17 STABILIZATION Fischler brought academic pedigree and progress to Nova. With prior teaching roles at Harvard and UC Berkeley, he was drawn to Nova’s potential as a “living laboratory” for advancing science education in public schools. However, mounting debt shifted his focus from research to institutional survival. To address financial challenges, Fischler pioneered the nation’s first distance education program, enabling working professionals—principals, superintendents, and later community college faculty, city executives, and criminal justice professionals—to pursue advanced degrees without leaving their jobs. Top professors were flown to teach in locations convenient to students, who were required to hold both a master’s degree and a leadership role. Fischler also introduced the first electronic classroom, setting the stage for modern online learning. His tenure saw enrollment surge by an extraordinary 18,496 percent. While their paths eventually diverged, both Fischler and Shure explored groundbreaking applications of technology in education, with Fischler focusing on self-directed learning through technological tools. Nova’s experimental academic environment and technological prowess attracted high-achieving scholars like Ovid C. Lewis, a Rutgers School of Law graduate and holder of a J.S.D. degree from Columbia University. Drawn by Nova’s unique blend of traditional legal education and innovative approaches, Lewis chose to contribute his expertise to its forward-thinking academic community.
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