Faculty & Staff News
Friday, September 1st, 11am-3pm, at the Shark Cage and Mako Hall Lawn, we are having our Huizenga Academy Shark Cage Grand Opening event for our new student-run businesses. Our student businesses will offer delicious food, amazing products, and beneficial services!
Posted 08/30/23
Carl A. DeSantis
Nova Southeastern University has lost one of its own. On Aug. 10, 2023, Carl A. DeSantis – for whom the DeSantis Building was named – passed away in Delray Beach, Florida. He was 84 years old.
DeSantis was born in Boston on July 19, 1939, and was raised in South Florida. He was an entrepreneur at heart, selling newspapers and raising parakeets to help his family at a young age. After briefly attending Florida State University (FSU), DeSantis returned to Miami where began working his way up the ladder at Walgreens. He started as a stock boy and quickly rose to one for the chain’s youngest store managers.
DeSantis launched Sundown Vitamins in his garage and built it into the world’s largest vitamin manufacturer. With a constant eye on consumer demand, DeSantis created Sundown, an effective and inexpensive sunburn treatment. As consumers turned their attentions to nutrition and health products, Sundown Vitamins became Rexall Sundown, and under DeSantis’ guidance grew into a NASDAQ success and Fortune 100 company. Rexall Sundown is famously known for its multi-billion-dollar seller Osteo-Biflex.
DeSantis had a long history of philanthropy in South Florida, making donations to Florida universities such as Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and FSU. In 1998, what was then called NSU’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship (SBE) inducted DeSantis into its Entrepreneur and Business Hall of Fame. He was honored by the school for his work in founding Rexall Sundown and for his support of charitable and educational institutions. Among other achievements was his establishment of the Rexall Sundown Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Center at the University of Miami’s (UM) Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Already named for H. Wayne Huizenga in 1999, NSU’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship received a $2 million gift from DeSantis in 2000. His gift put the university’s fund-raising campaign for the renamed H. Wayne Huizenga Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship at a little more than $9 million, about two-thirds of the estimated cost of building and equipping the school.
Carl DeSantis with President Hanbury
When DeSantis visited the Davie campus in September 2012 for a speaking engagement with students, faculty, and staff, he spoke about the keys to success in business.
He told the audience to “look for voids in life,” to find consumer needs and demands and fill them. He advised “don’t ever put the brakes on,” to be persistent, dedicated, and hard-working to get the job done. He also advocated “knowing what you are capable of,” essentially understanding your strengths and skills, knowing what you need to achieve your goals, and surrounding yourself with good people. It was DeSantis’ blueprint for life.
Among DeSantis’ most notable investments were Celsius, a fitness drink and powder; Tabañero, an award-winning hot sauce; and Kwandwe, an eco-tourist resort in South Africa. He also invested in a few landmark real estate projects in South Florida. DeSantis owned 30 percent of Celsius shares, which skyrocketed in 2020, making DeSantis a billionaire.
In the words of his family, DeSantis left a memorable mark on the many lives through his “infectious laughter, warm smile, and genuine interest in others. His wisdom, guidance, and mentorship touched the lives of countless individuals, leaving an indelible mark on their personal and professional journeys.”
It’s clear that he left his mark at NSU, too.
“His legacy of hard work, innovation, and generosity made him an ideal namesake for the building that houses NSU’s H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship,” said Dr. George L. Hanbury, President and CEO of NSU. “He was a true inspiration.”
Posted 08/27/23
For many of NSU’s faculty, summers aren’t all rest and relaxation. Instead, these consummate professionals serve as true ambassadors for the university, spreading their expertise to broader audiences. Albert Williams, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor of Finance and Economics at the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, is one such faculty member.
Over the summer, Williams appeared on two television shows and made presentations at three primary schools in his home country of Belize. In June, he was interviewed live by Love TV in a one-hour segment. (Love TV is the No. 1 TV station in Belize.) Williams and Love TV hosts, Rene Villanueva and Troy Gabb, had a lively and thought-provoking discussion on the economics of poverty and possible solutions.
Williams focused on education as a key solution to break the cycle of poverty. He discussed the need for micro-financing and the strengthening of private and public sector institutions that target this segment of the population. He emphasized the need for agricultural extension officers to provide a more comprehensive approach to help the rural small farmers.
“They should include recommendations for production, storage, marketing, management, financing, and education in general,” he said. “Extension officers could speak to the spouses and children of the farmers to get a better picture of the total situation of the family. This way, a comprehensive approach could be used to improve their lives and break the cycle of poverty.”
Williams also encouraged entrepreneurs to consider creating more labor-intensive businesses to be able to hire more people from this segment of the population. He combined his talk with a little entertainment, playing his guitar for the audience as well.
In his second one-hour TV interview, Williams spoke about the importance of education in his life, in a effort to encourage and motivate others to pursue an education. Williams started the discussion by playing original tunes on his guitar and discussing some tips to play the guitar. Then he sat down with Villanueva and had a candid conversation about education and success.
Williams emphasized the importance of hard work and discipline for academic and life success, and he discussed the importance of setting goals. As the conversation turned to the importance of getting a basic education, Williams agreed with Villanueva that we should not be failing 12-year-olds in primary school but finding a way to help them to succeed.
“These television presentations are an extension of my classroom,” Williams said.
Williams made presentations at three primary schools (Punta Gorda Methodist, Forest Home Methodist, and Little Flower (Catholic)) in Southern Belize. His presentations focused on motivating and encouraging students to continue their education in high school or technical school. Students had a chance to ask questions during the visits. At the end of the presentations, Williams asked students what they learned, and many raised their hands and responded with answers such as, “Work hard,” and “Never give up.” In addition to the question-and-answer sessions, Williams serenaded the students with his American Fender Stratocaster.
Williams said he enjoys his opportunities to be an envoy for education in his home country.
“I’m living the mission statement for the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, “Best for Our World™,” he said.
Posted 08/27/23
Starting August 7, 2023, nominations will be accepted for the annual Provost’s Research and Scholarship Awards. Last year this program was expanded to increase recognition opportunities for NSU faculty, and to improve accessibility to faculty from all academic disciplines and career stages.
The Provost’s Research and Scholarship Awards (PRSA) program now awards up to four awards. The PRSA program has two disciplinary categories and two awards within each category by career stage (one for early career and one for established faculty). Therefore, the below four awards, given sufficient candidates in each category, will be awarded annually:
The purpose of this program is to recognize demonstrated achievement in research, scholarship, and creative pursuits by NSU faculty members. These annual awards recognize distinguished accomplishments in the pursuit of research, creative, and scholarly activities across disciplines and career stages, as noted above.
More information and the link to the application is available here: http://www.nova.edu/academic-affairs/provost-award/index.html.
The deadline to submit a nomination or to self-nominate is September 6, 2023, 5:00 p.m., EDT. The winners of the Provost’s Research and Scholarship Awards will be announced in November 2023.
Posted 08/04/23
On Wednesday, July 12, 2023, Arreva and Nova Southeastern University presented the “Driven by Cause Philanthropic Summit” at the Alan B. Levan I NSU Broward Center of Innovation on NSU’s Davie Campus. This year’s inaugural summit marked the first of many to come, and featured renowned national and local speakers, executive directors, funders, sports foundations, and educators.
David Blyer, president and CEO of Arreva and NSU alum, and Dean Andrew Rosman of NSU’s H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship (HCBE) were the main hosts of the all-day event.
Among the speakers were Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Broward; Soraya Rivera-Moya, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House of South Florida; Adam Williams, Ph.D., associate professor of Public Administration at HCBE; Kuang-Ting Tai, Ph.D., assistant professor of Public Administration at HCBE; Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator; Steve Higgins, president and CEO of Carter; and Nathan Chappell, co-author of “The Generosity Crisis.” There was also a roundtable panel conversation featuring Javier Sanchez, executive director for Miami Dolphins Challenge Cancer, and Sarah Martin, senior director of the Miami Marlins Youth Academy & Foundation Programs.
Among the many subjects discussed were the importance of community foundations, donation decision-making, leveraging trust as a nonprofit, charity vs. philanthropy, and how AI will change the future of generosity in our world.
Posted 07/17/23
The “Driven By Cause Philanthropic Summit – presented by Arreva and Nova Southeastern University – will be held on July 12, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation on the NSU Davie Campus. This premier philanthropic summit, designed for nonprofit leaders, is an unparalleled opportunity to network, engage, and learn from renowned national and local speakers, executive directors, and educators, addressing some of the most profound topics in the nonprofit industry. Your participation in the summit will also allow you to receive 7 CFRE credits.
Learn more and find out at the NSU Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (BEDI) Advisory Council’s “Juneteenth with a Breakfast + Book Reading” discussion on Monday, June 19, at the Alvin Sherman Library from 9 to 11 a.m. Join us in-person or via Zoom in reading, On Juneteenth, by Annette Gordon-Reed.
The “Breakfast + Book Reading” of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annette Gordon-Reed’s 2021 book “On Juneteenth.” To discover more about the history of Juneteenth and African American cultural traditions and access the book in print, eBook, or as an e-audiobook, click here to access the BEDI library guide compiled by the Alvin Sherman Library.
For this event, we are excited to have a panel discussion facilitated and moderated by Ransford Edwards, Ph.D., associate professor of political science from the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, William Hawks, Ed.D., assistant professor of management from the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, and Tamara Lumsden from Campus Life.
The event will take place at the Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery on the second floor of the Alvin Sherman Library on NSU’s Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus. For those attending online, here is the Zoom link to participate, and we request that you fill out the registration form.
The first ten registrants will receive a free copy of the book, so register now! Find out more or quickly scan the QR code in the attached flyer. Please share this information to encourage participation in this celebratory event.
Please also visit the BEDI Advisory Council website for information about upcoming commemorative and BEDI-related events.
Posted 06/01/23
An artist rendering of the future trading floor in the Carl DeSantis Building on NSU’s Davie Campus
On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, construction began on an impressive business trading floor in the Carl DeSantis Building on Nova Southeastern University’s Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus.
The trading floor is made possible by a gift from The Jerry Taylor & Nancy Bryant Foundation, an organization that has a history of gift-giving to NSU.
The trading floor will be located on the second floor of the building that is home to the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Heavy construction will affect some offices in the DeSantis Building through the summer, and a Dec. 16, 2023, soft opening is planned, which will coincide with the 20th anniversary celebration of the DeSantis Building. The floor will have its official opening in March 2024.
The trading floor will give students hands-on experience in conducting research and managing a range of investments starting with a fund that considers Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk factors. ESG refers to the three key factors when measuring the sustainability and ethical impact of an investment in a business or company. On the trading floor, students will meet to discuss their research and trade recommendations with an advisory board comprised of professionals with expertise in various roles in the investing space and corporate social responsibilities and sustainability.
“This space will provide an opportunity for teaching and research activities surrounding financial instrument trading,” said Dean Andrew Rosman, from the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
Posted 05/31/23
Fabienne Cadet, Ph. D.
Fabienne Cadet, Ph.D., an associate professor of marketing for the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, is among this year’s Poets & Quants’ 40 Under 40 MBA professors list.
This is the 11th edition of the annual recognition, which identifies and celebrates the most talented young professors currently teaching in MBA programs around the world. To date, Poets & Quants has highlighted 440 exceptional MBA professors.Professors on this year’s list come from 36 different business schools — the most of any year prior — including 11 schools outside of the United States. Overall, the publication received more than 1,500 nominations from students, colleagues, administrators, and professors themselves. P&Q’s editorial staff evaluated each nominee on teaching (given a 70% weight) and research (given the remaining 30% weight).
For teaching, P&Q considered the nominations received — both quality and quantity. For example, if P&Q received 100 or more nominations for a professor but there was little substance to the nominations, they weren’t as likely to score as highly as a professor who received a dozen in-depth and thoughtful nominations. We also considered any teaching-related awards.For research, P&Q looked at the volume and impact of the professor’s scholarly work. To do this, it examined Google Scholar citations as well as major media attention received by the professor and his or her research. Lastly, akin to teaching, P&Qconsidered research awards and grants.Poets & Quants congratulates each winner in this year’s crop of 40-Under-40 MBA professors. No matter what they study, the courses they teach, or where they work, all are among the most promising young professors tasked with transferring their knowledge and experience to promising young professionals embarking on their careers.
See the full announcement here.
Posted 06/05/23
Professor Selima Ben Mrad at the Tunis Business School with Tunisian ambassador Joey Hood, the school’s Dean and faculty as well as members from the embassy and faculty from Mediterranean School of Business.
Nova Southeastern University Professor Selima Ben Mrad, Ph.D. – a Fulbright Specialist at the Mediterranean School of Business at South Mediterranean University – spent April 26 through May 13 in Tunisia.
Professor Selima Ben Mrad with Tunisian Ambassador Joey Hood
Ben Mrad, with the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, was invited by the American Embassy in Tunisia to attend a presentation with Joey Hood, the ambassador to Tunisia at the Tunis Business School at the University of Tunis in Tunisia. The Tunis Business School is a public institution that teaches American business.
“I had the opportunity to attend a presentation about the business school’s curriculum and accreditation, which was both informative and enlightening,” she said.
During her stay, Ben Mrad was able to work closely with Dr. Leila Triki, the dean of the Mediterranean School of Business, as well as the administration and department chairs.
“One of the highlights of my time there was conducting workshops at the school of business with the dedicated faculty members,” she said.
The workshops focused on various aspects of the assurance of learning process, including the development of rubrics, streamlining the process, and collaborative efforts in evaluating assessments to identify areas for improvement.
Posted 06/04/23