Category: SharkBytes

Sholondo Campbell

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice alum Sholondo Campbell, Ed.D. has been named the Dean of Students at Lynn University.

Campbell earned his Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from NSU. However, in addition to being an NSU alum, he also served nine years at NSU managing student affairs for the university’s regional campuses across Florida and in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Campbell is no stranger to leadership in higher education.

“A lot of it is relationship building across the university and ensuring collaboration on anything that kind of impacts students’ success and overall experience,” he said.

As the Dean of Students, Campbell works with a small group of people to ensure the students at Lynn are succeeding and doing well.

“I have the opportunity to supervise two assistant deans and an Executive Director of Health and Wellness. So, I essentially work with the VP and assist in the development and implementation of various key projects that support the division’s mission and vision to support student success and retention.”

Some of the areas that fall under Campbell’s office include campus student involvement, case management, Student Conduct, the Student Health Center, counseling services, the fitness and recreation center, and more.

Campbell didn’t initially expect to end up in higher education at the start of his career. But when he considered a fulfilling profession that would allow him to make a living, his mind came to student affairs.

“I really kept coming back to the experiences I had on a college campus, I was a student athlete, I was involved in Student Activities,” he said.

The interactions Campbell had with administrators during those times kind of spurred him to enter the field himself, and he has been helping students ever since.

Campbell said he hopes to really drive student success while he is in his current role.

“If I’m meeting all of my objectives and it’s still fueling student success, and having students stay here and feel a strong sense of belonging and strong sense of satisfaction on their way to graduating, then that’s a win for me.”

Congratulations on the role, Sholondo Campbell! Fins up to you!

Posted 09/10/23

Terrence Conner

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice graduate Terrence Conner has recently been named the superintendent of Sarasota County Public Schools.

Conner, who graduated from NSU with his M.S., in 2016 has been in the role since July 17 and while the position has been a whirlwind, it has been great at the same time.

“When I got the job, there was a kind of a sigh of relief, but then it was like, ‘Okay, now you got the job. Now the real work begins.’”

As superintendent, Conner’s job entails managing the daily operations of the school districts. He said he has spent a lot of time listening to staff, parents, and community members.

“I’ve been onboarding myself and taking a lot of time to listen and learn and to evaluate current processes and look at the data, analyze that and determine how we’re going to move forward,” Conner said.

Conner said his goal while in the position is to make Sarasota County Schools the No. 1 school district in the state and to receive national recognition.

“That [involves] first and foremost, meeting the needs of all students in the school district, who are coming from different backgrounds, to ensure that when they step foot in our schools, that we’re capable, able and willing to meet every student’s individual needs so that they can be successful,” he said.

Conner said his degree from NSU has proved to be useful in his career.

“It was really great to learn from people who had done the work and been in the trenches and know, because there’s a difference between theory and reality. Having instructors who were able to make those bridges connect was really helpful,” he said.

Fins up to you Terrence and best wishes for this school year!

Posted 08/27/23

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice alum Kevin Hearn, Ed.D. was recently named the vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at Westfield State University in Westfield, Massachusetts.

The position is a new one and combines the enrollment and student affairs functions into single role that helps build a positive student experience from the beginning of the application process all the way through graduation.

Kevin Hearn, Ed.D.

Hearn is the perfect candidate for the role, having previously served as both a vice president for enrollment management and a vice president of student affairs.

“Throughout my career, I have worked to create systems and practices to improve the lives of students, focusing on making their experience as seamless as possible. And now we get the opportunity to really do it at a high level at Westfield State. I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” Hearn said.

In the role, Hearn said he hopes to build a flagship student program that other institutions can model their programs after.

“I’m looking at this as a tremendous opportunity to be innovative in our approach to serving students and their families.  Students and families need more assistance, and higher education must focus on how to serve their interests best while preparing them for the academic rigor and psycho-social development that takes place during this time.  Higher education leaders are making great strides in this area of student support and I believe Westfield State can be a leader in these efforts.”

Hearn earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from NSU. He said that the design of Nova’s program and being exposed to so many different classmates from different fields and backgrounds really helped prepare him for his leadership role.

In his cohort alone, he had fellow educators, teachers, and administrators, but also  veterans, an administrator for LaGuardia Airport, th CFO for a large accounting firm in NYC and more.

“That diversity among the students lent itself to stimulating and exciting conversations, it lent itself to different perspectives, led to a sense that higher education needed to evolve, to be creative.  Simply, as students change, the industry is compelled to change as well.”

As for his next steps, Hearn said he is focused on the challenges and opportunities at Westfield State,, and that maybe one day, he may pursue a presidential position at a college or university..

Congratulations Dr. Hearn!

Posted 07/30/23

A doctoral graduate from the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice has been appointed to two different leadership roles at a Chicago university.

Steven Gerner, Ed.D., was recently named the Assistant Dean for the College of Education and the Director of the Center for Christian Education at Concordia University Chicago.

Steven Gerner, Ed.D.

“With 28 years of urban education experience, [Gerner] continues to propel forward innovative and engaging educational strategy with the goal of success for all students,” the university said in a press release.

Gerner himself said getting the position was exciting and he appreciated being recognized as a good fit for the role.

“They valued the education experiences I had, and it was a good challenge to look forward and be somewhere where they supported this idea of continually getting better really focusing on becoming a premier university to all students,” Gerner said.

In his role as the Director for the Center for Christian Education, Gerner will work to serve as a catalyst and find opportunities for faith-fueled education in the community.

But in addition to these two roles, Gerner is also the CEO for the Center for Urban Education Ministries. Despite three intensive roles, Gerner said he is ready to take them on.

“It’s three distinct roles, but as much as we can, we can meld them together to really line up the arrows in the same direction,” he said. “I feel it’s part of what Nova prepared me for, to keep moving forward with all the different various workloads.”

Gerner earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from NSU in 2010. He said his ultimate goal is make sure all students are successful academically.

“Whether it’s leveling the playing field, whether it’s giving opportunities, the end goal to be seen across our country is making sure all students can be successful.”

Congratulations and Fins Up to you!

Posted 05/07/23

Jason Abreu, Ed.D.

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice graduate Jason Abreu, Ed.D., has been named the Vice President of Student Affairs at Tarrant County College – Trinity River Campus in Fort Worth, Texas.

Abreu graduated from NSU with his Masters in Leadership and an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership. His duties involve managing the experience for students beyond the classroom, including advising, financial aid, mental health, student life and activities, and more.

Abreu has been serving in the role since January, and he said he is enjoying the experience.

“I am thrilled to join an institution that values and places the student journey at the forefront. TCC personifies a first-class experience for students and the excitement is palpable” Abreu said.

All-in-all, Abreu said he hopes to truly make the student experience better for incoming, current, and graduating students.

“How can we increase our retention and graduation rates? How can we elevate the student experience to ensure goals are accomplished and workforce needs are met?” Abreu mentioned. “Lastly, we must focus on expanding resources. Right now, students are dealing with housing insecurities, food insecurities, inflation, mental health and other aspects that are impacting their educational journey. It is our responsibility to leverage the appropriate resources.”

This fits very much with Abreu’s own philosophy and personal story focused on educational accessibility and opportunity.

“Through higher education, I was able to see the world from a different lens and through this space, I am able to give back. Open access and equitable opportunities for a high quality educational experience is my motto,” Abreu said.

Congratulations on your new role Jason Abreu!

Posted 04/23/23