George L. Hanbury II Installed as Nova Southeastern University’s 6th President

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE Fla. —- George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., a professor and civic leader, was officially installed as Nova Southeastern University’s 6^th President on Thursday, April 21.

NSU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the community attended the investiture ceremony for the university’s new leader. NSU has an enrollment of more than 29,000 students and is the seventh largest not-for-profit university in the nation.

Hanbury, who formerly served as NSU’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, was officially installed by NSU’s Board of Trustees, represented by Mr. Ron Assaf, Chair, as the university’s sixth President during the ceremony on NSU’s main campus in Davie.

“I am honored and humbled by the position and responsibility NSU’s Board of Trustees has entrusted me to lead this great university,” Hanbury said.

Hanbury was elected by the board of trustees to be NSU’s 6th President and COO on Jan. 1, 2010.  On July 1, 2011, his title will officially change to President and Chief Executive Officer.

“George Hanbury has the vision to take Nova Southeastern University to the next level of academic excellence,” said Ron Assaf, chairman of NSU’s Board of Trustees.

Hanbury has been the university’s senior operating executive since joining NSU in 1998. Prior to that, he served as city manager and chief executive officer for the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Portsmouth and Virginia Beach, Virginia, and as an assistant city manager for the cities of Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Virginia.

“George Hanbury has been a proven leader at NSU for more than a decade,” said Ray Ferrero Jr., J.D., who served as NSU’s 5th president from 1998 to 2010.  “I am confident he will help NSU continue its successes in providing high quality education, conducting groundbreaking research, and serving as vital partner with the community.”

Hanbury said, “I credit Ray Ferrero Jr., for his leadership and guidance over the last 13 years that has helped NSU achieve educational preeminence. He has been my mentor and friend and he allowed me to be his protégé.

Hanbury holds a B.S. in business and public administration from Virginia Tech, an M.S. in public administration from Old Dominion University in Virginia, and a Ph.D. in public administration from Florida Atlantic University.

He has been recognized for his leadership by numerous organizations that devote their efforts to the improvement of humankind’s quality of life.  He was the recipient and honoree of the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.  He has also been recently recognized by the Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk Trust, the Leadership Broward Foundation, Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, and the American Diabetes Association, among others.

Hanbury currently serves on the boards of the Florida Lambda Rail, the Broward County Library Foundation, and the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.  He was a founding member of the Broward Partnership for the Homeless.

The investiture ceremony took place at the Don Taft University Center on NSU’s main campus in Davie, Florida. Read/Download the President’s Investiture Speech

About Nova Southeastern University: Located in Davie, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic fully accredited Florida University dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs of distinction from preschool through the professional and doctoral levels. NSU has more than 29,000 students and is the seventh largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally. The University awards associate’s, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, specialist, and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields, including business, counseling, computer and information sciences, education, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, dentistry, various health professions, law, marine sciences, early childhood, psychology and other social sciences.  Classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU was also awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification in 2010 for the University’s significant commitment to and demonstration of community engagement.   For more information about NSU visit www.nova.edu.

Media Contact:
Ken Ma, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5408 (office), 954-830-4177 (cell), ken.ma@nova.edu

Julie Spechler, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5348 (office), 954-591-3361 (cell), julies@nova.edu