Nova Southeastern University to Honor 2011 Humanitarian of the Year

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – The Division of Applied Interdisciplinary Studies at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) will celebrate the life and memory of Joe Millsaps during the 2011 Humanitarian of the Year Awards ceremony scheduled for Thursday, May 12 at 7:00p.m., at the Westin Beach Resort and Spa.

Millsaps was a valued supporter of the NSU community, serving as a Trustee and as chair of the Advisory Board for NSU’s Center for Psychological Studies until his untimely passing over the Memorial Day weekend last year. His vision and leadership helped to build the Psychological Center into an internationally renowned academic.

Millsaps was also well known for his support of the military community, having served in the U.S. Army as a commissioned lieutenant in the infantry. As founder and CEO of Broward Navy Days, the organization was responsible for and organized the annual Fleet Week celebration which continues to bring sailors and naval ships to Fort Lauderdale every spring.

Special guest speaker, Rear Admiral William D. Baumgartner, will address guests attending the awards ceremony this year, and there will be a Coast Guard fly-over in tribute to Mr. Millsaps. The Rear Admiral serves as Commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District headquartered in Miami, Florida.

“NSU was honored to have had Joe Millsaps as an advocate for Nova Southeastern University and the South Florida community at large,” said NSU Chancellor, Ray Ferrero, Jr. “He was an enthusiastic supporter of our University, providing guidance and direction for many years. His vision and spirit will be greatly missed.”

The Humanitarian of the Year Awards are open to the public. Tickets are $150.00 per person. A portion of the proceeds will fund the Joe Millsaps Endowed Scholarship which benefits NSU doctoral students and, in honor of Millsap’s passion for supporting the military, preference will be given to scholarship applicants who are active or retired members of the military, or are working in Veterans’ Affairs. For more information, call (954) 262-2110.

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:
Felecia Henderson | NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5315 (office) | 954-383-4695 (cell) | fhenders@nova.edu