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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019.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This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019.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.
Realizing Potential: It’s Never Too Early to Give
Yong X. Tao, Ph.D., has been recognized as a leader in international collaborations in academic and research initiatives in student and faculty exchange, joint workshops, research forums, and mutual delegation visits to countries around the world.
As former Chair of the Mechanical and Energy Engineering (MEE) Department at the University of North Texas (UNT), he led the impressive growth of MEE programs – climbing enrollment fourfold to approximately 750 undergraduate students and 80 M.S. and Ph.D. students in just five years. He is a well-known researcher in thermal engineering with more than $15M external research funding.
After returning to his home of South Florida to become the new Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) this year, Tao wanted to make a lasting impact for future generations of students and faculty.
“I want our students to have the best teachers. Training seminars for faculty development on the ever-changing trends in technology are so important. We need to keep NSU on the leading edge.”
Philanthropy and giving back has always been an important part of who he is. Within just a few months at the university, he became a founding member of NSU’s 1964 Society and left a legacy gift. Named for the university’s founding year, the 1964 Society connects legacy gift donors and their families with the university to establish a meaningful and lasting relationship.
He hopes that by expanding the student body and taking advantage of the innovative resources and technology at NSU, he can bring the College of Engineering and Computing to the next level by streamlining programs, achieving accreditation and building research infrastructure.
“The potential at NSU is tremendous. As a private, not-for-profit university with exceptional research capabilities, our framework is already established. By building upon our strengths, there are no limits we can’t achieve.”
The opportunity to become a founding member of NSU’s 1964 Society ends December 31, 2016, but there is no expiration date for when people can create a legacy gift to the university. For more information, please contact Andrea Darlow, director of development for legacy gifts at (954) 262-2135 or at adarlow@nova.edu.