Back to Nova Southeastern University
Abraham S. Fischler
College of Education & School of Criminal Justice
College of Education & School of Criminal Justice
Associate Professor
Department of Education
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice
Since 2015, Dr. María Grethel Méndez has been an associate professor in the Department
of Education of Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice
(FCE & SCJ), where she teaches doctoral courses both online and hybrid, for Students
residing in Puerto Rico, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. In addition, she serves
as Content Area Faculty for the Master in Spanish Language Education and TSOL 525.
In addition to serving on various committees at Nova Southeastern University, since
2018, she has been the Associate Advisor of the Omega Theta Chapter of Kappa Delta
Phi. From 2005 to 2011, she worked at Nova Southeastern University as director of
the International Teaching Education Programs (IUTEP and ITEP) of the Latin American
Institute of Educational Leadership. (ILALE) of FCE & SCJ.
As director of IUTEP and ITEP, Dr. Méndez worked as part of the ILALE leadership team
to coordinate and implement innovative bachelor's and master's degree programs in
Florida. She recruited students who had postsecondary credits or bachelor's degrees
from their home countries and often worked in non-professional jobs within the commerce
or industry. She served as an enrollment counselor and student advisor while providing
a level of support that allowed them to complete the bachelor's or master's degree
program and find positions as teachers. In addition, she coordinated and supervised
all administrative aspects of the IUTEP and ITEP programs.
Under her leadership, the ITEP program graduated more than 400 students enrolled at
Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Tampa, and Orlando campuses. After she retired from
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) in 2011, she began working as a Doctoral
Enrollment Counselor / Program Professor at FCE & SCJ. Also, for ten years, she was
president of Fischler's professional association, Phi Gamma Sigma. In addition, she
was co-director of the Title V-B Grant, and since its inception, president of the
HEPEG Awards Committee. This experience has allowed her to experience and see the
sustainable growth that this grant of Title V-B has provided to doctoral students,
faculty, and FCE & SCJ staff.
Immediately after graduating with honors, Cum Laude of Barry University in 1972 with
a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (French and Spanish), Dr. Méndez began teaching
at Palm Springs Junior High in Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M -DCPS), the fourth
largest district in the United States. There she was highly involved in all aspects
of student life and school committees and, as such, became a member of the school's
leadership team. At the same time, she continued to prepare and obtained a Master
of Science in Guidance and Counseling in 1976. In 1980, she was appointed Guidance
Counselor to more than 770 K-9 students who arrived in Miami during the Mariel exodus.
In 1987, she transferred to South Miami Senior High School, where she worked until
she retired in 2011 after providing 39 years of service to the District.
For 39 years, she was a volunteer at Miami-Dade County Fair and Expo as Superintendent
of the “Expressive Reading” oral competition and as Deputy Superintendent of the Department
of Arts and Crafts. In addition, she was a founding member and president of PROFESSIO,
a non-profit organization that provided medical care to the homeless. María Grethel
Méndez, EdD, was born in Havana, Cuba, and emigrated to Miami, Florida, in 1962, where
she has lived since then.