Impact in motion HHP's September 2025 newsletter

Because we impact everY day.

Faculty and staff assembled at HHP 2025 Fall Convocation.

Bromfield's brief

I’m excited to share this edition of Impact in Motion as we continue building on the momentum we’ve created in HHP this semester. A highlight for me was our annual HHP Scholarship Social a few weeks ago. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces come together. These gatherings give our students the invaluable chance to connect with alumni and donors in person, and to see firsthand the power of the HHP community. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the evening so meaningful for all.

Inside, you will find more about the Scholarship Social and many other impactful moments that show how HHP is moving forward with purpose and pride.

Here’s to continuing to make an impact, together.

Nicole Bromfield, professor and dean

#TheHHPExperience

A recent ECU News feature highlighted how national ROTC scholarships and HHP's donor funding model boosts cadets' success and leadership development.
Students who make a commitment to serve our country and our communities should be recognized and honored. It gives me great pleasure to financially support talented students who have chosen the military as a career path." -Dr. Betty Beacham, retired ECU faculty member.

HHP Scholarship Social - Sept. 18, 2025

HHP held its annual scholarship social in Harvey Hall. It was a great opportunity to thank donors and applaud students for the belief we have in them to make a difference for people in our communities. The students who were honored have an average GPA of 3.6 and have amassed more than 2,600 hours of volunteer service.

Darius Lawton is all smiles after receiving his award certificate. The spirit surrounding HHP in support, gratitude and confidence in what we can achieve together is also what enables us to award an increased number of 129 scholarships to students this year.
One of the many interactions between donors and students during the celebration event.
Through named scholarships and support, you are investing in the future of our students, motivating them to reach their potential and positively impact the communities where we live." - Dean Bromfield

College scholarship recipients

Air Force ROTC scholarship recipients

Army ROTC scholarship recipients

Health Education and Promotion scholarship recipients

Human Development and Family Science scholarship recipients

Interior Design and Merchandising scholarship recipients

Kinesiology scholarship recipients

Recreation Sciences and Sport Management scholarship recipients

Social Work scholarship recipients

Real-world application as a doula — Following doula training completed by the Maternal and Child Health Scholars, Training, and Enrichment Program, Alexius Montgomery has served as a doula and assisted two patients during the birthing process. The second is a friend of Montgomery's in Wilmington. Montgomery recently visited her friend and had the chance to hold baby Xyleek.

More on improving lives: In November, an ECU group of 11 MCH scholars will travel to the American Public Health Association's annual meeting, the largest public health conference in the world, with nearly 15,000 attendees. There will be networking, learning and inspiration to continue their efforts improving the lives of women, children and families.

The incoming bachelor of social work students participated in an orientation session to become more familiar with the program. Students heard from School of Social Work director, Dr. Tiffany Baffour, gained information about minor and certificate programs, heard from student officers of the BSWSA and learned more about NASW-NC and campus resources such as the Office of the Dean of Students, Writing Center, the Counseling Center and advising.
The tradition continued of second-year MFT and MedFT students and mentors to help welcome incoming students into their program.

MS kinesiology student Morgan Moseley, in the sport and exercise psychology concentration, earned an award from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology that will fund her registration for the AASP annual meeting in Montreal in October.

HEP faculty members Kelli Russell, Dr. Deeonna Farr, Jamie Williams and Molly Tripp welcomed students back to the Belk Building early in the semester. It was a great opportunity to greet students, make connections and encourage them to reach out to faculty, get engaged with some of our student organizations and take advantage of available experiential learning opportunities.

Game-changers

New board member Lt. Col. Dye: Our Air Force ROTC Detachment 600 commander, Lt. Col. Billy Dye, was named to the ECU Alumni Association’s board of directors. Dye ’04 was commissioned as an ECU distinguished graduate through Air Force ROTC and has been the unit's commander since gaining the role in 2022.
East Carolina University alumni Sean Bowen, Lt. Col. Billy Dye, Camryn Gutierrez, Charlie Justice, Dr. Chris Ozimek and John Rous joined the ECU Alumni Association board in July.
Following selection for funding by the Parkinson’s Foundation’s community programs, Dr. Bhibha Das and the virtual music therapy and mindful yoga program have a new aim to determine the effectiveness for caregivers of adults with Parkinson’s Disease in the region.
Faculty members Drs. Jake Jensen, Andy Brimhall and Kayla Fitzke presented research with ECU grad student, Brandon Jacobs, and ECU alumni, Annelise Billings and Sierra Kee, at the 2025 Intervention Research in Systemic Family Therapy Conference held in Columbus, Ohio.
Dr. Angela Lamson won the Adrian Blow Outstanding Innovation in Research Award, which honors a prolific researcher who has demonstrated innovation in their research contributions to the field of systemic family therapy.

HEP faculty member Brian Cavanaugh served on a panel for COAD 1000 students. He shared impactful messages on behavior change, building positive habits and strategies for success.

BYUTV shared an inspirational video about the journey of Lex Gillette, who is a Paralympian and world-class jumper who graduated from ECU in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in recreation and park management.

Keepers of the House: A campus-wide interprofessional education impact event

Dr. Bhibha Das (kinesiology) and Dr. Kelley Reinsmith-Jones (social work) were among the faculty leaders at the second annual interprofessional education event, Keepers of the House, in collaboration with ECU housekeepers and ECU Health, and faculty from Brody School of Medicine, College of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Performance, College of Nursing and School of Dental Medicine. Das, who co-led the event with Dr. Christine Lysaght (physical therapy), facilitated and actively engaged with students, ECU Health EVS staff and ECU housekeeping staff to expand participants' understanding of the healthcare team.

More than 500 students completed the post-evaluation survey, including 93% reporting the Keepers of the House event was impactful and 91% strongly agreed interprofessional education (learning with, from and about other healthcare professional students) is important to their future career.

Students from HHP, including kinesiology and social work, joined medical, allied health, nursing and dental students to learn about the important role housekeepers/environmental service workers play in the healthcare system.
HEP faculty hosted a poverty simulation in collaboration with Brody Medical students. The event was led by Rose Haddock, with support from Julie Kulas, Molly Tripp and Kelli Russell, reaching more than 100 participants. Faculty partnered to foster empathy, raise awareness of various challenges and deepen understanding of the realities many families living at or near the poverty borderline face.
Dr. Cari Autry traveled to Breda, Netherlands, to present a paper based on the thesis in recreational therapy, Immersive Virtual Reality Tai Chi to Promote Physical and Mental Well-Being in Older Adults, also representing Dr. Jaehyun Kim, Marcos Ardon Lobos (MS ’24) and Dr. Matthew Fish, at the 2025 World Leisure Organization Congress. Delegates from more than 40 countries were represented at the congress focusing on the theme of Leisure for a Better Society.
The Family Therapy Clinic on 10th Street held an open house for student and community engagement and to raise money for the Hannah Bailey and Jackie Mastromauro Memorial Fund. This fund is utilized to help pay session fees for community members who need therapy services, but might face financial hardship, lack of health insurance, severe mental illness, trauma or substance use.
The 20th annual Camp WholeHeart is Oct. 17-19.

Curious about what's next?

Eat for a Cause at Yaba to support mental health care and resources, Oct. 7, 2-6 p.m. 10% of proceeds go to the Hannah Bailey and Jackie Mastromauro Memorial Fund.

Camp WholeHeart alumni reunion and 20 year celebration, Oct. 19

ECU Fall Open House, Oct. 25

ECU homecoming, Nov. 2-8

To submit items for newsletter consideration, email to woodwardr21@ecu.edu.

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