Category: SharkBytes

Over 60 community members recently gathered in the Huizenga Sales Institute at Nova Southeastern University for the child protection conference “Ensuring Safety: It Starts with YOU!” hosted by the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. The overall event was dedicated to exploring how social media platforms, videos, and more can lead to child trafficking, and how to prosecute and prevent these crimes.

Among those who spoke at the event include Prosecutor Frank M. Williams, Esq., survivor and advocate Savannah Parvu, Supervisory Special Agent Renaldo Franklin with Homeland Security, members of NSU Faculty, and more. The NSU Sociodrama Ensemble Stage for Change also held an interactive performance titled “Behind the Mask,” which presented a dramatized child trafficking situation.

The event ended with an in-depth panel discussion with professionals in the field of law enforcement, clinical social work, academia, and community-based organizations, all addressing the multifaceted approaches needed to combat child trafficking.

A graduate of the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice is getting ready to embark on a new path as a member of the United States Secret Service. Justin Campbell graduated from NSU in 2024 with his B.S. in Criminal Justice and will soon put his degree to use in his new role with the U.S. Secret Service’s Uniformed Division. Campbell is set to begin his new role in June, which will start with orientation and several months of training.

The job will mostly entail ensuring the safety of the White House Complex, the vice president’s residence and other designated facilities. Uniformed officers also provide security for the Treasury Department and other foreign diplomatic missions in Washington D.C. Campbell was overjoyed and got emotional when he learned he received the job, a sentiment shared by his mother who also cried when she learned of her son’s accomplishment.

Working in law enforcement was something Campbell has aspired to do for a while now and he is looking forward to starting his new career and seeing where it takes him. Congratulations Justin!

Dr. Hui Fang Su, faculty member at Nova Southeastern University’s Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, has been selected as an inaugural Fellow in the nationally distinguished Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Transformative Teaching Initiative.

Out of a highly competitive pool of applicants, Dr. Su was chosen for this honor based on her exemplary commitment to innovative teaching practices. As a Fellow, Dr. Su will collaborate with a national cohort of educators and scholars to design and implement inquiry-based instruction using the Library of Congress’s extensive collection of primary source materials. The initiative includes virtual sessions led by education leaders from institutions such as Virginia Tech, the University of South Florida, and the National Council for History Education.

It culminates in an in-person residency at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., in July 2025. “This fellowship represents a significant national recognition of Dr. Su’s contributions to transformative education,” said Dr. Kimberly Durham, Dean of the College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. “Her selection not only brings prestige to our university, but also reaffirms our commitment to preparing educators who can lead change through inclusive and culturally responsive pedagogy.” Su will work alongside faculty from across the country to advance instructional strategies that promote student inquiry, critical thinking, and civic engagement, further reinforcing the Library of Congress’s mission to make its vast resources accessible and meaningful in K–12 and teacher education settings.

NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School and Criminal Justice Faculty Research Fellowship Program is a new initiative designed to expand the College’s research capacity and cultivate new faculty scholars. This innovative program supports faculty who are new to research by providing structured support and dedicated time to pursue impactful scholarly projects.

The first three projects were awarded to Drs. Melinda Coleman, Gabriela Mendez, Wilma Robles-Melendez and Jia Borror. Below is a brief summary each one: Stimulating Skills through Simulation by Dr. Melinda Coleman with collaborative partner Dr. Laura Cohen (NSU College of Psychology): This project evaluates the use of simulation-based training to enhance leadership and decision-making skills in PK–12 school administrators and counselors. Participants in graduate-level educational leadership and counseling courses will complete simulations individually and then in interdisciplinary teams. The study uses pre- and post-assessments of self-efficacy, along with qualitative feedback, to measure the impact of simulations on participants’ confidence, collaboration, and leadership development. By comparing individual and team-based outcomes, the research aims to show how joint simulations foster interprofessional understanding and cooperation.

The findings are expected to contribute to professional training models that better prepare future school leaders Everglades Classroom: A Citizen Science Initiative to Investigate Vertebrate Community Composition and Change Using Environmental DNA, Dr. Gabriela Mendez with collaborative partner Dr. Neymi Mignocchi (Eye of a Scientist company): This interdisciplinary project combines environmental science and experiential learning by engaging middle and high school students as citizen scientists in a year-long biodiversity study of the Florida Everglades. The study will use environmental DNA (eDNA) to assess vertebrate species diversity across multiple microenvironments and seasons. Alongside scientific data collection, the project will evaluate how participation impacts students’ science self-efficacy, academic interests, and awareness of endangered species.

A mixed methods design will incorporate pre/post surveys, focus groups, and biodiversity sampling to measure learning outcomes and ecological trends. The project aligns with NSU’s values of scholarship, community, and innovation and seeks external funding from the William T. Grant Foundation to scale the work. Hope and its Role in the Resilience and Experience of Immigrant Caregivers, Dr. Wilma Robles-Melendez and Dr. Jia Borror with collaborative partner Dr. Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez (Texas Women’s University) This qualitative study explores how immigrant early childhood caregivers experience and define hope, and how that hope contributes to their resilience and professional well-being.

Through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and storytelling, the project will gather narratives from 20–30 immigrant caregivers across South Florida. The goal is to uncover how hope supports these caregivers in overcoming stressors such as cultural adaptation, economic challenges, and emotional strain, while maintaining high-quality caregiving. Data will be analyzed using NVivo and narrative analysis techniques. Findings will inform policies and support systems to promote immigrant caregivers’ well-being and, by extension, enhance outcomes for the children in their care.

By: Johari Canty

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice alumna Tameka Hamilton received the Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year award by the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the Florida Association of School Administrators.

Hamilton currently works at Three Points Elementary School in Orlando and is part of the organization’s 2025 Class of National Outstanding Assistant Principal. She will be recognized at the Florida Association of School Administrators Conference in June and the NAESP National Association of Elementary School Principals Conference in July. When she got the call from Tallahassee, Hamilton said she was shocked and overjoyed.

She also said it felt good to be recognized, though she said it would be impossible to do her job without the support of other teachers, faculty and staff. “I am just one person, and together we make this thing work, and I am nobody without the people who support me each and every day.” Hamilton graduated from NSU with M.S. in Exceptional Student Education and Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and said her degrees have helped her assisting students with additional needs, as well as assisting teachers in curriculum and instruction and as an administrator.

Congratulations, Mrs. Hamilton! For more information, visit here.

By: Johari Canty

Students with the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice are getting first-hand experience in the realm of law enforcement thanks to the Special Topics Field Experiences. The course gives students the opportunity to bridge theory with practice and get an up close and behind the scenes view of actual law enforcement practices and agencies.

This term, students have gotten the opportunity to participate in several activities, including a forensics science boot camp, a tour of the 17th Judicial Court, an exposition with Davie Police, and a behind the scenes look at how the U.S. Coast Guard and Homeland Security operate. Students enrolled in the special topics course must attend three out of five offered field excursions in criminal justice.

Grace Telesco, Ph.D., Director of the School of Criminal Justice, noted that students have raved about the events, describing them as not only enjoyable but also incredibly valuable for building professional connections. “Overall, this tour exceeded all of my expectations, it allowed me to get some inside information on opportunities along with learning each area section within homeland security. This brings everything we learn at the undergraduate course level to life,” one student said. The course will culminate with a tour of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Main Jail.