Tag: Diversity

Systemic Racism Researchers Seek Funds to Present in Paris

After the untimely, unjust murder of George Floyd in the Summer of 2020, there was a universal outcry to dismantle the structures of society that promote prejudice, microaggressions, and discrimination (i.e., systemic racism). Inequitable opportunities, unfair policies, and discriminatory practices produced and perpetuated by the existence of systemic racism are of utmost concern to occupational therapy (OT) because it promotes occupational injustice. Occupational injustice exemplifies how marginalization disrupts participation in meaningful activities of daily living, such as education and work, which showcases that restricting Black beings from the opportunity to live freely and without prejudice directly correlates to their quality of life and health (Durocher et al., 2013).

Additionally, there was a strong need from Black occupational beings for change and to be understood, which prompted the conceptualization of Exploring Systemic Racism Through Occupational Therapy Academic Content, an unpublished study spearheaded by Nardia Aldridge, Ph.D., OTR/L, DTM, assistant professor and adviser at Nova Southeastern University. The purpose of the study was to explore how Black occupational therapy students are educated on systemic racism, their lived experiences within their OT programs, and the lived experiences of Black OT practitioners with systemic racism in their first three years of practice.

The groundbreaking findings from the study have received acclaim from institutions such as the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), who invited the researchers to present at the 18th WFOT Congress to be held in Paris, France, from August 28 to August 31, 2022.

The group is hosting an Online Auction to raise funds for the trip.

To support, you may

  • Make a financial donation
  • Donate an item/service/gift card for the auction
  • Bid in the auction
  • Share the auction information with friends and family

You may access the auction using this link, https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/SFBOTC-Fundraising-Auction-32257

Posted 06/06/22

Crossing Borders Exhibit Takes You Around the World June 16 -Aug. 11

Join the Alvin Sherman Library in collaboration with the Khawam Gallery to celebrate the opening of Crossing Borders: Artists from the Middle East & the Americas, an exhibit of art and personal stories of the cultural heritage of immigrant artists from Turkey, Israel, Syria, the UK, Cuba, Haiti, Columbia, and Venezuela. At the reception, you’ll experience “A Taste of the Middle East, and Latin America,” and engage in a facilitated dialogue focusing on building cultural understanding, dispelling stereotypes, and fostering awareness of immigrants from the Middle East, the Americas and beyond with stories of their history in the U.S. This will be shared through videos, photos, and text as it contributes to the American fabric.

Thursday, June 16 at 6:00 p.m. in the Cotilla Gallery on the second floor. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Registration recommended. Register HERE.

Posted 05/26/22

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale Welcomes LGBTQ+ Ambassador

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale is thrilled to welcome Lee Sider as its LGBTQ+ Ambassador as an extension of the Museum’s continued support of the LGBTQ+ community. Lee’s inaugural position represents the Museum’s continued mission to make arts and culture accessible to everyone. As an avid and vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community for decades, Dr. Sider will work directly with the Museum to facilitate the integration of the arts with the local Fort Lauderdale LGBTQ+ community.

“Since I joined NSU Art Museum as Director and Chief Curator in 2013, our advancements towards continuing the Museum’s vested interest in inclusivity in the arts have been evident and I am beyond thrilled to continue our efforts by welcoming Lee Sider as our inaugural LGBTQ+ Ambassador,” said Bonnie Clearwater, Director and Chief Curator of NSU Art Museum. “The Museum is committed to being an arts and culture destination that welcomes everyone under the sun, and I am grateful for Lee’s commitment to bridging the gap between the visual arts and the local LGBTQ+ community.”

A proponent of the LGBTQ+ community for decades, Dr. Sider has continued these efforts since moving to Fort Lauderdale five years ago. As a medical student in Chicago, he helped establish Howard Brown, a clinic for gay men, and was later on its Board. Dr. Sider was also involved in ACT UP, an activist group that was started in the 1980s to address the AIDS crisis. At Northwestern University Hospital he published multiple peer-reviewed articles on AIDS and spoke internationally on the epidemic. In New York City, Sider was the Site Chairman of Radiology at Beth Israel Hospital and established one of the largest gay and lesbian practice in NYC. He is a major supporter and contributor to SAGE (Senior Action in a Gay Environment), a nonprofit organization that enriches the lives of the LGBT senior community. Lee currently supports many local Fort Lauderdale organizations including the Pride Center, Gay Men’s Chorus of Southern Florida, SunServe and Equity Florida.

“The visual arts have been a passion of mine for 40 years now, and I cherish being able to combine my love for the arts with my advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community at such a robust and welcoming institution as NSU Art Museum,” said Lee Sider, LGBTQ+ Ambassador at NSU Art Museum. “Since living in Fort Lauderdale for the past five years, I have noticed a disconnect between the gay community and the visual arts community in South Florida. When I learned of the Museum’s Keith Haring exhibition, Bonnie and I  knew this was a clear point of entry for the LGBTQ+ community to become engaged in the visual arts in Fort Lauderdale. I am looking forward to bridging the gap between these two communities moving forward by reaching out to various LGBTQ+ organizations to personally invite them to the Museum for tours of current exhibitions.”

Dr. Sider first became involved with NSU Art Museum five years ago after moving to Fort Lauderdale and is currently a docent providing tours of the Museum’s latest exhibition, Confrontation: Keith Haring & Pierre Alechinsky. Confrontation: Keith Haring and Pierre Alechinsky will be on view through October 2, 2022, and is the first exhibition dedicated to exploring the historic and visual intersections between American street artist and art activist Keith Haring (1958-1990) and virtuosic Belgian painter, Pierre Alechinsky (b. 1927), the last surviving member of the European avant-garde art movement, CoBrA. Dr. Sider and his late husband Greg Stanton are one of the sponsors of this exhibition which showcases the works of Haring, an openly gay man, social activist and treasured artist to the LGBTQ+ community.

NSU Art Museum embraces diversity and inclusion within its audience, as well as its featured and prospective artists. Throughout its educational programming, curatorial department and extensive permanent collection, the Museum strives to provide a platform for underrepresented groups such as the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. It is pleased to offer current Stonewall National Museum & Archives members a valid membership card, a “buy one, get one free” or “BOGO” offer admission, effective April 1, 2022, through June 30, 2022, for the Stonewall Museum kick-off Spring Membership Drive.

NSU Art Museum is located in the hub of the South Florida Art Coast, situated midway between Miami and Palm Beach in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale. The Museum is a premier destination for exhibitions and programs encompassing all facets of civilization’s visual history. For more information, please visit https://nsuartmuseum.org or follow the Museum on social media @nsuartmuseum.

Posted 05/17/22

Business Spotlight: Albert Williams Stays in Tune with Students

If you’ve ever heard Albert Williams play his Fender Stratocaster axe, you would think his chosen profession was music. But on the contrary, teaching business at NSU is his full-time gig.

Albert Williams, Ph.D., the Chair and Associate Professor of Finance and Economics

Williams, Ph.D., the Chair and Associate Professor of Finance and Economics, says his guitar reflects his “artistic side.” But don’t be surprised if a jam session breaks out in one of his classes, he says. He’s been known to mix music and business when the situation calls for it.

Besides entertaining and educating students at the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Williams’ life has been full of adventures and exciting job opportunities.

But he doesn’t brag about his career. He brags about his students. In fact, his office walls are adorned with accolades he has received from some of the thousands of students that have crossed his path. Williams was nominated and received a Student Life Achievement Award, or STUEY, for Professor of the Year in 2017.

“I don’t teach economics and finance,” Williams says. “I teach people. I encourage, motivate, and care about my students.”

Williams says his recipe for student success is to help them grow by seeing how they can improve their lives from the knowledge gained from his classes. His lectures tap into his prior professional career, which enables Williams to share a variety of real-world examples with his students.

Before coming to NSU in 2003, Williams was a jack of many trades: a high school math teacher, banker, agricultural economist, CEO of an agricultural marketing firm, and analyst for Burger King Corporation.

He takes those experiences to the classroom and combines them with his ability to dissect complicated economic concepts and make them easier to understand. But he doesn’t stop there.

“I also bring current issues to class and have students discuss them,” Williams says. “This makes economics and finance more applied and alive!”

During his years at NSU, Williams has become a Shark through and through. He is the faculty adviser for the Graduate Business Student Association (GBSA). In this role he helps student leaders practice leadership by developing projects and implementing them for the benefit of all students. He also has played an active role in the Honors College and still speaks to new students and parents on the importance of being in the college.

When it comes to undergraduate recruitment, he doesn’t hesitate to speak to parent groups and answer their questions while promoting the advantages of attending NSU.

Williams also takes his expertise to the airwaves from time to time appearing on television and radio as one of NSU’s business experts. NBC and PBS have featured him locally and he frequently provides expert opinions on Love FM in Belize, his country of origin.

Despite his many roles, Williams’ headliner is teaching, which he considers as much an art form as playing his guitar.

“You have to put passion and knowledge into it and that makes learning exciting for students,” he says.

Posted 05/20/22

Occupational Therapy Alumna Receives Sunflower Award

Marilyn Tyre

NSU occupational therapy alumna, Marilyn Tyre, Dr.OT., M.P.H., OT/L, C/NDT, a member of the neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) team at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital (JDCH), who recently received the Sunflower Award from JDCH in Hollywood, Florida.

“The Sunflower Award is a recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care that our JDCH employees provide every day. The award was designed to thank our non-nursing staff for their compassion, integrity, and leadership that our patients, their families, and our staff recognize as an outstanding role model.

Tyre was nominated by two of her colleagues for this prestigious award. The nomination highlighted her recent contributions to the NICU department for submitting and receiving a 12K grant to purchase developmental equipment and educational resources, her commitment to collaboration with her team in how to use the grant funding, and her creation of the “Shaping the Lives of Little Ones Checklist” that they now use in the NICU setting.

The Sunflower Award reads, “For your wonderful work you do at the bedside we wanted to show you are appreciated and thank you for being committed to our mission: ‘Heal the body, mind and spirit of those we touch.”’

Congratulations, Marilyn Tyre!

Posted 05/11/22

Halmos Alumnus Publishes in Journal of International Students

Zhiwei Wang, Ph.D., graduate of the doctoral program in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies at Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center

Zhiwei Wang, Ph.D., graduate of the doctoral program in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS), in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) has published an article in the Journal of International Students. The article is titled, “Conflict Resolution Skills of Chinese Students in the U.S.: An Interpretative Phenomenological Research Study.” His co-authors include Qijun Zhu, St. Thomas University, and Dong Ke, University College London.

Wang is an assistant professor at Shenzhen Polytechnic University, China. His major research interests include Cross-culture Studies, Mediation, International Student Management, Media and Conflict, and Student Services. In addition to his NSU degree, Wang has an M.S. in International Relations from Northeastern University and an M.A. in Mass Communications from Murray State University.

Of his time at NSU, Wang expressed his appreciation for the education he received:

I firmly believe that my most crucial growth took place at NSU, under the help and guidance of Professor McKay, Professor Cooper, Professor Katz, and Professor Zanko. In 2017, Professor Katz offered me a chance to work in his research team, in which my understanding of research skills had greatly enhanced. In 2018, Professor McKay taught me an important lesson about teaching students. She said one of the keys to being a good teacher is not to teach students but ask your students questions and raise their interests. They will find answers by themselves if you can trigger their interests and talents. In the same year, I won the Art of Peace scholarships, which enabled me to study peace through the lens of arts. In that research project, Professor Cooper inspired me a lot, encouraging me to proceed with my target. Professor Zanko was on my dissertation committee, illuminating my thoughts and sharpening my ideas in many ways throughout my dissertation writing process. For me, the impact of education at the Department of Conflict Resolution is a lifetime long.

Thus, I feel like I am fortunate to get into this program with many knowledgeable, student-centered, and world-class professors. If I could choose my doctoral program in conflict resolution again, I would still choose here, Department of Conflict Resolution at Nova Southeastern University.

For more information about Wang’s article, please see Conflict Resolution Skills of Chinese Students in the U.S. | Journal of International Students (ojed.org)

Published 05/11/22

Alum Crowned Miss Florida Plus America 2022

Raquel King

On Saturday, March 26, 2022, Raquel King, M.S. CCC/SLP, an alum of the Masters in Speech-Language Pathology was crowned Miss Florida Plus America 2022 at this year’s Pageant.

Raquel King is an author, speech-language pathologist, encourager, and mother. Raquel is the author of “The Loss of My Wedding Ring,” where she provides encouragement and strategies for the divorced to feel free and loved.

The Miss Plus America Pageant is a faith-structured organization for plus size women that has been in existence since 2003. King is excited to compete at the national level and represent Florida. She also hopes to inspire others to get involved in competitions and forums that highlight body diversity and representation.

The Department of Speech-Language Pathology wishes her the best of luck on this inspiring Journey!

Contributed by Tambi Braun, SLP.D., CCC/SLP, an associate professor and NSSLHA mentor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology.

Posted 05/08/22

 

Halmos Alumna Lands Prestigious Job at Arizona College

Michelle Cromwell, Ph.D.

Michelle Cromwell, Ph.D., graduate of the master’s and doctoral programs in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), has been named the inaugural Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging at the Southwest College for Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) in Tempe, Arizona.

Prior to SCNM, Michelle served as Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the State University of NY-Plattsburgh, the Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence at Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, and as the Chief Diversity Officer at The School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont.

In 2018, Cromwell was named as one of NSU’s Distinguished Alumni. In addition to Cromwell’s NSU graduate degrees, she received a B.Sc. in Social Work from the University of the West Indies in Trinidad where she was born.

According to Cromwell, “The work of inclusive excellence is about getting institutions to shift their status quo and engage in intentional actions that position the needs of community members in particular the needs of marginalized and minoritized community members at the core of the institution’s existence.”

Cromwell is a yoga master and teacher and enjoys creating whole-food plant-based recipes inspired by favorite foods from a West Indian childhood. She has been a featured presenter for The Social Justice Roundtable housed in DCRS.

Posted 04/24/22

Broward Youth Coalition Attends Performance on Bullying, Autism

NSU’s Sociodrama Club: Stage for Change had members of United Way’s Broward Youth Coalition in the audience for their recent performance, Sticks and Stones: A Provocative Sociodrama about Bullying and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Broward Youth Coalition, which is comprised of middle and high school students, watched three powerful scenes that demonstrated bullying taking place and escalating amongst middle school children and a victim with autism spectrum disorder.  Associate Professors, Grace Telesco, Psy.D. and Maribel Del Rio-Roberts, with NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice facilitated the interactive show. The facilitators would freeze the scene and promote thought provoking dialogue between the audience and the NSU student actors who remained in character. The event was set up by Assistant Professor, Maria Levi-Minzi, Ph.D., Department of Human Services.

The goal of the Broward Youth Coalition Leadership Program is to foster positive youth development using a public health approach to prevent substance abuse in young people by promoting protective factors.  The coalition works to create positive, sustainable change among peers, parents and adults in their local neighborhoods, communities, and schools.

For more information on NSU’s Sociodrama Club, please contact faculty advisor, Dr. Grace Telesco at gt423@nova.edu

Posted 04/24/22

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