Sallarulo: A lifetime of service to NSU and the Special Olympics

NSU trustee and alumnus, Paul Sallarulo ‘88 continues to pave the way for NSU alumni who selflessly dedicate their time and treasure to make an impact on our community.

Paul, an M.B.A. graduate of the Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, proudly serves as the Chairman of the Broward Special Olympics and a member of NSU’s Board of Trustees.

“It is an honor to be a part of NSU because of what it did for me and my career, not just academically, but also for what it does for our community. We have an effect on the whole world,” he said.

Paul describes NSU as a pioneer in cutting edge distance-learning – a method offered by NSU to qualified people at a time when few other universities in the country had this option.

“Usually, it takes universities years to make some changes, but thanks to the NSU Board of Trustees, and to the past and current administrations, we are able to make transitions quickly as the times and technology updates require us to do so,” he mentioned.

Within his numerous roles in the Broward County community, he has consistently been a champion for those with special disabilities. He led a partnership with philanthropic leader and major NSU donor Don Taft, to bring a Special Olympics chapter to Broward County and to give it a permanent home at NSU.

“My mission is to have every university in America formally welcome the Special Olympics, so that all of God’s children may have the opportunity to have a university life. This gives our students so much pleasure and confidence. And it ultimately improves their health,” he said.

Paul has worked with people with special needs since the 1970s. He has had a lifetime of service that prepared him to later receive his first son, Patrick, who was born with Down Syndrome.

There are currently over 143,000 people with disabilities and special needs in Broward County, 7,000 of those in NSU’s Special Olympics program.

“They are the reason why it is crucial to stay in touch with what’s important; these people’s life-opportunities depend on what we decide to do with our leadership power,” he expressed.

“I sit in a room with some of the brightest minds in America to come up with ideas and make things happen. Our university welcomes alumni and invites young leadership to participate and help us make these things happen,” Paul continued.

Paul vividly remembers his experience as an NSU student as one of practical learning.

“I remember working with the professors. They taught me through life experiences and mentored me,” he said. “The practicality of learning from someone who has done it before, as opposed to someone who doesn’t have the experience, is important.”

Through his now multiple connections to NSU, Paul endearingly likes “to call NSU a ‘she’ because ‘she’ is that who plants seeds, comes up with new ideas, and makes things happen, making new traditions every day.”

Paul encourages students and alumni to voice their ideas and initiatives to NSU faculty and staff, to continue to push NSU and our community forward in innovation and service.

“I hope that our students remember that whatever they’re interested in, they can make it happen here. I did it and I’m honored to now be an alumnus of NSU,” he said.

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Join Paul and the NSU community in this year’s Race for Champions on Saturday, November 7, 2020 by registering here. All proceeds go to the Special Olympics.

“I can assure you, when you get involved with Special Olympics, it will change your life… because it changed mine.” – Paul Sallarulo. Chairman, Broward Special Olympics.