President Hanbury Contributes Chapter to Leadership Series

President to President is a higher education thought leadership series written by university presidents for university presidents. Each year, the series focuses on a different aspect of the higher education experience. The 2022-2023 edition of President to President, titled “The Well Campus: An In-Depth Look,” offers a thoughtful examination of what it means to have a “well” campus. Each chapter of President to President is authored by a notable higher education thought leader at the forefront of innovative philosophies and practices that give their institution a competitive advantage.

Chapter 7: We Are in This Together

George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D.

A healthy campus is one link in the chain that connects communities and helps build a healthier world. Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU’s) vision for a healthy campus is one that recognizes how we are all connected and seeks to improve those connections by focusing on eight areas of impact. These eight areas represent an all-encompassing approach that supports the health of a community in every aspect.

  1. With 23,000 students and 70% of our student body in graduate and professional programs including two medical colleges (D.O. and M.D.) and dental, optometry, pharmacy, nursing, and health science colleges, NSU elevates the physical and mental well-being of communities through new standards in healthcare education, research, and clinical practice. The university will set a new standard in healthcare facilities with the fall 2023 opening of the NSU Health Interprofessional Simulation Complex, or NSU’s SimCom. This project represents a $175 million investment that will double the size of NSU’s College of Dental Medicine to 260 seats, expand room for our growing M.D. and nursing colleges, and transform the former Miami Dolphins training facility at our Fort Lauderdale Campus into an advanced simulation center that essentially functions as a hospital without “live” patients. NSU students of all disciplines, as well as the wider healthcare community, will utilize 105 simulation spaces, which include “fresh tissue laboratories,” virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and holograms, with simulated outpatient exam rooms, operating rooms with robotics, and inpatient skills labs.

NSU’s SimCom brings together multiple decentralized simulation spaces and expands their footprint from 79,000 to 107,000 square feet. NSU’s SimCom will employ innovative and immersive technological tools, including 3D modeling, virtual reality, and augmented reality. Many academic disciplines touch on health in some way, and NSU’s SimCom will strengthen these connections by collaborating with the NSU H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship’s MBA in Complex Health Systems.

NSU’s SimCom is one tool for training the next generation of healthcare professionals and leaders. NSU’s track record in this area is well established—more than 18,000 healthcare professionals have graduated from the university since 2012, and by 2025, NSU will graduate more physicians (D.O.s and M.D.s) in the United States than any other university and the greatest number of nurses in Florida. These healthcare professionals will have a wide-ranging impact on the world, whether they are working in hospitals and clinics or conducting research.

  1. NSU’s research portfolio includes three cancer research centers working on patenting experimental drugs that limit the growth of blood cell formation in cancerous tissues and developing a drug that lowers treatment resistance to late-stage breast cancer, among other projects. Additionally, NSU’s Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine has been internationally recognized for its years of research on Gulf War Illness and is now working on CDC-funded research on COVID-19 long-haulers—the largest of its kind in the country.
  2. A healthy campus nurtures and protects children through innovations in pediatric medicine, healthcare, early childhood development, and education. NSU Health’s dental clinic is one of the few in the region that specializes in working with our armed forces veterans and with children who have special needs, including autism. The university’s Baudhuin Preschool, in a partnership with Broward County, is recognized both nationally and internationally as a model program for children on the autism spectrum. NSU’s University School, serving a student population that includes preschool and JK-12 (18 months to 18 years), focuses on individualized learning tailored to each student through experiential learning. NSU’s USchool students also have the advantage of accessing college-level research and resources and collaborating with NSU faculty and researchers from their “campus within a campus.”
  3. NSU has a long history in marine research in its Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center at its oceanographic campus on the Atlantic Ocean, as well as research in oceans around the world. Part of our vision for a healthy campus includes sustaining the oceans, marine life, and the natural world around us. Since 1999, the university has collaborated with scientist and marine artist Dr. Guy Harvey to gather scientific information focused on understanding, conserving, and effectively managing the world’s marine fishes. For more than three decades, NSU has worked with Broward County and the Greater Fort Lauderdale community to manage its Sea Turtle Conservation Program, which includes securing nests to protect eggs and monitoring the effects of artificial lighting to improve hatchling survival rates. NSU researchers are also participating in projects to protect endangered animals including rhinoceroses, tigers, and leopards.
  4. Another area of impact for NSU is kindling investment in future leaders through student scholarships, professorships, and program support. One example of this investment into the future is the Huizenga Business Innovation Academy, which allows students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in four years and provides them with $20,000 in seed funding to hone their investment skills and gain experiences in wealth management. The philanthropy of donors in groups like the President’s Associates funds scholarships that help support students and faculty members. Programs like Pathway Scholars allow organizations to help financially challenged students by clearing hurdles and facilitating their ability to become successful business professionals. These initiatives, and others, led NSU to being ranked by U.S. News & World Report for its “Social Mobility.”
  5. As a majority-minority school, (32% Hispanic, 30% white, 18% Black, 9% Asian, 3% more than one race, 4% nonresident aliens) NSU is the largest university that meets the Department of Education’s Hispanic-serving Institution criteria and is ranked sixth in the nation for the largest number of minority degree recipients among degrees awarded. One of the university’s guiding core values is diversity, and creating a healthy campus includes honoring differences and fostering not only diversity, but also equity, inclusion, and belonging. NSU’s graduates hail from 117 countries around the world and represent a truly global community that is connected in many ways. In addition to the diversity-related programs in our 15 colleges and schools, the university also relies on a student-focused office that promotes diversity and creates a safe and supportive environment. Additionally, a representative council that includes all NSU colleges and operational units guides the university toward inclusive excellence and belonging by promoting and developing procedures, programs, and processes.
  6. The innovations of tomorrow are being fostered at the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation, a public-private partnership between the university and Broward County. Occupying 54,000 square feet, the state-of-the-art center offers incubator and accelerator programs to help grow the next generation of businesses that are powering South Florida’s innovation economy. With more than 5,000 employees, the university is one of Florida’s biggest employers, and its $4.1 billion economic impact on the state is expected to grow to $5 billion by 2025.

The university’s economic impact on Florida demonstrates the importance of bolstering businesses, professions, and economic vitality through investments in innovation and technology. NSU has a long history of innovation and pioneered distance education, which has grown into nine campuses located across Florida and Puerto Rico. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the entire world in 2020, NSU swiftly responded by upgrading campuses to implement remote learning and continue a tradition of education excellence even in the face of adversity. At the height of the pandemic, colleges and universities nationwide experienced decreases in enrollment, but NSU bucked that trend and welcomed its largest incoming freshman class ever in fall 2020. These students could have chosen to go anywhere in the country, but during a pandemic, they chose NSU.

During their time at NSU, those students will experience firsthand how a healthy campus champions the drive to excellence, leadership, and teamwork and promotes personal well-being through collegiate athletics, recreational sports, and fitness programs. NSU’s student athletes have represented the U.S. at the Olympics, and in 2022 the men’s basketball team reached the NCAA Division II finals. And away from the courts, fields, and pools, NSU’s student athletes have a tradition of academic excellence, earning a department-wide 3.42 GPA in the 2020-21 academic year. Additionally, since 2018, multiple NSU graduates have been drafted by Major League Baseball. These academic and athletic accomplishments represent well-rounded students who will strive for excellence in their fields—whether those fields involve an Olympic pool, business, operating room, academic research, or other disciplines.

  1. Lastly, a healthy campus cultivates the arts community and enriches people’s cultural lives by ensuring that art reaches everyone across diverse communities. The NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale is known both nationally and internationally for its exhibitions and educational programs that draw more than 100,000 annual visitors. The museum’s permanent collection includes more than 7,500 pieces and is known for emphasizing women, Black, and Latinx artists. The museum is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection to make it available for free to anyone in the world. Additionally, the centrally located Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center at the Fort Lauderdale Campus hosts musicals, concerts, and plays, as well as an annual summer theater camp for children in the community. Cultural arts are integral to any healthy community and are key to NSU’s vision of enriching the regions we serve.

A healthy university campus means far more than the size of its student body or its endowment. It is a recognition that no university is an island, but rather that it is deeply rooted in its community in ways that are both apparent and not. Creating a healthy campus means marshaling the resources not only to upgrade existing buildings or construct new ones, but to implement new evidence-based teaching methods that best prepare students for the challenges they will face in their chosen profession. It means investing in the future leaders and professionals who serve with integrity in communities around the world. Each of these links in the chain forges connections that span generations, and with more than 207,000 alumni globally, NSU’s connections will continue to grow and prosper.

Together, our 15 colleges and schools, acting as one NSU, are stronger working together in an interprofessional manner, and NSU is creating a healthier world not just through healthcare, but by connecting the linkages between all professions that make a community healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

Posted 06/04/23

With Hurricane Season Upon Us, Take Necessary Precautions

Hurricane season, which officially begins this Thursday, June 1 and runs through November 30, is a fact of life for all Florida and Puerto Rico residents. At NSU, our highest priority is the safety of our students, faculty, and staff.

NSU constantly monitors Atlantic weather conditions for signs of weather systems that could develop into an organized storm affecting any of the university’s campuses in Florida and Puerto Rico. As always, NSU will provide updates, as needed, to the operating status of our campuses on the university’s website at nova.edu/hurricane and on the NSU Emergency Hotline at 800-256-5065.

Now is the time to begin personal preparations to ensure that you are safe and ready for potential storms at your home and office. Helpful resources are available at: nova.edu/hurricane.

Please update your Personal Emergency Contact Information. Register your information and/or check and update your existing contact information in order to receive timely notifications. When you register, your identification code is your NSU “N” Number, and when prompted to input your phone numbers, please do so without any dashes (e.g., 9542625398). The system allows you to input multiple phone/text numbers and email addresses.

NSU’s website and hotline will contain information on campus closings, event cancellations and re-openings. We recommend storing the hotline number in your mobile phone so it is on-hand when you need it. New information is updated on the hotline and posted on the website as frequently as warranted. Information may also be distributed via email and/or text messages. Local television, radio, and newspapers will be used to reach those who do not have access to a telephone or to the Internet.

We encourage you to review other resources available to you by visiting nova.edu/hurricane as well as familiarizing yourself with the Severe Weather Emergency Procedures brochure. We use this multi-channel approach to keep everyone informed before, during, and after severe weather or a hurricane.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Let us all stay safe together this hurricane season.

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

Posted 05/31/23

Psychology Professor Gives Keynote on Youth Mental Health

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and NSU College of Psychology professor Scott Poland, Ed.D.

NSU College of Psychology professor Scott Poland, Ed.D., presented the keynote address at the Miami Dade-County and Miami Dade County Schools Youth Mental Health Summit held on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

The event, held at the University of Miami Newman’s Alumni Center, was attended by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Jose L. Dotres, administrators, mental health professionals, agency representatives as well as University of Miami staff.

The purpose of the summit was to expand the conversation between educators and Miami-Dade County services providers regarding the status of mental health services and approaches for children living in the county.

Poland’s keynote presentation, titled “Supporting Children’s Mental Health in a Traumatic World”, described the increased stress factors that affect youth. These factors included social media, racial and political tension, global warming, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

He highlighted the growing need to increase the number of mental health professionals in the state’s school districts. He added that Florida’s spending in support of school mental health services ranks lower when compared to other states. Moreover, some states spend twice as well per student, when compared to Florida. This increase in spending has allowed these states to provide better student services and offer more resources for mental health professionals.

During his presentation, Poland referenced a US Surgeon General advisory on youth mental health. The advisory offered numerous recommendations for caregivers, schools, and students. In closing, Poland asserted that mental health was essential to overall health and more needed to be done to address the barriers that contribute to poor mental health for youth.

Poland is a professor in the NSU College of Psychology and is the co-director of the Suicide and Violence Prevention Office at the university. He is a licensed psychologist and an internationally recognized expert on school safety, youth suicide, self-injury, bullying, school crisis prevention/intervention, threat assessment and parenting in challenging times. He has authored or co-authored five books and many chapters and articles on these subjects and has served as a legal expert in a number of lawsuits.

Posted 05/21/23

College of Dental Medicine Launches Scholarship Program

The Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine (the CDM) is the largest dental school in Florida and will soon become the second-largest dental school in the nation.

While dentistry is usually thought of as a professional practice, it is also a science that depends on researchers to develop new and better technologies. Dental researchers have discovered links between such systemic diseases as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, arthritis, and periodontitis. Moreover, we have seen the growth of dental disease specific to underrepresented ethnic groups, such as diabetes-associated periodontitis among Hispanics and Native Americans.

Under the leadership of renowned researcher Toshihisa Kawai, DDS, Ph.D., working in concert with Richard Singer, DDS, Ph.D., the CDM is launching a new scholarship program that will provide master’s degrees and mentorship for predoctoral dental students from underrepresented ethnic and socioeconomic groups to meet the need for dental researchers who will discover new treatments and therapies for patients everywhere.

Since 1993, Dr. Kawai has served as a volunteer mentor and teacher for students from diversity backgrounds, preparing them for successful careers in biomedical science. His laboratory is dedicated to discovering new drug targets and developing novel therapeutics for periodontitis and other bone lytic diseases, including osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and bone cancer metastasis.

The CDM seeks to raise $10,000 for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) scholarships.”

Posted 05/21/23

NSU Florida Gets New Address on University Drive

Nearly 60 years after then-Nova University moved from downtown Fort Lauderdale to Davie, our new address now reflects our roots: 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004. This new address will replace our current mailing address, 3300 S. University Drive.

What You Need To Know:

  • The new address should be used effective immediately for all mail and deliveries to Broward County locations.
  • Building-specific addresses (or links to Google and Apple Maps) should only be used for point-to-point directions for events, clinical/medical appointments, athletics games, etc. Individual building addresses are never to be used as the official return address. The Facilities and PR & Marketing teams will be working in the coming months on updating mapping solutions on both Google and Apple Maps.
  • The PR and Marketing team in collaboration with OIIT will coordinate address changes on the nova.edu website.
  • Mail sent to the old address will continue to be delivered for the immediate future.
  • Colleges/Units should work with Business Services to phase out existing stationery, letterhead, business cards, collateral with the old address. Consult with Business Services to evaluate your current inventory and make plans to change over to the new address.
  • Who to contact for questions: bsv@nova.edu.

This transition will take time to roll out and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation in making it a success.

GO SHARKS!

Posted 05/08/23

Speech Language Pathology Clinic Introduces Listen & Talk Lab

The Nova Southeastern University Speech Language Pathology Clinic’s Listen & Talk Lab is currently accepting patients.

The clinic’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The lab offers services in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language (ASL). Among the services being offered are hearing screenings, speech and language evaluations, speech and language therapy, and family support.

Daniela Berrios, MA CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert AVEd, is an experienced bilingual speech language pathologist who specializes in working with individuals with hearing loss to achieve functional communication outcomes.

Posted 05/07/23

NSU Faculty Members Receive Grant for Alzheimer’s Research

Benedict C. Albensi, Ph.D.

Nova Southeastern University researchers Benedict C. Albensi, Ph.D., BCMAS, CRQM; and Lisa Robison, Ph.D.; recently received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant for their research on Alzheimer’s disease.

They will receive $616,000 over a period of four years for their project titled “Sex-based differences of a high fat diet in Alzheimer’s disease (AD): Can nilotinib reverse bioenergetic and neuropathological deficits?” The grant was given under the NIH Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Professor Albensi – the principal investigator of the project – is the chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences with the Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy. Robison – the co-investigator – is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at NSU’s College of Psychology.

“This grant specifically looks at a couple key features of Alzheimer’s disease that I have been studying for several years,” Albensi said.

  1. Sex differences: About two thirds of women get AD and we do not exactly know why that is the case. Longevity alone does not explain why. This study will look at sex differences with an emphasis on brain metabolism.
  2. Diet and exercise have a tremendous effect on our health and specifically on brain metabolism. Some scientists estimate we can reduce both AD and cancer by 40-50% with better nutrition and optimal exercise. This study will look at the effects of high fat diets, especially fats that are not healthy for us.
  3. In this study we will look at ways to reverse the negative effects of a high fat diet.

“So overall I have been studying and publishing on sex differences, memory dysfunction, brain metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, nutritional interventions, in AD,” Albensi said. “My co-investigator, Lisa Robison, has also been studying sex differences in AD and memory changes in AD.”

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R16NS134540. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Posted 05/07/23

College Announces Strategic Partnership With Arreva

NSU’s H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship’s graduate M.S. in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Management and Master of Public Administration programs have announced an innovative, strategic partnership with Arreva®, the trusted adviser and thought leader serving nonprofits in creating sustainable digital fundraising, donor relationship management, healthcare hospitality, and auctions for nearly three decades.

This alliance connects with the college’s commitment to educating “Difference Makers” and its promise to help student become “Best for our World.”

Through this partnership, the college has selected Arreva’s ExceedFurther, All-in-One, Digital Fundraising, Donor Relationship Management, Healthcare Hospitality, and Auction software and formed the Arreva Non-profit Software Lab.

The lab will be an integral component of the programs, giving students training and hands-on experience working with a leading technology being used by nonprofits globally to thrive. It will provide students with streamlined, innovative, and sustainable fundraising and donor relationship management strategies and initiatives to fulfill their important missions.

Additionally, students will receive exposure to thought leaders who are shaping and transforming the sustainable fundraising and donor relationship management landscape.

“We are thrilled to have forged this unprecedented national partnership with Arreva, to bring additional thought leadership and fundraising and donor relationship management expertise, as well as experiential elements providing our students with immersive software training and lab opportunities to work with leading technology that is truly at the forefront of the industry,” said Dean Andrew Rosman, of the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Students Selected for Institute for Future Scientists in O.T.

Lanoris Parker

Each year, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), selects 20 participants from a nationwide pool of promising entry-level occupational therapy students for the Institute for Future Scientists in Occupational Therapy.

During the first AOTA/AOTF institute, OT class of 2017 student Bryce Carsone Smith, represented the NSU Tampa Bay O.T.D. program. This year, two NSU of the selected twenty participants include entry-level O.T.D. students, Lanoris Parker­–Fort Lauderdale, and Deborah Kofsky–Tampa Bay.

First year O.T.D. student Lanoris Parker was a personal trainer prior to entering the O.T.D. program, and upon graduation with a Masters in Kinesiology, received a commission with the US Army Medical Specialty Corps as an Army Reserve Second Lieutenant. His interest is in learning about the interconnectedness of physical activity, brain science, and occupational therapy. Due to lack of resources and inadequate teaching and aware of health disparities, he is motivated to participate in occupational science and help elevate research to improve mental health and fight against the rise of mental disorders.

Deborah Kofsky

Deborah Kofsky, fourth year O.T.D. student, is completing her final clinical rotation and doctoral capstone experience for her OTD degree. Her academic performance is marked with grades on the top 5% of her cohort, and qualified her for scholarships, including repeat awards of the NSU Chancellor’s scholarship.  She completed the rigorous 6-sequence OTD research curriculum, capped with a podium and poster presentation and a manuscript for submission to a juried publication. In addition, she served a one-year internship with the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Rehabilitation and Disability Special Interest Section supporting initiatives for community-based activities.

The future scientists will participate during in-person sessions at the AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo in Kansas City, Missouri, when they will be matched with leading occupational therapy scientists to address topics such as possibilities within OT science, considerations when evaluating potential doctoral programs, and career opportunities as a scientist. The facilitators and mentors of the will be composed of faculty and doctoral/post-doctoral students from established research programs around the nation.

Hopefully, both Deborah and Lanoris will achieve the purpose of the AOTA/AOTF Institute for Future Scientists, which include being part of a group of potential scientists, connecting with other potential entry-level scientists with mentors in the occupational therapy scientific community, and developing a peer scientific network.

Posted 04/23/23

USchool Students Earn Top Awards in Chinese Competition

Congratulations to the following Middle and Upper School students who earned top awards in their respective categories at the 17th Annual Florida Statewide Chinese Competition!

In addition to the awards listed below, seventh grader Lal Y. placed first in the Middle School Advanced Level Creative Project category and seventh grader Nazar A. placed second. Our Middle School team also placed second in the jeopardy competition.

Middle School Advanced Level Individual Listening, Speaking and Reading Competition:

  • Nazar A.: Superior in speaking, Superior in reading and Superior in listening
  • Lal Y.: Superior in speaking, Outstanding in reading, and Excellent in listening
  • Alexey K.: Excellent in speaking, Excellent in reading, Excellent in listening

Middle School Intro Level Individual Listening, Speaking and Reading Competition:

  • Xavier M.: Superior in speaking, Outstanding in reading and Outstanding in listening
  • Sebastian M.: Outstanding in speaking, Outstanding in reading, Outstanding in listening
  • Brandon C.: Superior in speaking, Excellent in reading and Outstanding in listening
  • Liam M.: Superior in speaking, Good in reading and Excellent in listening
  • Zack W.: Superior in speaking, Excellent in reading and Good in listening
  • Jake S.: Outstanding in speaking, Excellent in reading and Excellent in listening

Upper School Level 2 Individual Listening, Speaking and Reading Competition:

  • Savva S.: Superior in speaking, Outstanding in reading, Outstanding in listening
  • Martina L.: Superior in speaking, Superior in reading, Superior in listening
  • Victoria R.: Superior in speaking, Outstanding in reading, Superior in listening
  • Andrew L.: Outstanding in speaking, Excellent in reading, Outstanding in listening
  • Jeffrey Z.: Superior in speaking, Superior in reading, Superior in listening
  • Dean R.: Outstanding in speaking, Superior in reading, Superior in listening

Upper School Level 3 Individual Listening, Speaking and Reading Competition:

  • Chase R.: Outstanding in speaking, Excellent in reading, Superior in listening
  • Maddie G.: Superior in speaking, Outstanding in reading, Outstanding in listening

Learn more about NSU University School’s college preparatory program for students in Preschool – Grade 12 at www.uschool.nova.edu.

Posted 04/23/23

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