Tag: Fischler College of Education & School of Criminal Justice

Sociodrama Club Presents Programs on Suicide Prevention

NSU’s Sociodrama Club: Stage for Change presented two powerful programs in light of Suicide Prevention in September.

The first program, titled “How Can I Help?” was held Sept. 17 at the Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale for the United Way. The performance was hosted and facilitated by Drs. Grace Telesco and Maribel Del Rio-Roberts, faculty members with NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice.

The program focused on factors and interventions for teen suicide. Inside the audience were both adolescents and adults. However, at the end of the program, an audience member approached the group and let them know that the performance gave her a tremendous amount of hope.

That moment alone demonstrated the impact of these programs and held true to one of Dr. Telesco’s common messages: “The important work of the sociodrama ensemble is helping save lives!”

Days later, on Sept. 21, the group, along with Dr. Telesco and Dr. Maria Levi-Minzi, Assistant Professor, NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, traveled to Port St. Lucie where they presented and facilitated the program “What’s Wrong with Joe?” at the Treasure Coast 2022 Child Summit.

This program highlighted effective crisis intervention and trauma informed strategies for a child sexual survivor.

Audience members and participants for this program were local law enforcement, victim advocates, medical professionals, and social workers.

Both programs were filmed and are available to be viewed online, along with a host of other powerful performances. To watch “How Can I Help?”, click here. To watch “What’s Wrong with Joe?”, click here.

For more information on NSU’s Sociodrama Club, please reach out to Dr. Grace Telesco at: gt243@nova.edu.

Posted 10/09/22

Education Professors Publish a Paper on Teaching Autistic Students

Two professors from the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice have published a new article.

The article, Teaching Math to Preschool Children with Autism, was published by Hui Fang Huang “Angie” Su, Ed.D., and Jia Borror, Ed.D.

The paper, published by the World Academy of Science, Engineering, and Technology, focuses on effective ways for educators to teach math to preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The study examined two different methods of teaching preschoolers with ASD at a preschool. One method used a combination of discrete trial teaching and Strategies for Teaching Based on Autism Research (STAR). That method was the regular math curriculum utilized at the preschool.

The second method was a naturalistic teaching method called Project MIND – Math is Not Difficult.

The teaching methods were randomly assigned to four classrooms with students with ASD, and then after three months, the student’s knowledge of mathematics subjects was evaluated.

To read the complete study, click here.

Posted 10/09/22

Education Professor Interviews With Fortune Magazine

David B. Ross, Ed.D.

David B. Ross, Ed.D., professor, with the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice was recently featured in a Fortune Education article titled, “Who Should Get an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership?”

The aptly named article focuses on the Organizational Leadership Ed.D. programs at Nova Southeastern University and Baylor University for various students who may choose to earn such a degree.

During the hour-plus long interview with Fortune, Ross gave a bit of insight into the types of students he has encountered academically over the years in the program.

“I said ‘We have teachers, we have nurses, military, and students from various professions and organizations – [Organizational Leadership] can be for anybody because an organization is an organization,’” he recalled.

Ross mentioned how the course work in the program is designed to be relevant in order to prepare a student to be a leader in any field and even help build their portfolio — from the papers they write, to their option of the Strategic Research Project or dissertation as a final Capstone.

“The Strategic Research Project would be good for people who [say] ‘Nope, I do not want to be a college/university professor, so do I really need a dissertation? Probably not.’” Then I kind of went into about how it helps build solutions, strategies, and possible outcomes, and later could be implemented into the organization when they finish.” “It should be noted that we want the student to make a clear decision of which Capstone pathway will be in their best interest.”

Overall, Ross said his goal was to really explain that the degree can be used by anyone who wishes to diversify themselves or just be a better leader in an organization, no matter what the organization may be.

“It is a kind of catch-all in a way,” he said. “It attracts people from any field. Like I said before, an organization is an organization.”

He also added that students learn in the program that not just any organization is successful, but a learning organization that grows and adapts is one that is successful while allowing the employees to be inspired to take risks. A learning organization encourages their people to be creative problem solvers and decision makers through a lens with vision, collaboration, trust, and more.

To read the full Fortune article, click here.

Posted 09/25/22

Retired Education Alum Continues to Inspire Next Generation

Elaine Saef, graduate of NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice has dedicated more than 30 years in the field of education. Starting as a teacher, she ultimately served as a principal in the Broward County School system.

Elaine Saef

In that time, she also earned her M.S. in Educational Leadership from NSU. But recently, after dedicating so much time to inspiring generations of students, she retired. But she wasn’t finished. She has since taken on a role as an Internship Supervisor with the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice.

Internship supervisors are Education professionals who mentor aspiring educators during their final semester as they work in a real school classroom. It’s a role that Saef holds dear.

“I actually was very excited for being a graduate of NSU, and then the opportunity to still have my hands in education,” she said.

In her role, Saef serves as part of the student’s support system as they work in the classroom. She observes them in the classroom and offers feedback to the student and the teacher, along with guiding them and offering recommendations and resources.

One thing Saef hopes to teach her students before they go out into the field is to make sure you never lose that caring spirit.

“You have to make your classroom welcoming and a caring and nurturing environment, and that environment and the way you make the students feel – if they feel welcomed and nurtured, they’re going to want to do anything in the world for you,” she said.

Saef mentored several students during the Winter semester. This Fall, she is once again mentoring students in the classroom, but also taking part in a new program called GoReact which will allow her to also mentor students from a distance.

The system works by recording the students as they are in the classroom, and Saef can then watch the recording and offer virtual feedback and resources.

“It’s really cool,” Saef said. “I can be anywhere in the world and still be able to supervise without having to physically go to the school.”

Overall, Saef said the role is a way of giving back to both NSU and Broward Schools.

“Being able to go back and help these students from NSU now that may possibly become a Broward County teacher just sort of completes the cycle to give back to the system that created who I became as an adult,” she said. “To be able to give back to that system is really cool — and especially it being NSU, because I graduated from NSU, so I’m giving back to the school that helped me.”

Posted 09/28/22

U.S. Sports Academy Promotes Fischler Graduate to Dean

From left: Provost Tomi Wahlstrom, Vandy Pacetti-Donelson, President T.J. Rosandich, and Brandon Spradley meet for Deans’ Appointment Signing.

The United States Sports Academy (USSA) has announced that Vandy Pacetti-Donelson, Ed.D., will serve as the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. She previously served the academy as its Director of Library and Instructional Design as well as an Assistant Professor of Humanities and Research.

She has been involved in the successful development and implementation of consistent quality standards, template design, and user experience of all course content through the User Story Successive Approximation Model of iterative development. She is a member of the Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT) and the American Library Association (ALA). Her expertise is in metacognition, project management, and scholarly communication practices research. Pacetti-Donelson has been involved in developing and facilitating non-profit bylaw revisions and championing policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Pacetti-Donelson earned her Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Southern Mississippi. She graduated from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice in 2018 with her doctoral degree in Instructional Leadership with an emphasis in Instructional Technology and Distance Education.

Previously, Pacetti-Donelson served 20 years as a librarian and educator in K-12 education in central Florida before serving as online librarian at Ultimate Medical Academy in Tampa, Florida. She is a nationally recognized presenter and advocate for libraries.

Pacetti-Donelson said that receiving her degree from Fischler prepared her to succeed by helping her to develop advanced problem-solving skills to help create positive change and cope with the challenges in education today. She appreciated that her professors were invested in her success from the moment she began her program to the day she started her first job after graduation. She said their example demonstrated the type of educator and administrator she hoped to be one day.

The Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice wishes you the best of luck as you step into your new role. Fins up to you!

Posted 9/11/22

Access Plus Program Resumes Face-to-Face Support

With the start of the 2022-2023 academic year, NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice Access Plus, a support program for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is returning to in-person services.

After moving to providing quality services online during the pandemic, Access Plus will resume providing face-to-face support to students with autism spectrum disorder. Program staff are dedicated to serving as liaisons for students between faculty, staff, and university administrators, and they are also working in conjunction with the Office of Student Disability Services and Testing and Tutoring Center to meet the needs of the students. 

There are currently three students enrolled in Access Plus. The trio of students will meet with peer mentors several days a week in the Mailman Segal Center building where they will learn about a variety of topics like organization, planning, and study skills.

Additional services that will be provided include a psychoeducational group where the students will learn skills on topics like making friends and stress management.

The list goes on when it comes to the services available to the students in the program. A Fischler Academy (Shark Teach) student will also be on hand to help the Access Plus students get more involved on campus. They will help identify on-campus events, activities and organizations of interest and will help the students take part along with helping them build strategies for meeting new people.

The support doesn’t stop when it comes to academics and social activities. With the use of Mursion software, Access Plus will provide students with live practical experience for job interviews. This same software also gave two recent Access Plus graduates training for interviews which they are now using as they search for employment.

Access Plus will also deliver training to faculty and staff on the best practices for supporting students with ASD in the classroom and college setting.

With the start of the new academic year, Access Plus is ready to provide the best services available.

For more information on Access Plus, please click here, or contact faculty administrator, Dr. Maribel Del-Rio Roberts at mdelrio@nova.edu.

Posted 08/31/22

Education Alumna Keynote Speaker at Annual Summer Institute

Shelley Cooper, Ed.D.

NSU’s Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice held its annual Summer Institute (virtually) from July 14-16. The event saw more than 200 education doctoral students representing the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Colombia. The students were able to connect with one another, faculty, alumni and more.

Education Alumna, Shelley Cooper, Ed.D., served as both an adjunct professor and keynote speaker for the event. During her presentation, Cooper said she wanted to explain the importance of keeping an end goal in mind.

“What’s your endgame? What’s your goal? What’s your why?” she asked “What are you going to do with [your doctorate?] How are you going to change the world and how will what you’re doing make a difference for anybody?”

Cooper said that while she stresses the importance of keeping your eye on the prize and planning ahead, she also mentioned that it’s important to take some time to enjoy the moment.

“My experience as a student was: ‘I’m paying a lot of money. I have these objectives and goals, I have a timeline in mind… and the only thing between me and my objective is writing this dissertation and I just want to get it over with,’” Cooper described. “It wasn’t until the end of the experience … I realized, for four years, I really should have been enjoying the experience.”

Cooper earned her Doctorate of Education in Instructional Technology and Distance Education in 2014.  She is the founder of Diversity Telehealth, a telemedicine consulting firm that specializes in bringing healthcare to underserved populations in diverse communities.

During her studies, she attended four Summer Institutes and when asked how they were she used one word: “Amazing.”

“The interaction with the other cohorts and team members and the professors, just the whole environment was wonderful,” she said.

Cooper added that attending the event as a student and alumnus has brought the experience full circle and allowed her to better serve the students.

“I could see it from both sides, and I think that really makes a huge difference in helping the students have a successful experience,” she said.

Posted 08/14/22

Donate Now to the 2022-2023 Literacy Alive! Book Drive

Join members of Kappa Delta Pi, Omega Theta Chapter 584, an International Honor Society in Education, in its efforts to help increase the level of literacy in underserved communities. Give your slightly used books a new home. Donate today!

Leave your donation in the drop-off box in the lunchroom on the 4th floor of the DeSantis Building or contact, faculty adviser Sandra Trotman, Ph.D., at 954-262-7915 or trotman@nova.edu. to have them picked up from your office on NSU’s main campus. If you are at NSU’s Kendall campus, please contact, Maria Grethel Mendez, Ed.D., at 305-275-2616 or mendmari@nova.edu.

Posted 08/14/22

Education Professor Joins State Mathematics Board of Directors

Professor Hui Fang “Angie” Su, Ed.D.

Hui Fang “Angie” Su, Ed.D., professor at Nova Southeastern University’s Abraham Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice has been elected to the Florida Council of Teachers of Mathematics Board of Directors.

Su has been elected to serve as the Vice President of Higher Education.

Su will have a number of duties, including coordinating activities of the council at the high education level; serving as a member of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Curriculum/Best Practices Committee, the Grants and Awards Committee and the Treasurer’s Audit Committee; and more.

The Florida Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a state chapter of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The goal of the organization is to promote the improvement of Florida’s mathematics instruction programs.

The council currently has more 1,100 members across 14 regions.

Congratulations on your new role Angie!

Posted 07/17/22

Education Doctoral Student Receives Assistant Principal Award

Dan Vera and Nicola Gardere

Nicola Gardere, a student in the doctor of education program at Nova Southeastern University’s  Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice has been named as one of Texas’ Outstanding Assistant Principals in the state.

Gardere attended the Texas Association for Secondary Schools Principals (TASSP) Conference last month where she was awarded the Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year for Region 12 in the State of Texas.

The news was previously announced and covered by the Marlin Democrat.

“I am grateful and honored to be selected as the Region 12 Assistant Principal of the Year,” Gardere told the newspaper at the time. “As a servant leader it is important for me to be successful because my success creates opportunities for others.”

Joining Gardere at the conference was Alumni Ambassador Dan Vera, Ed.D. Vera recently began serving as an Alumni Ambassador back in February and in that time, he has helped get the word out to prospective students in Texas and establish partnerships with two organizations.

One of the organizations NSU has partnered with is the Texas Association for Secondary School Principals, allowing members of the group to receive a 20% discount on the college’s program.

Congratulations Nicola and thank you Dan for all your work!

Posted 07/17/22

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