32 Aim high—at the highest degree of academic excellence. Let your university strive for the excellence of MIT or Caltech, and industry will help you. Ph.D.s in research represent brainpower.” “ THE PROMOTER Nova University is a dynamic institution; it remains committed to its original mission to create, implement, evaluate, and disseminate quality educational programs and to help each student realize his or her fullest potential.” “ THE STABILIZER I found that, of the 50 largest school districts in the U.S., which were referred to as the great city schools, 7 of the 50, or 14 percent [of those superintendents], had their doctorates from Nova.” “ THE LANDSCAPER Born in Washington, D.C., Winstead earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Richmond, followed by a Doctor of Education from Harvard. He taught at three universities before serving as director of the U.S. Army’s student education program for servicemen and their families in Europe. During a visit home in February 1964, Nova trustee Stuart Synnestvedt arranged an interview with the Ford Foundation’s recommended candidate. Shortly after- ward, Winstead signed a three-year contract, ready to lead the charge. Winstead’s salesmanship attracted some of the brightest scientists in the world to join as advisers, and his charisma garnered national attention and critical early funding. Addition- ally, he secured the state’s endorsement and assembled a distinguished roster of faculty members. Warren J. Winstead, Ed.D. President, 1964–1969 A former U.S. Navy medic with a doctorate from Columbia University Teacher’s College, Fischler had taught at Harvard and the University of California— Berkeley before being hired as dean of the Hollywood Education Center. He chose Nova for its potential as a living laboratory for his research on teaching science in public schools. Ironically, mounting debt and a stalled merger led to Fischler’s presidency and a shift in focus. Fischler initially committed to a one-year term as president, but went on to serve for 22 years, creating a stabilizing effect while disrupting traditional models. During his tenure, he established a 15-year federation with the New York Institute of Technology and increased student enrollment by an astounding 18,496 percent. He also pioneered the nation’s first doctoral distance-education program and created the first electronic classroom, laying the groundwork for today’s online learning model. Abraham S. Fischler, Ed.D. President, 1970–1992 A national search for Nova’s next president led to Stephen Feldman— a business-minded leader with traditional academic credentials. With an M.B.A. and Ph.D. in Finance from the City University of New York and prior experience as a dean, fundraiser, and author, Feldman was serving as president of Western Connecticut State University. Feldman understood the importance of optics in attracting students and donors. His inauguration marked a turning point, as he invested in beautifying the campus with palm tree-lined driveways and fresh grass. He also participated in private fundraising, weekly campus tours, and running surpluses for infrastructure improvements. Prior to his move into the private sector, he finalized a deal for the Miami Dolphins Training Facility and secured graduate opportunities for Nova undergraduates in the event of a merger. Stephen Feldman, Ph.D. President, 1992–1994
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