Ana Fins, Ph.D., served as the faculty chairs for the presentations, while other faculty served as reviewers. The virtual conference was organized by Nurit Sheinberg, Ed.D., Wendy Burrion, and College of Psychology doctoral students Carly Cohen and Hannah Quimby.

Posted 08/13/23

Fischler Academy’s Shark Speak Triples in Size

Word of Mouth has helped Shark Speak, the Fischler Academy’s English Language program, to triple in the past six months. The goals of the program are to provide Fischler Academy students with a true teaching experience before they graduate and to offer a free service to families in the community that want to learn English to enhance their lives.

The project started with high school students that needed to learn basic “survival” English to help them get by day to day in school. The program now serves elementary school children all the way to professionals seeking to renew professional credentials. Most recently Shark Speak expanded to include classes specifically for nurses that are ready to enter the health care system.

Shark Speak was developed by Fischler Academy alumna Eloise Nieto and is currently being coordinated by sophomore Andrea Bruno. The free program currently has one beginner that meets once a week and two intermediate classes that meet twice a week.

All classes are free to the public and meet on the NSU main campus in Davie. Interested students may contact Andrea Bruno at ab4433@mynsu.nova.edu and general questions can be directed to Daryl Hulce at hulce@nova.edu

The Fischler Academy, housed within the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, offers a flexible learning experience with individualized pathways. Upon graduation, Fischler Academy students can expect to receive a guaranteed job offer in one of our partnered school districts within Florida.

Posted 08/13/23

Incoming Med Students Introduced to Immersive Technology

On July 26, the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine distributed Meta Quest Oculus headsets to its incoming medical students.

The distribution marked a significant milestone in the college’s commitment to incorporating immersive educational technology into its medical school curriculum. By leveraging virtual reality, NSU students will be able to explore medical scenarios, gain practical skills, and enhance their learning experiences.

This presents an extraordinary opportunity to showcase our forward-thinking approach to education and highlight the innovative strides we are taking in medical training.

Posted 07/30/23

Medical Sonography Board Exam Class Of 2023

Medical sonography students, class of 2023, who are completing their clinical externship have also spent several hours studying in preparation of their board examinations.

Six students passed their vascular board examination, and one student passed the abdomen board examination six weeks before graduation.

This is a great accomplishment!

Posted 07/30/23

Tiny Tots Transition to Home: A NICU Pilot Study

From left, Amanda Perry and Vanessa Lewinsky presenting their poster at FLASHA 2023 convention.

Speech-language pathology graduate students Amanda Perry and Vanessa Lewinsky presented their research at  the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (FLASHA) annual convention in Orlando on July 14, 2023.

Their poster presentation titled “Tiny Tots Transition to Home : A NICU Pilot Study” shared data collected from a parent and caregiver support group that provides peer to peer networking and education to medically fragile families in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU).

 Their research found that a parent and caregiver support group  supporting capacity building strategies, promoted peer to peer networking, increased parental confidence with the transition to home process as well as decreased stress, anxiety, and trauma. In collaboration with their research mentor, Raquel Garcia, SLP.D., CCC-SLP, CLC, CNT, BCS-S, assistant professor, Vanessa, and Amanda continue to collect data to determine tiny tots’ impact on infant development and parental health literacy.

This is an ongoing grant funded research study with many opportunities for interprofessional collaboration within the university and community. If you are interested in participating, please contact Raquel Garcia, rw602@nova.edu.

Posted 07/30/23

Honors Course Encourages Water Sustainability Advocacy

Water is one of the world’s most essential resources, and its shortage is on the rise—a global crisis that receives little attention. The Farquhar Honors College Water & Sustainability course is on a mission to change that. Last semester, students in this multidisciplinary course became advocates for safe and sustainable water for all.

Throughout the semester, students learned from guest faculty speakers and community leaders from various disciplines who offered unique perspectives on water-related issues identified by the UN Sustainable Development Goal #6, which aims to provide clean water and sanitation for all.

“Water is a vital and exhaustible resource; it is also an inexhaustible theme for discovery,” said Eben Gering, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences. “Taking an interdisciplinary approach to water studies lets us (the instructors) learn in parallel with our students while spotlighting urgent sustainability issues at both local and global scales.”

Gering is co-facilitator of the course alongside Martha “Marti” Snyder, Ph.D., professor in the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice and director of faculty professional development in the Learning and Educational Center.

Along with engaging in class discussions, students took an active role in water sustainability efforts by participating in a beach clean-up; visiting water sites across South Florida, including the Everglades, to learn about different ecosystems and the importance of citizen action; and interviewing innovative business leaders dedicated to conserving and using water sustainably.

“This course has allowed me to become more conscious of my actions and how they could potentially contribute to large-scale environmental concerns,” said Smrithi Mukund, a behavioral neuroscience major. “I have gained a lot of valuable information and insight concerning the lasting impact of sustainability efforts, and I will definitely take more initiative in my day-to-day life to participate in these efforts.”

Posted 07/30/23

Halmos Student Presents Workshop on Developing Business Strategies

James Oyetunji, M.P.A.

James Oyetunji, M.P.A., doctoral student in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), presented a workshop titled “Developing Business Strategies with the Approach of Interpersonal and Organizational Conflict.” The workshop was hosted by Community Resolution Services (CRS) housed in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in HCAS.

CRS is a practicum and volunteer site providing workshops, training, and other events to the NSU and local community. For more information about CRS, please contact Judith McKay, J.D., Ph.D., faculty in DCRS at mckayj@nova.edu.

Posted 07/30/23

Honors Student Fast Tracks Into Ph.D. Program

Rose Leeger

For most students, getting into a Ph.D. program requires a master’s degree, but for Farquhar Honors College student Rose Leeger, all it took was an extraordinary dedication to research as an undergraduate student. Entering a Ph.D. program at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) this fall, Leeger will begin her graduate research journey with financial support from the National Science Foundation.

Leeger was able to jumpstart her Ph.D. career thanks to two years of research experience working on an honors thesis and being a scholar of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI).

‘[The] honors thesis [gave] me the opportunity to conduct my own novel research,” said Leeger, who received bachelor’s degrees in biology, marine biology, and environmental science this spring. “This opportunity. . . distinguished me from other applicants when I applied to graduate school as my thesis work was used as my justification. . . to bypass a master’s degree and go straight to a Ph.D. program.”

Her thesis studies the range expansion and hybridization of Mangrove Mosquitofish in South Florida due to climate change and human interference and includes a land acknowledgment recognizing and respecting Indigenous Peoples as stewards of the land she conducted research on. She completed her research under the guidance of her thesis advisor J. Matthew Hoch, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences at the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, who introduced her to the topic.

While at CU Boulder, Leeger’s research will focus on interdisciplinary methods to better understand how to protect species in Antarctica. She was inspired to pursue this research path after working with NOAA’s Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division to study penguin colonies last summer.

“I have always been passionate about polar ecosystems,” said Leeger. “I’m excited to combine my research interests in conservation and ecology [and apply them] to an ecosystem that is constantly threatened due to human impacts [and] meet new people in my field.”

After completing her education, she hopes to become a professor to engage the next generation of scientists in polar exploration and conservation.

Learn more about the honors thesis.

Posted 07/30/23

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