Behind the Scenes: How Faculty Bring Learning to Life at NSU – Season 2 Episode 1 – A Day in the Life of an NSU Faculty Leader with Dr. Akiva Turner

Season 2: A Day in the Life of an NSU Faculty Leader

What does it really take to lead a department or direct a program, while still teaching, mentoring, and contributing as a faculty member?

Season 2 of Behind the Scenes: How Faculty Bring Learning to Life at NSU explores our faculty leaders. They’re educators and administrators, mentors and decision-makers. We follow their daily routines and dig into how they balance classroom commitments with leadership responsibilities, navigate unexpected challenges, and stay true to their academic passions while advancing the mission of their departments and colleges. Join us for honest conversations that reveal the complexity, strategy, and heart behind academic leadership—one day at a time.

In our first episode, Dr. Akiva Turner, Professor and Chair in the Department of Health Science, shares how his diverse career spanning law, government, public health, and academia has shaped his approach to academic leadership. From leading statewide health initiatives to guiding faculty and students at NSU, Dr. Turner reflects on what it means to lead with humility, stay calm under pressure, and keep students at the heart of the mission.

As Dr. Turner notes, “You’re not always the smartest person in the room. Your role as a leader is to listen and guide some of the smartest people at the university.” His perspective highlights the value of humility, trust, and steady leadership in today’s academic environment.

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