I N D E P E N D E N T C o l l e g e s & U n i v e r s i t i e s of F l o r i d a

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1 I N D E P E N D E N T C o l l e g e s & U n i v e r s i t i e s of F l o r i d a ED H. MOORE, PhD, P R E S I D E N T (850) emoore@icuf.org I C U F N e w s l e t t e r M A Y Honors Go Florida Tech Science Students Congratulations go to winners of the Northrop Grumman Corp. Champion Award and Florida Institute of Technology President s Cup Award, presented at the annual Northrop Grumman Engineering and Science Student Design Showcase. A total of 66 engineering and 56 science projects were on displayed and in each, students worked diligently sometimes for years conducting research, designing and building a variety of projects, and developing solutions for important real-world problems. We had 100 volunteers to judge the student projects this year, said Ronnal Reichard, professor of engineering and coordinator of Engineering Senior Design. These professionals come to the showcase because of the excellence of our students and their projects. Many of the students have been invited by the judges for corporate visits and job interviews based on their performance at the showcase. We are truly proud of our engineering students accomplishments. The science projects were also lauded. Over my time at a variety of other excellent universities, I ve never seen the level of commitment that Florida Tech brings to undergraduate research. I ve also never seen the levels of commitment and success that Florida Tech undergraduates display in research, said Michael Grace, associate dean of Florida Tech s College of Science. From studies of coral reefs to kidney disease to the search for water on Mars, College of Science students are conducting truly amazing research that has far-reaching implications. From left: Dean of the College of Engineering Fredric Ham; President Anthony J. Catanese; team members Brittany Essink, Rafiuddin Ahmed and Michelle Little; Florida Tech benefactor Philip Farmer; and Ronnal Reichard, coordinator of Engineering Senior Design.

2 ERAU Student Team Wins EPA Award A team of eight engineering students from the Daytona Beach campus of Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University that designed and built a new kind of water purifier has been named one of the 15 winners of the 2012 People, Prosperity and the Planet national competition sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As winners, the Embry-Riddle students will receive a $90,000 EPA grant to refine and patent their device, a solarpowered water purification system that can fit into a backpack for easy transport to disaster-stricken areas. The design is based on two stand-alone water purifiers the students built and installed in Haiti after that nation s 2010 devastating earthquake. International Tour for CCC Handbell Choir Recently, the Clearwater Christian College Handbell Choir completed their first international tour upon invitation from the Uludag University in Bursa, Turkey. During their ten-day music tour, the choir presented concerts, taught bell technique to university students, and formed important relationships for future trips. The choir was privileged to take part in the cultural offerings of their Turkish hosts, while participating in service projects that assisted specific educational and cultural groups within the country. We were so blessed to build friendships and goodwill with the Turkish people, said Dr. Pattye Casarow, faculty sponsor, and chair of the department of music at CCC. CCC Handbell Choir SLU Proves Popular in Workplace Survey Saint Leo University ranked 12th in the large category - employers having more than 500 employees - in a listing of the Top 75 Places to Work in Tampa Bay in the Tampa Bay Times. The rankings were based solely on the opinions of nearly 23,000 employees from 132 companies who responded to an independently conducted survey. Seventy-four percent of Saint Leo s Tampa Bay area employees responded to the survey.

3 Flagler Students Finishes Second at National Competition The Flagler College Students In Free Enterprise team (SIFE) advanced to the final four and finished second at the 2012 SIFE USA National Exposition. More than 180 teams competed at the National Competition after moving on from 12 regional competitions this past spring. The team worked on several projects including working with youth offenders from the St. Johns Youth Academy at the Haven Horse Flagler College s 2012 SIFE Team Ranch in St. Augustine, as well as finishing in the top ten of Walmart's "Get on the Shelf" contest for its work with Jacksonville's Veterans Farm. Flagler SIFE also finished in first place for a $5,000 Sam's Club Step Up For Small Business award for its Meals on Wheels initiative, as well as third place for an American Enterprise Grant finish for its effort with the Black Heritage Xperience, a group trying to educate others about black history in St. Johns County. Stetson Student Named Civic Fellow Campus Compact has selected Stetson University sophomore Gladys Valle as a 2012 Newman Civic Fellow one of 162 college student leaders nationwide who were selected for their personal commitments to creating lasting change for the better in their communities. Valle demonstrates the type of civic engagement that sets an example for others. A psychology major from Paterson, N.J., she links academic work with her passion for youth empowerment. She has committed to serving 300 hours in the College Access AmeriCorps Program, mentoring youth in the DeLand community. Gladys Valle Flagler Students Selected to Attend Journalism Institute Three Flagler College students will be heading to Washington, D.C. this summer after being accepted into the prestigious Institute on Political Journalism. The intensive eight-week program is designed for students looking for professional, hands-on training in print or broadcast journalism, public relations and politics. Danielle Ruckert, Katy Stang and Tiffanie Reynolds will attend classes in economics, ethics and leadership at Georgetown University and also serve in internships with major news and communications organizations. While in the program, Ruckert will work with public relations firm K-Global while Stang and Reynolds will do their internship at CBS Radio affiliate WTOP FM. "This is the seventh year in a row that some of the best and brightest communication students are accepted into this program," said Associate Professor Helena Sarkio. "We have an excellent reputation with the Institute on Political Journalism and I am sure that Danielle, Katy and Tiffanie will further strengthen it."

4 Stetson Seniors Prepare for Bike & Build Trip As a celebration of their friendship and Planet Earth, Stetson University graduating seniors Tyce Herrman and Francis Sams are taking a 3,757-mile bicycle trip this summer with the Bike & Build nonprofit organization that supports affordable housing initiatives. The Stetson seniors are raising money for the cause; participants are required to collect at least $4,500 toward affordable housing projects. They ve also contributed required sweat equity to affordable housing projects in Central Florida. Francis and I wanted to do something to go out with a bang, and we thought a bicycle trip might be an amazing experience, said Herrman, an environmental science and philosophy double-major from Verona, Ill. We re just both kind of goofy guys, and it s been a beautiful friendship. We ll be going to different places in life and wanted to do one last thing together. Left: Tyce Herrman & Francis Sams Their team of 30 riders left Portsmith, N.H., in June for the 70-day journey across the upper US and into Vancouver, British Columbia. Along the route, they ll stop in eight states for pre-planned Build Days where they will volunteer with local affordable housing organizations. They will also hold public events to promote the need for and importance of affordable housing. Nova Graduate Investigates Survival of the Swordfish Jenny Fenton, a graduate student in marine biology is working on a research project and master s thesis. For the last two years, at Nova Southeastern University s Oceanographic Center, she has been analyzing the survival rates of juvenile swordfish caught by fishermen. Years of overfishing in the Florida Straits where America s swordfish nursery is located --- have depleted their population. Her research is the first Rt: Jenny Fenton study of its kind. Her findings are important because a federal measure is being considered that would allow recreational fishermen to catch swordfish for commercial sale, resulting in the number of juvenile swordfish being caught to skyrocket. Fenton, whose study is sponsored by the NOAA Fisheries Service, will share her data with the federal agency and it will be up to resource managers to decide whether allowing swordfish anglers to sell their catch commercially is worth the fishing pressure it would put on their nursery grounds. This has been a fascinating project working with such an important species to both recreational fishing and the commercial fishing industry, Fenton said. I hope my data will be used to sustain healthy populations of swordfish for future generations to enjoy.

5 Warner Alumni Honored Warner University has a reputation for developing high caliber educators who become a vital part of the local community as well as many others across the nation. Warner Alumni Mike Lee, MAEd (2007) was recognized as Teacher of the Year at Sebring High School and received additional honors as Highlands County's Teacher of the Year. Mike Lee FSC Professor receives Miller Award Dr. Bruce Anderson, Associate Professor of Political Science at Florida Southern College, has been awarded the Miller Distinguished Professor Award. Dr. Anderson joined the faculty of Florida Southern in 2010, and he directs the College s pre-law program. He has been a frequent and lively commentator in the local and national media about the political scene in Florida. Dr. Kyle Fedler, FSC Provost, said in announcing the award that Anderson has made a positive and consequential impact on the college as a whole and the students under his guidance. Besides being an outstanding teacher he has taken dozens of students to Dr. Bruce Anderson conferences, helped place many others in prestigious internships, has coordinated the Washington Center partnership, has ramped up our pre-law program, and has stepped forward to lead a political science and pre-law living-learning community next year. The Miller Award, named for the late John and Eleanor Miller, honors an FSC faculty member each year who has achieved excellence in teaching, active learning, scholarly productivity, and advising. Lynn launches largest Effort of its Kind Lynn University is set to cut more than 30 percent from its utility spending thanks to an energy savings performance contract with Siemens Building Technologies Division. The comprehensive $10.7 million energy efficiency program is the largest single-phase university project of its kind in Florida and will begin rolling out in the fall. Because the project is performance based, Siemens guarantees the amount of energy savings that will be produced by the upgrades and retrofits. These savings will reduce energy expenses enough to finance the project over time. We are confident the work done today will sustain us ecologically and economically for future generations of students, Lynn University President Kevin M. Ross said. According to Siemens Greenhouse Gas Calculator, over the contract s 20-year duration, Lynn University can expect to reduce C02 emissions enough to remove the equivalent of approximately 10,000 cars from the road, preserve 386 acres of forest or negate the consumption of 290 rail cars full of coal.

6 Webber Tennis Coach Ends Coaching Career The long and illustrious career as the Head Tennis Coach at Webber International University has come to an end for Bill Heath. He has been at Webber for 26 years and 21 of those years he has served as the men s and women s tennis coach. Heath will remain as the Athletic Director for the Warriors programs. I felt it was the right time to step aside and devote all of my time and energy to the AD responsibilities, stated Heath. This season Heath led the Lady Warriors to their second consecutive winning season, and to postseason play, as they finished the season with a record overall and placed #30 in the nation on the final NAIA Poll. Heath took the men s team to a 15-7 record, and to postseason, and the Warriors ended up as the #23 ranked team in the nation in NAIA. Also, under Heath, the WIU men s JV team posted a perfect 7-0 record this season. The men s tennis team, by finishing with a winning record this season, has finished with a winning record for the 21st consecutive season. Heath completes his tennis coaching career with an overall record, with the men s team, of 383 wins and 152 losses. With the ladies Heath finishes with an overall record of 264 wins and 241 losses. The total record with both teams is 647 wins to 393 losses. Having Bill Heath serve as the tennis coach during my 13 years as athletic director was a blessing. He handled everything! I never had to worry about anything. He was an awesome motivator, fund raiser, recruiter, mentor, and coach, stated former AD Nancy Nichols. Coaching college athletics has been an honor and I have lived a dream that I will always cherish and remember, said Heath. But, in reality, I have reached a point, or maybe it s an age, that I can t multi task the way I use to do, plus I have an lot that I want to accomplish as an AD before I decide to retire, added Bill Heath Heath. FL Tech Named to President's Community Service Honor Roll Florida Institute of Technology has again been named to the President s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. This is the sixth consecutive year that the university has earned this national recognition for its exemplary community efforts. Civic engagement is not simply taught; it is lived, said Florida Tech President Anthony J. Catanese. The university is pleased to receive this national honor for our dedication to our community and to making the world a better place. Our students, faculty and staff engage very seriously in this commitment to helping others. On campus, students joined their faculty to develop innovative programs and projects to meet local needs using the skills gained in their classrooms. Business students served as consultants to budget-strapped nonprofits and businesses, law students volunteered at legal clinics, and dozens of others organized anti-hunger campaigns.

7 Jacksonville Chooses New Marching Band Leader Jacksonville University announced Christopher J. Creswell as its new marching band director. Creswell was chosen from a national pool of 50 candidates.the band will begin playing at sporting events in the fall of Chris stood out in our search, not solely because of his reputation as a legend in the band world, but due to his innate ability to bring the best from individual students, said Bill Hill, dean of the College of Fine Arts. Creswell has 12 years experience as a director, composer, arranger and visual designer for marching bands across the country. "My interest in becoming director of athletic bands at JU stems from the unique opportunity of starting a program and its traditions from scratch, giving ownership to the student members, and together creating an organization that provides spirit and pride to the University." Christopher J. Creswell PBA Names Executive Assistant Palm Beach Atlantic University President William Fleming, Jr. has appointed Timothy Worley as Executive Assistant to the President. A 1994 Palm Beach Atlantic Supper Honors graduate, Worley has served in several management and leadership positions with the United States Department of Justice for the past nine years. Presently, he is Assistant Director for the Operations Services Staff in the Office of the Deputy Chief Information Officer for Operations, where he administers 270 contracts valued at more than $20 million. Worley oversees the development of the Timothy Worley $190 million Operations Services Staff Fiscal Year Operating Plan. He supervises a staff of five who manage 30 federal employees and 15 contractors. Tim s work experience in streamlining processes and increasing efficiencies are assets to the continued growth of Palm Beach Atlantic, President Fleming said. He has a keen understanding of complex systems and organizations. As a loyal alumnus, Tim understands the special role of a Christian university in today s society. UM Breaks Ground on New Research Building The University of Miami has broken ground on a $47 million complex at its marine school on Virginia Key that will feature a giant tank capable of simulating Category 5 hurricane storm surges. The project, expected to be completed by late 2013, will include two connected buildings, one devoted to hurricane and climate research and the other to the study of marine life. It will be the first new facility added to the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science in 30 years. The complex will include a 28,000-gallon tank that will help researchers study the interaction of hurricane winds and storm waves and analyze the impact of surge on coastal buildings.

8 Eckerd Welcomes New Dean Eckerd College is pleased to announce the appointment of Kelly Kirschner, former Mayor of Sarasota, as Dean of Special Programs. As Dean, Kirschner will provide leadership for the College's non-credit adult education, continuing education and lifelong learning programs. "Kelly will be a great asset to Eckerd. We're looking forward to applying his many talents and experiences, including his extensive knowledge of Latin America, to the management and strategy development for Special Programs," said Dr. Donald R. Eastman III, President of Eckerd College. Kirschner follows James E. Deegan who is retiring after 28 years as Vice President and Dean of Special Programs. Under Kelly Kirschner Deegan's leadership the College built the Continuing Education Center, established Senior College, which later became the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, founded the Center for Conflict Dynamics and the Eckerd College Writers Conference, and significantly expanded the Program for Experienced Learners and the Leadership Development Institute. James Deegan PBA Appoints Vice President for Development Palm Beach Atlantic University President William M.B. Fleming, Jr. has appointed Vicki Pugh as Vice President for Development. Pugh has served as an executive with the YMCA in Florida for the past 11 years, currently as Vice President of the Volusia Flagler Family YMCA, overseeing operations of the Port Orange Family YMCA, the largest facility of the association, and assisting with association-wide fundraising, marketing, childcare and training initiatives. In her new role at Palm Beach Atlantic as Vice President for Development, Pugh will be responsible for planning, organizing and implementing the University s fundraising, marketing, Vicki Pugh community service, planned giving and alumni relations efforts. She will report directly to the President and serve as a member of the President s Cabinet. Vicki s proven track record in all areas of fund development, including capital campaigns, annual support, special events, endowment, planned giving and grant writing serve the University s needs at this point in its history, President Fleming said. Her passion for improving the community where she lives and works speaks to PBA s core values to lead and serve.

9 Rollins receives endowment Rollins College recently announced a new endowed directorship in its Office of Community Engagement a role that will expand meaningful servicebased experiences for students. This $1 million major gift from Rollins alumnus David Lord and his family will fund the permanent endowed position, known as the Lord Family Director of Community Engagement. We are very thankful for the generosity of the Lord family and their commitment to the mission of Rollins, said Micki Meyer, who will hold the position. This gift will Micki Meyer and David Lord enable us to offer more opportunities such as servicelearning, community-based research, and civic involvement to students and faculty who are passionate about leveraging their education as a vehicle for change. Lord and his family made an initial gift to help establish the Office of Community Engagement in 2001 and have championed its mission since then helping thousands of students, faculty and staff to engage in service-based experiences. In 2005, they created the Rhoda Newberry Reed Endowment for Community Engagement and Leadership Education and Development. Community engagement is already a cornerstone of the academic program at Rollins, and we re honored to raise this position to the level of an endowed chair, said Lord. Students want to attend a college where they can make a difference. Through community engagement, they can experience the complex problems of society and use their education to find solutions. Hodges Campaign Nationally Recognized Hodges University has received four awards, including two gold awards, in Higher Education Marketing Report s 27th annual Educational Advertising Awards. The Award is the largest educational advertising competition in the nation. This year, over 2,900 entries were received from more than one thousand colleges, universities and secondary schools from all 50 states and several foreign countries. Hodges received a gold award in the category of Single Newspaper Ad Group (represented by schools with 2,000-4,999 students) and a gold award in the Radio Advertising Series category. Hodges also won silver awards in the Television Advertising Series category and the Magazine Ad Series category. In all four categories, the awards were presented to the University for its Community Leaders marketing campaign which features local leaders who are graduates of Hodges University. What an honor to have our efforts recognized at a national level, says Dr. Terry McMahan, President of Hodges University. Our marketing team works very hard to be among the forefront of peer institutions in our marketing and communications efforts for the university, and they deserve this recognition. We also need to credit the many Hodges graduates that have been featured in our marketing pieces, representing just a few of the many success stories at our institution.

10 Hodges Names EVP of Administration Hodges University has hired Dr. Joseph Pepe, Ed.D, as its new Executive Vice President of Administration. Dr. Pepe most recently served as the Executive Director of Student Educational Centers for Nova Southeastern University. We could not be more pleased to have Dr. Pepe join our executive team, said Hodges President Terry McMahan. In his new role, Dr. Pepe will oversee the operational services that support Hodges University s faculty, staff, and students. Pepe combines the talents of being an exceptional academician who understands the day-to-day administrative challenges at a university with the experience of working at an institution that has several learning sites. Joseph Pepe Barry s PA Program Adds New Faculty The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Health Resources and Services Administration awarded Barry University s Physician Assistant Program $1.5 million in grants to address the dramatic primary health care shortages in the U.S. Virgin Islands through PA training. Recently, the PA program hired three new members for its new off-site campus in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Claire Lokitis, Seana Hanley and Eva Marie Gibbs-Stevens will join the students, faculty, and staff in St. Croix. Lokitis is the operations director and assistant professor of medical education, Hanley, is an administrative assistant and Gibbs -Stevens, serves as the senior videoconferencing support specialist. The community response to the establishment of the PA Program in St. Croix is overwhelmingly positive and the effort by Barry University is providing a major thrust to improve health care in the region, which is severely medically underserved. Fr left: Prof. Claire Lokitis; PA Student, Jenifer Samuel; Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen, and Seana Hanley, PA Staff Member. ICUF

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