The Fort Lauderdale campus of NSU is marked by the luminaries of the community. These individuals are now memorialized through the named buildings and facilities on campus. Their legacies will last for generations. Few students are aware of the lives behind the names that adorn the buildings. Read on to learn about a few of the individuals that have contributed to Nova Southeastern University’s history and success.
A.D. Griffin, Sr. of AD Griffin Sports Complex
A.D. Griffin dedicated his life to serving his hometown of Davie, FL. The World War II army staff sergeant co-founded the Griffin Brothers Co. landscaping company. Griffin was involved in several community organizations and served as a member of the Davie Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, and Broward Drainage Board. Today, the NSU softball team calls the AD Griffin Sports Complex home. In the spring of 2018, renovations included new dugouts, backstop and scoreboard. The recently renovated facility was named in honor of the civic leader who passed away in 2013.
Carl DeSantis of the Carl DeSantis Building
In 1976, Carl DeSantis founded the nutritional supplement company, Rexall Sundown Inc. In 2000, the company sold for $1.8 billion. His experience in the retail drug store industry spans over 18 years and includes time with Super-X Drug Stores and Walgreens. DeSantis is now the proud owner of the Gulfstream Hotel in Lake Worth, Fla., a 95-year-old hotel on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Today the Carl DeSantis building houses the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, the Terry Stiles School of Real Estate Development, the College of Engineering and Computing, and the H. Wayne Huizenga Sales Institute. The Einstein Bros. Bagels is also located on the first floor and is a student favorite.
