NSU Horizons Spring 2017

20 NSU HORIZONS Amid the hustle-bustle of southwest Broward County, NSU’s Miramar Campus emphasizes community out- reach and raising awareness of the university in one of South Florida’s fastest-growing regions. Open since 2008, the campus is located at the Mira- mar Town Center near Florida’s Turnpike and Red Road, a gateway to Miami-Dade County and western Broward communities. NSU’s floor includes 14 multi- media classrooms, video conferencing, a computer lab, a student lounge, and a small conference room. “The campus is focused on community—one of NSU’s Core Values,” said campus director Ella Gooden, M.B.A. “This is evident by strong relationships with our commu- nity and corporate partners.” The campus is an active member of the Miramar-Pembroke Pines Regional Chamber of Commerce in assisting small businesses, and it is involved in Community Collaboration with non-profit groups such as Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship and United Way of Broward County. “I look for all opportunities to get the word out and increase awareness about NSU,” Gooden added. The NSU Miramar Campus is home to the Interna- tional Teacher Education Program (ITEP), which offers a path for native Spanish-language speakers to pursue a master’s degree and a teaching career. The program combines academic curriculum and an English-lan- guage training component that leads to a Master of Science degree. It offers four areas of specialization, including exceptional student education, mathematics, science, and Spanish-language education. BY KATHLEEN KERNICKY “This program is tailored to Hispanic professionals pursuing a master’s degree in education. It is home to the largest number of ITEP students because of its convenient location and flexible hours,” said Beatriz B. Diaz, Ed.D., director at ITEP, which has more than 100 students attending classes. That works well for Marvia Perez-Tosca, an ITEP student and pre-school teacher from Miramar. She is working toward a master’s degree and certification to teach elementary school students with disabilities. “When I came to the U.S. in 2013, I found the ITEP program was an excellent option to develop my passion for education and improve my English proficiency,” said Perez-Tosca, who was raised in Venezuela. “As a Miramar neighbor, it is spectacular to have a campus here in south Broward.” The campus also offers services to teens and adults with autism spectrum disorders through the University of Miami-NSU Center for Autism and Related Disabili- ties (CARD), which operates a branch office at the Miramar campus. Based in Coral Gables, UM-NSU CARD is a partnership between NSU and the University of Miami, one of seven university-based centers in the state, and the only CARD partnership between two private universities. “Our mission is to provide support and assistance with the goal of optimizing the potential of people with autism and related disabilities,” said Deborah Chin, manager of UM-NSU CARD’s Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Transition and Adult Programs. “We Strong Community Ties Raise Awareness of Autism, Human Trafficking Miramar Campus NSU’s