Tag: Alumni

Halmos Grads Present Research Work at Ocean Sciences Meeting

NSU graduates Alfredo Quezada, M.S.; Breanna Vanderplow Ph.D.; and Megan Miller, M.S. at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans

Three Fall 2023 Halmos College of Arts and Sciences graduates Breanna Vanderplow, Megan Miller and Alfredo Quezada attended a major oceanographic meeting and presented their thesis and dissertation work conducted at the Physical Oceanography Laboratory. Supported by a grant from the Office of Naval Research, students’ studies were devoted to important areas of research for Florida including rapid intensification of hurricanes and coral reef hydrodynamics.

The Ocean Sciences Meeting is an international event, which takes place every two years, and is attended by thousands of research scientists and engineers. Participants can also meet there and connect with representatives from the U.S. federal funding agencies. This year the meeting was held in New Orleans, La.

Professor Alex Soloviev, who leads the Physical Oceanography Laboratory, said, “The paper presented by Breanna Vanderplow that is based on her Ph.D. dissertation contributed to the understanding of rapid intensification of hurricanes. The existing forecasting models still cannot reliably predict this dangerous phenomenon. An example is Hurricane Maria in 2017 that intensified from Category 2 to 5 within 12 hours and left Puerto Rico unprepared for major devastation.

“The MS projects of Megan Miller and Alfredo Quezada were on coral reef hydrodynamics using computational fluid dynamic methods and robotic ocean instrumentation. They presented papers on physical oceanography of upwelling of the deep cold and nutrient-rich water that can affect coral reef health on the East Florida shelf. Such events are believed to be responsible for the suppression of coral reefs north of West Palm Beach.”

All three papers presented by the NSU graduates were well received by the ocean science community. After graduation, Miller is now with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Quezada with the FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

Posted 03/04/24

Education Alum Publishes Book Chapter and Article

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice alum and adjunct Professor Beverly Knox-Pipes recently published a magazine article and a textbook chapter.

Knox-Pipes graduated from NSU with her Ed.D. in instructional technology and distance education. She was delivering the keynote speech at a conference in Las Vegas last summer when the owner of a home-health organization whose employees were predominantly low-income women and people of color, asked her to write an article addressing breaking the cycle of poverty through education and leadership.

Having worked with Title I schools and in lower economic minority neighborhoods, Knox-Pipes was especially suited to the task. She published “Understanding the Impact of Poverty on Home Health Care Workers” in the magazine Home Care Evolution Quarterly.

Knox-Pipes wrote that it’s important to listen to people in struggling communities and to provide support and opportunities for training and mentorship to benefit employees and their organization.

“Take care of your employees and they will take care of you,” she wrote.

Knox-Pipes also wrote a chapter for the book “ED. Matadores: Revolutionizing the Educational System.”

Reflecting on her extensive career, ranging from teacher to assistant superintendent and professor, Knox-Pipes discussed the challenges and successes of implementing change in education.

To read Knox-Pipes’ magazine article, click here. To check out the book, click here.

Posted 02/18/24

Honors, Law Alum Uses Law to Fight Cyber Fraud

John Paul, J.D.

Farquhar Honors College alum John Paul, J.D., is a lawyer on the leading edge of cyber fraud prosecution. Joining the ranks of the Office of the Florida Attorney General’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit as a senior assistant statewide prosecutor, Paul is dedicated to bringing justice to victims of cyber fraud.

Created by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, the Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit investigates and prosecutes cyber fraud cases across Florida. As technology rapidly advances, cyber fraud becomes increasingly common as scamming methods rise.

“The vision. . . to help victims of cyber fraud, especially elderly victims who sometimes lose their life savings through cyber fraud scams, really resonates with me,” said Paul. “Helping to recover these funds, prosecute those who violate the law and bring them to justice, and disrupt the criminal networks are all really rewarding.”

Paul graduated from NSU in 2006 with a B.A. in Legal Studies and 2009 with his J.D. from the Shepard Broad College of Law. Since graduating, he has worked in prosecution and law enforcement for nearly 15 years.

“The [Honors College] gave me a well-rounded education that included a focus on interdisciplinary learning,” said Paul. “Having exposure to many subject areas is a tool that I use every day. My cases involved an intersection of law, cyber security, IT infrastructure, finance, business, psychology, and even medicine, just to name a few.”

Posted 01/14/24

Education Alum Named Finalist for STEAM Educator of Year

A Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice graduate has been named a finalist for STEAM Educator of the Year for Women in Technology.

Marquita Blades

Marquita Blades graduated from NSU with her doctorate in Instructional Leadership. After working as a teacher for 16 years, she began her own education consulting business. She also teaches classes at NSU as an adjunct professor.

However, Blades said that it wasn’t until she left the K-12 classroom that she finally began to win awards for her work, and most recently, her dedication to education earned her a nomination as STEAM Educator of the Year.

“It felt a little bit unbelievable,” Blades said. “It really felt like that after 20-plus years in the game, I am finally getting my just-rewards, and finally having my dedication validated in the broader community, and it’s not just within the education community, it’s in the broader STEM community.”

Blades was nominated by a friend and colleague for the recognition.

“She said, Well, I think that you’ll be a great fit for this, I think you’d have a good chance of being recognized.’”

The colleague’s hunch proved to be correct, as Blades made it to the final round, something that she has heard is unheard of for a first-time nominee.

The event was held in October in Atlanta, and the overall award was given to Dr. Hannah Oldham. However, the acknowledgment has propelled Dr. Blades to continue working in the field and to amplify her voice.

“When I got recognized by the Women in Technology, it just empowered me to become more vocal about the technology work that I am doing,” she said.

Blades works as a consultant training teachers on various aspects of STEM education. She also conducts a seminar called the 50 Best Tech Tools and Strategies for Increasing Science Engagement. She also recently developed and launched an AI tools for a science teachers training.

“I’ve been working to advocate for the presence of K through 12 science educators to become more vocal and more seen in the legislative community, but this — being recognized in this way by the Women in Technology — it has given me a bigger platform and a bigger voice to do more of that.”

Congratulations Marquita Blades on all your hard work!

Posted 01/14/24

Law College Grad Competes in Latest ‘Squid Game’

Fort Lauderdale-based bankruptcy attorney Chad Van Horn, founding partner of Van Horn Law Group, P.A., and a graduate of Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law, is one of the participants in the Netflix reality show “Squid Game: The Challenge,” which recently dropped on the streaming platform. Out of hundreds of thousands of applicants worldwide, Van Horn, known as player 286, secured a coveted spot among the 456 contestants competing for a staggering $4.56 million prize.

What sets Van Horn apart from other players is his commitment to making a difference. If he emerges as the winner of “Squid Game: The Challenge,” he has pledged to donate the entire prize money to Big Brothers Big Sisters to establish a nationwide financial literacy program for the underprivileged youth in their program.

The highly intense and physically demanding challenges of “Squid Game: The Challenge” puts players’ strategies, alliances, and character to the ultimate test. While enduring the grueling competition, Van Horn, the founding partner attorney of Van Horn Law Group, remained resolute in upholding his principles, even in the face of adversity.

“The taping of ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ was an incredibly fierce and demanding experience, both physically and emotionally,” he said. “Every day I participated, I was pushed to my limits, but I remained focused on maintaining my integrity. Even in the most challenging circumstances, I steadfastly held onto my ethics and values.”

With its extensive cast and unprecedented cash prize, “Squid Game: The Challenge” is expected to captivate a massive global audience, much like its predecessor. The original “Squid Game” drama currently holds the record as Netflix’s most popular series of all time, with more than 1.65 billion viewing hours in the first 28 days following its September 2021 premiere. Van Horn, a dedicated viewer himself, was drawn to the show due to its exploration of financial insecurity.

“The ‘Squid Game’ drama intrigued me because it shed light on the desperation faced by individuals in severe financial predicaments,” he said. “As a bankruptcy attorney, I witness people every day who are overwhelmed by debt, feeling hopeless and panicked. While ‘Squid Game’ showcases extreme circumstances and consequences, the underlying emotions resonate—overwhelming stress and fear.”

Van Horn continues his connections with NSU since graduating and establishing his practice, which is one of top five bankruptcy firms in the state based on cases filed. NSU’s Public Interest Program coordinates with Chad’s namesake Van Horn Law Group Pro Bono Honor Program, developing a variety of programs and opportunities for students to fulfill pro bono hours, while maintaining the records of students’ pro bono work. The Van Horn Law Group Pro Bono Honor Program at the Shepard Broad College of Law recognizes students who are committed to serving the community and engages in the belief that the overall improvement of our community starts with giving citizens – people who make up the foundation of the community – equal access to the legal system.

Posted 11/27/23

Fischler Alum Named Teacher of Year for S.C. School District

Haley Taylor

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice graduate Haley Taylor has recently been named Teacher of the Year for the Florence One School District in South Carolina.

Taylor graduated from NSU with her Ed.S. in Instructional Leadership and has been teaching in South Carolina for 12 years. In Florence, she was selected among 26 other schools in the district and named Teacher of the Year. The principal for her school was also named Principal of the Year.

“It was pretty fun leading up to it, just the excitement, just the energy of it, because it’s a long process. And it’s a pretty prestigious process here in Florence 1, and so it was it was a great experience,” she said.

Taylor is no stranger to accolades for her hard work. She has been named Teacher of the Year on the school level three times. However, this is her first time earning the title on the district level. The next step is the Teacher of the Year contest on the state level. For that process, she has met with the winners of other South Carolina school districts to discuss issues impacting education in their respective districts.

In addition to working as a teacher, Taylor works as a mentor/coach. One of the issues she said she’s noticed in her time was that teacher retention within the first five years was low. She is now considering ways to help teachers feel supported.

“Everybody probably agrees that you deserve more pay, but we thought about how we can better support these teachers, what do they need outside of financial sources to get them to stay to make them feel good and make them feel supported.”

Taylor said the degree she got from NSU helped prepare her to be a coach for other teachers.

“[The degree] was a perfect segue for being an in-class leader to now being able to step in and mentor and help younger teachers coming in.”

Congratulations Haley! Fins up to you!

Posted 11/05/23

Two-time NSU Alum Publishes Children’s Book

Anysh Girdhari

A two-time graduate from NSU is now a published children’s book author.

Anysh Girdhari is a graduate from both the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice with her M.H.S. in Child Protection and from the Huizenga College of Business with her M.S. in Business Administration. In her day job, she works as a counselor, but she recently shifted gears a bit and wrote a book titled “Adventures at Grandma Bahamas.”

The story is based on the life of Girdhari’s own son, Chatoen, and describes how he would spend summers with his grandmother (Girdhari’s mother) in the Bahamas and learn different life skills.

Girdhari said she was inspired to write the book while working in psychiatric hospitals and how when doing evaluations, she noticed deficits in nutrition and exercise. She hopes to use the story to teach people about the benefits of living well.

“We hear that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but we need to go more intrinsic and really apply it and add good habits,” she said. “People see therapists for habits, habit building, habit stacking, and not only just building but also eliminating as well.”

Girdhari also wanted to create more representation for children of color.

“We don’t really see much representation of black and brown,” she said. “And there’s so much out here to attract young women or young girls, and there’s not much for our boys.”

There are currently two other books in the works that will follow Chatoen in Italy and a third that will take place in Florida. Girdhari also said she is considering animating the book, and even shifting her focus to media and producing programs that spread awareness about mental health.

“That’s my thing,” she said. “I just love helping people to understand and communicate in a clearer way.”

Girdhari is aiming to complete the other two books by spring 2024.

Posted 10/08/11

Health Science Alum Shares HIV Work at Fast-Track Conference

Donrie Purcell, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Donrie Purcell, Ph.D., M.P.H., presented his HIV work at the Fast-Track Cities 2023 conference, which took place on Sept. 25-27, 2023, at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center. Organized by the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), in collaboration with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), his presentation was titled “Examining the Health Equity of Health Systems, Policy, and Data Gaps for People Living with HIV: The Health Equity Tracker.”

The presentation focused on his endeavor to address the significant gap HIV incidence, particularly in the southern United States, with a specific focus on Georgia and Louisiana. To tackle this challenge, he and colleagues developed a powerful tool known as the Health Equity Tracker (HET) at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute. What sets the HET apart is its ability to provide a more comprehensive array of metrics and insights compared to conventional choropleth maps.

HET is equipped with practical features, including comparison tools, enabling users to assess and contrast different locations and diseases. It also allows for customized reports tailored specifically for vulnerable communities, such as black women. Purcell says he firmly believes that making this data readily accessible to a wide audience, including patients, community organizers, physicians, and policymakers, will play a pivotal role in advancing health equity for individuals living with HIV across the United States.

Purcell holds a Ph.D. in Health Science from NSU, accompanied by an M.P.H in Epidemiology. Beyond his research endeavors, Purcell imparts his expertise in epidemiology as an adjunct assistant professor at Yeshiva University and Nebraska Methodist College. Additionally, he has taken on the responsibility of educating emerging healthcare leaders on the critical legal aspects of the healthcare domain.

Currently based at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine, he actively contributes to advancing health equity through his involvement with the Health Equity Tracker. This multifaceted commitment exemplifies his dedication to underrepresented communities and resonates with NSU’s ethos of impactful scholarship and community advocacy.

Posted 10/08/23

Fischler Alum Named Chief of Georgia Police Department

Michael Dieppa

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice alum Michael Dieppa has been named the chief of police for a Georgia police department.

Dieppa has spent 28 years working with the Miami-Dade Police Department. But now, he is trading in Florida oranges for Georgia peaches and will now lead the Chamblee Police Department. Chamblee is located northeast of Atlanta.

Dieppa described a feeling of great accomplishment after learning he had been selected for the role.

“It was a really good feeling, that I was able to accomplish one of the biggest goals that I’ve set for myself in my life,” he said.

Dieppa followed in his father’s steps and joined Miami-Dade Police when he was young. In his time with the department, Dieppa moved up several roles, and he earned his bachelor’s in organizational leadership from St. Thomas and his masters in leadership from NSU. He later went on to earn a doctorate in organizational leadership from St. Thomas University.

Dieppa said each of his degrees helped prepare him to take on higher roles in his career. He also said his time at NSU really activated his drive to continue in the realm of higher education.

“During that time at Nova, a professor talked about, it stuck with me — it still sticks with me — that at the time … only about 1% of the population ever gets a doctorate degree or goes beyond a masters.”

“The education component, played a significant role in my development by doing a deeper dive into leadership theory and leadership traits” he added.

Dieppa is set to officially step into the role on Oct. 23.

Fins up to you Chief Dieppa!

Posted 10/08/23

NSU MBA Alum Promoted by Lynn University

Aaron Greenberg

Aaron Greenberg has served Lynn University in Boca Raton for seven years, and this fall, Chief Strategy and Technology Officer Christian Boniforti announced his promotion to assistant vice president of Employee Services.

Reporting to Boniforti, Greenberg provides leadership and oversight as the university’s chief human resource officer. In addition to developing and executing human resource strategy, Greenberg oversees all human resource and payroll activities, including employment, compensation, benefits, and training. In addition, he provides strategic counsel to administrators on organizational structure and employee relations while ensuring compliance with policy and legal obligations.

“Throughout his career, Aaron has provided sound guidance and a supportive environment for all employees, faculty, staff and students,” Boniforti said. “As a leader, he has embraced technology to simplify the HR, payroll and benefits process through the implementation of Workday and has built a resourceful and employee-centric team that prioritizes excellent customer service.”

Greenberg started at Lynn in 2016 as director of Employee Services. Since then, he has wholeheartedly invested in the development of a strong, professional, and friendly Employee Services team. Among his many accomplishments, Greenberg curated benefit offerings at Lynn and effected significant savings on medical premiums to remain an employer of choice. He also helped steer employees and managers through the COVID-19 pandemic, oversaw the HR transition to Workday, rolled out a comprehensive onboarding program for university employees, championed the launch of employee wellness programs and initiatives, and developed a network of Employee Service partners across the university to raise awareness and participation in HR initiatives.

Greenberg earned a Bachelor of Science from Florida Atlantic University and in 2006 a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in finance from Nova Southeastern University. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources from the Human Resources Certification Institute and a Senior Certified Professional from the Society for Human Resource Management.

Posted 09/24/23

1 2 3 … 24