Lasting Impressions | Summer 2017

NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 19 In the history of South Florida education, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) President Emeritus Abraham S. Fischler, Ed.D., was honored as a groundbreaker—helping guide NSU to becoming a nationally recognized school. Dr. Fischler passed away on April 3, 2017, at the age of 89. “He was a visionary and driving force in helping shape the South Florida landscape. Millions of students and individuals have benefitted from Dr. Fischler’s dedication and expertise,” said George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., NSU’s president and CEO. Dr. Fischler joined NSU in 1966 as the director of the Behav- ioral Sciences Center and dean of Graduate Studies for the college’s three original centers—Behavioral Sciences, Ocean- ography, and Physical Science. He also served as NSU’s execu- tive vice president and was named the first James Donn Professor of Education, a distinction created in 1967 by James Donn, senior professor of science education and a former NSU Board of Trustees member. In late 1969, Dr. Fischler was appointed executive vice presi- dent by Nova University’s Board of Trustees, after the first university president resigned. In September 1970, he was appointed president. “When he was named the university’s president, it was facing a number of challenges. He set about meeting them all head on,” said Hanbury. Under Dr. Fischler’s leadership, NSU became the second-largest private university in Florida, student enrollment increased from 57 students to 10,600, and the university achieved financial stability. He also helped start the NSU University School—a college preparatory school for students from junior-kindergarten through high school. He created course offerings that empha- sized technological development and innovation, expanded the Oceanographic Center, created new dormitories, started campus renovations, helped NSU’s law school earn accreditation, and developed the concept of student clusters and distance education, which had a national impact on education. He served in that capacity for 22 years, until his resignation in July 1992. NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education was named in his honor in 1992. He was named President Emeritus of NSU in 2005. Dr. Fischler is survived by his wife of 67 years, Shirley; his children Bruce, Martha, Michael, Anita, and Lori; his grand- children Kenneth, Danielle, Micheal, and Mikaela; and his great- grandson, Jacob. Contributions in memory of Abraham S. Fischler may be made to the Dr. Abraham and Shirley Fischler Endowed Scholarship Fund ( nova.edu/FischlerScholarship or annualfund@nova.edu ) at NSU, or the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center of South Florida ( hdec.org/hdec/ ) in Dania Beach. n Dr. Abraham S. Fischler: A Visionary of Education The second president of Nova Southeastern University, Dr.Abraham Fischler’s 22-year term spanned the years 1970–1992.Top left, Fischler, seated second from right, with a few of NSU’s original 17 faculty members in 1967. Bottom left, Fischler, Mary McCahill (chairman of Nova’s Board of Trustees 1976–1988) and James Farquhar (first chairman of NSU’s Board of Trustees 1964–1973) visit the storefront on Las Olas Boulevard that became the university’s first location for its administrative offices.