August 2008.  Year 2, No. 5

Message from the President - Dr. Ileana Rodriguez-Garcia

Dear CAU Community,

The motto of Dr. Carlos Albizu - Mas alla del saber, llega el amor - (Love Reaches beyond Knowledge) has been the central theme and most treasured value of the University.  For over forty years, this message of love has been repeated in official events as well as in various forums.

 However, it is my responsibility, as the Third President of this University, to invite you to reflect on the true meaning of these words and their impact as a transforming force, as we put them into practice...

*To view the rest of Dr. Rodriguez-Garcia's message, please click here or visit our Alumni & Student website at: http://alumni.albizu.edu

Picture: (F.l.t.r.) Miami's Representatives with the President - Dr. Carmen Roca, Interim-Chancellor; Ms. Barbara Cohen, Student Council President; Dr. Ileana Rodriguez-Garcia, President; and Dr. Irene Bravo, Doctoral Faculty at the Commencement Ceremony in San Juan where Dr. Rodriguez-Garcia delivered her message.

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CAU Doctoral Student Makes Guest Appearance on CBS4
CONFIRMATION OF QUALITY OF PSYCHOLOGISTS PRODUCED AT CAU

MIAMI - CAU doctoral student Sara Rivero-Conil made an expert guest appearance on CBS4's Channel 33 in July, 2008.  The topic of discussion on the Jim & Jade in the Morning-program was How To Avoid Typical Parental Mistakes.  The amicable Jim Berry hosted the program.

Currently completing the last month of her doctoral internship at the Miami Children's Hospital's Behavioral Medicine Department, Sara will graduate later this year from the doctoral program, with a concentration in Child Psychology.  According to Rachel Perry, Senior Marketing and Communication Specialist at the Miami Children's Hospital, "We are really pleased to have an enthusiastic, highly trained doctoral candidate such as Sara.  We receive many pediatric inquiries about her and we were very thankful that she was willing to do the interview and represent the Hospital."  "It was intimidating being in front of those cameras, but hopefully I did a good job!," Sara jested afterwards.

"Sara is a model student.  She is smart and academically very solid.  I've had very positive feedback from the Miami Children's Hospital on her performance," said Dr. Nicholas Lim, Doctoral Project Coordinator and Sara's dissertation chair.  According to Dr. Lim she has done five previous poster presentations at the national annual APA Convention and is doing a symposium at this year's Convention, to be held in Boston.  "These are extra-curricular activities that are not expected of our students to fulfill their academic requirements," Dr. Lim said.

Sara has accepted a prestigious one-year post-doctoral fellowship at Emory University, starting in September 2008.  Her fellowship position will be based at the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.  The Center is a national leader among childhood cancer, hematology, and blood marrow transplant programs.  It is recognized as one of the top three pediatric cancer centers in the country by Child magazine.

To view Sara's interview as it appeared live on CBS4's Channel 33, CLICK HERE.

In the picture: Sara Rivero-Conil on the set of CBS4's Jim & Jade in the Morning show with host Jim Berry.

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Community News
Ms. Melissa Noya, a student in CAU's doctoral program, has been awarded the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) 20th Anniversary Future Pioneers of Psychology Award. Melissa is one of only four recipients of this very prestigious national award.  As part of the award, she will receive $5000 and travel funds to attend the APA Convention and provide a presentation of her work.  The CAU NewsFlash will have more on this remarkable young lady in a later edition.

Professor Fernando Hernandez, and adjunct professor in CAU's BBA program for the past seven years, recently published a book under the Spanish title Potaje - a compilation of many different themes and topics, including history, culture, humor, and the Cuban-American exile experience.  Excerpts from the book is available at www.alexlib.com/potaje while the book is also available at the CAU library.  Additionally, the book is available in Miami at the following bookstores: La Moderna Poesia, Ediciones Universal, Downtown Book Center, and Libreria Impacto.

Dr. Hector Torres ('04) is an Assistant Professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and the Coordinator of its Center for Latino Mental Health.

Ms. Maribel del Rio's dissertation was recently spotted by a publishing company, VDM Publishing, which offered to publish it.  The company seeks meritorious academic works to publish them as monographs, which are then published on a demand basis.  Maribel's work will be available for purchase through Barnes and Noble and Amazon.  She is currently doing post-doctoral work at Nova Southeastern University.

Mr. Hernan Lopez, (picture) accounting assistant in CAU's Finance Department, recently received his US citizenship.  He has been living in the United States for the past thirteen years and has served at CAU since 2003.  Hernan has had a distinguished career in the accounting field spanning 60 years and served, among other positions, as Chief Accountant at large companies in Venezuela and Colombia respectively.  Hernan graduated as a CPA in Cali, Columbia.

Drs. Joyce Hopkins ('07) and Sarah Howell ('07) will both be presenting at the national APA Convention to be held in Boston later this month.

Ms. Liliana Cuadra ('05), a CAU MBA graduate, has recently been admitted into FIU's graduate law program for the Fall 2008 academic session.

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Faculty Focus
MONTHLY FACULTY INTERVIEW

Dr. Gerald Specter:

CAU is continuously producing a steady stream of high quality psychologists making their mark not only in Florida, but nationwide.  It speaks volumes about the quality of training and the quality of the faculty that the graduates of such a small school can make such an impact.  One faculty member who has become an institution in the doctoral program over the past twelve years is Dr. Gerald A. Specter.

Dr. Specter completed his undergraduate studies at Harvard and was conferred a Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology from the University of Rochester in 1971.  He began working at Carlos Albizu University in February 1996, in the capacity of Director of Field Placement, a position he held until November 2007.  He is currently serving as Interim Director of the doctoral program.

Through the years Dr. Specter has shown strong commitment to enhancing the prestige of the University through his work and his constant involvement and participation in the various University activities.  His contact with external community agencies engaged in the delivery of mental health services has been invaluable.

 The CAU Newsletter staff spoke to him recently:

Please give us some background information on Dr. Gerald Specter?

I was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts around the time of the Revolutionary War!  (Chuckles.)  I grew up around the Washington D.C. area, which I know very well.  In 1986 we moved to this area ? 22 years ago......

*To view the full interview, please click here or visit our Student and Alumni Website at http://alumni.albizu.edu

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Announcements

- The 116^th Annual APA Convention will be held in Boston in August.  For more information contact CAU's doctoral program or go to www.apa.org/convention08/

- BBA Adjunct faculty member, Professor Fernando Hernandez conducted a book reading of his newly published book Potaje on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 8pm at Cremata Fine Art, 1646 SW 8th Street, Miami.

- CAU Miami held a successful Open House on Saturday, July 12, 2008 for all prospective students.

- A Cultural Impact Conference is being hosted by the Chicago School of Professional Psychology on September 5 and 6, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza.  The conference is being co-chaired by a CAU alumni, Dr. Hector Torres ('04).  For more information about the conference please go to www.thechicagoschool.edu/cic2008

- The CAU Alumni Association Board met on Wednesday, August 13 at the Miami Campus.  The next monthly Board meeting is on Wednesday, September 10, 2008.

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Nominations Requested for Alumni Awards Evening

NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED FOR SPECIAL ALUMNI
The annual Showcasing Our Own Alumni Awards Evening is held in November each year.  During this special event the CAU community honors those past graduates of our institution that have contributed significantly to their field of expertise and to their community.  This is a wonderful professional networking opportunity, and a great time to catch up with former classmates, friends, and faculty members.  Attendance over the past few years have continuously risen, as the event's popularity increases.

Nominations for the five Showcasing Our Own Alumni Awards are open.  If you know of a former classmate who has contributed significantly to their respective fields of endeavor, their profession or community, or who are stand-outs in any other area, this is the candidate we are looking for!  If you are this person, you can nominate yourself too.

Please contact Marco Bouwer at (305)593-1223 x210 or e-mail mbouwer@albizu.edu with your nomination.

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On the Web...
ALUMNI AND STUDENT TRAVEL DEALS - NEW!

The CAU Alumni Association now offers alumni and students a brand new Alumni Travel website - www.ytbtravel.com/cauniversity.  The new website provides our alumni body and entire CAU community with fantastic travel deals and packages to a multitude of destinations locally and all over the world.  The website offers extremely competitive pricing on rental car deals, hotels, cruise vacations - even allowing you to purchase a bouquet of flowers online!  Most importantly, the proceeds of your booking will go to the CAU Alumni Association, allowing us to continue to provide similar programs in future to our esteemed alumni and student body.

Alumni and students are encouraged to visit the new CAU Alumni and Student website at http://alumni.albizu.edu, register and click on Alumni Travel.  Register online for the chance to network with other fellow alumni; to find out about upcoming events; to see what growing list of benefits the Alumni Association offers you, and more!

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COMPETITION - Looking for New Name for NewsFlash!

PRIZE OFFERED FOR WINNING ENTRY!
The CAU community is looking to rename its CAU ALUMNI NEWSFLASH.  We want a unique, creative name that will encompass our whole CAU family, including all alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University.

Please send entries to mbouwer@albizu.edu and type NEWSFLASH COMPETITION in the subject area.  The winning entry will be announced in the November Newsletter and will receive a complimentary dinner for two!

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Attention Alumni and Students!

If you are one of our graduates, we would love to hear from you!  Please send us a note letting us know of any professional accomplishments, job or address changes, or life events e.g. a birth or wedding.  Additionally if you know of a former classmate who does not receive this monthly newsletter, please let us know by contacting us at: mbouwer@albizu.edu.

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