FORT LAUDERDALE/DAVIE, Fla. – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact all aspects of our lives, NSU Florida wants you to know that we’re home to subject matter experts (SMEs) who can help with stories you may be working on.
- Need an infectious diseases expert to provide insight into COVID-19? We’ve got you covered!
- Looking for someone who can speak to the impact the pandemic may have on children with special needs? Look no further than NSU Florida!
Below please find information about some of our SMEs who are at-the-ready, just give us a call!
Bindu Mayi, M.Sc., Ph.D., is a professor of microbiology in NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she teaches infectious diseases to students in the medical, public health, and other allied health fields. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Mayi is committed to promoting Infection Prevention as well as Antimicrobial Stewardship. She has been a spokesperson on various infections and has appeared on multiple panels attended by healthcare professionals and public officials, including representatives from the CDC. Dr. Mayi has provided comment and insight into a myriad of topics, including the Zika virus, COVID-19, the life threatening condition sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis (a.k.a. flesh eating disease). She is well versed in working with the media (print and broadcast) and is comfortable on camera or, nowadays, via Zoom or Skype. She has also had several guest editorials published in newspapers across Florida.
Prior to her NSU affiliation, Dr. Mayi worked in antibiotic resistance research as well as cancer nanotechnology research. Dr. Mayi is passionate about medical education, especially prevention of infectious diseases. In 2008, Dr. Mayi was one of 80 women winners of the ‘O-Whitehouse Leadership Project’, where her project was prevention of MRSA in U.S. hospitals.
Aarti Raja, Ph.D., is an associate professor in Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Halmos College of Arts and Sciences. She earned her doctorate in microbiology at the University of Maryland and completed her postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School. Raja joined the faculty at NSU in 2012 and serves in the Halmos College Department of Biological Sciences. Her areas of research include microbiology and innovations in science education.
Raja has several years of research in the field of virology, specifically human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its proteins. In addition to research and teaching, she gained vast experience in the field of infectious diseases consulting for the pharmaceutical and financial industries.
Raja is recognized at NSU and externally for her support of undergraduate students, which has connected her students with national and international research communities. She collaborates with researchers from across the globe via the project called Tiny Earth (TE), which she brought to NSU. This is a program that was created by Yale University’s Center for teaching and allows undergraduate students to engage in research early in their careers, laying the groundwork for scientific discovery. Raja is also part of a program started at NSU called Science Alive! that connects the college community with local schools to bring hands-on science education and learning opportunities to school age children.
Maribel Del Rio-Roberts, Psy.D., is an Associate Professor in the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice’s Department of Human Services and oversees the Masters in Developmental Disabilities. She’s a licensed Florida psychologist who specializes in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families who is fluent in Spanish. She has extensive experience with psycho-educational and psychological assessment as well as in the areas of clinical child psychology, pediatric psychology, infant mental health, and developmental disabilities. Dr. Del Rio-Roberts also is very knowledgeable of Autism diagnostic assessment has received specialized training in this area. She has also served as a mental health consultant at the Special Olympics of Florida, Miami-Dade County’s Early Head Start/Head Start Programs and for the State of Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) as well as specializes in the diagnosis of learning disorders, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and developmental evaluations. She has also been supervisor of psychology trainees (practicum students, interns, postdoctoral residents).
Dr. Del Rio-Roberts is currently the principal investigator on a grant titled “An Analysis of the Watch Me Grow Program for Young Children At-Risk or Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” In addition, she has been the principal investigator several university based grants in collaboration with community partners that focus on early intervention as well as on transition in young adults with developmental disabilities. Dr. Del Rio-Roberts has also been a co-principal investigator on several grants focused on foster care, autism assessment, case manager training programs, and parenting skills.
Be sure to sign up for NSU’s RSS feed so you don’t miss any of our news releases, guest editorials and other announcements. Please sign up HERE. You can also follow us on Twitter @NSUNews.
###
About Nova Southeastern University (NSU): At NSU, students don’t just get an education, they get the competitive edge they need for real careers, real contributions and real life. A dynamic, private research university, NSU is providing high-quality educational and research programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree levels. Established in 1964, the university includes 15 colleges, the 215,000-square-foot Center for Collaborative Research, the private JK-12 grade University School, the world-class NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, and the Alvin Sherman Library, Research and Information Technology Center, one of Florida’s largest public libraries. NSU students learn at our campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Miramar, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Tampa, Florida, as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico, and online globally. With nearly 200,000 alumni across the nation and globe, the reach of the NSU community is worldwide. Classified as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU is one of only 50 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification, and is also the largest private institution in the United States that meets the U.S. Department of Education’s criteria as a Hispanic-serving Institution. Please visit www.nova.edu for more information.
MEDIA CONTACT
Joe Donzelli, APR | Office of Public Relations
Nova Southeastern University
954-262-2159 (office) | 954-661-4571 (cell)
jdonzelli@nova.edu | www.nova.edu | @NSU_Joe
