Online Newsletter for NSU Faculty & Staff
First grade partnered with Upper School students to make holiday cards with messages of gratitude for our local heroes. The cards were delivered to firefighters, police officers, health care workers, and Publix employees.
Learn more about NSU University School’s college preparatory program for students in Preschool – Grade 12 at www.uschool.nova.edu.
Posted 01/14/24
The Robert E. Dooley Trust NSU Center for Autism Endowment Fund was set up to help fund and support NSU programs that benefit individuals with autism, and several professors at the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice have been named as recipients of the award.
Among the recipients of the award are Maribel Del Rio-Roberts and Timothy Scala, along with a project involving Dana Scott Mills.
Mills will serve as the methodologist/statistics person on a project titled “Measuring rehabilitation health services access and use among emerging adults on the autism spectrum: A pilot study.”
The study aims to “develop and test a questionnaire for the measurement of rehabilitation access and utilization among emerging adults with autism spectrum disorder.”
Overall, the goal is to understand the challenges young people with autism spectrum disorder face, and how rehabilitation services can help improve their health and quality of life.
Scala and Del Rio-Roberts also received funding for a project titled, “A Training Program to Support Faculty & Staff Working with Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Higher Education.
Both Del Rio-Roberts and Scala are serving as PIs for the project. The aim of this program is to provide comprehensive training to “selected NSU staff who may encounter a student with ASD, so they can more effectively provide support.”
The program also aims to provide training to faculty and public safety officers as well. The training will be provided through psychoeducation and Mursion simulation activities.
Del Rio-Roberts also received the award for a project supporting Access Plus. The effort, titled “Supporting a Comprehensive College Support Program for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”
Access Plus is a program at NSU that offers various supporting services to students with autism spectrum disorder throughout their college career. Funds from the Dooley Trust are now being used to support and cover the fees associated with the program.
Congratulations to all!
Posted 01/10/24
From left, Triet Do, Diana Dancea, Cristina Perez and Heidi Hellenbrand
Students in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) participated in the 84th Annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition.
This is the second year we have competed in this event, the preeminent mathematics competition for undergraduate college students in the United States and Canada. As it does each year, the competition consists of two 3-hour sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
During each session, participants work individually on 6 challenging mathematical problems. The exam is colloquially known as the world’s most challenging math exam. While the exam has a maximum score of 120 points, in many years the median score among the more than 3000 competitors (all of whom excel in advanced mathematics) is between 0 and 3. The exam is done individually, but a university’s highest three scores get combined to make up a team score. Awards are handed out to both individuals and teams. The exam is underwritten and overseen by the Mathematical Association of America.
Our Putnam Exam team practiced hard for the past year under the mentorship of Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, Radleigh Santos, Ph.D. Santos taught MATH 3990 Competitive Mathematics Seminar, a one credit course students could take to prepare for the exam.
Posted 12/10/23
Congratulations to the Department of Humanities and Politics (DHP) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) for their second consecutive win of the Cupcake Challenge!
With 78% participation, they helped HCAS become the leader in the NSU Give Back Tuesday. The Dean’s Office came in second place and the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts came in third. Honorable Mentions went to the Department of Marine and Environmental Science and the Department of Mathematics.
Posted 12/10/23
Tasfia Howlader
Tasfia Howlader, a passionate freshman Farquhar Honors College student, is making a global impact through her nonprofit, Amader Shopno (Our Dream). Fueled by the challenges faced by underprivileged students, her mission is to bridge the educational divide.
“The gap between education and the educational supplies [needed] for those around the world is one that not a lot of people are familiar with,” Howlader said. “Amader Shopno strives to raise awareness [about] the significance of education and empower the next generation with gratitude for the individuals who help shape them into who they are.”
Howlader was inspired to create this nonprofit during the COVID-19 pandemic as she witnessed family members in Bangladesh struggling without access to educational devices when classes moved online. Her passion was further intensified by a trip to Ghana in 2022 as part of the Nyah Project, where she witnessed the disparities in education there.
Her nonprofit has provided school supplies to those in need in both local and global communities, including Bangladesh. Social media is a big part of her advocacy, as she uses Instagram (@AmaderShopnoInc) to promote and achieve her goals.
“[The] most fulfilling part is [seeing] the difference the small steps make,” said Howlader. “I love being able to see a simple smile in exchange for effortless work.”
Her nonprofit work is intrinsically tied to her academic journey. Her drive to make education accessible for all propels her exploration of public policy and inclusivity in education as a public health major. She aspires to contribute to the healthcare field specifically, focusing on research, public health policy, and the impact of identity in healthcare.
Learn more about Amader Shopno.
Posted 12/10/23
Fort Lauderdale-based bankruptcy attorney Chad Van Horn, founding partner of Van Horn Law Group, P.A., and a graduate of Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law, is one of the participants in the Netflix reality show “Squid Game: The Challenge,” which recently dropped on the streaming platform. Out of hundreds of thousands of applicants worldwide, Van Horn, known as player 286, secured a coveted spot among the 456 contestants competing for a staggering $4.56 million prize.
What sets Van Horn apart from other players is his commitment to making a difference. If he emerges as the winner of “Squid Game: The Challenge,” he has pledged to donate the entire prize money to Big Brothers Big Sisters to establish a nationwide financial literacy program for the underprivileged youth in their program.
The highly intense and physically demanding challenges of “Squid Game: The Challenge” puts players’ strategies, alliances, and character to the ultimate test. While enduring the grueling competition, Van Horn, the founding partner attorney of Van Horn Law Group, remained resolute in upholding his principles, even in the face of adversity.
“The taping of ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ was an incredibly fierce and demanding experience, both physically and emotionally,” he said. “Every day I participated, I was pushed to my limits, but I remained focused on maintaining my integrity. Even in the most challenging circumstances, I steadfastly held onto my ethics and values.”
With its extensive cast and unprecedented cash prize, “Squid Game: The Challenge” is expected to captivate a massive global audience, much like its predecessor. The original “Squid Game” drama currently holds the record as Netflix’s most popular series of all time, with more than 1.65 billion viewing hours in the first 28 days following its September 2021 premiere. Van Horn, a dedicated viewer himself, was drawn to the show due to its exploration of financial insecurity.
“The ‘Squid Game’ drama intrigued me because it shed light on the desperation faced by individuals in severe financial predicaments,” he said. “As a bankruptcy attorney, I witness people every day who are overwhelmed by debt, feeling hopeless and panicked. While ‘Squid Game’ showcases extreme circumstances and consequences, the underlying emotions resonate—overwhelming stress and fear.”
Van Horn continues his connections with NSU since graduating and establishing his practice, which is one of top five bankruptcy firms in the state based on cases filed. NSU’s Public Interest Program coordinates with Chad’s namesake Van Horn Law Group Pro Bono Honor Program, developing a variety of programs and opportunities for students to fulfill pro bono hours, while maintaining the records of students’ pro bono work. The Van Horn Law Group Pro Bono Honor Program at the Shepard Broad College of Law recognizes students who are committed to serving the community and engages in the belief that the overall improvement of our community starts with giving citizens – people who make up the foundation of the community – equal access to the legal system.
Posted 11/27/23
Three students from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry (NSUCO) were crowned the EssilorLuxottica Academic Challenge champions for 2023 at the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) Academy meeting in New Orleans.
The EssilorLuxottica Academic Challenge celebrated its sixth annual competition where student representatives from 25 schools and colleges of optometry answer rounds of eye health-related questions to win significant prizes.
Navroop Kaur, Dhruvi Patel, and Amanda Aker from NSUCO took home the first-place prizes of $1,000 from the AAO, a pair of Ray-Ban Stories from EssilorLuxottica, and Volk lenses. A celebration was held on Friday, Oct. 20, at the NSU Davie/Fort Lauderdale campus with NSUCO administrators, faculty, staff, and students.
This achievement showcases the commitment and dedication of NSUCO’s students, and we look forward to their continued success in the field of optometry.
Posted 11/26/23
From left, Dr. Stephen O’Brien, Ph.D., and Robert Gallo, M.D.
Stephen J. O’Brien, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), was invited to serve on a distinguished symposium panel to discuss the science of human viruses at the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Human Virology (IHV).
The symposium was also an event to celebrate the scientific legacy of the eminent biomedical researcher, Robert Gallo, M.D., who co-discovered the HIV and proved it caused AIDS, as well as pioneered studies that discovered the first human RNA tumor viruses (retroviruses).
The focus of the IHV2023 Symposium was “Viruses of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”. It was held on September 28-29, 2023, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. O’Brien, who led the research team that described the first human gene to influence HIV-1 infection and AIDS progression, served on the discussion panel addressing the virology of COVID-19 and HIV. His research interests include human genetics, comparative genomics, genetic epidemiology, molecular evolution, HIV, FIV, AIDS, Virology, forensic genetics, conservation, and bio-informatics.
The symposium featured research luminaries including Robert Gallo, MD, Director Emeritus and Co-Founder of the IHV, and Rochelle Walensky MD, MPH, and Robert Redfield Jr., MD, both recent Emeriti Directors of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many other notable scientific and clinical researchers presented discoveries on new viruses and new insights into viral infections and pathogenesis.
Posted 11/26/23
The External Funding Recognition Reception is an annual event that provides recognition for the efforts of NSU faculty and staff who have received external grant funding in the previous fiscal year. Fiscal Year 2023 had exceptional activity in the area of external funding, with total cumulative active awards of about $167 million, of which $71 million supported research. This event recognized the extraordinary efforts of all faculty who contributed to this accomplishment and encourages the continued pursuit of all external funding.
There were 168 NSU Principal Investigators and Co-Principal Investigators from 14 colleges and eight units who were honored at the NSU External Funding Recognition Reception for their external funding successes in FY 2023. Provost Chenail also announced this year’s Provost’s Research and Scholarship Award recipients during the event. This year the event took place on Monday, Nov. 13, at the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation in the Alvin Sherman Library. The event was hosted by Ronald Chenail, Ph.D., NSU Provost and Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs; Kenneth Dawson-Scully, Ph.D., NSU Senior Vice President of the Division of Research and Economic Development; and Gary S. Margules, Sc.D., NSU Vice-President for Research.
Posted 11/29/23
There was a good contingent of NSU students and faculty attending the annual meeting of the Florida Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (FLASM) at the Guy Harvey Resort in St. Augustine, Florida, which was held Oct. 13-15.
Julie Torruellas Garcia, Ph.D., Department of Biological Sciences in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) serves as a Regional Planning Coordinator for the American Society for Microbiology and was one of the organizers and moderators of the event. Other faculty in attendance included Jose V. Lopez, Ph.D. and Andrew Ozga, Ph.D., Department of Biological Sciences, and Robert Smith, Ph.D. and Bo-Young Hong, Ph.D., NSU MD faculty.
Trent Moulder, a student in the Masters in Biological Sciences program in HCAS mentored by Dr. Robert Smith from NSU MD, won 3rd place for “Outstanding Graduate Poster Presentation.” Ashley Janke, undergraduate biology major conducting research in Dr. Julie Torruellas Garcia’s lab, presented her honors thesis research and won 2nd place for “Outstanding Undergraduate Oral Presentation.” In addition, several students received travel awards from FLASM, PanSGA or the Biology Student Award to attend the conference.
NSU faculty presenters included:
NSU graduate student presenters included:
NSU undergraduate student presenters included:
Posted 11/05/23