NSU Horizons Spring 2013

among recreational anglers, and it is through this success that Harvey has been able to give back to marine resources. Harvey’s commitment to cause marketing began decades ago and has become a vital aspect of his business model. He has established a precondition that any licensee of his art- work contribute a percentage from the sale to conservation. At the recommendation of longtime business partner and NSU supporter, Charlie Forman, Harvey entered into a formal partnership with NSU in 1999 to create the Guy Harvey Research Institute at the Oceanographic Center. The institute’s mission is to provide the scientific information necessary to understand, conserve, and effectively manage the world’s marine fishes and their ecosystems. “Guy Harvey knows the value of the research we are doing at the Oceanographic Center,” said Richard E. Dodge, Ph.D., dean of the Oceanographic Center. “His diligent support and generosity of NSU’s research and academics have helped the Oceanographic Center make important advances in the study of marine life.” Under the direction of Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D., the institute is a pioneering organization in the field of shark genetic research. The results of this work have been applied in many areas, including helping to combat the illegal shark fin trade, discovering new species of billfish, and identifying fraudulently labeled seafood. “The way to make a change is to do research,” said Harvey. “Once you have the information, you can educate people. It’s through this education that you achieve conservation.” The relationship between Harvey and NSU extends beyond the top-tier fisheries research at the institute. Harvey’s artwork can be seen all over NSU’s campuses, from the larger-than- life 300-foot-by-60-foot mural in the Don Taft University Center, his biggest mural to date, to the array of original paintings hanging in the institute’s new headquarters in the Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Ecosystems Research at the Oceanographic Center. Harvey’s interest in NSU even extends to the school adopting sharks as its mascot. And, the school’s intercolle- giate golf tournament, the Guy Harvey Invitational, bears his name. The national champion NSU sharks won the tourna- ment this year. This year, NSU awarded Harvey the Community Leader Award as part of the President’s Award for Excellence in Com- munity Service during the 2013 Celebration of Excellence. “This award defines what it means to be an outstanding citizen and member of the NSU community,” said George Hanbury, NSU president and chief executive officer. “Guy Harvey tirelessly gives back to this community, and the global community, in so many ways.” “I am truly grateful to be recognized with this award from NSU and President Hanbury,” said Harvey. “Giving back to our marine resources has always been a passion of mine, so to be awarded for this is very humbling, and I thank the entire university for its support.” While the institute at NSU continues to conduct research domestically and abroad, Harvey formed the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation to extend outreach and educational work. The foundation has awarded more than $3.5 million in research and education grants distributed to several univer- sities, including research at NSU’s Oceanographic Center, state organizations, and youth groups. Much of this money has come from strategic partnerships. “All these things add up,” Harvey said. “We’re not only responsible for raising all this money, we’re also reaching further afield.” n Guy Harvey studies sharks and illustrated them in the marine mural (below), which is displayed in the Don Taft University Center. 25 HORIZONS