Category: SharkBytes

Judith McKay, J.D., Ph.D.

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

Students at NSU’s College of Psychology have established a local chapter for Nu Rho Psi, the National Neuroscience Honor Society.

The honor society was founded in 2006 by neuroscience faculty and students at Baylor University, Baldwin-Wallace College and Macalester College. Including NSU, the society has grown to 90 chapters with over 5,800 members as of 2009. The honor society has multiple goals, including advancing the discipline of neuroscience, encouraging professional interest in neuroscience, raising public awareness of the field, promote career development and serve the community.

“The NRP society is a chance to grow and give back to the major that has allowed me to truly flourish as a scientist and as a person. Our major has a unique identity that, in its essence, sparks happiness and excitement,” said Esha Parikh, president of the NSU chapter. “I really wanted to create something that I can leave behind that can really allow neuroscience students to showcase their accomplishments and grow their passion.”

Member Emely Ruiz said she was excited about being part of an organization of like-minded people. “I’ve always wanted to connect with individuals who want the same things in life- crushing goals and meeting professionals that we admire,” she said.

Assistant Professor Allie Holschbach, Ph.D., of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, serves as the chapter’s faculty advisor.

“Nu Rho Psi connects students even more strongly to their fellow students and the local faculty who love neuroscience, but also gives them life-long membership in a community of passionate experts in the field of neuroscience from all across the nation.”

Holschbach said being part of that community can help students find graduate school advisors or career mentors in the field.

For more information, contact mholschb@nova.edu.

Jenny Chang, Ph.D

Jenny Chang, Ph.D., doctoral graduate in Conflict Analysis and Resolution in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS), presented at the 5^th Chinese Cross-Cultural Communication Conference hosted by Shandong University in Jinan, China on October 24-26, 2019. Chang’s presentation was entitled, “Conflict Resolution: Confucianism and Cross-Cultural Communication.” She introduced the essences of Confucianism and their relevancies for conflict resolution and building cross-cultural bridges for better understanding between the Chinese and Westerners.

Chang is currently an associate professor in the Department of Social Work in the School of History, Culture and Tourism at Huaiyin Normal University.

Kevin Dvorak, Ph.D., executive director of the NSU Writing and Communication Center (WCC) and professor in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) Department of Writing and Communication (DWC), and three NSU graduate students published chapters in the book, Studio-Based Approaches for Multimodal Projects: Models to Promote Engaged Student Learning, edited by Russell Carpenter, Ph.D., and published by Rowman & Littlefield. Dr. Dvorak’s chapter, “Reflecting on Applications of Studio-Based Models,” acts as an afterword to the collection, connecting chapters in Studio-Based Approaches to past studio-based literature and offering other writing and communication centers strategies for successfully and seamlessly implementing studio pedagogy (WSP) into their own practices.

The students’ chapter, “Student Engagement in Studio-Based Models,” links WSP with peer-to-peer engagement and uses select events hosted by NSU’s WCC as examples of “studio-based learning” that promote student engagement and facilitate student learning across a broad scope of disciplines. The three students, current and former graduate assistants at the NSU WCC, are:

• Hannah Dean, graduate student of the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences Physician Assistant (PA) M.M.S. Program
• Veronica Diaz, recent graduate from the CAHSS M.A. in CRDM program
• Jacqueline Lytle, recent graduate from the CAHSS M.A. in CRDM program

Studio Based Approaches is available at this link: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781498586474/Studio-Based-Approaches-for-Multimodal-Projects-Models-to-Promote-Engaged-Student-Learning

On November 12, Halmos College faculty member Julie Torruellas Garcia, Ph.D. was interviewed by Telemundo for a series of segments called “Amenazas Escondidas” or Hidden Threats on the show “Al Rojo Vivo”. On that episode  Torruellas Garcia discussed the types of bacteria found on showerheads.

On November 29, Torruellas Garcia, focused on bacteria on toothbrushes. Her research on both topics was conducted with Halmos College undergraduate biology major, Annette Mathew, who also appeared on the show.