Category: SharkBytes

Denise Burns-LeGros, O.D.

Denise Burns-LeGros, O.D. (’05), is a partner at Brevard Vision Care, a major Optometric practice. She leads the cornea and contact lens service, specializing in the treatment of corneal disease.

Burns-LeGros earned a Doctor of Optometry degree in 2005 from NSU’s College of Optometry, where she completed a residency in primary care with an emphasis in cornea and contact lenses. She earned her B.S. in Molecular and Microbiology at the University of Central Florida.

A guest lecturer at NSU’s College of Optometry for several years, Burns-LeGros has earned distinction as a Diplomate in the American Board of Optometry and a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry. She has served as an adjunct professor for two optometric programs and mentored students during their externships at her office.

Burns-LeGros currently serves as the president of the Florida Optometric Association. She is active in many organizations, including the American Optometric Association and the Brevard Optometric Association.

She is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Southeastern Conference of Optometrists’ 2016 Young Optometrist of the Year, and the 2006 Resident of the Year at NSU’s College of Optometry.

Dave Lacknauth, Pharm.D.

Dave Lacknauth, Pharm.D. (’02), is the director of pharmacy and system integration at Broward Health Medical Center, where he oversees the strategic planning and direction for pharmacy services across five hospitals.

With more than 15 years of experience as a pharmacy leader, Lacknauth has many accomplishments that promote the profession of pharmacy. He has started a new PGY1 residency program at Broward Health and created new roles for pharmacists that are clinically integrated. He also has promoted pharmacy practice through political action support.

Lacknauth is very active with the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists, serving as the local chapter president, chair of the Professional Affairs Council, and as a board member. After receiving his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2002, he completed a specialty Director in Training Program immediately after graduation. Lacknauth has an M.B.A. from Baker College, as well as a master’s degree focused on patient safety and quality from the University of Florida.

Michelle Cromwell, Ph.D.

Michelle Cromwell, Ph.D., was named Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the State University of NY at Plattsburgh. In this position, which she assumed in July 2019, she works closely with other college vice presidents and academic deans, Human Resource Services, Affirmative Action, Title IX, Strategic Enrollment Management, the Faculty Senate, and the Center for Teaching Excellence. She co-chairs the Bias Response Team and serves as the President’s Cabinet liaison to the Social Justice Advisory Council.

Prior to her current position, Cromwell was the Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Chief Diversity Officer at Regis College, in Weston, Massachusetts. She also served as the chief diversity officer at The School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont. Before moving to Vermont, Cromwell was an associate professor of politics and social justice, as well as director of the Honors Program from 2010 to 2016 at Regis College.

Cromwell was the cofounding executive director at the Massachusetts Peacemaking and Talking Circle Initiative, a nonprofit organization designed to foster conversations about discrimination and racism in schools, nonprofits, and organizations. In addition, she serves as an independent consultant working with nonprofits, higher-education institutions, corporations, and government entities with an emphasis on conflict resolution, crisis management, and diversity and inclusion.

Cromwell visited NSU last year to receive an NSU Distinguished Alumna Award (2018) and provided a workshop on Talking and Peace Circles. She was the featured guest presenter at the Social Justice Roundtable in CAHSS in September 2018.

In addition to her M.S. in Dispute Resolution and Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from NSU, she earned a B.S. in social work at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ilene Cohen, Ph.D., graduate of the master’s and doctoral programs in the Department of Family Therapy (DFT) in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), has published her latest book, It’s Within You: A Detailed Road Map to Igniting, Deeper Self-Worth, Richer Relationships, and Greater Personal Freedom. The book, co-authored with Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein, invites the reader to make an important shift to working on changing oneself, rather than expecting others to change. This is Cohen’s second book. Her first book, published in 2017, is When It’s Never About You: The People-Pleaser’s Guide to Reclaiming Your Health, Happiness and Personal Freedom. 

Cohen is a psychotherapist in South Florida, a blogger, and an adjunct professor at Barry University. In addition to her degrees from NSU, Cohen received her B.A. from the University of Tampa.