Nova Southeastern University (NSU) recently hosted the Fellows Society Inaugural Induction Ceremony to honor and thank all the Fellows who have given $50,000 or more to the university since its founding in 1964. These funds support scholarships and other opportunities for students.
The Fellows were inducted on Thursday, Oct. 27 by NSU President George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D. and Alan B. Levan, chair of the Fellows Society.
The Fellows Society members are NSU’s highest level of philanthropic benefactors who actively advocate to enhance university visibility while building personal and professional networks.
“President Hanbury and I are passionate about honoring those that helped advance the vision and mission of the university,” Levan said.
Fellows Society members are recruited by NSU’s new Ambassadors Board, whose mission is to enlist widespread and active support for the university’s development efforts, promote NSU programs, and be the university’s “ambassadors” to our communities and constituencies. Susie and Alan Levan serve as co-chairs for the Ambassadors Board.
“We are grateful to Susie and Alan for taking on this leadership role as Ambassadors to help the university,” NSU President Hanbury said. “What the Fellows are doing is providing scholarships and opportunities for NSU students to reach and fulfill their potential in their lives, fields of study, and resulting careers.
About Susie and Alan B. Levan:
Susie Levan is a “Renaissance” woman. She exhibits her leadership qualities through her many diverse passions. Susie founded The Work-Life Balance Institute for Women (a 501c3 non-profit organization) and the founder and publisher of Balance Magazine, a regional publication focused on women’s personal growth and self-development. She also co-hosted a weekly radio program on 101.5 Lite FM named “Be(e) You Radio. She’s an accredited staging expert, ASP®, where she helps a home sellers make their home more attractive and appealing to potential buyers. She’s on the Board South Florida Chapter of the International Home Staging Professionals®. Her practice also includes consulting with clients for Home and Office Re-Design services “For Living” (instead of selling). She empowers others in her practice as a Certified Corporate Coach, Success and Life Coach, and is a member of the International Coaching Federation. She holds monthly In-Sight Empowerment Circle™ meetings where topics of meditation, personal growth, spirituality and self-development are discussed. She is also a Certified “Passion Test®” Facilitator and Reiki Master. Susie studied Psychology at Nova Southeastern University and is a Certified Pastoral Counselor, trained YPO® Moderator and teacher of Meditation. Susie volunteers her time freely to community based non-profit organizations and is currently a Board member of the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Entrepreneurship and Business at Nova Southeastern University – Board of Governors. She is also Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the newly created Ambassadors Board at Nova Southeastern University. Her 40-year business career includes 16 years in a publicly traded real estate syndication corporation (I.R.E. Financial Corporation) where she was the Chief Operating Officer and EVP at the time of her retirement. Susie is an obsessed fan of The Miami Heat, knits up a storm, loves to travel to Deer Valley and New York and she and her husband Alan are blessed with their combined family of 5 adult children and 11 “amazing” grandchildren.
Alan B. Levan is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of BankAtlantic Bancorp (NYSE:BBX) and Chairman of BankAtlantic. Mr. Levan also serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BFC Financial Corporation and Chairman of Bluegreen Corporation (NYSE:BXG). A resident of Broward County in South Florida, Mr. Levan is currently a member of the Nova Southeastern University Board of Trustees and former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Broward Community College Foundation. Mr. Levan established the BankAtlantic Foundation which supports a wide array of activities in the arts, education, social welfare, and community and economic development. In addition, he spearheaded BankAtlantic’s commitment to provide ongoing support to realize the goal of Habitat for Humanity to eliminate substandard and poverty housing in Florida. He was the recipient of the Spirit of Humanity Award in 2000, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the state of Florida in 2003, the Nova Southeastern University Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Award as well as the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce 2004 Cutting Edge Award, and was named the 2006 winner of the Sun-Sentinel Excalibur Award.
