When we originally decided to publish a weekly Donor Connection, we hoped to provide timely updates on the university’s response to COVID-19 and offer a few examples of how NSU was carrying on its mission in spite of our new virtual reality. We put out a call for stories, and the response has been amazing. So much so that we realized a need to capture all of this wonderful content in one place. Through our NSU ACR YouTube channel, you can easily view all of the “NSU Talks” featured in the Donor Connection and more.

This week we feature Dr. Bindu Mayi, a Professor of Microbiology in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. Last week, she presented a webinar to the Alumni Association on SARS CoV-2 and COVID-19. If you were unable to participate, you can view the full presentation here. We encourage you to subscribe to the YouTube channel and check back for new content.

We are fortunate to have so many great stories to share. Recently, we learned that Dr. Piya Chayanuwat, Executive Director, Library Systems, and his team found a way to print face shields, a much-needed piece of personal protection equipment for medical professionals. Using a 3-D printer in the Alvin Sherman Library MakerSpace, a gift from Fellows Society member Ann Porterfield, Chanyanuwat found a template online and began to print. Porterfield greatly appreciated learning that the printer was being put to such a good use. Several shields have already been delivered to NSU Clinics.

In other exciting news, NSU is launching a Master of Biomedical Sciences program for students who want to enhance their academic background and gain an edge when applying for medical school or other health professions programs. The program was designed by faculty members of the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine and begins in the fall.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the 2020 Annual Holocaust Reflection Contest Awards Ceremony was cancelled. We have announced the winners of the contest, which is hosted by NSU and sponsored by the Holocaust Learning and Education Fund, Inc. Over 1,400 entries of essays, poetry, and artwork from Florida middle and high school students were received this year. Congratulations to all of the contest winners, including Raegan, a middle school student who attends NSU University School. The winning prose and art are available to view online.

In our program spotlight this week, we go behind the scenes at the Marine Environmental Education Center (MEEC).

This edition of the Donor Connection also recognizes an NSU staff member who funded a Changing Lives Scholarship in memory of a good friend who passed away after contracting the disease. Pastor Kevelin B. Jones, Sr. was a community leader and an inspiration to many, and Jamie Johnson, a director of accounting at NSU, celebrates his legacy of helping others with a gift to NSU.

We want to thank all NSU students, faculty, staff, and alumni who are working on the front lines in the medical field. This week we extend our appreciation to alumni of the NSU softball team.

You are also invited to attend upcoming webinars featuring NSU experts – topics include social distancing and stress, developing a way to cope with anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak, and how to manage a misbehaving brain.

Please don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions or if you would like additional information on any of the programs or initiatives highlighted here.

Stay safe, and thank you for your continued support,

Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, Ph.D.

Vice President for Advancement and Community Relations

joa@nova.edu  |  954-647-1527