DEAN'S MESSAGE
Dear Friends and Fellow Sharks,
The fall semester is in full swing; the campus is abuzz; and we just hosted our 33rd Entrepreneur and Business Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. As part of this year’s event, in addition to honoring inductees, Antonio (Tony) Argiz, Leon Ellman, and S. Donald Sussman, we had planned to honor 1998 inductee, Carl DeSantis on the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Carl DeSantis Building. Sadly, Carl passed on August 10th.
Carl DeSantis 1939-2023
Carl was not only the beloved namesake of HCBE’s Carl DeSantis Building, but he was also one of the region’s most creative serial entrepreneurs long after selling his industry-defining global vitamin company, Rexall Sundown (maker of Osteo Bi-Flex), in the early 2000’s.
Carl was the largest investor in CDS International Holdings when it went public in 2008, now the world's third-largest energy drink brand (Celsius). A major investor in south Florida's real estate, Carl played a pivotal role in shaping the region's skyline. His visionary projects in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Boca Raton, and Delray Beach have left an indelible legacy, not only in Florida, but worldwide, including a 50,000-acre ecotourism reserve that he developed in South Africa and sold in 2012.
His philanthropy was equally extraordinary, impacting children's welfare, Alzheimer's disease research, and educational institutions through the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation. His legacy is a testament to the power of visionary thinking, tenacity, and a profound commitment to making the world a better place. From the foreword of his book, Vitamin Enriched, Carl stated his philosophy for life as believing and acting “on the principles that we should always help needy individuals and give something back to society as a whole . . . [I]t’s about being a caring and altruistic person.” We are very grateful for his entrepreneurial spirit, vision, and philanthropy.
AACSB Accreditation, The Princeton Review, and our Top-50 Entrepreneurship M.B.A.
As many of you know, we earned AACSB accreditation this spring. Only 6% of business schools worldwide qualify for AACSB accreditation. With AACSB accreditation, Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship is now ranked in The Princeton Review. The Princeton Review has informed us that our M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship program is ranked in the top 50 for 2024.
Faculty Promoted
I would like to publicly congratulate 13 faculty on their promotions:
Tais Barreto, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management
Selima Ben Mrad, Ph.D., Professor of Marketing
Dario Bonaretti, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Decision Sciences
Fabienne Cadet-Laborde, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing
Jason Cavich, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management
Julia Davidyan, D.B.A., Associate Professor of Accounting
Kimberly Deranek, Ph.D., Department Chair and Professor of Decision Sciences
Vikram Desai, Ph.D., Professor of Accounting
Baiyun Gong, Ph.D., Professor of Management
Arvind Gudi, Ph.D., Professor of Management Information Systems
Steven Kramer, Ph.D., Professor of Decision Sciences
Emre Kuvvet, Ph.D., Professor of Finance
Eleanor Lawrence, Psy.D., D.B.A., Professor of Management
Congratulations, colleagues! It is well deserved!
One of the things I love about my role here at HCBE is the vibrancy and diversity of exploration and leadership, thanks to everyone who brings their all to their engagement. We are fortunate to have so many invested in our collective success and community.
Regards,
Andrew Rosman
H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship
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Master This Changing World and Fulfill Your Purpose
The world is changing more rapidly than ever and it’s not kind to those who settle for ordinary. Instead of chasing the paycheck, we say do it for the payoff. People, planet, then profit. That’s the triple bottom line. Do your best. Be your best. Because that’s how to be Best for Our World.™
Be an earth shaker. A risk taker. A barrier breaker. Be anything you want to be. As long as you become a Difference Maker.
Our Namesake Was A Difference Maker
H. Wayne Huizenga set success records in starting, acquiring, owning, and revolutionizing businesses like AutoNation, Blockbuster, Waste Management, and many more. He had ownership in all three major professional sports teams in Florida—the Dolphins, Marlins, and Panthers. But through it all, he lived his commitment to putting people and planet before profit. He made a difference in the way others defined wealth, success, and purpose.
Come to NSU Business to be like Wayne. Be a leader. An innovator. A good-hearted citizen who gives back to your greater community. Be whatever you want to be. But above all, like Wayne, be a Difference Maker.
