NSU Donor Connection – October 1, 2020 issue

October 1, 2020

Welcome from Terry Mularkey

I am honored to be the newly named Vice President of Advancement at NSU. Our division, formerly known as Advancement and Community Relations, is now entitled University Advancement, a name that encompasses our mission to advance NSU in every way, supporting all our core values.

NSU Sharks are on the Move

NSU moved up 19 places on the U.S. News and World Report College Rankings. This leap is the second largest of any Florida institution from last year’s rankings. Graduation and retention rates, assessment of excellence, and student selectivity are all part of how the scores are weighted. It’s a great day to be a Shark! To read more about NSU’s move up the chart, click here …

NSU Mourns the Passing of Rick Case

The NSU community is deeply saddened by the passing of entrepreneur and philanthropist Rick Case, who passed away earlier this month. A member of NSU's Board of Trustees, Case was one of the university's biggest supporters, loudest advocates and greatest champions. His presence at the University and in the community will be sorely missed. Our hearts go out to his wife, Rita, and the entire Case family.

See the video honoring Rick and Rita Case as 2019 NSU Celebration of Excellence in Community Service Award Winners

Stand Up Against Hate

The Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection and Resource Center at NSU's Alvin Sherman Library was designed with a mission of finding ways to encourage visitors to stand up against hate and intolerance. In this video, NSU Fellows Society Shark Circle members Barbara and Craig Weiner introduce the center and take viewers on a virtual tour to share how the center uses lessons from the Holocaust to fulfill its mission.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Florida Blue funding spurs COVID-19 research

Longtime NSU partner the Florida Blue Foundation awarded NSU with a $50,000 grant to conduct preliminary studies for a vaccine and treatment options for COVID-19. Leading the effort is Dr. Mark Cayabyab, Associate Professor in the College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Cayabyab (pictured right) is an established virologist and immunologist. He is working with team members from the NSU Center for Collaborative Research on this project. The College of Dental Medicine plans to use the results of this effort to obtain federal grants for further work on a vaccine for COVID-19.

Veterans Access Clinic Continues to Serve in Spite of Funding Loss

Last year, NSU’s Veterans Access Clinic helped more than 1,000 veterans and family members with services such as medical, dental, vision, family therapy, occupational/physical therapy, pharmacy, and more. Funding from the state of Florida made it possible for NSU to offer these services at no charge in the past, but that funding was not renewed for this fiscal year. The clinic is still active; however, veterans and families need to provide an accepted insurance plan or self-pay. NSU is looking for alternative funding sources. For more information on how you can help, contact Caitlin Dargue, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for University Advancement at 954-594-2018 or [email protected].

Learn more about the clinic ...

FELLOWS SOCIETY

A Message from Isabella Soublette

"As the new Associate Director of the NSU Fellows Society, I am very excited to fill this role with a primary purpose to communicate with nearly 800 donors who have contributed to Nova Southeastern University since its beginnings in 1964. The Fellows Society concept emerged ten years ago in 2011 as an idea brought to the university by Alan B. Levan, an NSU Trustee." Read more ....