NSU Horizons Fall 2018

33 NSU HORIZONS [ 2010 s ] Adrianne Smith , M.S., ’11, was recognized by SCORE as a Small Business Champion for her business Creative Behavior Solutions, LLC, which provides behavior therapy to children with autism and developmental disabilities. Smith was awarded an all-expense paid trip to a training and networking event, SCORE mentoring and publicity throughout the year, and an opportunity to win a $15,000 gift card for Sam’s Club. Four NSU alumni were awarded a specialty credential, Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ), from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Kate (Linehan) Westfield , PA-C, ’11, works at Orthopedic One, Ohio, and earned a CAQ in Orthopedic Surgery; Lauren Fellion , PA-C, ’12, works at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, and earned a CAQ in emergency medicine. Malwina Huzarska , PA-C, ’14, who also earned a CAQ in emergency medicine, works at Emergency Medicine Association and MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, Maryland. Sara Herreros Leonard , PA-C, ’14, earned a CAQ in psychiatry, and works at Amelia Psychiatry in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Jack Freund , Ph.D., ’12, was awarded the John W. Lainhart IV Common Body of Knowledge Award by ISACA (Information Systems Audit & Control Association). Freund was recognized for his contributions in developing the certification for CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control) and for ensuring the integrity and quality of the CRISC certification exam content. James Mayer, M.B.A., ’12, is the director of Finance at the Salvation Army of Northern VA ARC in Alexandria, Virginia. Kathleen Carter Martinez , Ed.D., ’13, a mindful trauma recovery coach and consultant, has published a book, Permission Granted: The Journey from Trauma to Healing from Rape, Sexual Assault and Emotional Abuse , New York: CheyWind Center for Trauma & Healing, 2017. Esther Fleites , M.S., ’13, is a faculty member at Antigua College International in Miami Lakes, Florida. Francisco Medina , B.S., ’13, is an IT specialist at the Ardor Health Solutions in Coral Springs, Florida. Jillian Maiorino , B.S., ’14, is a teacher at Saint David Catholic School in Davie, Florida. Kimberly McCoy , M.S., ’14, is a speech language pathologist and owner of Blueberry Speech Pathology in Hillsboro, Oregon. Jorge Rice , Ph.D., ’15, was named an equal employment specialist for the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. He will work on specific employment complaints and will be involved with counseling, mediation, investigation, and training for staff members at the Library of Congress. Anisia Rodriguez del Rey-Perez , M.A., ’15, is a controller at Crispin Porter and Bogusky LLC in Florida. Sharon Siegel , M.B.A., ’15, who serves as a professor and chair of the Department of Prosthodontics at NSU’s College of Dental Medicine, has been named associate editor in chief of the Journal of Prosthodontics . Michael Viggiano , B.A., B.S., ’15, has secured a position as a legislative correspondent for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Washington, D.C. Marie Lourdes Charles , Ed.D., ’16, serves as an assistant professor at Pace University in New York. Joanne Napoli , B.S., ’16, is a paralegal at Kramer, Greene, Zuckerman, Green & Buchsbaum, PA., in Hollywood, Florida. Amber L. Ruocco , J.D., ’16, has been hired as an associate by Lubell Rosen Law Firm, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and will practice in the Workers’ Compensation Division. Trisha J Baker , Ed.D., ’17, is the founder and president/ CEO of FOCUSED Ministries, Inc. in Morton Grove, Illinois. Marsha Butler , Ed.D., ’17, is a faculty member at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida. Gaia Calcaterra , M.B.A., ’17, has started a nonprofit, The Gratitude Project, a home in South Africa for children, many of whom are orphans raising their siblings. The Gratitude Project provides schooling, medicine, and food for the families. Calcaterra runs the global nonprofit from her home in South Florida. Mary Louise Keyloun Cruz , Ed.D., ’17, is a music specialist at Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary School in Florida. Joyce Irving , Ed.D., ’17, serves as the regional dean for the International University of the Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Ashley Jennings , Ed.D., ’17, is an assistant director at Bethune-Cookman University in Deltona, Florida. Andrea Portillo , M.P.H., ’17, is director of Prevention Services at Center for Health Justice in Los Angeles, California. Khalifa Stanford , Ed.D., ’17, a social studies teacher at I-Tech Thomas Edison Educational Center in Miami, Florida, was recognized by Governor Rick Scott with the Excellence in Education Award for Black History Month. Stanford was also a finalist for 2018 Social Studies Teacher of the Year for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Nicole Vega-Valbuena , B.S., ’17, works as a clinical flow coordinator at Naidu Orthodontics in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Alexander Lafortune , B.A., ’18, is the founder and CEO of Fortune X, an oral care subscription service company based in South Florida. Lafortune’s idea for the company began in 2016, when he was a sophomore at NSU, and accidentally knocked his toothbrush into the toilet. Wishing he could order a new toothbrush as easily as ordering a pizza, the vision for Fortune X was born. Fortune X launched in October 2018. IN MEMORIAM James (Bud) Brock , Ed.D., ’75, who earned his doctorate degree in community college education from what was then Nova University, passed away recently in his home in Frisco, Texas. He served as a teacher in Florida’s Broward County school system and as a computer science professor at Broward College. After retiring from teaching, Brock served as the manager of the computer division at Broward County’s Engineering Department. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Nellie Brock, a daughter, two granddaughters, one sister, and numerous nieces and nephews. WANT TO BE FEATURED IN THE ALUMNI NOTES SECTION OF HORIZONS MAGAZINE? The NSU Alumni association wants to know what you’ve been up to! Share achievements and milestones in your career, and family, as well as your personal or community pursuits. Submit your news and photos by visiting our NSU Alumni page and clicking on the Share your News link, Update Alumni Records or send email to alumni@nova.edu. We can’t wait to hear from you!