November is the month of gratitude, and studies have shown that expressing gratitude increases happiness, and receiving gratitude reduces frustration and stress. In keeping with the theme of the month and improving everyone’s spirits, we are extremely grateful for all of you, our donors. Thank you for helping us achieve our vision of becoming a premier university of quality and distinction.

Innovative research is one of our values that makes us stand out in a crowd. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently made a $4-million grant to Nova Southeastern University (NSU) – the only institution to receive this award – to study the effects of COVID-19 on ‘long-haulers,’ people who’ve recovered from the virus but are still coping with challenges of joint aches and exhaustion. Nancy Klimas, M.D. and her team in the NSU Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine will build on previous research to study the residual effects of COVID-19.

The Jerry Taylor & Nancy Bryant Foundation recently made a generous donation to NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale. The $1.6-million gift will be used to endow an art curator position and support the museum’s youth education programs. A nationwide search to fill the curatorial role is underway.

We are also grateful to Spirit Airlines for their support of the AutoNation Breast Cancer Research and Care Institute. The company’s $5,000 gift will be used for critical software.

Additionally, November is National Veterans and Military Families Month. On November 11, NSU Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets and veterans proudly hoisted U.S. Armed Forces flags for the first time in what will be a new plaza on campus to honor our service men and women. A central monument will showcase donors who support this initiative. NSU’s Director of Military Affairs Nicholas Pascucci helped plan the Veterans Day activity. A veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, Pascucci has made it his mission to help his fellow service members. He established a Changing Lives scholarship for ROTC students and launched a crowdfunding campaign to support future Army officers attending school at NSU.

We’d also like to take the opportunity to introduce one of the newest members of NSU’s Fellows Society, Jim Hutchens, who is the vice president of information systems and the university librarian, and has witnessed tremendous growth at the Alvin Sherman Library over the years.

Finally, we invite you to save the date for this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign. NSU’s goal is to raise $100,000 and reach 1,000 donors in 24 hours. This year, the campaign is focused on mental health awareness, suicide and violence prevention, and the COVID-19 Student Support Fund. We greatly appreciate any contributions to NSU.

Thank you again for your support of the university and our students. We know 2020 has been quite the year, and we are grateful that NSU has never stopped, thanks to all of you.

Stay safe this holiday season, and have a happy Thanksgiving,

Terry J. Mularkey, M.A.S., CFRE
Vice President, University Advancement and Chief of Staff, Office of the President