ONE NSU MAGAZINE Warren J. Winstead, Ed.D. PRESIDENT, 1964–1969 Born in Washington, D.C., Winstead earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Richmond, followed by a Doctor of Education from Harvard. He taught at three universities before serving as director of the U.S. Army’s student education program for servicemen and their families in Europe. During a visit home in February 1964, Nova trustee Stuart Synnestvedt arranged an interview with the Ford Foundation’s recommended candidate. Shortly afterward, Winstead signed a three-year contract, ready to lead the charge. Winstead’s salesmanship attracted some of the brightest scientists in the world to join as advisers, and his charisma garnered national attention and critical early funding. He developed the master plan, secured funding, and hired the initial faculty and staff. He visited Caltech and UCLA to study their curricula and administrative model to serve as an example for Nova University of Advanced Technology. “Aim high—at the highest degree of academic excellence. Let your university strive for the excellence of MIT or Caltech, and industry will help you. Ph.D.s in research represent brainpower.” —Warren J. Winstead Abraham S. Fischler, Ed.D. PRESIDENT, 1970–1992 A former U.S. Navy medic with a doctorate from Columbia University Teacher’s College, Fischler had taught at Harvard and the University of California—Berkeley before being hired as dean of the Hollywood Education Center. He chose Nova for its potential as a living laboratory for his research on teaching science in public schools. Ironically, mounting debt and a stalled merger led to Fischler’s presidency and a shift in focus. Fischler initially committed to a one-year term as president, but went on to serve for more than two decades, creating a stabilizing effect while disrupting traditional models. During his tenure, he established a 15-year federation with the New York Institute of Technology and increased student enrollment by an astounding 18,496 percent. He also pioneered the nation’s first doctoral distance-education program and created the first electronic classroom, laying the groundwork for today’s online learning model. “Nova University is a dynamic institution; it remains committed to its original mission to create, implement, evaluate, and disseminate quality educational programs and to help each student realize his or her fullest potential.” —Abraham S. Fischler 11
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