Impact in motion HHP's October 2025 newsletter

Because we impact everY day.

IDMR students in David Romeral Gomez's class visited the ECU Cupola to for an activity to advance their knowledge and practice in shading, perspective and depth.

Bromfield's brief

The timing of this edition of Impact in Motion comes shortly after we announced Dr. Jennifer Barkin as our new associate dean for research. This is exciting news. Dr. Barkin brings to ECU an exceptional record of scholarship, leadership and innovation that will strengthen our research enterprise and complement our leadership team.

This edition also comes on the heels of Chancellor Rogers' announcement regarding the planned redesign of the College of Health and Human Performance with the College of Allied Health Sciences. While change can bring uncertainty, it also brings immense opportunity. Together with our colleagues in CAHS, we can reach our next level of excellence as we prepare future health and human service professionals to work in our community.

Inside, you will see inspiring examples of how our students continue to make a difference by supporting their peers, leading initiatives across campus, and engaging in meaningful, community-focused projects. Our students, staff and faculty are having a great semester working with each other through HHP's empowering educational opportunities and experiences.

Here’s to continuing to make an impact, and to shaping what’s next, together.

Nicole Bromfield, professor and dean

#TheHHPExperience

Students in Sue Raedeke's HLTH 3600 class in Belk participate in a lab session on glucometer and cholesterol testing.

Real learning for real life - HDFS in the library

This collaboration was a major success between the Nancy Darden Child Development Center, Teaching Resources Center in Joyner Library and Dr. Ruby Yeh's HDFS 4121 class for an experiential learning project, computing in action: exploring coding through play.

Yeh talks to children in the story time corner of the ECU Teaching Resources Center.
The kids from the Nancy Darden Child Development Center were excited to participate.
It’s just nice to be at a school where there are so many resources for my major. I feel like there is so much help and resources I can reach out to if I need it. It has made the experience very easy and welcoming." -Adaline Wawrzyniak, studying birth through kindergarten teacher education.

Breaks with Bromfield

HHP hosted Breaks with Bromfield throughout October, giving students the opportunity between classes to chat and connect with HHP leadership in the Belk, Rivers and Minges buildings. The photo above is at Belk.
Chatting outside Rivers.
A student presents during HLTH 3025 class.
Students enjoying HEP Day of Play on sunny Oct. 22.
Professionally Purple Closet pop-up event outside Rivers.
Students conducting assessments within the Human Performance Lab.

Improving lives, strengthening communities

Ace Blalock, middle, a PhD student in bioenergetics and exercise science, was joined by Dr. Joe Stock (KINE) and Dr. Carmen Cuthbertson (HEP) to share their work, resources and tips to community members. They presented “Navigating Physical Activity and Exercise with Aortic Disease” at the East Carolina® Heart Institute.
Students and faculty lead Dr. Lindsey Oakes have begun discussions to form a Special Olympics club. Their aim is for Greenville Special Olympics athletes with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and ECU students without IDD to compete together as a Unified Sports soccer team.

Game-changers

Dr. Amanda Muhammad and Professionally Purple Closet partnered with College of Nursing and College of Allied Health Sciences at Countdown to Commencement to equip graduating students with research-informed guidance on professional dress and interview presence. Wardrobe empowerment meets career readiness.
Muhammad sharing tips with a student.

Introducing Dr. Barkin

Dean Bromfield was pleased to announce Dr. Jennifer Barkin as HHP’s new associate dean for research. She has been transformative as director of South Georgia Healthy Start, a federally funded initiative that serves 10 contiguous rural counties. Also, the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning, which was developed during her time as a doctoral student at the Epidemiology Data Center at the University of Pittsburgh, has been commercially licensed 13 times.

HHP News and Events shared a full story on Barkin's role. Bromfield also thanked Dr. Michele Wallen for her leadership and effectiveness as interim ADR for HHP, and search committee members, led by chair Dr. Alice Richman, for their dedicated service and participation in the search process.

As evidenced by the recent designation as a Research 1 institution, ECU and the College of Health and Human Performance have incredible momentum. I am committed to applying my energy and professional resources in a manner that augments, and potentially accelerates, this momentum at the college level. The beautiful, tree-canopied campus was a cherry on top.” -Dr. Jennifer Barkin

National impact

Dean Bromfield was selected to be a peer reviewer for the national Fulbright Scholar award selection process. Prospective peer reviewers were identified based on recommendations from Institute of International Education board members, IIE staff, current and past peer reviewers, Fulbright Commissions and U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Sections. Bromfield is a past Fulbright awardee herself, serving as a Fulbright Research and Teaching Scholar for 20 months (a Fulbright award and an award renewal) at the University of Namibia during 2022 and 2023.

Scenes from Camp WholeHeart 2025.

Camp WholeHeart, a fall weekend experience for children ages 7–17 years living with complex heart conditions, celebrated 20 years. Camp is led by its founder, Dr. Priti Desai with the Department of Human Development and Family Science. The 20th annual camp and reunion was held Oct. 17-19 at Camp Don Lee Center in Arapahoe. This camp provides fun, interactive, theme-based activities designed to help campers better understand their heart condition through educational and recreational experiences. Beyond building resilience, Camp WholeHeart fosters self-esteem, skill development, nutrition and fitness awareness, and social connections with peers who share similar journeys. Campers say they feel accepted at camp in ways they sometimes don’t at school, finding relief and understanding through shared experiences. WCTI provided news coverage from visiting camp. During the 20-year celebration on Oct. 19, an endowment was announced for pediatric cardiology with specification that funding be provided for Camp WholeHeart.

We hosted the Pitt County Schools Health Sciences Academy for guests to explore and learn more about the innovation and productivity happening in our Department of Kinesiology labs.

Virtual reality in action.
Presentations and demonstrations in the Human Performance Lab.
Dr. Kevin White and LaTonya Gaskins connected with individuals and shared their insight about the field of social work at the Teaming with Teens Conference held at the Greenville Convention Center. This event was hosted by the Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina, bringing hundreds of young people, caregivers, child welfare professionals, volunteers and vendors together for sessions and discussions, united in commitment to support transition-age youth in foster care.

Let's Connect!

HHP was well represented at a recent Let's Connect at ECU event.
Kinesiology alum, Kelsey Camacho '25, led a combine for the Pitt Community College basketball team. This event included current KINE students Jack Romano and Rebecca Daniell Sigafoose. Camacho, who completed her internship at Kinetic Physical Therapy and Wellness last spring, is now a full-time personal trainer and rehab technician at Kinetic Physical Therapy and Wellness.
Recent graduate Kenley Eads and faculty members Dr. Emily Yeager, Dr. Tiffy Blanchflower and Rebecca Burnworth were among the research team, representing HHP, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences and College of Business, that made a final presentation to the town of Roseboro on the Creating Outdoor Recreation Economies project, funded the North Carolina Department of Commerce. This interdisciplinary team partnered with the town of Roseboro to help boost outdoor tourism and marketing strategies — focused on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail that runs through its downtown.
In collaboration with ECU Research, Economic Development and Engagement, and the Office of Healthy Aging (directed by Dr. Abby Schwartz), Drs. Joe Houmard and Bhibha Das led a talk titled Physical Activity & Successful Aging: From Lab Benches to Community Centers. These Healthy Aging Series talks will continue Feb. 10 and in April.
Candy is handed out near the Rivers Building along Fifth Street during the ECU 2024 homecoming parade.

Curious about what's next?

ECU homecoming, Nov. 2-8

Kinesiology research poster symposium, Nov. 7, 1-3 p.m., Minges Coliseum

University and HHP Commencement ceremonies, Dec. 19

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

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