Tag: Alumni

At Nova Southeastern University, giving back and helping others in need is what Sharks do; there is no gesture too large or small to make a difference.

During the month of October, NSU took part in the national fundraiser, “Socktober”. This fundraiser focuses on donating socks to homeless shelters in surrounding areas and was originally created by a popular Youtuber, “Kid President” in 2013. Since then, the initiative has expanded on a national level and has allowed NSU to make a difference in the Shark community.

According to the National Alliance To End Homelessness, there are nearly 600,000 homeless people in the United States. At shelters around the nation, socks are the number one requested item.

With every $5 donation towards NSU’s Socktober campaign, the university committed a pair of socks to donate to a local homeless shelter in need.

“We’re so excited to give these opportunities to different places, not only in Fort Lauderdale but expanding our Socktober campaign to the eight regional campuses, included Puerto Rico,” said Raphael Walters, M. Ed., Director of Alumni Relations. “We were able to give to numerous shelters and contribute towards many locations.”

By spreading the Socktober campaign from a local level to a regional one, Sharks were able to make an impact from anywhere.

“We are so happy that we were able to help give back at the Fort Myers Campus and participate in Socktober. The Salvation Army was very appreciative, and we are very fortunate to be able to come together and support those in need,” stated Edward Franco, MBA, Interim Campus Director of NSU’s Ft. Myer’s campus.

In Orlando, Socktober donations were taken to the Covenant House, which provides shelter to youths experiencing homelessness.

“There are countless NSU alumni in the Central Florida community and any opportunity for us to give back to those in need, we make a priority to get done,” said Richard Hudnett, Ed.D, Assistant Director of the NSU Orlando campus, “Any opportunity to give back to the Central Florida community and in general, any community in need, we want to take action.”

Alongside the donations supporting homeless shelters, all proceeds collected went towards the NSU Cares fund, which assists NSU faculty, staff, alumni, and students who have been victims of natural disasters.

Making a difference in the NSU community continues to be a priority, and with the help of alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends, we – as #OneNSU – were able to warm the hearts and feet of those in need as we close out a difficult year.

Although the goal for Socktober was to raise $25,000 and to donate 5,000 pairs of socks, NSU was able to raise $3,641 which accounted for 748 socks donated to the homeless shelters.

During this initiative, Geico was the key sponsor of this initiative. The NSU Alumni Association is grateful to Geico for sponsoring this important initiative, as well as being a proud partner!

Want to be a part of Socktober? You can still donate at:

https://www.givecampus.com/schools/NovaSoutheasternUniversity/nsu-socktober

As 2020 has brought significant challenges, Aaron M. Abelto, MBA’14 was able to overcome these hardships and create a feature film that has impacted the lives of individuals around the world.

On November 17, 2020, Abelto’s company, Able 2 Film Entertainment, officially released their documentary “The Power of Movement,” which was acquired by Entertainment Studios in Los Angeles, CA. This documentary is available on multiple streaming platforms and also won the Best Healthcare documentary for 2020 by the UK-based company, Corporate Vision.

Since the release, the NSU alumnus has been interviewed by many popular news sites like NBC, Deadline Hollywood, LRM Online, and more. He continues to make waves in the entertainment industry as a rising director and writer.

In addition to the documentary’s momentum, Abelto’s company was also awarded the 2020 Media Innovator Award from Corporate Vision. This award is based on the merit of the company and exemplifies the company’s innovation and skills within the industry.

Abelto created Able 2 Film Entertainment with his business partner, Rajesh D. Felix, after graduating from NSU in 2014. Fueled by a passion to dive into the entertainment industry, Abelto was able to use his business background to grow the company.

“I was studying for my MBA in 2014 with a concentration in International Business at the Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship; however, I’ve always had the bug for the entertainment industry since I was a kid,” said Abelto. “After graduation, I really wanted to follow my dream. Once I was an extra in a movie, I fell in love with the industry.”

After transitioning into a writer and director role, Abelto created the company’s first film, “I Before Thee,” which, fun fact, was filmed on the NSU campus.

Abelto reflects that his involvement at NSU pushed him in the right direction and opened many doors for him. He was able to combine his passion for the arts and business into one.

“Having your MBA helps because the entertainment industry is a business, and you need to treat is as such. All of my business professors added value to what I was doing,” said Abelto.

He explains that NSU had a big influence in his filmmaking career. As a student, he worked for SUTV Channel 96—Sharks United Television (SUTV), a student-run media outlet, and also got a job in digital media at the university.

“Even my academic advisor, Emilio Lorenzo, was one of the individuals who helped me with career planning. Being a student and employee was the best. I loved everything about it, and I loved going to working every day for NSU,” he continued.

One point that Abelto reiterated was to pursue something you enjoy and are passionate about. After graduating from NSU, besides pursuing his dream, another goal of his was to inspire others around him to do the same.

“I want to inspire as many people as I can. That was one of my key takeaways from NSU. If I can inspire at least one person then I’ve done my job,” he said. “My advice to NSU students would be to follow your dreams, utilize every aspect of life that you can, and use those tools to get to your goal. When it’s your passion, it’s not work.”

Reflecting on his professional career path so far, Abelto attributes his success to his colleagues and peers, as well as his network at NSU.

“My time at NSU was amazing, and it was fun. Being a student there really helped me grow as an adult. I use everything I learned there, even now. It shaped me into who I am today,” added Abelto. “NSU gave me the tools to succeed, and without them, none of this would have happened.”

 

 

 

 

NSU Professor Scott Poland, Ed.D. Shares Suicide Prevention Expertise, Mental Health Resources, and Advice for Making a Difference

Heal, support, and give exemplify the theme for this year’s day of giving and philanthropy. As part of NSU’s Giving Tuesday initiatives, the webinar, “Suicide Prevention in the Age of COVID-19” featured Scott Poland, Ed.D., on December 1, 2020 and had over 500 attendees from around the nation.

Poland, a professor in NSU’s College of Psychology, directs the university’s Suicide and Violence Prevention Office. He is a licensed psychologist and internationally recognized expert on suicide prevention and school crisis.

As an introduction to the Giving Tuesday webinar, Poland emphasized NSU’s community service initiative toward suicide prevention and noted the importance of compassion during this pandemic. He stressed that understanding trends and sharing suicide prevention information is key to making a difference in your community.

“We really need to make suicide prevention a priority in our country,” said Poland, “Around 48,000 people died in 2018 from suicides, and this is the highest rate for suicide in the last 50 years. As of now, suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death for Americans too.”

Alongside those statistics, for individuals between the ages of 10 to 34, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Americans, he shared.

“When we had the stock market crash in 2008, there were higher reports of suicides. Increased suicides during this pandemic has affected our families, as has increases in domestic violence, child abuse, firearms purchases, and alcohol/substance abuse. We need to be aware of the warning signs of suicides and what to do,” he added.

According to Poland, the most common warning signs exhibited 90% of the time are “talking about death, writing about feeling hopeless or trapped, giving away prized positions, creating a will, or having a dramatic change in behavior.”

“This pandemic has been extensive, and many Americans are suffering from a low-grade depression. People are concerned about going back to work and concerned about a family member getting sick. Americans’ lives have been severely disrupted,” said Poland.

The World Health Organization claims in their findings of “What Works To Prevent Suicide” is to “reduce lethal means available to suicidal individuals, increase education about warning signs, and provide mental health services to those at risk for suicide.”

Dr. Poland emphasized, “The W.H.O states that one of the protective factors for preventing suicides is feeling connected to the workplace, family and/or community. During the pandemic, the isolation of not being on campus or seeing friends, is taking a toll on students. This is a time for all of us to be compassionate, flexible, and to lower the bar on expectations.”

When interacting with a loved one who is suicidal or dealing with depression, the main point that Poland stated was, “The first step is to say ‘I’ll be here for you and help you on every step along the way.’”

Showing compassion and empathy to those who may be suicidal is crucial. Giving them love and support, allowing them to feel connected to you, and talking about how they feel can make the biggest difference when preventing suicide.

In terms of suicide prevention, it’s also important to create a written “Safety Plan,” especially for students and workers who are isolated at home during the pandemic.”

“Safety planning is the most essential suicide prevention initiative that focuses on what ideas will keep yourself safe from suicide. In the safety plan ,you write down what, internally, can calm yourself when you’re in crisis and externally, who can you contact.”

Poland claimed that these selfcare plans are vital for those with suicidal ideation, especially during the pandemic. Creating a connection with those around you and getting outside from isolation can initially make a huge difference as well.

One favorite quote that Poland shared was from Giovan Martine which states, “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. And if everyone does something, then together we can change the world.”

“One simple thing to take away is we need to talk about suicide more. We need to make sure loved ones know warning signs and know how to access the national crisis help line.”

A final note that Poland reiterated was, “Mental health needs have never been greater than now.”

To view the recording from this webinar, click here: https://youtu.be/jZRhEkkbzDc?t=49

A local resource to reach out to during this pandemic is the NSU Psychology Clinics serving South Florida, https://clinics.nova.edu/services/mental-health/index.html.

For national help in suicides and mental health, the suicide prevention number is (800)-273-8255.

For more information on suicide presentation, visit www.nova.edu/suicideprevention or any comments/questions toward Poland can be directed to spoland@nova.edu.

For those who would like to donate to NSU’s Giving Tuesday suicide prevention efforts, donations will be taken on www.givecampus.com/levf57 or text ‘NSU’ to 41444.

 

 

With COVID-19 creating so much uncertainty in our community during 2020, the importance of taking care of our mental health has only become more and more significant. Nova Southeastern University, for instance, has taken decisive action to provide support and mental health services to our community, both virtually and in-person following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

“The truth is that people are seeking therapy at increasing rates because of the isolation and the lack of social support and community that we are now socially distancing from: church, friends, co-workers, etc.,” said Dr. Amy Ellis, Interim Director of the Trauma Resolution & Integration Program in the NSU Psychology Services Center.

Ellis explains that the uncertainties of 2020, including the ambiguities of how the COVID-19 virus behaves, the social justice movement for Black Lives Matter, the national and local elections, etc., have all played a role in the mental health of previous patients and the need for mental health support for new ones.

“Some clients may have lost their jobs and have been forced to move back home to unhealthy or abusive family environments, where previous traumas may be triggered,” Dr. Ellis continued.

The NSU clinics offer a wide variety of specialty services in 15 different programs, including the Anxiety Treatment Center, Trauma Resolution and Integration, Family Violence, and Adult Services, and others. The Adult Services program, for instance, usually sees 100-130 clients each week, targeting anxiety, depression, and panic.

“These conditions have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainties weighing on our society: the loss of family and friends to COVID-19, social justice concerns, unemployment, natural disasters, etc.,” said Dr. Leonard Schnur, Associate Clinical Professor and Coordinator of the Adult Services Program in the NSU Psychology Services Center.

The clinics have seen a significant influx of clients, especially through telehealth services, as a result of the emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the cost of treatment and the rate of unemployment among clients, present a challenge in the way the clinics are able to provide support for some.

The cost of the initial intake evaluation is $100, and all subsequent therapy sessions are $80. Full battery psychological, neuropsychological or Psycho-educational evaluations are $1,000; however, with supporting documentation an individual may be eligible for a reduced fee that will make services affordable.

Considering the effects of 2020 on the mental health of our community members, this year’s NSU Giving Tuesday campaign will focus on fundraising for the Mental Health Awareness, Suicide and Violence Prevention, COVID-19 Student Support Fund. Donors may, nonetheless, still designate their donation to any college, program, or area at NSU.

The NSU community will come together, as one NSU, on December 1, 2020 to support NSU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends who are increasingly seeking mental health support but are unable to afford it.

Support these important initiatives during Giving Tuesday. Make a gift at: tinyurl.com/NSUGivingTuesday