NSU Speaker’s Forum Hosted by Dr. Larry A. Calderon, Feb. 24

Larry A. Calderon, Ed.D., Nova Southeastern University’s vice president for community and governmental relations.

Larry A. Calderon, Ed.D., Nova Southeastern University’s vice president for community and governmental relations, affairs, and H. Wells Singleton, Ph.D., Dean of the Abraham S. Fischler School of Educationwill be the featured speaker at NSU’s Speaker’s Forum on Friday, Feb. 24. His presentation is titled: “Challenges facing higher education in one state: California”

An expert in strategic planning and educational policy, Calderon brings 35 years of experience beginning on America’s West Coast to southeastern Florida as the vice president for community and government relations and professor of education at Nova Southeastern University, since December 2006. Prior to NSU, Calderon served as President of Broward Community College.

Calderon began his higher education at Ventura College in Ventura, California. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara, he taught elementary school for two years in the Ventura Unified School District. In 1975 after receiving his Master in Education degree from the University of Southern California, he became Ventura College’s coordinator of student financial services. He went on to serve six and a half years at Los Angeles City College, and after earning his doctorate from USC, served 10 years as a vice president at Oxnard College. In July 1995, he returned to Ventura College as its president. In addition to the presidency, he also served as the district’s vice chancellor for economic development.

A fellow of the National Community College Hispanic Council and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Dr. Calderon was awarded the 2003 Latino Town Hall Education Award for his efforts in establishing and expanding an East Campus for Ventura College in the city of Santa Paula.

Since his arrival at NSU, Calderon has been instrumental in the pursuit of external funding resources for NSU. Under his leadership NSU has successfully sought and received in excess of $11 million from the U.S. Department of Education. Calderon serves as the executive producer and host for the NSU Video Forum magazine, a product of the NSU Speaker’s Forum. The NSU Speaker’s Forum is held every Friday morning as a tool to encourage community building and engagement within NSU.

Calderon also had the privilege to lead the Modesto Junior College administration located in Northern California for six months as their Interim president. While there, Calderon was able to utilize his strategic planning and educational policy skills to make an effective impact on the Modesto Junior College administration.

As Dean, Singleton presides over one of the largest schools of education in the United States with more than 400 employees and 14,000 education students.  Located in North Miami Beach, Florida, the Abraham S. Fischler School of Education grants advanced undergraduate degrees with 6 majors, master’s and educational specialist degrees in over 50 disciplines and doctoral degrees in 10 concentrations.

H. Wells Singleton, Ph.D., Dean of the Abraham S. Fischler School of Education

Singleton brings vision and enthusiasm to the tasks associated with an expanding school of education.  He and his team of administrators and faculty sponsor approximately 200 existing initiatives at any one time while maintaining public and private partnerships with approximately a dozen enterprises.

He received his BA from the University of Wyoming, his MA from Southern Methodist University and his Ph.D. from Stanford University.  He has written and lectured about as well as conducted research in various aspects of technology and children.  His career has been devoted to education and he has been involved in major grants and other initiatives associated with technology and classroom environments.

The weekly NSU Speaker’s Forum, hosted by Calderon, takes place each Friday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.  The forum will be held at the Alvin Sherman Library Room 3018. For more information, please contact Tracey-Ann Spencer at straceya@nova.edu or 954-262-5208.