Category: SharkBytes

Students Gain Real-World Business Experience in 17 On-Campus Businesses

Being a student at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has afforded 17 undergraduate students a unique opportunity – they have conceptualized, launched, and operate their on-campus businesses as part of a unique entrepreneurial program supported by a yearly scholarship and a micro loan of up to $5,000.

By playing multiple roles – from finance, operations, sales, marketing, and logistics the students, who come from varied backgrounds and have different majors, acquire the necessary skills to open their own on-campus, student-run enterprises. The Razor’s Edge Shark Cage Scholars Program started its fifth edition this fall in the Shark Cage at Mako Hall, a modern residential building that is now home to many of NSU’s undergraduate students.

“The program has grown significantly since its launch in 2016,” said Brad Williams, Ed.D., NSU’s vice president of student affairs and dean for the College of Undergraduate Studies.  “It is a great accomplishment to have a unified business space for the students to operate their enterprises.”

During the program, students develop several key skills while managing limited resources and overcoming daily operational challenges.  Through learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom, they are prepared to start their own business, purchase an existing business, invest in a franchise opportunity, organize the launch of new products or services, or work for an existing organization and lead the development of a new division.

“Having our students run their own business creates great experiential learning opportunities,” said Tom Tworoger, DBA, a professor in NSU’s H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship and Chair of the Entrepreneurship Department.

Whether looking for something to eat or drink or to take advantage of the many other services that the students provide, the NSU community is likely to find at the Shark Cage facility.  Each business aims to engage all members of the NSU community including students, faculty, and staff.

“Students went through specifically designed courses to aid them in getting their businesses started, made funding pitches for their microloans, ordered their equipment and inventory, and launched over 20 student-run businesses in the last two years,” said Cheryl Babcock, director of the Shark Cage Program and Entrepreneurship faculty member in NSU’s Huizenga Business College.  “It has been awe-inspiring to witness the ingenuity, strong work ethic, and enthusiasm as they pursued their entrepreneurial journeys, and am looking forward to the dedicated students who will open/reopen their businesses this fall.”

Mason Petrosky

Mason Petrosky, a dual admission law and paralegal studies major minoring in entrepreneurship from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., operated a popular campus milkshake business in 2019-2020.  Petrosky is a first-year law student in NSU’s Shepherd Broad College of Law.

“Running my business was a pivotal moment for me in my development as a leader, and I grew in ways that a textbook couldn’t help me do,” he said. “The Shark Cage Program immersed me into the real-life entrepreneurial experience where other programs could not.”

Annabel Brewster, a student majoring in Art and Design and minoring in entrepreneurship, is getting prepared for her grand opening of Sharky Art on September 8th. She has been a business owner for five years, but this fall she created her on-campus business, Sharky Art, to engage students, faculty, and organizations through creative painting events and artwork.

“Through dedication, resilience, and hard work I believe that Sharky Art will be successful, and bring a great new opportunity on campus for those who would like to explore their creative mind!”

Students can enjoy a grilled burger, grilled cheese sandwich, taco, mac and cheese, milkshake, acai bowl, candy, lemonade, or sweet/salty snacks. They can also choose from t-shirts, hoodies, swim bikinis, gently used clothing, dorm room decor, beach items, shoe cleaning and care, inspirational planners, or purchase pieces of original art or join a painting party.

This fall 10 scholars celebrate their Grand Openings at the Shark Cage and begin operating their businesses along with seven returning enterprises from last year.  Four more enterprises are set to launch in January 2021. “This is a tremendous commitment and enormous accomplishment for the students”, said Cheryl Babcock.

For more information, please contact:

Cheryl R. Babcock, CFE
Lecturer & Director, Razor’s Edge Shark Cage Scholars Program
E: babcockc@nova.edu

 

 

Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine Students Raise More Than $21,000 for the Yemen Relief Campaign

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a worldwide crisis, the country of Yemen has been dealing with another humanitarian catastrophe—the largest cholera outbreak in modern history. The Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, classes of 2023 and 2024, led by second-year student Aneil Tawakalzada, class of 2023 president, and the second-year class boards at both campuses have come together to raise funds for the Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation.

Through social media awareness, academic society competitions, and the use of bingo templates for fundraising, the campaign surpassed its initial goal of $17,000 by raising more than $21,000. Funds will go toward providing water filters (to prevent cholera) and food baskets (to prevent malnutrition) for the people of Yemen. Due to the success of the initiative, student leaders partnered with AMBOSS & Sketchy, a medical knowledge platform, who agreed to providing free board prep academic resources to four medical students in Yemen.

As the campaign draws to a close on September 6, it is well on its way to its next fundraising goal of $25,000.

Education Alum Leader in South Florida Private School Education, Opens Virtual School


Brent Goldman, Ed.D., graduate of NSU’s Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, is the co-founder and CEO of Xceed Preparatory Academy, which currently has four locations in South Florida (Kendall, Weston, Coral Springs, and Daytona Beach). In July 2020, Xceed opened its 5th school, a virtual school called Xceed Anywhere.

Goldman has been a leader in private school education in South Florida since 1996. He was the co-founder and Head of School at The Sagemont School in Weston for 21 years. Under his leadership, Sagemont grew to over 820. Additionally, he co-founded The University of Miami Online High School and Smart Horizons Career Online Education (www.shcoe.org).  The University of Miami Online High School was the first Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accredited private online high school. It was sold to Kaplan in 2007.  Smart Horizons Career Online Education is geared towards the 30mm+ adult high school dropouts in the United States and is the official high school of McDonalds.

Goldman earned his M.S. in 1994 and his Ed.D. in 1997 from the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice.

To learn more about Xceed Preparatory please visit, ttps://www.xceedprep.org/

and for more information on Xceed Anywhere you may visit: https://www.xceedanywhere.com/

Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Healthcare Sciences Department of Speech-Language Pathology: A Voice for the Non-Traditional Podcast

From left, Kelly Thompson and Amber Banks presenting at the 2020 Kentucky Speech-Language Hearing Association.

Two recent M.S.-SLP graduates, Kelly Thompson and Amber Banks, both of Kentucky, were recently interviewed on Sunshine Speechie podcast, about their experience as non-traditional students while obtaining their M.S.-Speech-Language Pathology degree from NSU’s Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Healthcare Sciences. They discussed their personal experiences of working in the field of speech-language pathology while going to school online and answered questions about their experiences and provided advice to people who are pursuing a degree in speech-language pathology.

“A Voice for the Nontraditional Student” by Sunshine Speechie was released on Wednesday, August 5, 2020, on all podcast platforms.

Kelly and Amber also presented in February at the 2020 Kentucky Speech-Language Hearing Association on “Perspectives on Preprofessional Employment and Non-traditional Graduate Programs”.

For more information, please contact Amber Banks at ab3296@mynsu.nova.edu.

NSU Counseling Professor Publishes First Book

A presentation at the American Counseling Association in 2017 has grown into the first book published by Melanie Iarussi, Ph.D., an associate professor in the College of Psychology’s Department of Counseling. Integrating Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Clinical Practice covers in detail two types of therapy: motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT).

“My dissertation for my doctoral program was on this same topic, so it’s been a thread of my work since I’ve started,” she said.

Iarussi describes MI as a guided approach that meets the client where they are when they aren’t ready for change, and it emphasizes compassion, empathy, and nonjudgement. Separately, CBT is an umbrella of approaches that identifies a client’s core beliefs and can help with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. The book covers how the two therapies are complementary to each other.

Recreational Therapy Students Complete Virtual Internship and Create COVID-19/Pandemic Safety and Activity Manual for a Retirement Community

Kaylee Gassen and Elizabeth Zubero, student athletes and seniors in the Bachelor of Science in Recreational Therapy program at NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, completed a virtual internship with Friends House Retirement Community in Sandy Springs, Maryland. Along with the support of adjunct faculty member, Therese Pokryfke, both students worked together to create a large COVID-19/Pandemic Safety and Activity Manual for the residents of Friends House Retirement Community.

The manual includes safety precautions and ways the residents can connect with family members who were unable to visit them, utilization of technology and apps, virtual recreational activities, and ways to manage residents’ social and emotional well-being. Additionally, the manual describes procedures and activities in a clear and simple manner with helpful graphics for the residents to be able to read and understand the information. This manual will be a lasting contribution to Friends House Retirement Community that they will be able to use currently and for future health and emergency situations. The manual can also be adapted for other retirement communities use.

Education Alum Named Director of General Studies at Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes

 

Gur Berman, Ed.D., graduate of NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice has been named Director of General Studies at Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes, in North Miami Beach, FL.

Over the past seven years Berman served as an assistant principal and principal of Ben Gamla Charter Schools in South Florida. The Ben Gamla schools Berman led were characterized by environments in which teachers felt trusted, appreciated, and supported. As a result, annually, the students in those schools experienced improved learning as demonstrated by the annual numerical score the state provides all public schools.  Prior to his tenure at Ben Gamla, he taught and administered in a number of local Yeshiva Day Schools.  He has Semicha (Rabbinic Ordination) from the Rabbi Yitzchak Elchonon Theological Seminary (Yeshiva University).

Berman earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Cornell University and Columbia University respectively and then a Doctor of Education in Instructional and Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Fischler Distinguished Alumnus Remembers a Life of Service to Americans who have been Struck by Tragedy

Lt. Colonel Robert C. Anderson, Ed.D., USAF (ret.), served thousands of individuals and organizations around the world in managing combat stress, supporting terminal individuals, and teaching physicians how to manage such situations with their patients.

Dr. Anderson, who earned his doctorate in health care education from NSU in 2000, responded to countless terrorist attacks and natural disasters around the world as a U.S. Air Force behavioral scientist for more than 20 years.

Dr. Anderson was one of the original behavioral scientists chosen to establish the behavioral medicine and bioethics components of Air Force Family Medicine Residency Programs. He assisted in the establishment and creation of numerous medical residency programs around the country, including NSU’s.

“As a child, I heard of the death of a girl who was my classmate at the time, who had died on a plane crash – and it hurt me so much. That is when I decided that I wanted to dedicate my time to helping people, dying folks, and training physicians on how to deal with them,” he said.

Lt. Col. Anderson has worked disasters and terrorist attacks during numerous deployments, including to Homestead Air Force Base in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, to Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and to Egypt, Somalia, and Kenya as a part of Operation Restore Hope. He responded to the terrorist bombing of the Marine compound in Beirut, the bombing of the Frankfurt Airport, and the fatal crash of a med-evac helicopter from the University of Utah Medical Center. He provided training in hostage recovery for personnel at the USAF Medical Center in Germany, who were tasked to bring hostages from Middle East captivity.

Dr. Anderson accomplished all of this and more, while working to earn one bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, and two doctorate degrees throughout his life.

“I decided to attend NSU after years of service in the Air Force because I knew the doctorate program was very practical,” he mentioned. “Most dissertations are like moving old bones from one graveyard to another, but Nova was far from that. I wanted to meet some interesting people, and I sure did. I’m still in touch with my classmates,” he continued.

In his biography, Dr. Anderson remembers when President George H.W. Bush, recognized his work with victims of international terrorism, referring to him as a “quiet hero” and noted: “You’ve done wonderful work with terrorist victims, and your positive attitude is truly encouraging. I’m deeply grateful for your efforts to help Americans who have been struck by tragedy.”

“When in a high-stress situation, I try to stay in touch with my inner voice, my inner teacher. I try to relax and trust that I am not alone, and I’ll get help,” Dr. Anderson expressed.

He shared a rather valuable thought, or prayer, that helps him, and that he hopes helps others in challenging situations: “I’m here only to be truly helpful, to represent you who sent me. I do not have to worry about what to say or what to do, because you who sent me will direct me. I will go anywhere you wish knowing that you go there with me. I will be healed as I let you teach me to heal.”

He has shared his expertise and experiences in several media venues including Armed Forces Radio and Television, the NBC Today Show, in interviews in Stars and Stripes, and the Air Force Times.

“What my students have done with their lives is my proudest accomplishment. One of them is a U.S. Space Command surgeon and another an Air Force Surgeon General – really fine physicians,” he said.

Despite a lifetime of impacting numerous lives and organizations, Dr. Anderson shares that his greatest accomplishment is wife and family.

“Above all, I’m very proud of my kids and I’m proud to be introduced as Bonnie Anderson’s husband,” he concluded.

 

HCAS Alumna Publishes Book -Surviving Domestic Abuse

Michelle A, Finneran, Ph.D., graduate of the doctoral program in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), has written a book on domestic abuse. Her book, published by Routledge, is titled, Surviving Domestic Abuse: Formal and Informal Supports and Services.

In addition to her doctoral degree from NSU, Finneran received her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from NSU, and her bachelor’s degree in psychology  from Stetson University. She is a licensed therapist and owner of Vecc & Associates in Coral Springs, providing mental health services. She also teaches online for Ashford University.

For more information about her book, please go to https://www.routledge.com/Surviving-Domestic-Abuse-Formal-and-Informal-Supports-and-Services/Finneran/p/book/9780367859589

2020 Robert A. Uchin Award

Recently, two of the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) past presidents had the opportunity to present an achievement in excellence award for the best postgraduate resident during his time at NSU College of Dental Medicine. Ironically, the award named the “Robert A. Uchin Award” was given to Alex Mehler, DMD by Robert Uchin, DDS himself (right), former dean at the college, joined by James L. Gutmann, DDS (left), present chair and postgraduate program director of endodontics at the college — both being past presidents of the AAE. Over the years, multiple past presidents have been involved with or are teaching at NSU, including the late Dr. Philip W. Cohen, and Drs. Samuel O. Dorn, Harmon R. Katz and Shep Goldstein, in addition to Drs. Uchin and Gutmann.

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