NSU Horizons Spring/Summer 2009

academic notes T he downturn in the housing market has dominated recent real estate news, but larger, long-term issues loom for the development side of the industry. Developers wear many hats, but primarily oversee building projects to increase their clients’ land value. With the baby boom generation approaching retirement, developers need to replace many retiring middle- and upper-level managers. But because of downsizing in a soft market, there is a shortage of younger, entry- level managers to take their places. To address this problem, NSU’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship has launched the Master of Science in Real Estate Development degree program, the first of its kind in Florida. The school previously offered an M.B.A. with a concentration in real estate development, but started the new program in January to further meet the industry’s changing needs. “The mission of the program is to provide students with a hands-on understanding of the real estate development process so they can provide an immediate and optimal benefit to employ- ers,” said Wayne Falbey, D.B.A., chair of the M.S. in Real Estate Development degree program (pictured). Professors in the program are experienced industry profes- sionals. In fact, Anthony Trella, founder, owner, and president of the Meranth Company, a leading real estate development company in South Florida, serves as developer-in-residence. The program is also closely aligned with the Urban Land Institute, a nonprofit organization serving as the real estate industry’s preeminent forum. “The Huizenga School’s program is right on target to fill a need to educate and train individuals to meet the demand for top- notch real estate development professionals,” said Terry Stiles, chairman and CEO of Stiles Corporation, one of the largest full-service real estate companies in Florida. Visit www.nova.edu/business for more information on NSU’s Master of Science in Real Estate Development degree program. ■ New Degree Offers Real Solutions for Real Estate Development L ast year, 29 students from Nova Southeastern University’s College of Allied Health and Nursing made history. They became Florida’s first-ever graduating class of anesthesiologist assistants. “The students not only made history, but they are now making their patients’ lives better,” said Robert Wagner, M.M.Sc., AA-C, director of the anesthesiologist assistant program. Launched at NSU in 2006, this unique program is available at only five universities in the country. The 27-month program teaches students how to administer anesthesia and care for patients under the direction of an anesthesiologist. Having more anesthesiologist assistants allows more surgeries to take place. Nationally, these health care providers can practice in only 22 states. Wagner was instrumental in lobbying state law- makers to allow anesthesiologist assistants to practice in Florida. But, this limitation has not curbed demand. The job market is so hot for NSU’s anesthesiologist assistant graduates that they can expect to earn a starting salary between $120,000 and $150,000, Wagner said. Experienced anesthesiologist assistants can easily command a salary of $180,000. In June, the College of Allied Health and Nursing plans to open an additional anesthesiologist assistant program in Tampa to meet rising demand. The Tampa program will begin with 25 students. Visit www.nova.edu/mhs/anesthesia for more information about NSU’s anesthesiologist assistant program. n nsu’s First Class of Anesthesiologist Assistants Graduates 3 horizons