2025 Winners
It has been 15 years since we first launched the Provost’s Research and Scholarship Award. This program offers awards across two career stages and two disciplinary categories. We are grateful for an added recognition provided by NSU Business Services, where each winner will receive a year’s membership to the NSU Faculty Club, valued at $300.
Arts, Business, Humanities, Law, and Social Sciences
Assistant Professor Award
Galaxina Wright, College of Psychology
Galaxina’s research explores career barriers among vulnerable populations and the impact of school-based mental health counseling interventions for youth. Her scholarship is deeply informed by her experience as a licensed mental health counselor and career counselor, and her work has already begun shaping how the field supports youth and adults navigating life transitions.
Since joining NSU in 2022, Galaxina has quickly distinguished herself as a rising scholar and mentor. She has published widely, presented her work at national and international conferences, and led innovative collaborations, including a simulation-based curriculum that helps foster youth successfully transition to adulthood. She has demonstrated early excellence in research, commitment to community impact, and dedication to mentoring the next generation of counselors.
Professor Awards
Kandy Lopez-Moreno, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences
Kandy is an acclaimed visual artist whose work explores identity, community, and representation. Her art has been featured in major museum and gallery exhibitions across the country and abroad, and she is represented by ACA Galleries in New York City.
Her achievements include a forthcoming PBS Art segment, numerous national fellowships and residencies, and recognition from organizations such as South Arts and the South Florida Cultural Consortium. At NSU, she has led campus and community mural projects, and she inspires students through her teaching, mentorship, and creative contributions.
Debra Moss Vollweiler, Shepard Broad College of Law
For more than 30 years at NSU, Debra has been a national leader in legal education, pioneering the integration of pedagogy, professionalism, and empirical research into the law school curriculum. Her groundbreaking studies on attorney discipline and malpractice, along with her influential work on learning outcomes and curriculum reform, have helped shape how law is taught and practiced nationwide.
Her scholarship ranks among the most downloaded on the Social Science Research Network, placing her in the top two percent of authors across disciplines. She plays a key role in developing the NextGen Bar Exam, and her expertise is sought by the American Association of Law Schools, where she serves on national membership and accreditation committees.
At NSU, she is a dedicated mentor to faculty members and students alike, guiding new educators, supporting first-generation law students, and preparing the next generation of ethical, professional attorneys.
STEM and Biomedicine
Assistant Professor Award
Lauren Tabor Gray, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine
Lauren is an emerging leader in neurodegenerative disease research, advancing innovative approaches to improve speech, swallowing, and respiratory function in people with ALS. As Director of the Cathy J. Husman ALS Center, her groundbreaking studies bridge neuroscience and clinical care, from developing digital speech biomarkers for Spanish-speaking patients to leading translational clinical trials supported by the NIH, Department of Defense, and the ALS Association, with $1.6 million in active funding.
Her scholarship includes more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, international presentations, and national awards from the Dysphagia Research Society and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. At NSU, she mentors a diverse team of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral trainees, creating an inclusive research environment that unites science, technology, and compassionate patient care.
Professor Award
Joe Lopez, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences
For more than three decades, Joe has advanced our understanding of symbiosis and genome evolution, from his seminal 1994 paper on nuclear mitochondrial DNA—now cited 750+ times—to nearly 100 peer-reviewed publications and a 2023 scholarly book on benthic biodiversity.
A field builder as well as a scientist, he co-founded the Global Invertebrate Genomics Alliance (GIGA), serves in leadership roles with the Earth BioGenome Project, and helped lead the Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics initiative, mobilizing international teams to generate reference genomes for key marine species. His work has garnered ~$4 million in external funding and sustained recognition across agencies and societies.
At NSU, he is a dedicated mentor and community collaborator. He organized the HCAS graduate science symposia, guiding 50+ graduate students and partnering with regional and state agencies to protect Florida’s marine ecosystems.