Behind the Scenes S2E2: A Day in the Life of an NSU Faculty Leader – Dr. Grace Telesco

What does it take to balance leading, mentoring faculty, and still staying deeply connected to students?

In this episode of Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life, host Marti Snyder talks with Dr. Grace Telesco, Associate Professor and Director of the School of Criminal Justice in NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice.

Dr. Telesco reflects on her 20 years of service with the NYPD, including her role as Interagency Coordinator of Mental Health Services after 9/11, and how those experiences shaped her path into higher education. She shares her “make-things-happen” approach to leadership, her passion for bridging theory and practice, and why she believes experiential learning—through mock trials, live-avatar simulations, and the award-winning Stage for Change sociodrama program—is the differentiator that helps students prepare for real-world challenges.

The conversation also highlights her focus on building sustainable programs that outlast any one person, forging partnerships with law enforcement and corrections agencies across Florida, and creating opportunities for students to learn by doing. With humor, candor, and a leadership lesson drawn from training a rescue horse, Dr. Telesco leaves listeners with inspiration for leading with both intensity and humility.

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