Category: Pride Bites

Education Alum Publishes Article on Symbolic Violence

Nahum Jean-Louis, Ed.D.

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice graduate Nahum Jean-Louis, Ed.D., is celebrating the publishing of his article “Symbolic Violence in The Classroom: How A Eurocentric Curriculum Excludes & Marginalizes Minority Students” in the journal Belonging.

The article was co-written by Mary Clisbee, Ed.D., and focuses on symbolic violence and how it excludes and marginalizes minority students.

Jean-Louis explained that symbolic violence is any violence that isn’t tangible, for example, verbal assault, racism, using disparaging terms and more.

The article came about after Jean-Louis and Clisbee gave a talk at a conference about diversity. After the presentation, the pair was contacted and asked to write an article detailing their research.

In their article, Jean-Louis and Clisbee discussed how Eurocentrism gives priority to European philosophy and history at the detriment of minority students.

“Minority students have their own cultures, experiences and history, and those are put on the back burner in favor of European culture,” Jean-Louis said. “Minority students are forced to learn from a culture or from a knowledge in which they don’t relate to. And as a result of that, because they can’t relate to it and because their experiences are sidelined or marginalized, they suffer in terms of performance.”

They then went on to explain ways to combat symbolic violence and Eurocentrism.

“One way that I suggested, in my research, to mitigate the effects of symbolic violence and the effects of Eurocentrism is to create a diverse curriculum and to have equity in the curriculum,” Jean-Louis said.

The pair hope that a variety of people can learn and benefit from the research.

“Our message was directed to school administrators, policymakers, and the community at large,” Jean-Louis said.

Jean-Louis graduated from NSU with his doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching. He is currently working on several other projects, including a collaborative book on decolonization in education and a book that focuses on the problems minority students face in the United States school system.

Read the complete article.

Posted 08/13/23

Faculty Presents at International Conference in Iceland

Hinckley presenting at the University of Iceland.

Jackie Hinckley, Ph.D.

Jackie Hinckley, Ph.D., a professor in the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences of the Department of Speech/Language Pathology, was one of the platform presenters at the Nordic Aphasia Conference June 14 – 16, 2023, held at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik, Iceland. The conference was attended by over 200 experts from Europe, Australia, and North America.

While in Iceland, Hinckley also participated in a meeting of the Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists. Her presentation was titled, “Characteristics of Good Responders to Activity-Focused or Impairment-Focused Treatment.”

Posted 08/13/23

NSU PT Professor Receives Excellence in Research Award

Alicia Fernandez-Fernandez, D.P.T., Ph.D., PT, CNT, a professor in NSU’s Physical Therapy Department, was recognized with the National Association of Neonatal Therapists (NANT) Excellence in Research Award at the NANT conference in April 2023.

This annual award was created to honor neonatal occupational therapists, physical therapists, or speech-language pathologists who tirelessly contribute to quality research in the specialized field of neonatal therapy. Fernandez-Fernandez maintains clinical practice in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) since 2003, and she holds a neonatal therapist certification (Certified Neonatal Therapist), which recognizes the neonatal therapy expertise, education, and knowledge needed to effectively serve high-risk infants and families in the NICU.

She is also a Neonatal Developmental Care Specialist. She serves as a board member of the Neonatal Therapy Certification Board since 2014, and is the exam liaison for neonatal therapy certification, responsible for the training of item writers, and development, deployment, and outcome analysis of the international certification exam.

Additionally, she participates in development, deployment, and outcome evaluation of the neonatal therapy practice analysis, leading to multiple publications that explore ongoing trends in this clinical area of practice. She has presented at national and international conferences on various neonatal therapy topics including neonatal referral patterns, safe sleep protocols, and neonatal certification.

She has also contributed to the Spanish translation of the first and second editions of the SENSE program, which provides education to engage families in providing developmentally appropriate positive sensory exposures to optimize outcomes for their infants.

At NSU, Fernandez-Fernandez collaborates with Raquel Garcia, S.L.P., CCC-SLP, CNT, BCS-S, an associate professor in NSU’s Speech-Language Pathology Department, and Daphna Barbeau, M.D., medical director of Neonatal Neurodevelopment at Envision Health and HCA (Hospital Corporation of America) Florida University Hospital, in the Tiny Tots Transition to Home program, a weekly education program series which is offered to caregivers of infants in the NICU at HCA Florida University Hospital with the goal of improving caregiver-child attachment and reducing caregiver stress.

The program is funded by an NSU Quality of Life grant and involves the collaboration of multiple departments at NSU.

Posted 08/13/23

Dental Students Volunteer at RAM Event in Tennessee

Under the supervision of Dr. Mark Schweizer, assistant dean of Community Programs and Public Health and College of Dental Medicine faculty, Dr. Mauro Mesko and Dr. Norberto Coerezza, Dr. Sam Caruso (PG OMFS), more than 50 D4 ,D3, and D2 dental students traveled to Columbia, Tenn., to volunteer at the Remote Area Medical (RAM) event to deliver free dental care to uninsured patients. During this event, about 250 patients were seen and more than $120,000.00 donated dental services were provided.

Special thanks to Dean Steven Kaltman for his leadership and ongoing support and guidance.

Remote Area Medical is a major nonprofit provider of free pop-up clinics. Their mission is to prevent pain and alleviate suffering by providing free, quality healthcare to those in need. They do this by delivering free dental, vision, and medical services to

underserved and uninsured individuals. They have provided care across the world at more than 1,500 events.

These Outreach experiences provide an opportunity for dental students and reaffirm NSU core value of “Community” and help to:

  • Develop a broad understanding of the community and social responsibilities they will have as Dental Professionals.
  • Treat a diversity of patients with a variety of oral health care needs.
  • Enhance their clinical skills.
  • Participate in inter-professional learning experiences.

Dr. Mark Schweizer, Assistant Dean of Community Program has built a long- standing relationship with RAM and NSU-CDM is planning many more events in the future.

Posted 07/30/23

WCC Faculty Coordinators Publish Edited Collection

Janine Morris, Ph.D., and Kelly Concannon, Ph.D., present at the 2019 Feminisms and Rhetorics conference.

Janine Morris, Ph.D., and Kelly Concannon, Ph.D., co-edited the collection “Emotions and Affect in Writing Centers” published by Parlor Press (2022). Morris is an associate professor, and Concannon is a professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts (DCMA), in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences (HCAS). The two also serve as faculty coordinators at the NSU Writing and Communication Center (WCC).

“Emotions and Affect in Writing Centers” contains 15 chapters that explore how emotions and affect function in writing centers from the perspectives of writing center tutors and administrators. The collection holds relevance for anyone working with students in supportive roles, including administrators and staff in tutoring centers, writing centers, and academic support services. “Emotions and Affect in Writing Centers” was nominated for a 2023 CCCC Outstanding Book Award.

According to Morris, “The editorial process was incredibly collaborative. It was exciting to see the collection grow from the work we do here in the WCC.” Morris and Concannon have been featured on NSU’s Writer’s Edge podcast and WLN: A Writing Center Journal’s Slow Agency podcast to talk about the collection.

“Emotions and Affect in Writing Centers” is available via Parlor Press: https://parlorpress.com/products/emotions-and-affect-in-writing-centers

To learn more about the WCC, visit https://www.nova.edu/wcc/

Posted 07/30/23

Dental Postgraduate Places First in Poster Competition

From left, Dr. Saynur Vardar-Sengul, DDS, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Periodontology, and Dr. Ovadia Chocron

Congratulation to Dr. Ovadia Chocron, a third-year postgraduate resident from Department of Periodontology at the NSU College of Dental Medicine for a first place showing at the International Team for Implantology (ITI) Congress North America Poster Competition in Miami Beach, Florida, June 15-17, 2023.

 The title of his poster presentation was “Allograft plates for horizontal bone augmentation in the anterior mandible following a traumatic fall: A case report.”

The ITI is a global association of professionals in implant dentistry. The objectives of the ITI are the promotion and dissemination of knowledge about implant dentistry and related fields. They serve dental professionals by fostering learning, networking, discussion, and exchange. ITI provide comprehensive, quality education in implant dentistry and support and facilitate cutting-edge research in this field and to be the authoritative resource on current and emerging issues in implant dentistry for dental professionals globally.

Posted 07/16/23

NSU MD Joins Gold Humanism Honor Society

NSU MD has been officially accepted as a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, a renowned humanitarian organization dedicated to promoting humanistic values and behaviors in health care. This esteemed recognition highlights NSU MD’s dedication to fostering the highest standards of patient care, professionalism, and compassion among its students, faculty, and staff.

The Gold Humanism Honor Society, known for its commitment to patient-centered care, advocates for the integration of humanism into medical practice. With this membership, NSU MD joins an exclusive community of medical schools and health care institutions that share the common goal of delivering compassionate, empathetic, and ethical care to patients.

Rolando De Leon, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., Founding Chair and Clinical Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecologyexpressed his delight at the acceptance and of being named founding co-adviser for GHHS at NSU MD. “This is a great honor for our school, as humanism is at the core of the practice of medicine. This peer-driven recognition of our students’ inherent humanistic values is wonderful.”

NSU MD has long been a pioneer in promoting humanistic values in medical education. Through innovative curriculum enhancements, such as early patient experiences, ethics and humanism programs, and service-learning opportunities, the medical school prioritizes the development of compassionate and caring health care professionals.

The Gold Humanism Honor Society’s recognition affirms NSU MD’s dedication to shaping future physicians who prioritize a patient’s well-being, dignity, and autonomy. By incorporating humanistic values into their clinical practice, NSU MD graduates will positively impact the lives of countless patients and communities.

Posted 07/16/23

Honors Student Named a Barry Goldwater Scholar

Farquhar Honors College student Courtney White was named a 2023 Barry Goldwater Scholar — an honor recognizing her outstanding passion for research in the natural sciences. As a Barry Goldwater Scholar, she’ll receive a $7,500 scholarship to fund her senior-year tuition.

“I am truly honored to have been welcomed into the Goldwater community,” said White, a junior chemistry and marine biology major. “When I got the notification, I was speechless. To be awarded such a prestigious scholarship is a surreal experience. Being selected as a 2023 Barry Goldwater Scholar has reaffirmed my aspirations to pursue a career in research and given me the confidence to chase that dream.”

Courtney White

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship is awarded to students who are passionate about pursuing a research career in the natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering. White dreams of becoming a researcher at the intersection of chemistry and marine biology to make a difference in the world and is already taking steps to do just that.

Though an undergraduate student, White has already gained considerable research experience. She’s currently pursuing an honors thesis to develop a new technique to measure persistent organic pollutants in keratinous tissue like hair, feathers, and bones that may harm our health and environment. She also works alongside her thesis advisors Dimitrios Giarikos, Ph.D., and Amy Hirons, Ph.D., professors in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences (HCAS), as a full-time research technician.

“I am passionate about using my knowledge, curiosity, and love of learning to have a meaningful impact on the world around me,” said White. “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. My goal is to be always exploring, ever evolving, and continuously growing; as a result, I’ve learned to seek out those challenging experiences, whether it be in research, class, leadership, or in my personal life.”

One of her proudest research achievements was being named an undergraduate scholar for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Educational Partnership with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI). Through this program, she’ll be spending her summer in Alaska to work on a National Science Foundation-funded project exploring the life histories of baleen whales.

Supplementing her research prowess, White is dedicated to helping others around her through leadership. She works as a tutor and lab assistant and holds numerous leadership positions on campus, including within the Honors Student Advisory Board, Chemistry Club, Marine Biology Club, and NSU’s chapter of the American Association of University Women.

As White prepares to step into her senior year as a Barry Goldwater Scholar, she reflects on the mentors and leaders within her own life that have helped her receive this honor, including Giarikos, Hirons, Andrea Nevins, Ph.D., dean of the Farquhar Honor College, and Marlisa Santos, Ph.D., professor in HCAS.

“The Honors College has made my undergraduate experience more valuable than I ever could have imagined,” said White. “I’ve made connections and established some of the most important relationships in my life through the Honors College . . . I’m excited to continue to grow, challenge myself, and curate positive change in my community.”

Learn more about the Barry Goldwater Scholarship.

Posted 07/16/23

Hispanic Dental Association Recognizes Faculty, Students

Congratulations to NSU College of Dental Medicine faculty and students for their recognition at the 2023 Hispanic Dental Association Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas June 9-10, 2023.

Dr. Alexander Bendayan, Chair, Department of Prosthodontics at NSU College of Dental Medicine and President of Florida Chapter for Hispanic Dental Association Dr Elias Moron started the Hispanic Dental Association Leadership Program.

Also Dr. Elias Moron was recognized for his contributions to the research community and the Hispanic Dental Association. He Presented with a group of researchers the whitepaper labeled: “Oral Health Status, utilization of dental services and workforce of US Hispanics” . He also served as a judge for the student poster competition during the annual meeting.

Dr. Moron,  additionally, received an award for speaking at the Hispanic Dental Association “Sirviendo Nuestras Sonrisas Hispanas” as one of the most valued contributors to the Hispanic Dental Association.

Moreover, NSU College of Dental Medicine Students presented a poster titled “The New Face of Hispanic Leadership: The role of dental students in serving the South Florida underserved population.”

Posted 06/18/23

Local Shark Attack Victim’s Story Inspires NSU to Action

Earlier this year while getting ready for work, Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) media relations/public information officer Joe Donzelli had NBC’s Today Show on in the background when something caught his attention.

It was the story about Ella Reed, a Florida teenager who had been bitten by a shark while wading in the surf near her home.

“Working at NSU all these years, my ears prick up when I hear someone talking about sharks,” Donzelli said. “When I focused in on the story, I said to myself, ‘Oh, we’ve gotta get her to come shark tagging with our research scientists. That can’t be the only encounter she has with a shark.’”

Donzelli was impressed with her poise and courage – not everyone would be so blasé having been bitten by a shark. And something else in the story caught his attention.

“I heard that Ella was interested in being a marine biologist, and given NSU’s preeminence in the field, I knew this was a perfect match,” he said.

So, when he got to work, Donzelli reached out to the reporter who did the story for the Today Show. Almost immediately the reporter was intrigued and said he would reach out to the family to see if they were interested, after all, he already had a relationship with them. And, sure enough, they jumped at the chance.

“When I got the invitation to go shark tagging, I was super excited,” Ella said.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and researchers from NSU’s Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) welcomed a crew from NBC’s The Today Show, along with Ella, her friend Kloe (who was with Ella and helped her when she was bitten), her brother and parents, who joined Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D., director of NSU’s GHRI and the Save our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center, and Derek Burkholder, Ph.D., an NSU research scientist and their crew for a day on the Atlantic Ocean to catch, tag, and release sharks off the Florida Coast.

You can see The Today Show story HERE

“Understanding sharks is vitally important for restoring and maintaining the overall health of our oceans,” Shivji said. “As high-level and apex predators, they play a major part in balancing the marine ecosystem, and if there are no sharks, the oceans and by extension, the Earth, will suffer.”

Shivji said that some estimates show that annually 100 million sharks are removed from the oceans.

“Clearly that is not a sustainable number, and many shark species have declined by 70-90 percent,” he said. “By learning as much about sharks as we can, that information can be used by ocean management authorities to properly conserve sharks for generations to come.”

When the day finally came to head out on the ocean, Donzelli said that the one thing everyone was nervous about was would they be able to catch a shark during the trip. He had been on trips in the past where they spent the entire day on the water and didn’t catch a thing.

“There’s an old saying – it’s called fishing, not catching,” he said with a laugh.

But nothing was going to dampen this day for Ella – after pulling up a few empty bait lines, bingo, they had a shark. And not just any shark, a nine and a half foot long, 500+ pound female tiger shark.

And true to form, Ella, fearless as ever, jumped right in and worked side by side with our marine biologists to gather tissue samples from the shark and even put the tag on its dorsal fin.

The group managed to catch two additional sharks – nurse sharks – during the trip, and each time Ella and her group was right there working with NSU researchers, enjoying every minute. In fact, with one of the nurse sharks, Ella, fearless as ever, jumped in the water and got up close and personal with the large fish.

When the group returned to shore, there was one more surprise for Ella and her family.

“We talked with our admissions folks, and they agreed that we needed to nurture her love of the ocean and marine biology,” Donzelli said. “So, we are reserving a spot for Ella when she graduates from high school and will work to provide her with as many scholarship opportunities as we can. We’d be lucky to have her become an NSU Shark.”

Posted 06/18/23

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