Tag: Fischler College of Education & School of Criminal Justice

A graduate of the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice is getting ready to embark on a new path as a member of the United States Secret Service. Justin Campbell graduated from NSU in 2024 with his B.S. in Criminal Justice and will soon put his degree to use in his new role with the U.S. Secret Service’s Uniformed Division. Campbell is set to begin his new role in June, which will start with orientation and several months of training.

The job will mostly entail ensuring the safety of the White House Complex, the vice president’s residence and other designated facilities. Uniformed officers also provide security for the Treasury Department and other foreign diplomatic missions in Washington D.C. Campbell was overjoyed and got emotional when he learned he received the job, a sentiment shared by his mother who also cried when she learned of her son’s accomplishment.

Working in law enforcement was something Campbell has aspired to do for a while now and he is looking forward to starting his new career and seeing where it takes him. Congratulations Justin!

Dr. Hui Fang Su, faculty member at Nova Southeastern University’s Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, has been selected as an inaugural Fellow in the nationally distinguished Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Transformative Teaching Initiative.

Out of a highly competitive pool of applicants, Dr. Su was chosen for this honor based on her exemplary commitment to innovative teaching practices. As a Fellow, Dr. Su will collaborate with a national cohort of educators and scholars to design and implement inquiry-based instruction using the Library of Congress’s extensive collection of primary source materials. The initiative includes virtual sessions led by education leaders from institutions such as Virginia Tech, the University of South Florida, and the National Council for History Education.

It culminates in an in-person residency at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., in July 2025. “This fellowship represents a significant national recognition of Dr. Su’s contributions to transformative education,” said Dr. Kimberly Durham, Dean of the College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. “Her selection not only brings prestige to our university, but also reaffirms our commitment to preparing educators who can lead change through inclusive and culturally responsive pedagogy.” Su will work alongside faculty from across the country to advance instructional strategies that promote student inquiry, critical thinking, and civic engagement, further reinforcing the Library of Congress’s mission to make its vast resources accessible and meaningful in K–12 and teacher education settings.

NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School and Criminal Justice Faculty Research Fellowship Program is a new initiative designed to expand the College’s research capacity and cultivate new faculty scholars. This innovative program supports faculty who are new to research by providing structured support and dedicated time to pursue impactful scholarly projects.

The first three projects were awarded to Drs. Melinda Coleman, Gabriela Mendez, Wilma Robles-Melendez and Jia Borror. Below is a brief summary each one: Stimulating Skills through Simulation by Dr. Melinda Coleman with collaborative partner Dr. Laura Cohen (NSU College of Psychology): This project evaluates the use of simulation-based training to enhance leadership and decision-making skills in PK–12 school administrators and counselors. Participants in graduate-level educational leadership and counseling courses will complete simulations individually and then in interdisciplinary teams. The study uses pre- and post-assessments of self-efficacy, along with qualitative feedback, to measure the impact of simulations on participants’ confidence, collaboration, and leadership development. By comparing individual and team-based outcomes, the research aims to show how joint simulations foster interprofessional understanding and cooperation.

The findings are expected to contribute to professional training models that better prepare future school leaders Everglades Classroom: A Citizen Science Initiative to Investigate Vertebrate Community Composition and Change Using Environmental DNA, Dr. Gabriela Mendez with collaborative partner Dr. Neymi Mignocchi (Eye of a Scientist company): This interdisciplinary project combines environmental science and experiential learning by engaging middle and high school students as citizen scientists in a year-long biodiversity study of the Florida Everglades. The study will use environmental DNA (eDNA) to assess vertebrate species diversity across multiple microenvironments and seasons. Alongside scientific data collection, the project will evaluate how participation impacts students’ science self-efficacy, academic interests, and awareness of endangered species.

A mixed methods design will incorporate pre/post surveys, focus groups, and biodiversity sampling to measure learning outcomes and ecological trends. The project aligns with NSU’s values of scholarship, community, and innovation and seeks external funding from the William T. Grant Foundation to scale the work. Hope and its Role in the Resilience and Experience of Immigrant Caregivers, Dr. Wilma Robles-Melendez and Dr. Jia Borror with collaborative partner Dr. Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez (Texas Women’s University) This qualitative study explores how immigrant early childhood caregivers experience and define hope, and how that hope contributes to their resilience and professional well-being.

Through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and storytelling, the project will gather narratives from 20–30 immigrant caregivers across South Florida. The goal is to uncover how hope supports these caregivers in overcoming stressors such as cultural adaptation, economic challenges, and emotional strain, while maintaining high-quality caregiving. Data will be analyzed using NVivo and narrative analysis techniques. Findings will inform policies and support systems to promote immigrant caregivers’ well-being and, by extension, enhance outcomes for the children in their care.

By: Johari Canty

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice alumna Tameka Hamilton received the Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year award by the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the Florida Association of School Administrators.

Hamilton currently works at Three Points Elementary School in Orlando and is part of the organization’s 2025 Class of National Outstanding Assistant Principal. She will be recognized at the Florida Association of School Administrators Conference in June and the NAESP National Association of Elementary School Principals Conference in July. When she got the call from Tallahassee, Hamilton said she was shocked and overjoyed.

She also said it felt good to be recognized, though she said it would be impossible to do her job without the support of other teachers, faculty and staff. “I am just one person, and together we make this thing work, and I am nobody without the people who support me each and every day.” Hamilton graduated from NSU with M.S. in Exceptional Student Education and Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and said her degrees have helped her assisting students with additional needs, as well as assisting teachers in curriculum and instruction and as an administrator.

Congratulations, Mrs. Hamilton! For more information, visit here.

By: Johari Canty

Students with the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice are getting first-hand experience in the realm of law enforcement thanks to the Special Topics Field Experiences. The course gives students the opportunity to bridge theory with practice and get an up close and behind the scenes view of actual law enforcement practices and agencies.

This term, students have gotten the opportunity to participate in several activities, including a forensics science boot camp, a tour of the 17th Judicial Court, an exposition with Davie Police, and a behind the scenes look at how the U.S. Coast Guard and Homeland Security operate. Students enrolled in the special topics course must attend three out of five offered field excursions in criminal justice.

Grace Telesco, Ph.D., Director of the School of Criminal Justice, noted that students have raved about the events, describing them as not only enjoyable but also incredibly valuable for building professional connections. “Overall, this tour exceeded all of my expectations, it allowed me to get some inside information on opportunities along with learning each area section within homeland security. This brings everything we learn at the undergraduate course level to life,” one student said. The course will culminate with a tour of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Main Jail.

By: Johari Canty

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice undergraduate student Eliana Plummer has received special recognition from Broward County Public Schools for a lesson plan she developed during her teaching internship at Seminole Middle School in Plantation, Florida.

The plan focused on law studies and worked to help eighth-grade students learn more about the criminal justice system. Students were given a fictional crime situation, supplementary evidence, and were tasked identifying the crime, the Florida statutes the crime violated, and how the crimes would be prosecuted. Plummer developed the plan by placing herself in the shoes of her students and thinking about how she would want to learn if she were their age.

That proved to be successful as not only did she get positive feedback from her students, but she also got great feedback from Broward County Schools, who plans to incorporate her lesson into the Social Sciences department. Plummer is set to graduate this May with her B.S. in Secondary Social Studies Education.

After graduation, she plans to return to New York and begin working before entering a master’s program focusing on curriculum and instruction. Congratulations, Eliana, on a job well done!

By: Johari Canty

The students of NSU’s Fischler Academy program recently got the opportunity to travel to France to learn about their education system firsthand. The group of 32 students visited Les Mureaux, a suburb about 30 minutes outside of Paris’ city center.

During the nine-day trip, students immersed themselves through participation in field-based learning in local schools and learned more about the education system in France. The group received a warm welcome from the community and had the opportunity to meet with city officials as well as the mayor of Les Mureaux, Francois Garay.

Fischler Academy Director Luke Williams, Ph.D., noted that students appreciated the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the similarities and differences between the teaching practices they have seen in the US and the methods they observed in France. During the trip the Fischler Academy students also got the chance to visit the city hall for a presentation from city officials on how funds and resources are allocated to support local families.

By: Johari Canty

A Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice student recently got the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Drug Enforcement Administration. Undergraduate Criminal Justice major Jasmine Johnson recently traveled to Washington, D.C. where she received first hand insight into the world of federal drug enforcement.

During her trip, Johnson visited the DEA Training Facility in Quantico and the DEA Chemistry Lab, where she learned about the training agents go through, and how substances are analyzed, respectively. Johnson also learned more about the One Pill Can Kill campaign, which is focused on raising awareness of the danger of counterfeit pills that are laced with fentanyl.

In addition to the tour of DEA facilities, Johnson also visited the White House where she was able to speak with Secret Service agents, and she also visited D.C.’s museums and landmarks. The trip was also made possible thanks to the help of the DEA Miami team who shared the opportunity with Dr. Grace Telesco, Director of the School of Criminal Justice.

The third annual Teachers for Tomorrow Conference was a remarkable success. This year’s event celebrated the theme “Educational Passion, Purpose, and Entrepreneurship.” It brought together a passionate community of more than 190 attendees, including aspiring educators, faculty, NSU students, NSU alumni, and education leaders from across the country.

As a fully student-run conference, the event showcased the dedication and leadership of the Pre-Professional Strategic Team students, who worked tirelessly to organize and execute every detail. Their efforts were supported and guided by Lucas Williams, director of the Fischler Academy; Assistant Professor Jennifer Berne; and Sean Stanton, admissions coordinator and founder of the conference.

The conference featured dynamic keynote speakers, engaging breakout sessions, and hands-on workshops designed to spark innovation and creativity in education. Highlights included a panel discussion on entrepreneurial approaches in teaching, collaborative sessions co-led by Fischler Academy students and NSU’s Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice faculty, and opportunities to network with peers dedicated to transforming education.

Attendees left inspired, equipped with actionable strategies, and energized to make a meaningful impact in their future classrooms. This annual event continues to grow as a cornerstone for empowering and celebrating the next generation of educators.