Page 12 - Abacoa Community News - December '22

Page 12, Abacoa

fAU feAtUres

APLU Names FAU 2022 FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain continuum and its endless opportunity can take them. I am
Degree Completion Award Institute Executive Director excited to witness the transfer of neuroscience research into
community resources of broader value for youth and more
Winner Receives Prestigious National mature audiences.”
Blakely – an internationally renowned neuroscientist

By Lisa Metcalf Science Educator Award and leading expert in brain neurochemistry, pharmacology
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and molecular neuroscience – came to FAU in the spring of
(APLU) recently named Florida Atlantic University the winner Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., Florida Atlantic University’s 2016 as the founding executive director for the university’s
of its 2022 Degree Completion Award. The annual award Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute executive director, recently neuroscience research institute, a strategic investment in
works to identify, recognize and reward institutions that employ received the Society for Neuroscience’s (SfN) 2022 Science cutting edge brain science and education across colleges
innovative approaches to improve degree completion while Educator Award at the organization’s annual meeting in and departments. Since the institute’s inception, Blakely has
ensuring educational quality. This is the first time FAU has been San Diego. The Science Educator Award celebrates top spearheaded the development of FAU as a top-tier research,
the recipient of this prestigious award, and the second year in a neuroscientists in the nation that devote their time to research education and outreach center in South Florida. One example
row that the APLU has named FAU a finalist. while having made significant contributions in educating of these activities is the recently initiated FAU Neuroscience
“It is an honor to receive the APLU Degree Completion the public about neuroscience through outreach, policy and Graduate Program, becoming only the second program in
Award,” said FAU president John Kelly. “Our graduation and public educational activities for the benefit of the community. the state of Florida to award Ph.D. degrees in neuroscience.
retention rates skyrocketed in recent years, thanks to the efforts As part of the recognition, Blakely was awarded $5,000 Blakely holds the David J.S. Nicholson Distinguished
of Florida Atlantic’s faculty and staff, who work tirelessly to and complimentary travel, lodging and accommodations for Professorship in Neuroscience – a position that also honors
ensure our students succeed. We are creating waves of change SfN’s 2022 meeting where five members of Blakely’s research both his significant contributions to brain science and his
in the lives of our students and delivering on the promise of group presented their most recent findings. The Science dedication to engaging the community in the wonders of
opportunity for all.” Educator Award is supported by the Dana Foundation, a private discovery in STEM education.
When Kelly joined FAU as president in 2014, the university philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing neuroscience “Dr. Blakely is a truly inspirational academic leader with
launched a comprehensive plan to address equity gaps, advance and society through multidisciplinary approaches. a resume full of groundbreaking scientific discoveries, as well
student success, and increase the university’s graduation rate. “I am incredibly grateful to receive the Science Educator as a passion for sharing his knowledge with our community
After taking an exhaustive look at student success outcomes, Award from the Society for Neuroscience. It truly is an and nurturing the next generation of neuroscientists,” said
disaggregated across a variety of characteristics, FAU determined honor,” said Blakely. “But we are just beginning the FAU President John Kelly. “Blakely’s vision is helping
that far too many students were lacking adequate support in evergreen journey to educate the lay community as to Florida Atlantic become a leader in neurological and mental
entry-level courses. the promise and progress of brain research, work that can health research and education, and I am delighted that his
To address this, FAU launched a cross-institutional analytics also inspire the next generation of neuroscientists, some
platform to help inform and track the effectiveness of student just becoming aware of where a ‘life of the mind-brain’ FAU Features on page 14
success interventions. These reforms included: the adoption of
standardized “flight plans,” enabling students to easily see the
optimal progression of courses to a degree; addressing course
bottlenecks that were preventing students from graduating in a
timely manner; and innovative financial assistance incentivizing
students to register for the next semester. You’re Retired
The multipronged approach contributed to FAU more than
doubling its four-year graduation rate from 19 percent in 2014 Your Money Isn’t.
to 50 percent in 2021. Crucially, gains have been largest among
historically underserved groups, including black, Latino, and
Pell-eligible students. To learn why consolidating your
“Florida Atlantic University has made critical strides in retirement accounts to Edward Jones
student success, graduation, and equity,” said Mark Becker, makes sense, contact your Edward
president of APLU. “Congratulations to FAU on winning the
2022 APLU Degree Completion Award. We’re delighted to Jones nancial advisor today.
spotlight their important work so other institutions can learn
from their success.”
FAU is one of the nation’s most diverse public research
universities. It is the highest-ranked Florida state university Sally S Stahl, AAMS® www.edwardjones.com
by U.S. News and World Report and listed in The Chronicle Financial Advisor M e m b P I S r e C
of Higher Education Almanac. It is also the No. 17 bachelor’s 1851 W Indiantown Rd Ste 106
degree producer for African American students in the nation by Jupiter, FL 33458
Diverse: Issues in Education, as well as designated by the U.S. 561-748-7600
Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

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