Dr. Hanbury announced this week that our traditional commencement ceremonies will be postponed or held remotely. We look forward to celebrating with our graduates when it safe to do so. Special events and conducting business in general are challenging without congratulatory handshakes and face-to-face interaction, but I am still grateful for all the ways in which we are able to maintain our connections in the virtual realm. Social distancing and sheltering in place are a tad bit easier when I can see colleagues, donors, and friends through Skype, Facetime, and even Zoom.

I’m also discovering so many new learning opportunities from the comfort of my own home. Watching Guy Harvey, Ph.D. and his daughter, Jessica, discuss ocean conservation and their experiences while Dr. Harvey demonstrates his artistic talent, is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. Dr. Harvey, whose philanthropic support created the Guy Harvey Research Institute and led to the naming of the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center at NSU, and Jessica offer a wealth of knowledge and some entertaining banter as well. Visit Dr. Harvey’s Facebook page for details on upcoming Facebook live events.

NSU continues to help our community as much as we possibly can. In anticipation that hospitals will soon experience a shortage of necessary equipment, the Respiratory Therapy Programs at the NSU Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences loaned eight ventilators to local hospitals.

Each year the month of April is set aside as National Poetry Month, a time to celebrate poets and their craft. COVID-19 did not stop NSU’s community partner, the Jason Taylor Foundation from hosting the Louder than a Bomb Florida event. The annual spoken word competition, featuring talented high school students, took place virtually this past weekend. We are happy to be able to share the winning performances online.

Athletics Director Mike Mominey has launched a new online publication, “Inside the Shark Tank,” for NSU athletes and Shark fans. He recommends following NSU Athletics on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to stay engaged with the program and also to see great content offered by the Athletics department and our athletes themselves.

In our program spotlight this week, we are diving underwater with the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape Research Program. One of our students in the NSU Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography has developed an underwater camera rig to remotely track the game fishes and sharks being studied through the program. The goal of the program is to develop best conservation practices for these species and their unique ecosystem.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our COVID-19 Student Support Fund. We have raised more than $18,000 for this emergency fund, and we have already received over 400 requests for assistance from our students. To help students who are struggling financially due to the impact of the pandemic, consider making a donation to the fund.

NSU has not slowed down even in the midst of a global pandemic. Please take a look at all of our upcoming events—from virtual awards ceremonies to webinars, there are a host of opportunities to join us.

We look forward to “seeing” you soon,

Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, Ph.D.

Vice President for Advancement and Community Relations

joa@nova.edu  |  954-647-1527