Nova Southeastern University Celebrates its 50th Anniversary Year in 2014

University Has Come a Long Way Since December 4, 1964

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Dec 02, 2014, 03:12 ET

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- What do First Lady Michelle Obama, TV show host Stephen Colbert, actress Courteney Cox and Nova Southeastern University (NSU) all have in common? They all turned 50 in 2014. And like our famous counterparts who were born in the same year, NSU has come a long way since it was chartered on Dec. 4, 1964.

Back then, NSU was an idea that took root in a storefront in Fort Lauderdale. It was born in 1964, thanks to a group of Broward County leaders and visionaries, and was known as Nova University of Advanced Technology. Fast-forward 50 years and that vision turned into Nova Southeastern University (after merging with Southeastern University in 1994.) It is now one of the largest private, not-for-profit universities in the United States. In fact, NSU has campuses across Florida (Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers) and recently opened its new facility in Puerto Rico.

Approximately 26,000 students call NSU their school, and there are more than 160,000 alumni spread out across the globe. From a storefront 50 years ago, today NSU touches communities locally, statewide, nationally and internationally.

"I am constantly amazed at just how far NSU has come and the remarkable individuals who have graduated from and worked at this great university," said George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., president of NSU. "We have a lot to be proud of, but we are not resting on our laurels – the next 50 years will be even better."

Although recently adopted, NSU's Core Values have been part of its fabric since 1964 – Academic Excellence, Student Centers, Integrity, Innovation, Opportunity, Scholarship/Research, Diversity and Community. Look around campus and you'll see these values reflected in how professors interact with students, how students interact with each other and how NSU contributes to the community at large.

One of NSU's achievements is being recognized for its dedication to research. Classified as a research university with "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie's Community Engagement Classification. Through five decades of explosive growth, the university's reputation for academic excellence and innovation continues to flourish.

"Research is vital at NSU," said Hanbury. "Our faculty and students are highly engaged in research in many areas – from genetics to marine science to psychology – all of which is geared toward enriching educational experiences of our students as well as contributing to the world's body of knowledge. We're helping people globally – what more of a legacy can a university create than that?"

Case in point – NSU's new Center for Collaborative Research (CCR.) This facility will house an IBM supercomputer, one of Florida's largest wet labs, the NSU Technology Incubator and some of the world's most accomplished researchers. Located on NSU's main campus in Davie, Fla., the 215,000 sq.-ft.-facility will cost approximately $80 million to construct and equip. When it's completed, the CCR will be a focal point for research and discoveries that will one day impact all of humanity.

NSU's Shepard Broad Law Center was named one of the nation's most outstanding law schools by The Princeton Review and it ranks in the top five law schools in America for Hispanic students. The Oceanographic Center, which includes the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center state-of-the-art building, has been at the forefront of research and is home to some of the world's top researchers who are studying sharks, coral reefs and other aspects of marine biology and science. NSU is also home to the Mailman Segal Center for Human Development, one of the nation's leading teaching and demonstration schools for individuals with Autism.

But it's not only the educational opportunities NSU provides and separates it from other colleges and universities – NSU's students are what make the university thrive. They are involved in numerous clubs and organizations, many of which are dedicated to making their community a better place. And that goes beyond the South Florida community – many students travel around the United States and internationally lending a hand and helping improve the lives of others.

There have been many things that have taken place since 1964. Man walked on the moon. The fall of Communism swept across Eastern Europe. The explosion of technology and the interconnectivity brought forth via the Internet. And a small university that began as a dream has grown into a thriving center for teaching, learning and research.

"If you think the last 50 years were something special, to steal a line from a popular song lyric: 'you ain't seen nothing yet'," Hanbury said.

About Nova Southeastern University: Situated on 314 beautiful acres in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at all levels. NSU is an independent, not-for-profit institution with 26,000 students at campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach and Tampa, Florida as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico. NSU awards associate's, bachelor's, master's, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. NSU is classified as a research university with "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and it is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie's Community Engagement Classification. For more information, please visit www.nova.edu. Celebrating 50 years of academic excellence!