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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
How NSU Helped Her Save a Friend
Marcia Tippenhauer, B.S., is a self-described “Shark person.” She actively participates in many of NSU’s campus and community events and encourages others to do so, too. When NSU introduced vanity license plates, she was among the first to get one. As an employee, alumna, and mother of one NSU student, she can recount many experiences at the university. Her stories are captivating—her enthusiasm for NSU infectious.
“I am in my 12th year and I still love my job,” said Tippenhauer, who serves as the administrative support lead for employee relations in NSU’s Human Resources department. She added, “I try to sell [NSU] every single opportunity I have because I believe in NSU and what we represent—the core values and everything.”
To illustrate the point that NSU is home to amazing people doing amazing things, Tippenhauer likes to share a story about how NSU helped her save a friend’s life. Tippenhauer’s friend suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), a disease with varied symptoms, including incapacitating fatigue. Nancy Klimas, M.D., is one of the world’s leading researchers of CFS—she also happens to be the director of the Institute for Neuro Immune Medicine at NSU.
Tippenhauer said she wasn’t aware of Dr.Klimas’ work until her friend reached out to her, pleading for help. “Sometimes we don’t really take the time to see everything that’s going on [at NSU],” she said. Once she learned about Klimas, she knew she had to make an effort to get her friend an appointment. Tippenhauer went as far as to meet with Klimas’ lead assistant face-to-face.
“Her assistant was so sympathetic to [my friend’s] story, she got her the appointment. There was a six -month wait, but within three months they called her to come in. Dr. Klimas has saved her life. You can never fully recover, but you do see improvement,” said Tippenhauer. In gratitude, Tippenhauer and her friend attend all of Klimas’ conferences and events, whenever they have the opportunity.
Over the years, Tippenhauer has given back to the university in as many ways as she can. She has donated to the NSU Art Museum, AutoNation Cancer Institute, Psychology Dean’s Excellence Fund, and the KP-Com Schemel Fund for Translational Research. By renewing her NSU vanity plate each year, she contributes to a scholarship fund for NSU students.
“It’s not difficult to give and everything counts. Nothing is too small.”