Tag: Alumni

Dani Moye, Ph.D.

Dani Moye, Ph.D., an alumna of the Department of Family Therapy at NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), was recently interviewed for an article in O Magazine entitled, “How to Move on from a Best Friend Breakup”, in the article, published June 16. Moye recommended, “take the time to reflect on what this shift means to you and sit with the discomfort of sadness,” says Moye. “When we don’t grieve the relational losses we’ve endured, it may take us longer to move on.” The article may be accessed at https://www.oprahmag.com/life/relationships-love/a28069319/friendship-breakup/

Moye is a proud financial member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She has served on the boards of Broward Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Healing Arts Institute of South Florida, and currently the Greater Hartford Urban League Young Professionals. She is the owner of Harmony Cove Therapy, LLC, clinical supervisor for North American Family Institute, adjunct professor at the University of Saint Joseph, and licensure supervisor for Motivo. She is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy and licensed in both Connecticut and Florida. In addition to her Ph.D. from NSU. Moye received her B.A. in Gender Studies from the University of Hartford, and her M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Central Connecticut State University. She is dedicated to breaking the stigma associated with mental health within the Black community

Tony Gaskew, Ph.D.,

Tony Gaskew, Ph.D., graduate of the doctoral program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), has authored a chapter in the book, Systematic

Humiliation in America: Finding Dignity within Systems of Degradation, edited by Daniel Rothbart, Ph.D. and published by Palgrave McMillian. His chapter is entitled, “Transforming the Systemic Humiliation of Crime and Justice: Reawakening Black Consciousness.”

Gaskew is professor of Criminal Justice and Director, Criminal Justice Program at University of Pittsburg Bradford. He spent over 20 years in law enforcement. In 2016, he was one of ten US educators invited to the White House to participate in a Roundtable on Criminal Justice Reform.

Gaskew has published extensively in the areas of criminal justice, and policing. His book, Rethinking Prison Reentry: Transforming Humiliation into Humility, focuses on the role of the criminal justice system in providing adequate post-secondary prison education opportunities for incarcerated black males and the impact of historical racism on black males and on the criminal justice system.

Gaskew was a recipient of the 2014 NSU Distinguished Alumni Award.  His honors include the Fulbright-Hays Fellow for a research project in Egypt and the Academic Fellow in Terrorist Studies in Israel by The Foundation for Defense of Democracies.  He was named a University of Pittsburgh Faculty Diversity Fellow and Teacher of the Year by The National Society of Leadership and Success. Gaskew is the founding director of the nationally recognized UPB Prison Education Program.

During May, Halmos faculty member J. Matthew Hoch, Ph.D. and new NSU alumna Megan Bruce’18 (B.S. Marine Biology) had their paper entitled, “Metal Contamination Hotspots at Unregulated Firearm Target Shooting Sites in the Everglades” published in the Journal of Environmental Quality. This journal is a joint publication of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and the Soil Science Society of America.

The Crop Science Society chose to highlight this article in their monthly news magazine, CSA News. Congratulations to both Dr. Hoch and Megan!

The complete article can be found with this citation:

Hoch, J. Matthew, and Megan Bruce. “Metal Contamination Hotspots at Unregulated Firearm Target Shooting Sites in the Everglades.” Journal of Environmental Quality (Vol. 48 No. 3, p. 755-761, 2019).

For more information: https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/csa/articles/64/5/8

Northwest Hospital & Medical Center in Seattle Washington honored ACON Alumni and Emergency Department Registered Nurse Darinka Obradovich, BSN, CEN with the Daisy Award. The Daisy Award recognizes and honors “extraordinary nurses” who provide “extraordinary compassionate care”. Darinka was nominated by the wife of one of her critically ill patients, not only for her patient care excellence, but for her holistic approach to nursing the family along with the patient.

Congratulations Darinka!

Ryan Johnston, M.S.

Ryan Johnston, M.S. 2018 graduate of NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), is an investigative analyst for the Criminal Investigations Division at the Broward Sheriff’s Office. He started work a few months after completing the M.S. in National Security Affairs and International Relations. Johnston reports that he is excited to take on this new challenge. “I will be able to put skills that I acquired from my time as a graduate student to good use. The NSAIR program was instrumental in my getting this job because it gave me an opportunity to get professional work experience through networking and internship opportunities.”

As a graduate student, Johnston completed an internship for credit with the Broward Sheriff’s Office. He also was able to tap in to the program’s facilitation of networking with current and former students working in the field of national security. Johnston distinguished himself during his time at NSU by founding the graduate student led Department of History and Political Science Leadership Council. He also served as the DHPS representative on the CAHSS Graduate Student Government Association.

Mark Baird, Ph.D., graduate of the doctoral program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, was named the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Seattle Police Department. In this role, he oversees Professional Standards, Administrative Services, Budget and Finance, the 911 Communication Center and Information Technology.  

As COO, he works with various city entities and sits on several citywide committees and Mayoral subcabinets. He is responsible for the predominately-civilian support side of the organization. There is work in policy development, analysis, and implementation.

Baird indicated that, “My CR education has been very instrumental in my job and I use components of it each day.”

Prior to earning his doctorate degree from NSU, Baird earned his B.A. in Political Science from Central Washington University, and his M.P.A. from Florida Gulf Coast University. His extensive professional experience includes serving as the Executive Director of Budget and Finance, overseeing Budget, Facilities, Jail Coordination, and manages significant departmental projects. He served as a crime analyst and later the analytical supervisor and ComStat coordinator for the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and had a similar role in the Portland Police Bureau. While in graduate school, Baird was a research fellow for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. He was the programs/operations analyst for the Snohomish County Department of Corrections and later became the Chief of Administration.  He has been an adjunct instructor at Clackamas Community College in Oregon and at Portland State University.

Kimberly Vardeman, M.A.

Kimberly Vardeman, M.A., graduate of the Master of Arts in Cross-disciplinary Studies (MACS) program in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is continuing to pursue her passion for environmental issues including environmental stewardship, humane education, animal protection, and human rights. Vardeman is a research assistant at the Florida Center for Environmental Studies (CES) at Florida Atlantic University. Among her responsibilities, she coordinates community engagement research and public outreach.

In addition to her MACS degree from NSU, Vardeman earned her bachelors’ degree from the University of Florida. While earning her MACS degree, Vardeman was able to co-create her degree plan to include courses from NSU’s Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography. She completed a thesis in MACS, focusing her research on environmental community education. For more information about MACS, please contact Claudette Brooks in DCRS at cbrooks@nova.edu.