College Spotlights Education Graduate William Brothers

William Brothers, Ed.S.

William Brothers has been selected as the new Dean for the School of Education and Professional Studies at Greenville Technical College. He is responsible for oversight of an academic school that encompasses programs in cosmetology, criminal justice, early care & education, human services, and paralegal, along with the college’s Culinary Institute of the Carolinas.

Brothers earned an Ed.S. in Brain-Based Teaching from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice in 2012. He holds a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship from Western Carolina University, an M.B.A. from Western Carolina University, and Bachelor’s Degree from Southern Wesleyan University.

Brothers is an experienced higher education professional with more than a decade of teaching and administrative experience. Brothers said that he pursued a career in education because it is a career that helps to change lives. “You inspire your students to do their best when you do your best,” he said. “You encourage your colleagues to work hard when you work hard.”

Brothers said that the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice gave him the knowledge and skills to educate his students and effectively lead his faculty and staff. The program gave him the confidence to move into a career in education. Brothers was enrolled as a student at a distance, and he said the faculty and staff with the program were very supportive and accommodating.

Brothers currently lives in South Carolina with his wife and five children. The Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice wishes Brothers the best of luck as he steps into his new role as Dean for the School of Education and Professional Studies at Greenville Technical College!

Posted 02/14/22

Education Alumnus Appointed Middle School Principal

Presley Charles, Ed.D.

The Howell L. Watkins Middle School in Florida recently appointed Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice alumni Presley Charles, Ed.D., as their new principal. Before becoming a principal, Charles was a member of the Professional Growth Department as the Manager of Leadership Development in the School District of Palm Beach County. He also served as an assistant principal and has been in education for 16 years in four school districts in Florida and Georgia.

Charles, was born in Freeport, Bahamas, but raised in Pompano Beach, Florida, with his parents, who immigrated to Florida from Haiti. He received his associate degree from Tallahassee Community College, then proceeded to earn an undergraduate degree in sociology from Florida A&M University. Charles continued to pursue his education by earning a Masters of Educational Leadership at Florida A&M University. In 2012, he earned a doctorate degree in Human Service Administration from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice.

Charles is the founder of Man I am Male Mentoring and Leadership Program, which helps young males develop a sense of self-respect and become productive young men of their community in which he mentored hundreds of young men. He received the Glenn-Howell Distinguished Minority Educator of the Year Award for 2009-10 and 2010-11, and he was also featured in Essence Magazine top 50 “Do Right Man” in 2006 for his work in the community.

Charles is proud of the doctorate degree he received from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. His advice for future students pursuing a career as an educational leader is to follow a purpose and not a position, lead people to influence, and add value to them.

Charles lives in Florida with his wife Jacqueline and two children, Xavier and Pharaoh. Fins up to you, Presley and all of your incredible accomplishments. The Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice can’t wait to hear about all your success as you step into your new role as principal.

Posted 02/13/22

Kappa Delta Pi Omega Theta Chapter Responds to Volcano Eruption

The 2021 La Soufriere Volcano eruptions in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines caused mass evacuations and displaced thousands of residents. The members of NSU’s Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) Omega Theta Chapter 584 took on a student-centered community collaboration project to help those in need.

The two-fold project, named Like the Phoenix, from the ASHES We will Rise, began in May of 2021 and culminated in December 2021. The Omega Theta chapter responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters in the Volcano-ravished areas of St. Vincent and the Grenadines by meeting the needs of over 225 females and 400 children in shelters. The females received hygiene care packages while the children received care packages, educational games, reading materials, and art supplies valued at approximately $20,000.

In the last phase of the project, 225 book bags with supplies were shipped to St. Vincent in September and distributed in December to K-5 children attending five of the schools used as evacuation centers.

The project received a gold award from the national KDP organization and embraces the Omega Theta Chapter’s effort to sustain a community of diverse learners by promoting excellence and advancing studentship, leadership, and service.

For additional Information, please contact faculty adviser Sandra Trotman, Ph.D., at trotman@nova.edu.

Posted 02/13/22

Fischler Academy Director Publishes Article on Teacher Education

Discovering the best way to train future teachers is not a simple task, but it’s a task that was taken on by Fischler Academy Director Luke Williams.

Luke Williams at NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice co-authored an article that was recently published in the journal Teaching and Teacher Education. The article details research that was conducted through the examination of literature about teacher education. The research was then used to develop recommendations and guidelines for programs interested in improving field-based learning for future educators.

Teaching and Teacher Education is read across the world and focuses on teachers, teaching, and teacher education through an international perspective and context. The publication covers early childhood through secondary education, teacher preparation, and higher education concerning teacher professional development and teacher education.

Read the full article.

Posted 02/13/22

College Spotlights Doctor of Education Graduate

Marquita S. Blades Ed.D.

Marquita S. Blades, Ed.D, is an award-winning educator, international speaker, author, and education consultant with 16 years of experience as a high school science teacher and manager of national STEM programs for high-achieving high school students. Blades saves schools and school districts time and money by teaching them how to increase student engagement and collaboration through rigorous and meaningful learning experiences, using the resources they currently have on hand.

In 2018, Blades created the POWARRful Teaching Strategies® framework to help students build their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, based on recurring themes in her teaching practices. She found that she was constantly teaching the same six-core POWARR skills: Predict, Observe, Write, Analyze, Research, Report. Since releasing POWARRful Teaching Strategies®, she has shared the framework with thousands of educators across the US, giving them the tools and confidence, they need to put it into practice and build more student-centered classrooms immediately. Blades is also the founder of The Mediocre Teacher Project, which helps teachers avoid and battle through burnout by incorporating their unique gifts and talents into their daily practice.

Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards, including the Elizabeth Allen Alford Overcomer’s Award (2017), Teachers of Atlanta Honoree (2017), Eta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Rising Star in Education (2017), National Celebrity Educators™-Georgia Celebrity Educator of the Year (2018), and Women of Strength Honoree (2018). Most recently, she was nominated for the 2019 Community Engagement R.I.C.E. Award and was selected to be included in the 2019 Edition of Who’s Who in Black Atlanta.

Blades earned a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Broad Field Science from Georgia State University, a Master of Science in Technical and Professional Communication from Southern Polytechnic State University, and a Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Blades said that earning her doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University has been one of the best decisions in her professional career. Since earning her doctoral degree, her career as an educator has taken off. She’s doing what she intended to do: become an instructional leader! She has conducted hundreds of national presentations, held workshops and seminars all providing professional development to thousands of educators, sharing best practices she learned through classroom experience and doctoral research. In addition, she has become a published author, editor and publisher and gained the respect of colleagues who were once professors that she held in high esteem. Her degree has opened doors she could not have imagined walking through and earned her seats at tables where she could not imagine sitting. She is very grateful for her NSU education.

Recently, Blades established the “The Dr. Marquita S. Blades POWARRful Changing Lives Scholarship” at Nova Southeastern University to help provide scholarships to NSU students pursuing a graduate degree at the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. The Changing Lives scholarship, first-hand, touches student’s lives. We are beyond grateful for Blades’ generosity. Because of her newly established scholarship, the college will support students fulfill their dreams by continuing their education.

When she is not teaching or public speaking, Blades works as a Realtor alongside her husband Virgil Blades. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and exploring life in Panama, where she and her husband reside part-time.

For any questions regarding POWARRful Teaching Strategies® please contact Marquita at drblades@drmarquitablades.com and follow her on social media at @powarrfulteaching.

Posted 01/30/22

Education Professors Publish Book Chapter

Gina Peyton, Ed.D., and David Ross, Ed.D., faculty members at NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, published the book chapter Servant and Shepherd Leadership in Higher Education: Empowerment and Mentorship in the book “Key Factors and Use Cases of Servant Leadership Driving Organizational Performance” (pp. 272-292).

This book chapter focuses on higher education and incorporating servant and shepherd leadership, which is the principle behind effective leadership and how it aligns with responsibility, respect, care, and working with people, not against people. Servant leadership is the systematic process of developing the needs of servants ahead of those leaders found within private or public institutions. Shepherd leadership individually provides others with empowerment and achievement to perform well. In addition, the foreword was written by Ken Blanchard, an expert in the field of leadership with many publications in leadership such as The One Minute Manager, Leadership and the “One Minute Manager,” and “Situational Leadership.”

For more information, please click here.

Posted 01/16/22

3-Part Webinar Series on Human Trafficking Awareness in January

NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, and NSU’s Coalition for Research and Education Against Trafficking and Exploitation (CREATE) proudly invites you to join a free three-part Human Trafficking webinar series in honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

January 13, 6 p.m.

Human Trafficking 101: Learn about the prevalence of human trafficking in Florida and across the country, including the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on human trafficking as well as the current trends of global and cyber trafficking. Learn how you can help identify and rescue victims by recognizing the signs of human trafficking victims and learn the proper steps to take if you suspect someone is a victim.

January 20, 6 p.m.

The Challenges of and Solutions for Human Trafficking: During this session, local law enforcement and court officials will present the existing challenges of apprehension and prosecution of individuals involved in human trafficking.

January 27, 6 p.m.

Research Within Human Trafficking:  This session will be devoted to exploring the problem of human trafficking from a research perspective. You will have the opportunity to listen to NSU students and alumni present their work and discuss the barriers and challenges they encountered conducting research in this area. They will share their research efforts and explain how the issues addressed can aid in the fight against human trafficking.

For more information, please contact Katie Peacock at kpeacock@nova.edu.

Posted 12/22/21

Education Alumna Named Georgia 2022 Superintendent of Year

Noris Price, Ed.D.

Noris Price, Ed.D., graduate of NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice was named Georgia’s 2022 Superintendent of the Year at the Georgia School Superintendents Association conference in Atlanta on December 2.

Since 2014, Price has led the Baldwin County School District. Under her leadership, the Baldwin County School District has implemented instructional initiatives and strategies that have resulted in improved student performance and the high school graduation rate increasing from 66% to 88%. Additionally, Price has been successful in obtaining more than $5 million in grant funds for Baldwin County Schools and leading the school district through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI) district accreditation process.

Price has received numerous awards throughout her tenure in the education field. In 2019, she was given the national “All in for Students” Award by Communities in Schools. She has also received the Georgia School Superintendents Association President’s Awards, the Whitney M. Young Award, Johnnie V. Cox Leadership Award from the University of Georgia, and was named a Georgia PTA Outstanding Principal, among other distinctions.

Price earned a Doctor of Education in educational leadership with NSU in 2006 and was honored with the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017. She also served as the College’s 2021 Commencement Speaker.

Price will go on to represent Georgia and compete for National Superintendent of the Year, in February 2022 at the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Conference.

Posted 12/16/21

College Spotlights NSU Alumna and Educational Leader

Theresa West, Ed.D.

Theresa West, Ed.D., is an educational leader, author, researcher, and speaker. West is a first-generation college graduate and is a force of passion, hard work, resilience, and goodwill. Her mother and grandmother were her biggest inspirations in pursuing her higher education degrees and pursuing a career in education. Without them, she wouldn’t be living her dreams. They taught her the importance of creating her own opportunities. Most importantly, they encouraged her to believe that she can do the impossible.

In 2019, she earned her Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology and Distance Education degree from the Abraham S. Fischer College of Education and School of Criminal Justice (FCE&SCJ) in 2019, and she also earned her Educational Specialist in Technology Management and Administration from FCE&SCJ in 2014.

West currently serves as the Business Technology Southern Region Chairperson within the Technical College System of Georgia. In addition to serving the Technical College System of Georgia, she serves on the curriculum standards administrative committee which she oversees the updating, revising, and promotion of the National Standards for Business Education as necessary and facilitate the development of additional K-14 curriculum materials as directed by the National Business Education Association Executive Board.

Under her leadership, five students received first, and second-place awards at the Phi Beta Lambda of Georgia’s 60th Annual Leadership Conference, and three students were placed in the top ten at the 2008 Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference. To date, more than 200 students received associate degrees, almost 500 diplomas, nearly 150 technical certificates of credit, roughly 85 career placements, and about 50 Microsoft Office Specialist certifications. Also, Business Technology and Business Healthcare Technology are among the largest programs at Albany Technical College. Similarly, in 2017, Online Colleges recognized and honored business programs at Albany Technical College for excellence and achievement in online learning.

West said that attending NSU and receiving both her degrees from FCE&SCJ have prepared her for a growing career. It has opened many doors and helped leverage her career as a leader in education. FCE&SCJ allowed her to collaborate closely with faculty and staff to facilitate education programs and initiatives, celebrate diversity, promote multiculturalism, and develop a global mindset.

As an educational advocate for business and distance education, West regularly presents and contributes to scholarly publications at various conferences. She has received many recognitions for her publications, including the best conference paper from the Florida Distance Learning Association. West is currently working on a new book for those in higher education. West now lives in Albany, Ga., and enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and watching Tampa Bay Buccaneers play! Fins up to you, Theresa and for all your hard work.

Posted 12/15/21

Razor’s Edge Student Honored at Biomedical Conference

Grace Waldron

Grace Waldron, a senior majoring in Biology with a minor in Research Studies as a Razor’s Edge Research Scholar in the Darwin cohort, was one of 42 awardees in the Cancer Biology category out of 138 presenters at the 2021 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS).

Waldron’s passion for cancer research strengthened when she was accepted into the independent study program at the Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research at NSU in the Fall of 2020. Since that time, she has been able to conduct and participate in research involving treatments for lung and breast cancer, including an upcoming contribution in a manuscript publication regarding current breast cancer research. Her primary mentor is Appu Rathinavelu, Ph.D., and her lab mentor is Umamaheswari Natarajan, Ph.D. In addition to presenting at the 2021 ABRCMS, Waldron has participated in the 2021 Life Science Symposium at Florida International University, and the 2021 NSU Undergraduate Symposium.

Waldron is thankful for the opportunities the Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research and all the research associates have provided her with. She plans to attend graduate school pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Cancer Biology.

Posted 12/12/21

1 8 9 10 11 12 25