Horizons Fall 2013

One of his computer-science professors at the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences was Greg Simco, Ph.D. “Greg would get us into discussions and debates. I found that refreshing,” Edwards said. Simco remembers Edwards’ time at NSU. “Denis provided a synergy to the delivery of the subject matter, discussions, and future directions in computer science and systems,” said Simco, currently a professor of computer science at the Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences. “Students like Denis are bright and knowl- edgeable but they also realize they can always learn more, refine their knowledge, and grow as people and computer scientists. Denis’ discipline of computer science, along with his interpersonal skills, enhanced the productivity in the program.” Edwards’ philosophy about business has been constant throughout his career journey. “For me, it has never been about what city or what company,” he said. “It has been more about, ‘What can we do as an organization?’ At Edelman, we’re about shaping good messages about issues that affect people around the world. The way I contribute to that from a technology perspective is significant.” It’s likely that NSU has not seen the last of Edwards. “I’m thinking of doing my Ph.D. in computer science at NSU,” he said. “I want to teach where it’s warm, when I’m finished doing this, so maybe after I get my Ph.D., they’ll let me teach at NSU.” If that happens, Edwards won’t have an office with the glorious view that he has now, but you can bet he’ll still have a guitar under his desk. n 25 HORIZONS “For me, it has never been about what city or what company. It has been more about, ‘What can we do as an organization?’ ” —Denis Edwards AROUND NSU THE FOLLOWING IS A SAMPLING OF RECENT DONOR-FUNDED SCHOLARSHIP GIFTS TO SUPPORT NSU STUDENTS. n George and Susu Johnson, AutoNation, and Patriot National Insurance Group joined to establish the H. Wayne Huizenga Legacy Scholarship to honor Huizenga’s contribu- tion to higher education. The scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students exhibiting high academic achievement, exemplary service to the community, and leadership in extracurricular activities. n NSU Board of Trustee member J. Kenneth Tate and his wife, Sandy, created the Tate Family Renewal Endowment to encourage undergraduates to maintain their academic achievement. The scholarship is awarded to students who initially received the Tate Family Scholarship and are still in need of financial support in order to complete their degree. n Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, Ph.D., NSU’s vice president for Advancement and Community Relations, established the Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson and Peter Anderson Scholarship for academically talented undergraduate students. n The Batchelor Foundation provided support for graduate students’ research at NSU’s Oceanographic Center by creating the Batchelor Foundation Marine Scholarship. n NSU Board of Trustee member Michael Zager and his wife, Lainie, established the University School Suns Endowed Scholar- ship to encourage talented middle school students to continue their academic journey at University School through high school graduation. University School parents Eric and Elizabeth Feder and Craig and Deborah Perry have generously supported the Suns Endowed Scholarship Fund. n Berge and Meline Markarian honored their son, a faculty member at the Fischler School of Education, by establishing the Daniel H. Markarian Changing Lives Scholarship for students seeking to become social studies teachers. n Karen Rose, a staff member at NSU’s Law Library and Technology Center, established the Rose Family Changing Lives Scholarship for law students at the Shepard Broad Law Center. n Mohan and Meenu Gupta (both M.D.s) endowed a scholarship to provide support for students in NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine who complete part of their medical training in a clinical rotation or outreach program in India. n Great Expressions Dental Centers endowed a scholarship at NSU’s College of Dental Medicine for students who are committed to expanding access to oral health for underserved communities. n The Center for Higher Education Chief Information Officers’ Studies endowed the Dr. Trudy Abramson Scholarship for students pursuing a doctoral degree in computing technology in education at NSU’s Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences. n NSU staff member Maria Tako, established the Tako Family Changing Lives Scholarship for students at the Shepard Broad Law Center. n Wei J. Chen’s gift to the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences led to the creation of the Wei Chen Scholarship to support graduate students interested in studying the resolution of social, political, and historical cross-cultural challenges. n Adam Goldberg and Elena Minicucci, who graduated from and work at the Shepard Broad Law Center, pledged their support to the Law Center Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund.