Category: SharkBytes

Pamela K. Mertens, Ph.D., doctoral graduate of the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is the Program Director of Criminal Justice at Keiser University, West Palm Beach, and a member of its faculty. She is also the campus’ Student Veterans Association advisor.

In addition to her doctoral degree from NSU, Mertens earned an M.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida, and a B.A. Sc. in Criminology from the University of South Florida. She also attended Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. She is a former US Marine and Naval Reservist, with over 14 years combined service. Mertens has been an adjunct at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Wilmington University, and Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Education.

Stefano Selorio, a marketing major at NSU’s Huizenga College of Business, recently won first place in the City of Hollywood’s FastTrac® Start-Up Program. He received $3,000 to launch his business—an in-home caregiving service—in 2020.

“Carevocacy came out about from combining two things that people needed: care and advocacy. Being a caregiver is something no one is prepared to do. There will be challenging days, but the work is honorable and should be supported,” said Selorio. His startup aims to match families with professional, non-medical services, such as companionship, tech support, or meal preparation.

The FastTrac Start-Up Program is a ten week mentoring program led by Herb Conde-Parlato, economic development manager of the City of Hollywood. Participants in the program learn how to refine their business ideas, build a business plan, network with entrepreneurs, and access appropriate resources. At the end of the program, participants’ business plans are evaluated. The top three business plans are selected to pitch in front of a judging panel during the Kauffman FastTrac Startup Pitch and Graduation Night.

Selorio credits NSU for supporting his entrepreneurship goals. “Thanks to the support of my professors, I was able to practice my pitch in front of classrooms and gained insightful feedback from my peers.” He is also thankful for his friends, family, and industry professionals in health care, technology, and business who helped propel him forward.

“My advice for anyone looking for answers to a business problem is to believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow.”

Click here to learn more about Carevocacy and Selorio’s journey.

Ransford Edwards, Ph.D., faculty in the Department of History and Political Science in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) was a participant on a panel, “Green New Deal: What it is and is Not,” held at Broward College North Campus.

Edwards’ regional areas of focus are the Caribbean and Latin America. His work appears in Class, Race, and Corporate Power and he has been a reviewer for the journal Disasters. His teaching interests include quantitative research methods, political economy, and political film and fiction. He is the faculty advisor for NSU’s chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science Honor Society.

Jennifer Vogel, M.S., a 2014 graduate of the College Student Affairs program in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), is a College Advisor in the Academic Advising Office at Harold Washington College, a part of the City Colleges of Chicago. In this position, she coordinates New Student Orientation and First Year Experience programs while advising students on academic, career, and transfer goals.

Previously Vogel was the Student Services Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduating from NSU, she was the Athletic Academic Coordinator at NSU.  While she was a student, she was a graduate assistant for Special Events and Projects at NSU. In addition to her NSU degree, Vogel has a B.A. in History from the University of Florida.

Judith McKay, J.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), was a panelist on the Luncheon Keynote Panel,  “Emotions and Legalities with Stand Your Ground” at the Broward Crime Commission’s Third Annual Societal Violence  Conference held in Davie and Delray Beach. Other panelists included Shahabudeen K. Khan, J.D., Associate Dean of International Programs and Associate Professor, Alex Fischer, J.D., practicing attorney, and David Ovalle, reporter for the Miami Herald. James DePelisi, Director/Chair of the Broward Crime Commission, moderated the panel.

McKay focused on emotions and de-escalation strategies and skills as means to avoid gun violence whenever possible. She regularly provides training with students as part of the Crisis Intervention Team Training for Broward County enforcement and works with students on other projects for the NSU and local communities as part of Community Resolution Services (CRS)/ Peace Place. CRS is a practicum and volunteer site for students to learn and enhance their conflict resolution knowledge and skills, including workshop and training development, community narratives and storytelling, conflict coaching, and facilitation. McKay is also the faculty facilitator for the Social Justice Roundtable. For more information she may be reached at mckayj@nova.edu

The Center for the Humanities in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), in collaboration with the Department of History and Political Science (DHPS), and the Alvin Sherman Library, hosted the National History Day Workshops for 8th to 12th grade students. Students learned about various history topics from DHPS faculty, and about research from librarians in the Alvin Sherman Library.

David Kilroy, Ph.D., Interim Chair of DHPS enthusiastically said,

“It was a wonderful event.  Several faculty members in the Department of History and Political Science spent the best part of two hours brainstorming with the students.  The theme for this year’s National History Day project is ‘Breaking Barriers’ and the variety of topics among the students who came was pretty wide. Fortunately the range of our faculty’s expertize enabled us to provide assistance for all those who attended.  I think the students went away happy and motivated.”

Alvin Sherman librarians Charlene Cain and Lisa Ellis taught students about research. The library said of the event: “The Alvin Sherman Library was pleased to collaborate with NSU’s Department of History and Political Science for the National History Day event. Librarians engaged students with their research topics by showing them how to locate primary sources and utilize all of the resources available to them through our joint-use library. Students were encouraged to use our library’s Ask A Librarian services and seemed very excited to find sources for their topics.”

 

According to Andrea Shaw Nevins, Ph.D, Director of the Center for the Humanities, and Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs in CAHSS, “Several parents expressed to me appreciation that their students had this opportunity to work with NSU faculty and staff. We hope to continue this event as part of the various series offered by the Center.

For more information about the Center for the Humanities please go to: https://cahss.nova.edu/humanities/series-events.html