Category: Shark Success Stories

Education Alum Appointed to 2 Roles at a Chicago University

A doctoral graduate from the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice has been appointed to two different leadership roles at a Chicago university.

Steven Gerner, Ed.D., was recently named the Assistant Dean for the College of Education and the Director of the Center for Christian Education at Concordia University Chicago.

Steven Gerner, Ed.D.

“With 28 years of urban education experience, [Gerner] continues to propel forward innovative and engaging educational strategy with the goal of success for all students,” the university said in a press release.

Gerner himself said getting the position was exciting and he appreciated being recognized as a good fit for the role.

“They valued the education experiences I had, and it was a good challenge to look forward and be somewhere where they supported this idea of continually getting better really focusing on becoming a premier university to all students,” Gerner said.

In his role as the Director for the Center for Christian Education, Gerner will work to serve as a catalyst and find opportunities for faith-fueled education in the community.

But in addition to these two roles, Gerner is also the CEO for the Center for Urban Education Ministries. Despite three intensive roles, Gerner said he is ready to take them on.

“It’s three distinct roles, but as much as we can, we can meld them together to really line up the arrows in the same direction,” he said. “I feel it’s part of what Nova prepared me for, to keep moving forward with all the different various workloads.”

Gerner earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from NSU in 2010. He said his ultimate goal is make sure all students are successful academically.

“Whether it’s leveling the playing field, whether it’s giving opportunities, the end goal to be seen across our country is making sure all students can be successful.”

Congratulations and Fins Up to you!

Posted 05/07/23

Psychology Alum Spins the Wheel, Wins Cash, Prizes

Matthew Jalazo, Psy.D.

“I’d like to buy a vowel.”

Contestants on Wheel of Fortune excitedly utter these words to host Pat Sajak and then hope Vanna White uncovers the letters they have chosen. NSU College of Psychology alumnus Matthew Jalazo, Psy.D., recently became one of those contestants. He spun the wheel and solved the puzzle—several puzzles, in fact.

Jalazo’s turn on the popular game show earned him $26,000 in cash and prizes, including a trip to Costa Rica.

His 15-minutes of fame—technically 22 minutes without commercial interruption—was the culmination of a journey that began when he was eight years old and first saw the colors of the wheel on his grandmother’s kitchen countertop television. He was in his 20s when his cousin got to meet Bob Barker on The Price is Right. She got to hear her name called with the phrase, “Come on down. You’re the next contestant on The Price is Right,” but unfortunately lost the game. Jalazo joked to her that it was now his singular life mission to get on The Price is Right to fix that disgrace to the family.

He did eventually audition for a spot on The Price is Right, and then tried using his celebrity impression of wrestler Hulk Hogan at a casting call for Deal or No Deal. Unfortunately, he didn’t make the cut for either show.

In November of 2022, Jalazo happened to see an advertisement inviting super fans of wrestling to try out for Wheel of Fortune, so he made a video and sent in the application. He was invited to a zoom audition, solved sample puzzles, and even dressed up as Hulk Hogan to entertain the casting committee and show his passion for wrestling. He remembered them laughing hysterically at his impersonation. Two hours later, he got the call to be a contestant, albeit not for WWE Week.

“They liked my energy and my enthusiasm, but not my wrestler impressions,” Jalazo said.

Jalazo traveled to California to be on Wheel of Fortune and put his psychology background to use when prepping for his appearance. Banking on his knowledge that it’s impossible to feel two emotions at once, he made sure he went into the taping feeling completely relaxed so it would be difficult to feel nervous. His goal was to be relatable—striking the balance between being entertaining and being ruthless in playing to win.

“I wanted to be a likeable, fun contestant, but I also wanted to play in a way that showed people I was taking the game seriously, because I understood I was very fortunate to get selected,” Jalazo said.

An army veteran and father of a 16-year-old son, Jalazo is a forensic psychologist and serves on the faculty of Albizu University. He has also participated in open mic nights for stand-up comedy.

“I tend to enjoy creative, spontaneous things where I get to show my personality,” he said. “It’s a nice balance with the serious work that I do.”

And while Wheel of Fortune is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Jalazo’s dream of competing on game shows isn’t done. His next goal is to appear on Let’s Make a Deal. He still wants to dress up as a professional wrestler and show off his Hulk Hogan impersonation to a televised audience.

“If you have a dream – whether trying to be a national game show, or something else that you think is not within reach – go, get it,” Jalazo said. “Appearing on Wheel of Fortune was an amazing experience—one I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. But had I not been looking at my computer for five minutes on that Wednesday morning, it wouldn’t have happened.”

“The message is to be open to life experiences each and every day. No dream is too big.”

Posted 05/10/23

Education Doctoral Alum Named VP of Student Affairs in Texas

Jason Abreu, Ed.D.

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice graduate Jason Abreu, Ed.D., has been named the Vice President of Student Affairs at Tarrant County College – Trinity River Campus in Fort Worth, Texas.

Abreu graduated from NSU with his Masters in Leadership and an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership. His duties involve managing the experience for students beyond the classroom, including advising, financial aid, mental health, student life and activities, and more.

Abreu has been serving in the role since January, and he said he is enjoying the experience.

“I am thrilled to join an institution that values and places the student journey at the forefront. TCC personifies a first-class experience for students and the excitement is palpable” Abreu said.

All-in-all, Abreu said he hopes to truly make the student experience better for incoming, current, and graduating students.

“How can we increase our retention and graduation rates? How can we elevate the student experience to ensure goals are accomplished and workforce needs are met?” Abreu mentioned. “Lastly, we must focus on expanding resources. Right now, students are dealing with housing insecurities, food insecurities, inflation, mental health and other aspects that are impacting their educational journey. It is our responsibility to leverage the appropriate resources.”

This fits very much with Abreu’s own philosophy and personal story focused on educational accessibility and opportunity.

“Through higher education, I was able to see the world from a different lens and through this space, I am able to give back. Open access and equitable opportunities for a high quality educational experience is my motto,” Abreu said.

Congratulations on your new role Jason Abreu!

Posted 04/23/23

Writing Center Faculty Coordinator Appointed Journal Editor

Eric Mason, Ph.D.

Eric Mason, Ph.D., NSU Writing and Communication Center (WCC) Faculty Coordinator, was appointed co-editor of Southern Discourse in the Center: A Journal of Multiliteracy and Innovation, February 2023. Mason is an associate professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts (DCMA) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences. Mason’s co-editor is Devon Rolston, Ph.D. (associate professor & Writing Center Director, Winthrop University).

Southern Discourse in the Center: A Journal of Multiliteracy and Innovation (SDC) sponsored by the Southeastern Writing Center Association (SWCA), is a journal for writing center practitioners, students, and faculty looking interested in innovative approaches to writing center practices.

Of his new position, Mason stated “Based on my past experience working as an editor of other academic journals, there are several things I hope to change about how SDC is run, including involving graduate students as editorial assistants so they get to experience the academic publication process firsthand. Overall, I’m excited to take over as co-editor of SDC, and eager to help the journal become an even better resource for those working in writing centers around the world.”

Click here to read current and past issues of Southern Discourse in the Center.

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

Posted 04/09/23

Doctoral Grad Accepted to Presidential Management Fellowship

Justina Jackson, Ed.D.

A doctoral graduate student from the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice has recently been accepted into a prestigious federal fellowship program.

Justina Jackson, Ed.D., was recently selected as a finalist for the Presidential Management Fellows Program. The highly competitive program lasts two years and attracts thousands of applicants with advanced degrees from different disciplines. Of 10,000 applicants, only 850 were selected.

During the fellowship, students will work to be appointed to a U.S. Government Agency for training, and at the end of the program, they may also be given the opportunity to become a permanent civilian employee.

“I was just completely shocked. And I was just like, ‘This is your moment. This is your season. This is God opening the door for you. I’m walking in that door and totally appreciative for the opportunities to even get this far,’” Jackson said, describing her feelings upon learning she had been selected.

Jackson graduated with her Ed.D. from NSU in 21’ and her Masters in Social Work from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in 13.’ She is currently pursuing a second Master’s degree in Leadership.

Jackson was told about the program by one of her mentors, and after applying, she interviewed, and then in February, she learned she had been selected as a finalist.

Having her doctorate in Education, Jackson initially aimed to be appointed to a position with the Department of Education, but a former PM fellow with an education background reached out to her and proposed working for the CDC. He described how his skills proved to be uniquely useful in that field, so Jackson considered doing the same.

“I applied for all the opportunities with CDC,” she said. “The jobs range from being a health scientist to a technical grant writer to public health analyst and policy analyst.”

All-in-all, Jackson said she hopes she can make meaningful change with this opportunity.

“I really want to be transformative, not just transactional,” she said. “If I could wave a wand, I would like to be some sort of policy analyst that can actually change the lives of students in a better direction, families in a better direction, whether that’s public health, social services — whatever it is, just actually making a genuine impact and not just surface level.”

Congratulations Justina Jackson! Fins up to you!

Posted 04/09/23

Art + Design Alum Featured at Visual Arts Festival

Art + Design alumna, Annie Nugget, painted a mural live during the first-ever Avenue of the Arts Festival (AOTA) in Fort Lauderdale.

“It was the first opportunity I had to collaborate with another artist (its_tryphonas) and be involved in a community mural fest. Connecting with other artists and walks of life through the event was insightful and reassuring in my own journey beyond my brush against the wall in my part of the event,” Nugget said.

Born and raised in the U.S., Nugget shared her experience as a first-generation Vietnamese American through multidisciplinary art. Her work is best described as the inspiration of contrasting concepts combining subjects and materials to convey a new vision of reinterpreted thoughts.

Learn more about NSU’s B.A. in Art + Design here.

Posted 03/12/23

Professor Patricia Gaffney Receives Outstanding Educator Award

Patricia Gaffney, Au.D.

Each year, the American Academy of Audiology asks colleagues, friends, and mentees to look around their professional circles and recognize members who are deserving of recognition for outstanding service to audiology and the hearing sciences. This year, Patricia Gaffney, Au.D., was chosen as the 2023 recipient of the Outstanding Educator Award and the Department of Audiology could not be prouder!

Gaffney has distinguished herself as a superior professor in the Department of Audiology, where her demanding didactic courses, clinical supervision, and research mentorship have earned her high respect from her students and her faculty colleagues.

Gaffney has been teaching doctoral audiology students since her appointment to Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in 2007. She teaches multiple courses in vestibular science and amplification where she skillfully weaves theory to practice from classroom to clinic. In the clinical realm, Gaffney precepts students and provides care to patients in the NSU Audiology Clinic.  Most of her clinical focus is seeing adult and pediatric patients with vestibular complaints. This is where you can truly see Gaffney’s impact as students start translating what they have learned in the classroom to clinical practice.

Gaffney’s teaching philosophy is simple:

“Make our students into the best audiologists. When you produce good audiologists, that speaks for itself in the profession. The impact of well-trained audiologists is a continuous process because it means that patients will be treated in the way they need, and when the graduate become a preceptor, it will enhance the knowledge of the next generation of audiologists. Every day when I teach, that is in the forefront of my mind. This guides how I plan my semester, write lectures, precept students in the clinic, and counsel them.”

Gaffney represents the very best in education and we are all better for having been her colleague over the years.

Posted 03/05/23

Fischler Alum Receives President’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Karlton Johnson, Ed.D.

A Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice alum recently received a recognition of presidential proportions.

Karlton Johnson, Ed.D., received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joe Biden in recognition of 5,000 hours of service in Florida, Texas, Virginia, and Arkansas.

The purpose of the award is to recognize the people across America who have volunteered thousands of hours over their lifetime. It was first established by President George W. Bush in 2003, but variations of the program have existed over the years.

“By sharing your time and passion, you are helping discover and deliver solutions to the challenges we face, the solutions that we need now more than ever,” the president said in a letter. “We are living in a moment that calls for hope and light and love. Hope for our futures light to see our way forward and love for one another. Through your service, you’re providing all three.”

“When I actually saw the award, saw the certificate, saw the badge and saw my metal, I was like, ‘Wow, this is real. A letter from the president himself,’” Johnson said. “This definitely put me on a platform where the notoriety of public education in districts across the country is really on the map.”

Johnson currently serves as the Director of Career and Technical Education for Broward County Public schools. Having spent more than 25 years in the education field, he said this was something his younger self never would have imagined.

“Our work is not just within the organization in which we work for the infrastructure, our work is mainly involvement and community outreach,” he said. “I’m so happy that the President and the Vice President were able to acknowledge those individuals across the world and I just happened to be one.”

The recognition left Johnson with the sense that his work is making an impact.

“It lets me know that the work that I do has a purpose towards changing lives and supporting lives across the country, and just not being an educator but just doing community outreach to help students across our country have a brighter future,” he said.

Johnson earned his M.S. in Educational Leadership in 2000 and his Doctor of Education in 2015 from NSU.

Congratulations Karlton Johnson! Fins up to you!

Posted 03/05/23

Education Alum Named Dean of Campus at Community College

A graduate from the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice has taken on a new leadership role.

Brad Wood has been named the Dean of Findlay Campus, Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio.

Brad Wood

Wood is a double graduate of NSU. In 2008, he received a degree in Allied Health and Nursing and then in 2015, he earned his Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning.

Wood previously worked as a physical therapist assistant for about 32 years. But when he decided to make a career change and pursue teaching, he earned his bachelor’s degree in health science. Then, he decided to continue his education and earned his masters from Fischler.

He went on to serve as a program director, but when the Dean position opened up, he decided to take the plunge and apply. Wood said he felt a mix of joy and relief upon learning he had been chosen.

“I was ecstatic. I’m not going to lie, it was a relief,” Wood said. “When I received a phone call, it was like a major load had been lifted off my shoulders and relief. Just knowing one way or the other was really good.”

The process took a total of three months and for the final part, Wood gave a presentation to the whole college where he had to give a five-year plan for the campus. One of his goals is to implement more programs on the campus.

“I have already been out into the community, talking to manufacturers, talking to schools, talking to hospitals, and discussing what the community actually needs from us, and what programs would actually be viable to be on this campus to allow students to come onto campus.”

He also said he wants to provide new pathways for students to reach success, either through connecting them to other universities, to businesses out in the community or other options.

“I’m excited to move forward in this role to help the college, but mainly to help students succeed,” Wood said.

Wood also voiced his gratitude for the degrees he earned from Nova and how they helped him prepare for the role.

“The hard work that Nova gave me along with the knowledge, the background, and the professionalism, allowed me to secure this position here.”

Congratulations Brad! Fins up to you!

Posted 02/19/23

Farquhar Honors Student Combats Food Insecurity

Farquhar Honors College student Amber Gulau helped underprivileged communities in South Florida combat food insecurity with nutritional education and resources. Completed as part of the Honors in Major program, she worked with organizations like Meals on Wheels South Florida and Florida Impact to pursue her passion for community nutrition.

During her time with these organizations, she hosted educational sessions on nutrition and food safety, created meal menus, and proposed a pilot program to provide the elderly with nutritional supplements not covered by the Older Americans Act (OAA).

“My favorite part of this experience was seeing how eager and appreciative the community members were to learn when I delivered education,” said Gulau, a senior biology and nutrition major. “The members were always interactive and asked many questions, which was great! I also enjoyed learning about the community members’ cultural traditions and how they impacted their food safety practices and intake.”

Upon graduating, she plans to further her education through NSU’s Master of Science in Nutrition program and concentrate on Functional Nutrition and Herbal Therapy. Afterward, she will pursue a D.O. in Osteopathic Medicine to become an endocrinologist and use her knowledge of nutrition to help people with hormone-related health conditions.

“The Honors in Major program [provided] me with opportunities to interact with the community and strengthen my leadership skills,” she said. “Without the program, I would not have had the opportunity to [connect] to wonderful organizations like Meals on Wheels and Florida Impact. Through the Honors in Major [program], I have grown professionally in my ability to provide appropriate and relevant education to people aged five to 80 years old. I also improved my cultural competency, which will continue to develop and be applied in my future endeavors. Upon completing the requirements for the program, I feel inspired to continue the work I have done and strengthen my impact within community nutrition!”

The Honors in Major program is an exclusive opportunity for high-achieving NSU seniors to participate in research or an applied experience within their academic discipline under faculty guidance.

Learn more about the Honors in Major program.

Posted 01/21/23

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