Tag: Alumni

Fischler College Spotlight Shines on Zelphine Smith-Dixon

Zelphine Smith-Dixon

Zelphine Smith-Dixon received her Doctor of Educational Leadership degree from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice in 2005. She was elected as the president of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education. She is the first person of color to serve in this capacity and assist the country nationally in an effort of meeting the needs of students with disabilities.

Smith-Dixon is also the state director for the Division for Special Education at the Georgia Department of Education. She works to ensure that each student has an opportunity to be successful. She is committed to not only representing her students but the critical partnership for student success to include families, teachers, leaders, and communities.

She received the following accolades: Tri-County Special Educator of the Year, Vance-Providence Elementary Teacher of the Year and Orangeburg Consolidated School District Three Alternate District Teacher of the Year.  In April 2018, Columbia College of S.C. presented her with the Wil Lou Gray Outstanding Educator Award. Later, she served as the Columbia College Commencement Speaker in May 2019.

Smith-Dixon serves as a thought leader and cadre advisor for the National IDEA Data Center, National Consortium on Special Education Finance, National Technical Assistance Center on Transition, and National Center for Systemic Improvement to address the intersection of race and disability.

Smith-Dixon published an article in the March 2021 Case in Point edition in the Journal of Special Education Leadership (JSEL)titled “The State of Special Education: The Shift from Available to Appropriate!”

Smith-Dixon says she believes that receiving her Doctor of Educational Leadership degree at NSU fostered many of the leading skills within her that have served well and helped make her successful in her professional career. She is described as one of the most sought-after voices in education having shared her expertise with national and international audiences.

Smith-Dixon lives in Conyers, Ga., with her husband, Marki Dixon, and children Myles, Megan, and Mason. She serves in ministry at the dReam Center Church of Atlanta in Decatur, Ga., and is a member of the Covington Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

 

Halmos Researchers Delve into Oil Spill Impacts on Coral Species

D. Abigail Renegar

This past winter, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences marine science researcher D. Abigail Renegar, Ph.D. with college alumnus Nicholas Turner, Ph.D. published a research paper entitled, “Species Sensitivity Assessment of Five Atlantic Scleractinian Coral Species to 1‑Methylnaphthalene” in Nature’s scientific reports.

This is the first publication of results from the Coral-Tox project, which was funded by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative. The central objective of this project was to provide a foundation for science-based decision-making regarding oil spill response in coral reef environments.

This paper includes the first published species sensitivity distribution for stony corals, which indicate that the Atlantic staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, was the most sensitive to hydrocarbon exposure of the five species tested. As staghorn coral is listed a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, this result is an important consideration in the oil spill response planning process. Future publications from this project will continue to transform our understanding of the impacts of spilled oil in coral reef environments.

Halmos Alumna Publishes on Everglades Marine Biology Research

From left, Kiersten Monahan, Dyane Oliva, and J. Matt Hoch

Kiersten Monahan

Kiersten Monahan, a 2019 alumna of the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences in marine biology, was published in the journal Florida Scientist this past winter for her research titled “Comparison of Phosphate Uptake by Epiphyton, Metaphyton, and eEpipelon in the Everglades.”

Monahan’s publication encompassed her Honors in Major thesis research with mentor and college faculty member J. Matthew Hoch, Ph.D. Her research took place in the Everglades, the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in the United States and the results of her research could aid understanding effects of phosphorus pollution in nutrient-polluted waters.

The Honors in Major program is a university-wide program administered by the Farquhar Honors College. It is a unique opportunity for high-performing NSU undergraduate students in their senior year.

Alumna Thanks NSU for Helping Her Find the Right Career Path

Safiyah Muhammad

This May, Safiyah Muhammad graduated with her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Graduating from NSU’s Halmos Colleges of Arts and Sciences in 2016 with a chemistry major, Muhammad’s Ph.D. thesis was entitled, “Cobalt Catalyst for Parahydrogen Induced Hyperpolarization of Olefins.” She has accepted a job at Dow.

Safiyah says her time here at NSU was foundational.

“I am truly grateful that I had the opportunity to attend Nova Southeastern University; the Trustee Scholarship that I received allowed me to complete my coursework without any financial stress. It was during my time at NSU that I attended my first chemistry course and fell in love with it. The structure of the classes at NSU really allowed me to fully immerse myself in the material I was studying and to get to know the faculty,” she said. “Without the amazing mentoring of the faculty members, I never would have switched my major from marine biology to chemistry, nor would I have known about the opportunities that are available to chemists after completion of their degree. I owe a great deal of my success to my time at NSU and will forever be proud to call NSU my Alma Mater. Fins up!”

Alumnae Projects Put Marine Bacteria Under the Microscope

We are familiar with the catch phrases “Light my fire” and “Fins up.”  They now fit very well with two new NSU publications in the scientific journal Frontiers of Marine Science and Frontiers of Microbiology, respectively.

The papers were written by two HCAS alumni: Rachael Storo (formerly Karns) and Alexis Berger. The papers focus on their master’s theses and are published in peer reviewed journals with the guidance of their mentor, HCAS biology Professor Jose (Joe) Lopez, Ph.D.

The two projects share a commonality with their focus on marine microbial symbionts, which represent the beneficial or neutral bacteria that live with or on most eukaryotes (multicellular organisms).  For example, some bacterial symbionts help digest food in the guts many animals, or procure nitrogen for plants.

Using the latest molecular genetics and statistical tools, Storo investigated the composition of bacteria at four different anatomical locales (gills, teeth, skin, cloaca) from five different shark species found in South Florida waters (nurse, lemon, sandbar, Caribbean reef, and tiger). Her findings showed that the teeth microbiota may have been the most distinct communities across the different locales. The data can provide useful bacterial identification for shark bites (as well as bytes) in the future.

In a completely different animal system but no less charismatic, Berger aimed to test the hypothesis that bacterial symbionts generated light for the pelagic (floating) invertebrate called “pyrosomes”. These tunicate animals were aptly named because they can light up the oceans with their self-generated bioluminescence. This phenomenon of glowing can be a fairly common trait among organisms living at depth. The recently completed DEEPEND project assisted in the collection of pyrosomes in blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Fischler Shows Some Love with Alumni ‘Shark Attack’

Katie Peacock, assistant director of alumni engagement at NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week with a “Shark Attack.”

Peacock visited, six schools, Margate Elementary, Quiet Waters Elementary, Seminole Middle School, Coconut Creek High School, Nova Blanche Forman Elementary, and Park Lakes Elementary and surprised 60 alumni with caramel apples and a NSU swag bag.

Do you have a teacher or colleague you want to surprise? Send an e-card or special educator keychain to them while supporting NSU’s Fischler Academy, clicking here.

The Fischler Academy is an experiential, project-driven, mastery-based program combining cutting-edge teaching pedagogies in a highly personalized learning environment.

NSU Student and University School Teacher Named 2021 STUEY Alumnus of the Year

 

On April 13, 2021, the Student Life Association at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) hosted its 23rd annual Student Life Achievement Awards, otherwise known as the STUEY’s. This event intertwines the accolades of students, staff and alumni at NSU who are best known for their academic excellence, research, diversity, innovation, service and opportunities.

This year, the 2021 STUEY Alumnus of the Year was awarded to Wilford Miranda, a 2019 alumnus of NSU. Wilford is currently an NSU University School teacher and Master of Science Education student at NSU. He is extremely dedicated to education and making a difference in the lives of his students – a feature he believes set him apart from other nominees.

Miranda has notably started several new initiatives at University School with guidance from his mentor, Luke Williams, and continues to launch new ways to engage students, such as kickstarting NSU’s first-ever HOSA – Future Health Professionals (HOSA) chapter and creating a new curriculum called “Tiny Earth,” alongside NSU professor Dr. Aarti Raja.

Miranda led the creation of the HOSA at University School to support the career development of students interested in health studies.

“I have been participating non-stop in HOSA conferences since middle school and used this experience to bring HOSA to University School. As a first year HOSA chapter at NSU University School, we aimed to uphold our reputation to dominate in competitions. Along with my outstanding student officers, we mentored and coached our members to have a competitive edge at the regional, state, and international levels. After taking up the scoreboards in regionals, we went to compete at States where we went against 150 other high school HOSA chapters and we got the most international qualifiers (top three winners).”

To further the collaboration of education amongst students and educators, Miranda launched the “Tiny Earth” curriculum.

“Tiny Earth is a network of instructors and students who focus on identifying antibiotics from soil bacteria. This year, we successfully carried out the Tiny Earth curriculum with three class periods and currently, we are working to expand to five class periods. Our research together has earned us a few awards such as winning first place at the regional science fair competition and winning first place at the state HOSA research poster competition,” said Miranda.

Miranda utilized his experience as a student and teacher to showcase his skills as a nominee for alumnus of the year. Through his notable work as a teacher and researcher, Miranda made his mark by emphasizing a “One NSU” motto and combining his strengths from NSU and the NSU University School.

“The professors at NSU have undoubtedly amplified my teaching expertise through their wisdom and advice,” added Miranda, “By working collaboratively with Dr. Raja, NSU Undergraduates, and NSU University School students, we were able to advance our mission statements while providing top-of-the-line experiential learning experiences for our students.”

Miranda will be entering his second year as a master’s student this fall and is planning on graduating with his degree in Science Education by May 2022. Following his master’s degree, he also looks forward to enrolling in one of NSU’s Ed.D. programs.

Miranda intends to follow his “One NSU” mission in the future by collaborating with NSU and the NSU University School through his work, research and studies.

Visit Twitter for updates on HOSA/Tiny Earth at U-School at https://twitter.com/WilfordMiranda4. For more information about NSU’s University school go to https://www.facebook.com/UniversitySchoolofNSU.

NSU Changing Lives Scholarship Helps Students Continue Education During Pandemic

The Changing Lives Scholarship at Nova Southeastern University continues be a meaningful resource to help students pursue their academic careers, especially during a pandemic that has brought economic hardship.

The most recent 2021 Honors College Changing Lives Scholarship was recently awarded to an undergraduate student in the NSU Farquhar Honors College – Kristin Rodriguez. Kristin is a third-year student at NSU who is studying to receive her bachelor’s in psychology with a global engagement minor and honors trans-disciplinary minor.

Before even applying to the scholarship in 2020, Rodriguez was notified that due to the pandemic she was not going to receive aid from her other scholarships. Luckily, after receiving the 2021 Honors College Changing Lives scholarship, she was able to continue her education at NSU.

“NSU has been so gracious with their scholarships. Every single year, I worry about financials, but they normally pull through. They allow me to pursue my academics and without them I wouldn’t be in college,” said Rodriguez. “This scholarship allows me the ability to pursue my education and enjoy it, without being concerned over money. There are so many amazing people giving to these scholarships and it’s been a great process. I’m involved in so many extracurriculars as well and anything I can get to lessen the stress is just amazing,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez’s life-changing scholarship is made possible by Farquhar Honors College’s very own Dean Don Rosenblum, Ph.D. Dr. Rosenblum is the current dean of the Farquhar Honors College and an ardent supporter of education. Because of his position, he plays no role in the scholarship selection of the student.

 “I’m actually a donor for the Honor College Changing Lives Scholarship, but I am very unattached form the process, said Dean Rosenblum. “We have a selective faculty as well because they understand the honors college and they know the students beyond the packet of materials. I’ve always had great confidence in the selection and recommendations of the faculty. They do an extraordinary job in their decision-making and all the students are wonderful and appreciative.”

At the moment, Rodriguez plans to graduate from NSU in the Fall of 2021 with her bachelor’s degree, then will continue her education at NSU in the Fall of 2022 to pursue her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. While working a job, leading extracurricular activities, and remaining on the Dean’s List, Rodriguez remains diligent to succeed at NSU. With the help of the 2021 Honors College Changing Lives scholarship, she continues to balance her school and work life, all while being a top student.

“I’m so grateful that the Honors College chose me for this scholarship. The Changing Lives scholarship, first-hand, touches students’ lives, and I’m just forever grateful for NSU’s generosity.  I would point out the fact that NSU goes so far beyond what a normal college is expected to do,” added Rodriguez. “I can personally see those experiences happen, and they help students benefit from it beyond words. NSU’s continued support enriches the university experience and academics.”

If you’re interested in donating or would like to read more about the NSU Changing Lives scholarship, check out https://www.nova.edu/alumni/support.html

Class Of 2021 Alumna Spotlight: Raquel Muniz

Raquel Muniz will graduate with a Doctorate of Education from NSU this May. As a deaf student, she has overcome many obstacles and continues to lead by example.

Raquel Muniz began pursuing her Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Leadership from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice (FCE&SCJ) in 2012.

As a deaf student, who also cared for her aging maternal aunt, and is a mother of four wonderful children, Raquel has faced unique challenges. However, through faith and perseverance, Raquel managed to earn her degree and will graduate Summer 2021 from Nova Southeastern University (NSU).

Being a learner with a severe hearing disability, while also balancing a busy home life, Raquel’s successful graduation is the culmination of nine years of blood, sweat, and tears.

She continues to prove that her obstacles do not define her, but rather show how strong and determined she really is. Raquel’s experiences taught her to focus on helping others overcome their own challenges and barriers.

As she continues her career path, she is keen on leadership and empathy, and shares that it’s her way of honoring those who have helped her along the way.

Raquel is very grateful to all the professors at NSU, her Chair, Dr. Packer-Muti, Professor Dr. Reeves, her Academic Advisor, Dr. Stevens, and the committee members who were instrumental in ensuring that students, like Raquel, receive the necessary help and support required to reach their academic potential.

Raquel appreciated the support that students receive through facilities such as the CART captioning system, note taking, and ASL interpreters.

Congratulations to Raquel and all NSU 2021 graduates on accomplishing this amazing milestone! You have been given the power to unlock the potential not only for yourselves, but for the people you are going to serve.

Fins Up to each of you!

NSU Partners With Real Estate Company Ceiba Groupe to Offer Students and Alumni Real-World Experience in Art and Communications

NSU and South Florida-based real estate company Ceiba Groupe partnered with students, alumni, and faculty in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences on a community mural project at a residential property located in downtown Davie. The collaboration features original artwork by an Art + Design student and alumni that is being documented by Communication majors using multimodal storytelling techniques.

“At NSU, we provide students with the edge to explore their careers and give them a foundation in which they are able to use these skills to pursue their goals,” said Shanti Bruce, Ph.D., chair of NSU’s Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts. “We are grateful that Ceiba Groupe is helping us provide these unique student experiences.”

Under the leadership of Associate Professor Kandy Lopez-Moreno, Art + Design major Annabel Brewster and alumni Kahkashan Ansary and Andres Mora are painting a mural at Ceiba Groupe’s Zona Village, a genre-defining, mixed-use, multi-family development, typifying a best-in-class residential living experience for residents of Davie, Florida. Lopez and the students presented several mural concepts to embody the Zona Village motto “live DIFFERENT,” and the Ceiba Groupe team ultimately selected a concept created by Ansary, who uses abstract expressionism to battle anxiety and depression with colors expressing freedom and hope while exploring the complexities of human emotions.

The painting is currently in process with plans to be completed by April 15. Communication students, led by Assistant Professor Whitney Lehmann, Ph.D., are documenting the project on social media, and Associate Professor Eric Mason, Ph.D., is capturing the painting process via film and time lapse techniques. 

As part of the collaboration, Ceiba Groupe is gifting $5,000 to support a DCMA Student Scholarship Fund.

“We are proud to join this effort with NSU as we provide students with a real-world experience that relates to their studies,” said Jeremy Bedzow, managing principal of Ceiba Groupe. “It has been a pleasure working with these bright individuals and we look forward to the completion of the project.”

The Art + Design program at NSU provides students with a dynamic and comprehensive instructional program in the visual arts with concentrations in studio art or graphic design.

The Communication program at NSU prepares students to excel in industries including radio and television broadcasting, film, journalism, new media, public relations, education, law, and event promotions. With concentrations and minors in digital media production, journalism and strategic communication, the program teaches students how to create, design and edit effective messages for diverse audiences using a variety of media.

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