Nova Southeastern University

Broward General Medical Center (BGMC) has been an influential partner dedicated to serving masters and doctoral students as well as the entire Nova Southeastern University community. BGMC has collaborated with NSU’s Center for Psychological Studies to provide educational opportunities to students in areas of psychological consultation and psychotherapy in various hospital settings. Additionally, because BGMC is one of three level one trauma facilities in South Florida, students are provided with the opportunity to experience trauma services, pediatric, behavioral health, family medicine, oncology, palliative care, and wellness programs. These connections have tremendously strengthened the depth of students’ experiences, while increasing their level of competency in various clinical settings. BGMC also supplies students with quality predoctoral internship sites through their consortium. Students who receive these internship honors are able to attend weekly lectures and presentations while exercising their presentation and supervision skills.

NSU’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) promotes a welcoming climate for sexual-minority and nonsexual-minority students who are interested in working together to achieve a better understanding of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) population. The GSA has led and participated in many community events on campus and in the South Florida area. Within the NSU community, GSA supports and encourages diversity and inclusion through hosting their first-ever National Coming Out Day pride march and panel discussion. This even successfully united the university community by bringing together students of various sexual orientations and presenting them with the opportunity to express their perspectives. In addition, NSU Gay-Straight Alliance extended their reach beyond the community by initiating and attending event s throughout South Florida. These events include World Aids Day candlelight vigil, the Transgender Day of Remembrance at Sunshine Cathedral, and marching in Miami Beach’s Gay Pride Parade.

The purpose of NSPIRE is to educate communities about the importance and need for proactive efforts in the areas of prevention, intervention, education, and response to crises and emergencies. The organization’s mission is to create awareness of resources, professional development, research, and to provide a forum for discussion and advocacy. NSPIRE is a leader at the Center for Psychological Studies (CPS) by hosting events such as the Suicide Prevention Among At-Risk Adolescents, CPS Brown Bag Lunch, A Mother’s Story, the Effects of Suicide, and Live.Love.Hope, which have helped to educate the community about the warning signs and resources available. NSPIRE continues to strengthen their partnership with community organizations by inviting speakers from groups like Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention to share their knowledge. NSPIRE shares their commitment to the NSU core values of service, leadership, and commitment in their efforts to raise awareness to community issues.

The Center for Psychological Studies Student Government Association (CPS SGA) is known for being one of the most involved organizations in their efforts to increase student involvement at NSU and the surrounding community. Currently, they fund 15 organizations and sponsor a plethora of events that bring awareness to human trafficking, the GLBT population, eating disorders, and suicide presentation. Recently this dedicated SGA sponsored the Jewish Psychological Student Association by bringing Joe Sachs, a Holocaust survivor to CPS. In addition, CPS SGA hosted their annual research conference, which provides the opportunity for CPS students to showcase and present their research to fellow colleagues and faculty members. The Center for Psychological Studies SGA also holds open meetings to give CPS students the opportunity to voice their concerns and ideas to faculty and staff members.

Barry Nierenberg, Ph.D., is an associate professor of psychology in the Center for Psychological Studies. In addition to his numerous roles that range from president of the Academy of Rehabilitation Psychology to executive board member of the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology, Dr. Nierenberg also serves as the adviser for three student organizations. These organizations include The Students for Stress Resilience, Business of Psychology, and Nova Preventative Medicine Initiative. The students he encounters identify him as a willing adviser who strive to lend support while demonstrating passion, dedication, and serving as a role model. As an example of his commitment, Dr. Nierenberg assisted The Students for Stress Resilience in identifying environmental factors of graduate school life so that CPS students could be better informed. Dr. Nierenberg’s involvement, integrity, and general helpful and caring nature make him an excellent mentor and adviser.

Alan Katell, Ph.D., serves as the director of clinical training at NSU’s Center for Psychological Studies and has been a dedicated faculty member for more than 30 years. Dr. Katell is a leader with a passion for students and their professional development. Some of his pioneering efforts to assist students include collaborating and preparing 20 mock scenarios available via DVD or WebCT to prepare students for on-site interviews; coordinating the annual Practicum Fair; and developing a graduate course, Advanced Professional Development. Despite having visual and auditory impairments, the theme throughout all of what Dr. Katell does for students is going above and beyond as well as being available 24/7.

Ed Simco has been with NSU since 1971, or long enough to have the email ed@nova.edu. He started teaching statistics at the Center for Psychological Studies in 1993 and has shown an unmatched passion and commitment to students and fellow faculty members. Dr. Simco kindly and warmly lights the torch that illuminates the often dark world of statistics and research. He has collaborated with faculty members to develop the Ph.D. program to its full potential and offers his expertise in structuring the program. He is an advocate and supports faculty members as one of the few statistical consultants available for research projects. Dr. Simco teaches a minimum of three classes a semester, sits on dozens of dissertation committees a year, consults on research projects, and is readily available to students. According to students, they will forever be indebted for his impact on their careers as researchers nad psychologists.

Since graduating from NSU with her Doctor of Psychology in 2003, Donna Nguyen has demonstrated leadership internal and external to the NSU community. Dr. Nguyen has worked to develop the Center for Psychological Studies’ thriving online counseling program that has provided educational opportunities in a flexible format for students. Dr. Nguyen has created the initiative for postdoctoral psychology residency program and has been a role model to administrators, faculty and staff members, and students. She is deeply passionate about students and their educational experience, which is evidenced in her efforts to provide educational opportunities for master’s and doctoral degree counselors and psychologists. She serves on numerous committees at the institutional, division, and center level. She developed and implemented student learning outcomes for NSU’s large counseling programs. She always strives to dedicate 100 percent of herself to every task she takes on.

Brandon Bergman has without question made an impact on students and faculty and staff members in his academic and personal pursuits. His colleagues and professors know him to be a leader who is consistently seeking out research opportunities and presenting his findings, while maintaining a positive demeanor. Brandon meets with incoming students to assist in their transition into their respective psychology programs. Additionally, Brandon serves as a teacher’s assistant in a variety of courses where he delivers lectures, develops teaching materials, and is a mentor for students by offering feedback. Brandon is a diligent student who has received numerous honors, which include an internal research award, a traveling award to present research at the 2009 American Psychological Association Conference, and has co-authored work with Steve Russo, Ph.D., and Christian DeLucia, Ph.D. Brand on is currently submitting his first solely authored manuscript.