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.

While 2020 is certainly not the year anyone envisioned back in January, it’s a year that has most assuredly left its mark. NSU has responded with adaptability and resilience. The university had a vision for 2020—to be recognized as a premier university of quality and distinction—and we have continued to strive for that vision through excellence and innovation in teaching, research, service, and learning. I look forward to highlighting how this institution demonstrates determination and success with you.

We are not the only ones who have noticed NSU’s efforts. The U.S. News and World Report college rankings were recently released, and the university has moved up 19 spots on the list. Learn more about how the rankings are determined and the criteria behind NSU’s big leap here.

Our success on a national scale is in no small part due to our donors and supporters who serve as champions of our institution. Rick Case, a member of NSU’s Board of Trustees, was one of our biggest advocates. We mourn his recent passing and send our condolences to his wife Rita, and his children and grandchildren. In celebration of his life and his contributions to the University, we invite you to watch a video honoring Rick and Rita Case as they received the 2019 Community Service Award.

This issue of the Donor Connection highlights the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection and Resource Center at the Alvin B. Sherman Library. Watch this virtual tour of the center and learn how it is being used to provide education and emphasize how important it is to stand against hate, bigotry, prejudice, and injustice in all forms.

We also want to thank the Florida Blue Foundation for a $50,000 grant to help our researchers work toward a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19.

NSU is a military-friendly school, and our commitment to veterans and their families is unwavering. I oversee the Military Affairs team here at the university, and in that role, I wanted to bring attention to our Veterans Access Clinic (VAC). A wide variety of medical, dental, and therapeutic services are provided for veterans through the clinic. In the past year, NSU was able to offer these services free of charge, but due to changes in funding, that is no longer the case. In spite of that, the VAC is still open for veterans and their families. Learn more about the clinic here.

Thank you for welcoming me into my new position. I enjoyed working with many of you on the university’s Realizing Potential campaign, and I look forward to strengthening our relationship in the future. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or my staff at any time if you have questions

On a final note, our end-of-the-year newsletter will be coming to your mailbox soon. We wanted to share stories from around the university from the past year as we look forward to another year of advancement here at NSU.

Fins Up!

Terry J. Mularkey, MAS, CFRE

Vice President, University Advancement and Chief of Staff
Nova Southeastern University