Members of The President’s 64 reflect on their time with President Hanbury

By Bryce Johnson •

Whenever Miranda Brohman, member of The President’s 64 and graduate student in the Marine Science program, sees NSU President and CEO George L. Hanbury II, he asks about her interest in scuba diving. She appreciates that he sent her an article about his time scuba diving.

“No matter what challenges President Hanbury’s faced, he’s always figured out ways to make it better, no matter if it’s hard or takes a really long time. He just has a really good heart. He’s just always trying to help anyone in any way, any fashion,” Brohman said.

Hanbury will step down as president on Dec. 31. One of his accomplishments is starting The President’s 64, a group of 64 students who regularly meet with the NSU president, interact with donors and represent the university at special events. Hanbury fondly remembers his years spent with P64.

“I have had these last, almost 15 years, lunches with members of The President’s 64,” Hanbury said. Some accomplishments P64 was able to achieve with Hanbury are making the Shark Shuttle more reliable, allowing students at University Pointe to get a meal plan and implementing working security cameras in the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center.

Hanbury is proud of the NSU accomplishments that work toward Vision 2025, supporting NSU’s core values of integrity, academic excellence, community, diversity, innovation, opportunity, scholarship/ research and student-centered.

“I’m proud of the students and how they have developed. Seeing them grow knowledgeable in their disciplines,” Hanbury said. “We’ve unleashed their potential to be leaders.”

Sri Vaishnavi Konagalla, senior biology major, first started at P64 when she was a sophomore. She remembers when Hanbury recognized her at a separate event for her research.

“I think that being able to be in a position where the president of the university knows your face, if not your name, it just reminded me NSU does really care. He as a president does really care about getting to know as many students as he can,” she said.

Vivian Dang, member of The President’s 64 and graduate student in the Doctor of Pharmacy program, also feels remembered by Hanbury every time she sees him. She appreciates that she’s able to share details about herself with him.

“It’s been an honor to serve under President Hanbury for the past few years as his P64 ambassador,” Dang said.

Yatin Srinivash, graduate student in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, was a member for around six years. In his undergraduate graduation, Hanbury remembered him and congratulated him and his parents.

“I just found it incredibly personal that he was able to recall who I was in graduation,” Srinivash said. Alexandra Lens, member of The President’s 64 and graduate student in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program, appreciates that Hanbury is student-oriented.

“He’s like everybody’s grandpa, like he’s proud of everybody and he loves to hear people’s opinions and feedback. And that’s something I really appreciate about him the most,” Lens said.

Hanbury also frequently speaks at events for the Veterans Resource Center, which is where Nicholas Swansburg, P64 member and graduate student in the doctoral Clinical Psychology program, works.

“He’s a wealth of knowledge and he’s a very passionate man. It’s always good to be around people that are passionate about what they’re doing,” Swansburg said.

Mike Lynn, assistant director of Mako Media Network, was a member of P64 from 2020 to 2022. “I liked being a part of historical moments in NSU’s history. More specifically, I liked being a guest speaker during the grand opening at the Alan B. Levan Center and getting a chance to meet Alan Levan,” Lynn said.

Madison Kasper, junior marketing major and Mako TV’s general manager, started P64 this semester. Her favorite part is the connections she gets to make with donors and other P64 members. “There’s so many people that you never knew existed, and being in P64, you get to meet the other people who are leaders and want to make the campus better at NSU,” Kasper said.

Nicole Gomez, graphic designer for The Current and junior art and design major, also started P64 this semester. She’s enjoyed meeting the other members and Hanbury. “He seems like a very respectable person. From the times that I have interacted with him, he’s been very personable and welcoming.”

Robert “Bubba” Baroniel, assistant director of Athletic External Affairs, was a member of P64 when he was a student in 2014-2015. He said it was a privilege and hopes that it will engage more alumni. “I would love, as an alum, to create that society and network of P64 members, not just while they’re here, but after they’re gone,” Baroniel said.

Whatever the future holds for NSU, Hanbury is confident that it will continue to succeed under the guidance of Harry Moon, NSU president-elect, executive vice president and COO, in January 2025. “I think we’re going to see that preeminence come to fruition. Not just me talking about it, but actually showing how, under his leadership, we will be preeminent and recognized throughout the nation as preeminent,” Hanbury said.