During this time of Thanksgiving, NSU has an abundance of reasons to express gratitude. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of our donors, as well as our alumni, current students, researchers, and faculty and staff members for their contributions to the university.

One of NSU’s strengths is the university’s ability to respond to the needs of our students and our community. For example, the country is currently experiencing a growing shortage of anesthesia clinicians. In response, NSU is expanding its existing collaboration with U.S. Anesthesia Partners, Inc. (USAP) to launch a new, comprehensive, nationwide anesthesia training initiative. Establishing The USAP Center for Anesthesia Education and Leadership at NSU will create a national hub for innovation, education, and leadership in anesthesia care that will train over 1,500 anesthesia clinicians as the center evolves over the next decade.

And when alumni of the Department of Communications, Media, and the Arts asked for opportunities to further their education at NSU, the university launched a Ph.D. program in composition, rhetoric, and digital media.

Did You Know?

• NSU received a $6 million appropriation from the State of Florida to support and expand its Veterans Care Program, an initiative that has provided critical healthcare services to thousands of veterans and their families across the state.
• The university’s annual Veterans Day celebration featured retired Lieutenant General Nadja Y. West as the keynote speaker. West was the 44th Surgeon General of the United States Army and the first African American woman to serve in that role.
• After capturing their first regular season Sunshine State Conference championship and finishing the season undefeated in conference play, the NSU women’s soccer team won the Sunshine State Conference Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 16. With the regular season and tournament championships secured for the first time in program history, NSU will now await its seeding from the NCAA Selection Show.  Go Sharks!
• In a great example of our commitment to innovation, when faced with a shortage of land space for solar panels, NSU created a floating solution to provide renewable energy to campus buildings.
• NSU President Harry K. Moon, M.D., recently spoke with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance to talk about the NSU’s partnership with the alliance and the university’s impact on South Florida.
• The NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale unveiled “Shared Dreams,” a new exhibition showcasing a selection of Latin American art donated by Stanley and Pearl Goodman, former Fort Lauderdale residents and long-time art collectors.

In this issue of the Donor Connection, we share highlights from NSU President Harry K. Moon’s state of the university address, introduce our audience to more donors through the Mako Media show “Donor Connect,” and spotlight the amazing work being done by NSU researchers at the NSU AutoNation Institute for Breast Cancer Research and Care. We’ve also featured photos from the opening night of basketball season, where NSU unveiled Crutchfield Court, the floor of Rick Case Arena, named for men’s basketball coach Jim Crutchfield.

We hope that you and your family enjoy the holiday season and we look forward to connecting with you in the new year.

Fins Up!

Terry J. Mularkey, M.A.S., CFRE
Vice President for Advancement and Community Relations