First Monday AN UPDATE FROM THE PROVOST | NOVEMBER 2024

A Message from Interim Provost Chris Buddo

Interim Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

As your new interim provost, it is my pleasure to introduce the latest edition of First Monday. While I am just eight days into my new role, I am in my nineteenth year at ECU. Even after all that time, I am still amazed by the many remarkable achievements of our faculty and students which are chronicled each month in this forum. I hope you will take just a few minutes to look through it.

This is a big university and, even after nineteen years, there are still many of you who I have not yet met. For those of you who do not know me, I want you to know that I came to ECU as the director of the School of Music in 2006. I served in that role for six years before becoming the dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication in 2012. In 2021, I returned to the School of Music to resume my teaching and revitalize my playing of the double bass (the big stand-up fiddle). I have enjoyed my time as a faculty member and have been especially pleased with the opportunity to work closely with the students in my studio and in my freshman Musicianship classes, and to reengage in my creative activity. In other words, I was not looking to return to administration. But, as you all know, things do not always according to plan.

Having been tasked with this new responsibility, please know that I will do everything I can to move ECU forward in this time of transition. We know that higher education faces headwinds, and I do not have to enumerate all of the issues here. But even in this challenging environment, I am convinced that, by staying united and focused on ECU’s mission of student success, public service, and regional transformation, we can overcome any obstacle. Both the quality of our mission and the strength of our shared commitment to that mission mean that we are uniquely positioned to lead the way as higher education seeks to reimagine its place in our world.

I am humbled and honored to have been entrusted with this important role and I look forward to working openly and transparently with the administrative leadership team, the faculty, the staff, and the students of this great university as, together, we build the brightest possible future for ECU.

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BY THE NUMBERS

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AROUND ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS SERVICES

ECU CONNECT

ECU CONNECT is partnering with COAD 1000 instructors to further strengthen the success network for students enrolled in COAD 1000. This collaboration is designed to enhance student engagement, streamline communication, and provide targeted support throughout their academic journey. Additionally, Campus Living has teamed up with ECU CONNECT to expand student support in the residence halls, with Residence Hall Coordinators playing a key role in ensuring students have the resources and guidance needed to succeed both academically and personally. We’re excited to see how these initiatives enhance the support system for on-campus students!

ECU CONNECT offers a great opportunity for club advisors to connect with their students, helping to track their academic progress and offer support when needed. If you’d like to be linked with your students in ECU CONNECT, contact Dylan Moore.

ECU CONNECT’s fourth survey (opening Nov. 4) is designed to identify students who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance during the fall semester. Faculty are encouraged to complete the survey to recognize these high-achieving students. Additionally, faculty can raise ECU CONNECT flags to address student academic performance concerns at any time, independent of the survey.

We are excited to recognize the contributions of our ECU CONNECT November Super Pirates, who have gone above and beyond in their work with ECU CONNECT! Your dedication to supporting and connecting with our Pirate community is truly inspiring, and your efforts continue to strengthen the bond between students, faculty, and staff.

• THCAS - Subodh Dutta, April Talbert, Katherine Kane
• HHP - Tina Devlin, Brian Cavanaugh, Alana Freeman
• COB - Janice Knapp, Jared Taunton, Asligul Erkan
• CON - Jimi Modlin, Candice Bissette, Joyce Buck
• CFAC - Michael Catalano, Rachel Son, Deborah Thomson
• CET - Joseph Jeansonne, Alex Vilkomir, David Carraway
• AAH - Dominiquie Clemmons-James, Janice Britt, Leigh Atherton
• COE - Benjamin Blaisdell, Stacy Weiss, Jennifer Adams

TrACE: Celebrating Transfer Student Success

Over the summer, Public History major and TrACE student Deanna Pate interned with Kristen Daniel in Joyner Library’s Special Collections department. As an intern, she curated her own exhibit focusing on the mystery of the Lost Colony and its portrayal and celebration over the years. Pate’s internship experiences led her to compose a research paper on the Lost Colony. She plans to present her research paper at Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society’s Biennial Convention in January. The Legacy of the Lost Colony will be on display until December 17 in the North Carolina Collection on the third floor of Joyner Library. More information regarding Pate’s work can be found HERE.

Deanna is in her second year at ECU after transferring from Johnston Community College. After completing her undergraduate degree, Deanna plans on attending Graduate School in preparation for working in a museum or historic site.

STEPP Program

Through its partnership with the Oak Foundation, the STEPP Program provided $45,000 in tuition-based support to 26 undergraduate students. Students were selected for financial assistance based on their enrollment in either the STEPP Program or the Student Academic Success Services (SASS) Success Learning Community, and by demonstrating financial need as determined by the university's Financial Aid Office.

Students selected to receive financial support were asked to share an impact statement:

• “Tuition and housing are expensive, and every dollar given through grants and scholarships are a tremendous blessing to my family. I am thankful that you have helped reduce the financial burden and stress I and my family will feel."
• “The tuition-based support will provide me with the mental clearness to begin my freshman year without the concern of being a burden on my mother or being scared to check my email with fear of receiving a notice from the cashier’s office about tuition fees. Now, I will be focused on college and know my family will be okay financially."
• “I anticipate the impact of this financial support to be a tremendous aid for my academic journey. My family has never been wealthy, at times my family would struggle through financial dispositions, laden with adversity and hardships. I am thoroughly humbled by these past experiences, and they have forged me into man I am today, both in scholarly endeavors and the practical necessity of life itself. I continue to face the financial disposition barrier, which would help overcome that barrier.”

The STEPP Program is in the final year of a four-year grant from the Oak Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing grants that promote a safer, fairer, and more sustainable world. This long-standing partnership between the Oak Foundation and the STEPP Program has provided over a decade of support for students with learning differences at ECU. STEPP remains grateful for the partnerships that help us fulfill the second part of our mission, "...impacting a much wider range of students with learning and attention differences to aspire to earn a college degree..." at East Carolina University.

Pirate Academic Success Center

On September 27, students, staff, faculty, parents, and families came together to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the Pirate Academic Success Center (PASC) during ECU’s family weekend. Student staff received Success t-shirts and had the chance to join in a lively tie-dye party at the center. The celebration was filled with music, cupcakes, and refreshments as attendees created their custom shirts.

Originally established as the Pirate Tutoring Center (PTC) in spring 2008, the initiative aimed to improve retention by offering centralized academic support through peer tutoring and study skills coaching. Today, PASC is thriving in its “Success Era,” having expanded significantly over the past 16 years to offer a wide range of services, including in-person and online tutoring, test review sessions, academic and study skills coaching, course-specific study groups, walk-in tutoring, COAD 1000 class instruction, and accountability groups. PASC currently employs over 150 student workers who provide services for ECU undergraduates.

As it continues to grow, PASC remains committed to fostering academic success for ECU undergraduates. For more information about PASC services, contact Monique Barrett, Assistant Director for Tutoring Services, at barretk@ecu.edu, or Dr. Elizabeth Coghill, Executive Director of Student Academic Success Services, at coghille@ecu.edu.

GEAR UP

On October 11, 26 high school seniors from Southwest Edgecombe High School and Washington High School participated in ECU’s inaugural GEAR UP ECU Visitation Day. During this day-long event, students heard from Estefane Santiago-Lopez, College Access and Success Manager of the GEAR UP NC grant, who shared insights on being a first-generation college student. Dr. Steven Asby spoke about setting goals for college, and students engaged in a panel discussion with current ECU GEAR UP students. They also enjoyed lunch at West End Dining Hall, toured the campus, and met with Kristin Davis and Emily Anderson from the Office of Admissions. This visit gave the seniors a firsthand experience of college life at East Carolina University. The event was coordinated by Michelle Blount, ECU’s GEAR UP NC Success Advisor in Student Academic Success Services.

ECU Excels

SAVE THE DATE! You are invited to the 2025 ECU Excels Celebration on Friday, January 24 from 4:00 to 5:00PM in the Main Campus Student Center Ballrooms. ECU Excels celebrates first-semester freshmen who have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher after their first Fall semester. The 2025 ECU Excels event will unite students and campus partners in a single, centralized ceremony to celebrate academic success. The goals of the 2025 ECU Excels event include:

• Highlighting the significance of academic achievement and the support systems that contribute to student success;
• Demonstrating ECU's collective commitment to fostering a supportive academic environment;
• Inspiring students to maintain their dedication to excellence throughout their ECU journey;
• Strengthening a sense of community and belonging within the Pirate Nation.

A campus committee composed of representatives from both Academic and Student Affairs is organizing the centralized event. Elizabeth Coghill (Student Academic Success Services) and Lauren Thorn (Center for Student Success) are serving as Co-chairs of ECU Excels. The committee also includes Elizabeth McAllister (Academic Advising, AHS), Jennifer Cabacar (Academic Advising, CFAC), Stephanie White (Student Athlete Academic Services), Allison Peele (Campus Living), Karen Smith (Student Transitions & COAD), Carter Fenwick (Parent and Family Programs), Ashley Shivar (Office of the Registrar), and Monique Barrett (Pirate Academic Success Center).

OFFICE OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS

International Education Week (IEW) is a joint initiative of the US Department of State and the US Department of Education designed to promote programs that prepare US students for a global environment and to attract top international students to study in the US. This year, ECU’s IEW events include:

• Parade of Flags (11/18)
• 8th Annual International Award Ceremony (11/19)
• Fulbright US Scholars program panel discussion (11/19)
• Hosting international visiting scholars information session (11/20)
• Study abroad financial planning workshop (11/20)
• Study Abroad on Exchange: Germany (11/21)
• International Potluck (11/21)
• Walk-in Passport Fair (11/22)

Click HERE for a full schedule of ECU’s IEW events.

The Department of Physics’ Dr. Martin Bier is hosting Dr. Maciej Majka from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland as part of the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence program. Dr. Majka is ECU's first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence. This prestigious and highly competitive program provides support for Dr. Majka to teach and conduct research with faculty members across campus for the entire academic year.

OFFICE OF ONLINE LEARNING, ACADEMIC OUTREACH AND ACADEMIC INNOVATION

The Office of Online Learning, Academic Outreach and Academic Innovation (OLAOAI), along with several university partners, represented East Carolina University at The North Carolina Community College System Conference held October 13 - 15 in the Raleigh Convention Center. This event allowed the university to showcase its many online programs, as well as other “Real Options for Real Life” opportunities that can assist residents of North Carolina seeking to further their education. Attendance at this event was close to 2,600, and ECU’s booth was visited by many representatives from the 58 NC community colleges. The event was quite successful at offering a collaborative opportunity between ECU and the many community colleges located across the state.

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS

Alex DeLapa, originally from Orlando, Florida, has been with Undergraduate Admissions since 2020. She currently serves as an Administrative Support Specialist processing Freshman, Transfer, and STEPP applications. She was also a part of a pilot project that tested the processing of accelerated degree program applications and assists in various other projects when needed. In addition to working in undergraduate admissions, Alex is also a transfer student in the ECU College of Business. She is excited for what the 2025 admissions cycle will bring and for continuing our partnership with the STEPP program.

Conectémonos en ECU 2024 was held on Thursday, October 10 in the Main Campus Student Center. This event brought in over 300 students and their families from 10 different counties in the East. They all took part in a bilingual information session that discussed the college application process and financial aid options.

Following the information sessions, students had the opportunity to enjoy some food from Villa Verde while talking with campus partners from 40+ departments about their program offerings.

Conectémonos en ECU was the brainchild of Dr. Rich Klindworth, who stated, "The buy-in from our ECU students, faculty, staff and alumni was tremendous! We had 120 ECU participants – half of whom were current ECU students – give up their Thursday night to ensure prospective students and their families had their college questions answered personally. This showed those attendees that they matter to us and that we will be there to help them succeed."

Please enjoy the video of the event, below. (https://youtu.be/CWJMiPkRT4s)

The deadline to apply as a Freshman to ECU and be considered for Honors College Eligibility was October 15. However, students who attend high school in counties affected by Helene (as determined by FEMA) have been given an extension. These students can apply through November 15 and still be considered for the Honors College.

OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS

The Access Scholars program, managed by the Office of University Scholarships, continued the tradition of the annual Fall Break experiential learning trip for freshman Access Scholars this October. This year, the group traveled to the Outer Banks and spent their Saturday completing a beach cleanup before visiting the ECU Outer Banks Campus for a tour and educational program. During the educational program they learned about plankton and collected samples to identify in the lab. These students were also exposed to options to spend a semester studying at the Outer Banks Campus through the Semester Experience at the Coast. On Sunday, students had a tour and got to explore the Wright Brothers National Memorial. They also got the chance to visit the Bodie Island Lighthouse and learn the history of how the lighthouse guided ships to their destinations. Many students were experiencing the Outer Banks for the first time, and learning more about North Carolina’s rich history is always a highlight of the trip. The Access program also traveled with the First Aboard program, which is managed by Campus Living.

The Access Scholars program welcomed 38 new students this fall. With these new scholars, the program now has 113 students!

OFFICE OF RESEARCH

Join the Office of Research Development for a new lunch-and-learn series. The next session will take place Wednesday, November 13, 12:00 - 1:30PM in the Belk Annex, Room 120. Participants will hear from experienced grantees during a workshop called “Qualitative Research for Implementation Science.” The presenter will be Dr. Lori Ann Eldridge from the College of Health and Human Performance. Lunch will be provided for the first 25 attendees.

Questions? Contact Dr. Mary Farwell, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Development.

Faculty, please encourage undergraduates assisting with research or creative projects to attend SNCURCS 2024, which will be held virtually via ForagerOne, December 4 – 17. ECU is a host for this event.

Registrations for presentations are due November 25. The Office of Undergraduate Research will assist paying for the $10 registration fee towards a presentation.

Sophomores in North Carolina are also eligible to apply for the George Barthalmus Undergraduate Research Award which supports ongoing undergraduate research. Applications for this award will be accepted through November 18.

Questions? Contact Dr. Tuan Tran, Director of Undergraduate Research.

OFFICE OF INNOVATION & ENGAGEMENT

The Innovator of the Month was established by the Office of Licensing and Commercialization to recognize faculty that have developed novel innovations that can have a major impact on eastern NC and beyond. Nominees are selected by members of the ECU Patent Committee, which chose Dr. David Loy for this month’s spotlight.

Loy has more than 20 years of higher education experience and is the Director of Design4Disability. His passion for helping to improve the lives of others has led to the creation of the PeeDee Sensory Room, which can assist children, adults, and veterans who experience sensory overload at athletic events. In addition to the development of the sensory room, Loy is developing patentable innovations to help improve access to sports such as sled hockey and water skiing for those that have disabilities.

Do you have an idea or innovation that can have impact? Contact us.

The Office of Licensing and Commercialization and I-Corps@ECU will hold an “Advance Health in ENC” pitch competition on Monday, November 11 at the Health Sciences Student Center, Room 202. The event will kick off at 5:30PM with networking and refreshments. The main event will take place at 6:00PM and feature 5-minute pitches from eight faculty led teams that are developing novel diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics, and environmental solutions. The competition aims to assist ECU faculty in accelerating health-related ideas into real world solutions.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend. Register online.

December 6, 1:00 - 4:00PM, join Brinkley-Lane Scholars as they present on community engaged scholarship sponsored by the Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy (EOSA). Enjoy great presentations, networking and refreshments. RSVP by November 22 by emailing communityengagement@ecu.edu.

Continuing and Professional Education (CPE)

ECU’s Office of Continuing and Professional Education supports non-credit continuing education courses for university faculty and for industry partners. If you would like to offer non-credit continuing education courses, please contact our office to discuss options.

Upcoming CPE Offerings:

• K-12 Educators: Preparing for the Foundations of Reading Test 190 – November 4
• ECU Economic Development Academy: Organization, Operation, and Strategy for NCCED – November 18
• K-12 Educators: Authentic Community Engagement, Part I: Foundations – November 18
• ECU Economic Development Academy: Legal Framework for Economic Development in North Carolina – November 18
• K-12 Educators: Career and Technical Education Administration Program Supervision – January 6
• 21st Century Leadership Microcredential – Series starts January 17

Lifelong Learning Program (LLP)

Lifelong Learning is possible because of our wonderful and dedicated volunteer instructors. If you have an interest in volunteering your time to share your knowledge or special interest with adult learners, please complete a proposal for a workshop, series of short classes, or a Spring trip.

Featured LLP Offering:

• GlasStation Workshop: Glass Ornament – December 16 & 17

FACULTY SENATE

2024 - 2025 Faculty Senate meeting dates are as follows:

• November 5, 2024
• December 3, 2024
• January 28, 2025
• February 25, 2025
• March 25, 2025
• April 22, 2025
• April 29, 2025 (Organizational Meeting for 2025-2026)

For more about ECU Faculty Senate, click HERE.

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COLLEGE UPDATES

ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES

East Carolina University has taken a huge step forward in providing world-class patient care in North Carolina through the establishment of a doctoral-level occupational therapy degree program, which officially admitted its first cohort this year.

ECU’s is the first and only occupational therapy doctorate program in the UNC System.

The five members of the first Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) class started with their peers in the master’s program in fall 2023, said Dr. Nikki Hancock, a clinical assistant professor and the doctoral capstone coordinator in the Department of Occupational Therapy. The students applied to be part of the OTD track this spring and were admitted into the program starting this summer.

Ellee Hopkins completed her undergraduate education at N.C. State, a “huge school with a lot of career paths,” being accepted into a cohort of 26 master’s students, with the opportunity to be accepted into the even smaller OTD program, was a welcome change of pace.

“I applied to, and got accepted into, a lot of schools, and I thought it was going to be a really hard decision, but as soon as I set foot on campus here, especially interview day and talking with all of the faculty, it was instantly community,” Hopkins said.

East Carolina University’s department of nutrition science has piloted a program to teach future health care providers the ins and outs of food, and how to prepare nutritious meals, so they can incorporate culinary medicine into their practice and pass health-promoting food knowledge on to their patients.

Dr. Lauren Sastre, an assistant professor of nutrition science in the College of Allied Health Sciences, said the culinary medicine initiative is important because even well-educated health care students often don’t understand the details of macro- and micronutrients, how they impact overall health. Likely as important, Sastre said, many people are impeded by not having the tools to budget for health-promoting foods and how to employ basic cooking skills.

Kendra Brent, a second-year physician assistant student from Bristol, Tennessee, said cooking is a big part of her life, but the demands of the PA program have kept her out of the kitchen far more than she’d like.

“It's been awesome working with them. You see a whole new side of medicine that I never even knew existed. I didn't know that culinary medicine was a thing until this morning. It’s great to know that they are resource out there,” Brent said.

At the North Carolina chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)’s annual conference at High Point University October 11 and 12, our PT students swept the awards for the research poster competition.

• Madison Deanes and Erin Carico, both student PTs, placed 1st
• Maddie Campbell and Leah McDonald, student PTs, placed 2nd
• Evin Hill, student PT, placed 3rd

Our students weren’t the only Pirates recognized for excellence.

• Eileen Carter, a PT business owner in Wilson and ECU alumnus, won the Darlene M. Sekerak Legislative Service Award. Congressman Don Davis, also an ECU alum, won the Ben F. Massey Public Service Award.
• Also, Lynnz Brewer, PT, a 2024 ECU DPT graduate, presented an education session at the conference, and Tyler Johnston, PT, DPT class of 2015, also presented an educational session.

ARTS & SCIENCES

Harriot College celebrated students and thanked its generous donors at the college’s ninth annual scholarship celebration on October 11 in the Main Campus Student Center Ballrooms. Nearly 150 college students will benefit this academic year from donors’ $385,000 in scholarship assistance, a more than 28% increase from last year. Find out how scholarships are a formula for student success.

ECU juniors and seniors are receiving the chance of a lifetime through the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) training program. The immersive biomedical scholars program is a National Institutes of Health-funded initiative worth $1.2 million over five years. This program is the first NIH-funded training grant at ECU for undergraduates and currently the only one of its kind in the state. Read about the first recipients and watch a video interview with their mentors.

The island of Roi-Namur is located in the northern part of Kwajalein Atoll, one of the many volcanic islands and coral atolls comprising the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Situated in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and the Philippines, in January 1944, the island was the site of a World War II battle and a dumping ground for an assortment of aircraft and other military equipment that now reside on the adjacent sea floor. Dr. Jason Raupp, Assistant Professor in the Department of History’s Program in Maritime Studies, led a team that recently conducted research at the site. Explore this unique glimpse into the past.

Dr. Maciej Majka, Professor of Physics, is making history at East Carolina University. Majka, a native of Poland, is ECU’s first-ever Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence. According to Jon Rezek, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs, having a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence highlights ECU’s commitment to being an internationally engaged university. Majka found his way to Greenville thanks to Physics Professor Dr. Martin Bier, and as part of the program, Majka is teaching Physics 4226 – Mechanics I this fall. He will teach a course in his specialty next semester and is also willing to help establish new courses. Discover more about Majka’s journey at ECU.

Harriot College’s enrollment in online degree programs powered by Project Kitty Hawk (PKH) accounts for more than 40% of the population of adult learners in North Carolina seeking baccalaureate degrees through PKH, according to the data released by the UNC System Office in October. The Departments of Psychology, Political Science, and Criminal Justice and Criminology are leading the way in providing transformational access to educational opportunities made possible in partnership with PKH. After hiring four new full-time faculty to contribute to these programs at ECU in fall 2024, these departments will recruit five more full-time faculty colleagues to join Pirate Nation for fall 2025. Read about the more than 550 adults enrolled in PKH programs across the UNC system.

Dr. Charles Ewen, Dr. Christopher Wolfe, and five graduate students from the Department of Anthropology recently lent their expertise to the Greenville Police Department investigating the case of human remains found on Oct. 5 at the former B.G. Barrett Funeral Home in Greenville. The group used the department’s topography surveying tool and newest ground penetrating radar device, acquired in part due to a generous donation from Dr. Bonner Guilford. Photos of the team using the equipment, by Paul Armstrong at Beyond Limits Productions, are on the Greenville, NC Police Department Facebook page. Work to identify the remains is ongoing. Read an article about the ongoing case in the Daily Reflector.

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures are hosting multiple campus events this semester to help students kick-start their careers in German. This informational series is about the professional and educational benefits of studying German. Events are geared toward students in all areas of study, including the humanities, science and technology, business, and engineering. Business and industry leaders and ECU alumni, including Dr. Sarah Sipe (Chemistry/German), Mr. Anthony Razov (Biochemistry/German minor), and Sean Fleming (International Business/German minor), among others, have led roundtable discussions and keynote addresses advising attendees on how learning German can open a variety of opportunities and advanced careers. The events have been graciously funded by the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, ECU Department of Engineering in the College of Technology and Engineering, and The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Washington, D.C. Learn more about November’s events featuring careers, internships, study abroad, and German for business professionals on the department website.

BRODY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

The M2 Research Showcase on Ethics, Health Systems and Health Disparities was held on Wednesday, Oct. 23, in the Brody Medical Sciences Building. The event was co-sponsored by the Department of Bioethics and Interdisciplinary Studies and the Center for Health Disparities. Students shared their research that spanned a variety of health topics and North Carolina counties.

Part of the mission of Brody and the Center for Health Disparities is to reduce health disparities of vulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities across eastern North Carolina through research, education and training and community engagement and outreach. The center’s faculty, staff and community members work to reduce disparities in obesity, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease among rural, ethnic-minority and low socioeconomic populations. The center also has an integrated, thematic research agenda focused on the genomic and physiological mediators and impacts of the social determinants of health disparities.

Retired Brody researcher Kimberly Briley was named to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Since 1963, the state’s governors have reserved this highest honor for North Carolinians who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. Briley spent her career helping lead critical research in the Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine and the Brody Integrative Genomics Core Lab.

Briley was nominated for the award by the Brody Office of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development (OFALD). “She was an obvious choice for this prestigious award because her tireless service to the Brody School of Medicine and her dedication to its mission for 35 years epitomizes a significant contribution to both eastern North Carolina and the entire state,” said Coleman Hinson, OFALD programming coordinator.

From ECU Health

Pitt County’s first ever health assessment and vaccine clinic provided health services to about 140 schoolchildren so that they could remain in school without interruption. According to North Carolina state law, all children entering public schools for the first time or starting kindergarten are required to complete a health assessment and receive certain vaccines. Failure to meet these requirements within 30 days of the first day of school results in exclusion until proper documentation is provided.

The ECU Health, James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital and Pitt County Health Department initiative partnered with Pitt County Schools and was led by Dr. Kristina Simeonsson, ECU Health Pediatrics physician and Brody professor of pediatrics and public health, and Kayla Manning, public health nursing supervisor for Child Health and Immunization Programs at the Pitt County Health Department. They teamed up with pediatric residents, nurses from both organizations, ECU Health school nurse care managers, Brody School of Medicine students, ECU Health child life specialists and the ECU Health Pediatric Asthma Program to offer health assessments, vaccines, asthma screenings and referrals for follow-up care.

The Brody School of Medicine and ECU Health-led Healthier Lives at School and Beyond program hosted an event in Duplin County to help keep 51 students in school by providing health assessments. In previous years, the Healthier Lives at School and Beyond team also visited schools in Jones County and Clinton City Schools in Sampson County to ensure students are up to date on their care and can remain in the classroom.

Dr. Kristina Simeonsson, professor of pediatrics and public health at Brody, said these events are crucial for rural areas like Duplin, Jones and Sampson counties who do not have the same access to primary care as larger counties. “These are often children who are new to the area, new to the state and possibly new to the country, who haven't had a chance to establish with a health care provider but desperately need these health assessments done,” she said. “We do these events in September in partnership with the county or city schools along with the county health department to get as many kids seen as possible so that they won’t miss school.”

The third annual Tate Holbrook Annual Sickle Cell Disease Update was held in September at the Eastern AHEC Education Center. The event was hosted by the ECU Health Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program and brought together more than 80 health care professionals, patients and family members to learn about research, new treatments and medications and other interventions.

The collaborative approach is what drives progress forward for those living with sickle cell disease, said Dr. Beng Fuh, program director of the ECU Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Program. “One of the most important parts of this conference is that it brings patients with sickle cell together with medical providers,” he said. “We get to facilitate that exchange between patients and providers to learn how we can improve things and how we can get better. Sickle cell functions best when we take that collaborative approach. When we can hear from each other, we make our providers better and we improve understanding of the disease for patients.”

BUSINESS

The Twilley Academy of Sales Leadership, through the Pirate Sales Club, sponsored the first annual Speed Interview Challenge, held during the College of Business annual fall Business Advisory Council meeting. Forty-seven students participated in a speed dating format and pitched themselves to BAC members over numerous rounds. First, second and third prizes were awarded. Entrepreneurship major Josiah Ortiz took first place and a $3,000 first-place prize.

The Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization and the Miller School of Entrepreneurship held the Blueprint to Success Panel on Oct. 22 in Isley Innovation Hub. COB alum and entrepreneur Van Isley, COB alum and entrepreneur Henrik Skalmerud and Miller School faculty member and entrepreneur Sharon Moore shared their career journeys and insights that propelled them into a successful career. More than 100 ECU students attended the two-hour event.

East Carolina University’s Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge has a new name and an investment that will boost prize money and the student experience for the university’s signature pitch competition, which kicked off its eighth season Tuesday. Through a $3.2 million gift from Helen Aman and family supporting the Miller School of Entrepreneurship, the College of Business has renamed the signature pitch competition in memory of Gene Aman ’65. The Gene T. Aman Pirate Challenge will provide more opportunities for participation, larger cash gifts and the ability to expand its reach and influence across the campus and in eastern North Carolina.

After more than 1600 votes were cast, 12 winners will move on to the second round of this year’s inaugural Gene T. Aman Pirate Challenge. More than 75 student-led teams representing 42 majors offered up their ideas with the hopes of moving forward. Waiting for them at the end of the Aman Pirate Challenge, an increase in prize winnings: $200K in cash and in-kind prizes. Who's moving on? Read first round of the Aman Pirate Challenge completed.

Thanks to the Spencer Educational Foundation, four ECU students and one faculty member attended InsureTech Connect 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. “Tandeka Nomvete at Spencer was kind enough to make some complimentary tickets available to selected risk management and insurance (RMI) students across the United States. ECU was fortunate to receive some of those tickets!” said Dr. Brenda Wells, Director of the ECU Risk Management and Insurance program. Wells led the trip and traveled with the students. The four students in the RMI program attending were Kooper Ashmore, Christina Chaiken, Kadyn Pleasants and Raquan Stanley. “These four students richly deserved this opportunity to visit a new city and meet professionals in insurance technology. They really benefited from some of the very kind representatives there who talked to them about the industry and their futures in it,” said Wells.

Two teams from the Pirate Sales Club out of the Twilley Academy of Sales Leadership participated in mid-October sales competitions. One traveled east, and one traveled west. Four students competed in the Indiana University National Sales Competition Oct. 16 – 18. Back east, 11 sales students competed in the Oct. 18 Hendrick Automotive Sales Group Sales Competition in Wilmington, North Carolina. Brinkley-Lane Scholar and marketing major Sarah Maisto walked away with the MVP award in Indiana. For more to the story, read Twilley Academy students hit the road for competitions.

Jaliyah Armstrong (pictured above) and Melissa Parks recently represented the COB (10.10.24) at the ENC Regional Managers Meeting, sponsored by REDE. Jaliyah successfully completed an internship with the City of Goldsboro City Management office through the SECU Public Fellows Internship program in the summer of 2024. During the event, she shared her experience with eastern North Carolina city and county managers. The Cunanan Center was invited by Merrill Flood from REDE to attend the event in hopes of encouraging more local government agencies from our region to hire students for business-related internships, creating a win-win opportunity for both the students and local government agencies.

Though it was homecoming week for the university, the Business Leadership Conference, sponsored annually by the College of Business, welcomed numerous alumni back to campus who spoke to more than 1,100 students and friends of the COB. Keynote Matt Crisp (MBA' 96) kicked off the festivities. Esteemed alumni representing companies such as Spectrum, Cisco Systems, MGM Resorts, Goodyear, and others shared their experiences and knowledge related to leadership in their careers and in the workplace. And, for the first time, a career fair was held afterward where more than 25 companies sent representatives to meet with the leaders of tomorrow.

Following its fall advisory board meeting on Oct. 23, the School of Hospitality Leadership inducted five students into Eta Sigma Delta, the International Hospitality Management Honor Society. Inducted were Daisy Nichole Barbeite, Videl Lanier, Madeline Mascitti, Misty Moore and Meredith Reames. ESD (and SHL students) officers Maryanna Cooper and Colton Craver ran the ceremonies.

Following the COB's Business Advisory Council (BAC) meeting, Paige Hill, COB's outreach director, and the BAC announced the establishment of the Dr. Mike Harris Scholarship. The scholarship, with a goal of $50,000, will support area students with their entrepreneurial endeavors. Students who have completed the COB's annual Summer Innovation Academy and are enrolled in the COB will be given preference in receiving the Dr. Mike Harris Scholarship. The scholarship honors and celebrates Harris' official appointment as the COB Dean and reflects his unwavering dedication and support of student success.

The first annual FinCon (or Finance Conference) is Nov. 7, 9:00AM - 3:00PM in MCSC ballrooms. The event aims to provide all ECU students the opportunity to hear what it takes to be successful in finance-based careers and how they can move closer toward their dream careers. Pictured above, Kelly King, retired chairman and CEO of Truist (previously known as BB&T) and ECU alumni, will serve as keynote. To register, click HERE. To keep up with the latest news related to FinCon, follow it on LinkedIn or on Instagram: @ecu_fincon.

DENTAL MEDICINE

The school held a Special Care Symposium in Ross Hall on Saturday, Nov. 2. Close to 50 participants gathered to learn about best practices and innovations in providing oral health care to patients with special needs. Keynote speaker was Dr. Randy F. Huffines, who is recognized as one of the country’s leading experts on aging and oral health. The event included some of the school’s leaders and faculty who are dedicated experts on providing care to patients with special needs.

Dr. Michael Webb, clinical associate professor and chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, was named 2024–25 president of the North Carolina Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Nikki Tucker, clinical assistant professor and division director in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, was named parliamentarian. The NCAPD is an organization of dental professionals committed to the oral health care of infants, children and adolescents, including those with special health care needs through patient care, education, research, advocacy and communication.

The CSLC–Davidson County cared for 13 veterans during an ECU Smiles for Veterans event last month. The program created by the East Carolina School of Dental Medicine and the Veteran Smiles Foundation began in 2018 to provide low-cost or free oral health care for U.S. Armed Services veterans who live in rural and underserved areas of North Carolina. To date, the ECU Smiles for Veterans program has hosted 14 events, served more than 310 veterans and provided more than $165,000 worth of dental care. More events are planned across the state over the next year.

The first-year dental students participated in a Virtual Reality session with Dr. Hanan Elgendy, clinical assistant professor. The VR experience helps students build knowledge of head and neck anatomy and how it applies in providing high-quality oral health care. The Class of 2028 is also the school’s first class to purchase their own handpiece/equipment bundles, which they will use during preclinical labs.

Amanda Arey (above, right), ECU student and president of the Smile Squad Honor Society, presented more than 700 Smile Kits - including toothbrushes, floss and other dental supplies - to the ECU School of Dental Medicine to take to Spruce Pine, one of the school's community service learning center homes and an area hit hardest by Hurricane Helene. Accepting the kits were Tarrick Cox (above, left), director of admissions and Dr. Rob Tempel (above, center), associate dean for extramural clinical practices. The Smile Squad Honor Society at ECU is a service-oriented organization run by and created for pre-dental students.

Dr. Jonathan Austin — a Lincolnton native and 2016 graduate of the School of Dental Medicine — loaded his personal plane with much-needed supplies and took off for some of the most hard-hit areas of western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. He carried food, water, medical supplies and other essentials and teamed up with other alumni and volunteers to make several trips a week starting days after the storm.

EDUCATION

The College of Education recently published the first edition of its new magazine, InspirED.

The 2024 North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) Conference took place at the Raleigh Convention Center from October 13 to 15. As part of the event, an adult education reception was held, allowing faculty to connect with current graduate students and alumni serving at community colleges across the state. Dr. Steven Schmidt, program coordinator, welcomed attendees and shared updates on the program. Faculty members Dr. Christy Rhodes and Dr. Phyllis Broughton, along with several members of the Adult Education Advisory Board and key partners from local community college collaborations, were also in attendance. The reception featured a presentation by Dr. Josh Howell, Associate Professor of English at the College of the Albemarle and Editor-in-Chief of the North Carolina Community College Journal of Teaching Innovation, who discussed the journal's mission and submission process for scholarly publications.

Dr. Guili Zhang has been elected as the President-Elect of the American Evaluation Association (AEA). She has extensive leadership experience within AEA and beyond, including executive council member of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), founder and president of the American Family Education Institute, and co-founded of the Art to Heart Foundation. In her new role as President of AEA, Dr. Zhang is committed to furthering the association’s mission, promoting an inclusive and diverse community, enhancing member benefits, and strengthening AEA’s global leadership in evaluation. Her election reflects the high regard in which she is held by her peers and her ability to guide the association toward continued growth and excellence.

The Rural Education Institute traveled to Elizabeth City for family night for our community school at Northeastern High School, where Dr. Shanita Brown facilitated a presentation on understanding domestic violence.

Dr. Phyllis Broughton, adult education faculty, was the co-planner of a Writers & Publishers Workshop at Martin Community College that had 34 attendees from Dare, Craven, Pitt, Martin, Edgecombe, Beaufort, Washington and Hyde counties. ECU College of Education faculty, Dr. Crisianee Berry and Dr. Heather Seibert provided sessions that are important to both writers and educators. Graduate students from adult education — Stephen Tart, Tami Flynn, and Rebecca Sayers — presented on “Community College Instructors: Champions for Students’ Credential Attainment.”

Dr. Matt Militello, Wells Fargo Distinguished Professor in Educational Leadership, received the 2024 Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) David G. Imig Distinguished Service Award. This prestigious award recognizes faculty members at CPED institutions who have made exceptional contributions to advancing the mission of CPED, particularly in preparing scholarly-practitioners to use research and collaboration to improve educational outcomes.

Drs. Vanessa Reyes, Lindsay Mattock and Vanessa Irvin in library science received a $1.1M grant from the Mellon Foundation for their project, “Faculty Organizing for Community Archives (FOCAS): East Carolina University.” This project aims to connect with community-based archival organizations for mutual benefit and will enrich the library science courses at ECU by highlighting local case studies, historical perspectives, and archival practices that challenge the dominant best practices in the cultural heritage fields.

Several Office of Educator Preparation team members and COE faculty members attended the NCACTE Fall Forum in Raleigh in September. Sarah Sconyers and Kristen Gregory presented on AI Readiness and Literacy in Ed Prep. Nicole Tripp and Rachel Bass presented on Residency Program Data and edTPA Support. This was Rachel's first conference presentation as a member of ECU COE and she rocked it! Holly Fales presented on the success of our pipelines and partnerships.

The college has launched a new faculty orientation series, “Growing Where You Are Planted.” This is an opportunity to nurture the talents of our newest colleagues. Each new faculty member was given a plant as part of the series, serving as a meaningful metaphor for growth. Just like the plants, we hope our new faculty will thrive, flourish, and "grow where they are planted" in their new academic home. This series is designed to offer guidance, resources, and community-building experiences, ensuring that our faculty have the tools they need to grow personally and professionally.

Aligned with our strategic plan to "prepare university employees with the knowledge and competencies required for successful career journeys," the Staff Speaker Series is designed to equip our staff with the tools they need for continued growth and success. The first session, led by Jo Melnyk and Rachel Bass, focused on Using AI in Professional Communications.

Dr. Kristen Gregory, Dr. Ken Luterbach, Dr. Xi Lin and Sarah Sconyers had a chapter - Elementary Educators’ Perceptions of Using ChatGPT as a Classroom Assessment Generator - in the 2024 Routledge publication, “Artificial intelligence Applications in K-12.”

Dr. Christy Howard and Dr. Anne Ticknor, along with Dr. Mikkaka Overstreet published Practical Steps Toward Culturally Responsive K-12 Literacy Instruction: Resisting Barriers, Using Texts, and Making Space.

We welcome visiting international scholar, Weiping Peng! Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ran Hu. Thanks also to Dr. Janeé Avent Harris for supporting this scholar.

Darian Thrailkill, co-creator of the innovative RPG "We Know Something You Don't Know," is changing the game for pre-service and in-service teachers. This interactive experience is designed to spark critical conversations about the structures of schools and the people who navigate them. Check it out!

Benjamin Blaisdell co-published a book chapter—“We Make Some Woke Kids:” Using Critical Race Theory to Revolutionize the Elementary Curriculum—with two in-service teachers. The chapter, which appears in the book Critical Race Theory and Classroom Practice, examines how teachers can use CRT to meet state standards in social studies and reading, use their students' experiences and perspectives to engage in deeper and more enriching curricula, and to build positive student-to-student relationships across racial difference.

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Flying in a Chinook helicopter over the mountains of North Carolina, ECU industrial technology student Cameron Smitherman saw the full scope of Hurricane Helene’s devastation. As a member of the National Guard, Smitherman told his instructors he was being called up to help with relief efforts and spent days as a crew member on relief flights in western North Carolina. Read more HERE.

The ECU Eastern Region Pharma Center hosted its annual PharmaFest in the Life Sciences and Biotechnology Building. With regional pharmaceutical companies represented, the event allowed students from any degree program to learn about career pathways into the pharma industry. Read more HERE.

Department of Construction Management students learned about the latest in construction technology during the CONTECH Expo in the Main Campus Student Center. The department’s advisory board puts on the annual event, which this year featured laser scanning, drones, augmented and virtual reality, robotic assisted installations, underground subsurface engineering and modeling, and total station digital layout. Companies represented included Advanced Exterior Systems, Balfour Beatty, Barnhill Contracting Company, BuildingPoint Southeast and Hilti North America.

Department of Computer Science faculty and staff hosted students for a social and networking event on the front terrace of the Science and Technology Building. Students learned about the department’s student organizations while enjoying dinner and the opportunity to speak with faculty and staff outside of the classroom setting.

FINE ARTS & COMMUNICATION

CFAC hosts an inaugural US/Central European Academic Collaboration Symposium on November 11 and 12 at the Main Campus Student Center and academic units across Campus. This symposium welcomes distinguished scholars from Jagiellonian University, State University of Applied Sciences in Krosno, Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, University of Kentucky, and East Carolina University. Themed “Intersect: Culture, Art, and Science,” the symposium will delve into the rich intersections of creative expression, scientific inquiry, and cultural development.

Designed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, the event encourages innovative partnerships and challenges traditional boundaries among these fields, fostering connections across geographical and academic lines. By bringing together leading thinkers, artists, scientists, and cultural innovators from Poland, Croatia, and the United States, CFAC aims to create a unique forum for varied perspectives. The symposium seeks to spark new insights and transformative ideas that deepen our understanding of the world and inspire impactful change.

Juliano Dutra Aniceto, former ECU Graduate Assistant (MM Instrumental Conducting, May 2020), was recently appointed Director of Orchestras of the New England Conservatory NEC Prep division, a brand new position created within the organization, and Music Director of the NEC Prep Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, in Boston, MA, beginning fall 2024. In further exciting news, Juliano is currently serving as cover conductor for the Ravinia Festival, the summer residence of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and as assistant to Marin Alsop, James Conlon, Valentina Peleggi, and other stellar conductors. In addition, he is assistant conductor for the Festival production of Mozart’s opera Idomeneo. Juliano is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree (DMA) and Teaching Fellow at the Peabody Institute, the music conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. While at ECU, Juliano was a conducting student and Graduate Teaching Assistant to Dr. Jorge Richter and studied flute with Dr. Christine Gustafson.

Phi Kappa Phi hosted a pop-up presentation, Masking Reality: The impact of AI on Truth and Democracy, on October 16 at 5pm in Sci-Tech C309. Moderated by Professor Brian Massey, leading experts, Drew T. Ashby King – School of Communication assistant professor, Armin Krishnan – Department of Political Science associate professor & Security Studies Director, and Rachel Son – School of Communication assistant professor, discussed the complex world of AI — focusing on media, misinformation and the potential influence on elections. This panel explored how technologies are reshaping decision making and our political landscape and what can be done to safeguard the “truth” in the digital age. Discover insights into the threat posed by AI-generated content and discuss potential solutions to combat misinformation.

At the “13th Biennial International Conference on Music since 1900” held at KU Leuven, Belgium, Navid Bargrizan, Assistant Professor of Musicology at the ECU School of Music, presented his research Project titled “Luigi Nono’s La Fabbrica Illuminata and its Controversial Politics.” This presentation was part of the panel “Nono Centenary.” Bargrizan also chaired the panel “Compositional Research” at this conference.

The ECU School of Music hosted the Fall 2024 meeting of the American Musicological Society Southeast Chapter, organized by Navid Bargrizan, Assistant Professor of Musicology. This meeting included opening remarks by Christopher Ulffers, Director of the ECU School of Music; research presentations by guest scholars and Cameron Stephenson, Lecturer of Music at ECU; a keynote speech titled “Decoding the Archive: Heitor Villa-Lobos’s Symphony No. 10 ‘Ameríndia,’ Ethnography, Histories, and National Narrative” by Silvio dos Santos, Professor and Coordinator of Musicology and Ethnomusicology Program at the University of Florida; and a performance of Charles Ives’s Calcium Light Night by the ECU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, conducted by William Staub (https://www.southeast.ams-net.org/?page_id=19 ).

Jen-Scott Mobley coordinated and moderated the panel “Celebrating 2024 Jane Chambers Winner shadow/land in Conversation” which brought together our 2024 winner, Erika Dickerson-Despenza and a panel of Black feminist artist-scholars to respond to Dickerson-Despenza’s powerful play, part of a 10-play Katrina Cycle exploring the Katrina diaspora and ongoing effects of neo-colonialism, environmental racism, the erasure of black land legacies through displacement and urban renewal. This year’s award winner rose from among 450 submissions across 4 rounds of adjudication by readers across the country. Respondents on the panel included Lydia Fort from Emory University, Jaqueline Springer from Kennesaw State, and Omiyemi (Artisia) Green from College of William and Mary.

Three SoAD Textile-Design concentration students, Paul Edwards, Rachael Lowman, and Eliza Winslow, were juried into the Spotlight on Student Fiber Trends 2024: at the Mary Cornwell Gallery, Haywood Community College, Clyde, NC. “This juried exhibition highlights the creativity and skill of post-secondary students and features a diverse range of works that demonstrate both originality and technical prowess."

GRADUATE SCHOOL

Above, left, the Graduate School presented Interim Associate Dean Ron Preston with an Outstanding Service Award for serving as Chair of the Graduate Council for seven years, from 2017 until 2024. Thank you for your leadership, Dr. Preston!

Above, right, Dean Debra Jackson and Assistant Dean James Coker attended the GlaxoSmithKlein Foundation Women in Science Scholars luncheon on October 7, 2024. As one of the event speakers, Dr. Jackson described her educational and professional journey and offered tips for preparing an application to graduate school.

After a short hiatus, Grad PIRaTE (Promoting Innovative Research and Teaching Excellence) Talks are back! On October 24, “Research in Action: Best Practices for Community Engaged Research” featured a panel of six graduate students who shared lessons on how to best collaborate with community partners to address local challenges. The event concluded with brief presentations from Grace Gavigan and a video from Dr. Angela Lamson explaining how to get involved in community engaged research at ECU.

The Graduate School’s November events include the following:

• Graduate Student Lunch & Learns are held via Teams on Thursdays at noon. These sessions focus on timely topics of interest to current graduate students. Register by clicking on the dates! November 7 - End of Semester Details for Graduating Students; November 21 - Student Resources: Writing Center, Career Center & More!
• Graduate Explorations are program-specific recruitment events held in the Main Campus Student Center from 2:00 - 3:30PM. Students will have the opportunity to preregister or walk-in to meet directly with program representatives. November 11 - Department of English; November 13 - College of Education
• Chart Your Path to Graduate School are general graduate informational sessions. There will be an in-person, information table and a virtual evening session on November 13. Register HERE! In-Person: Main Campus Student Center Corridor, 2:00 - 3:00PM; Virtual Session: MS Teams, 7:00 - 8:00PM

HEALTH & HUMAN PERFORMANCE

The International Furnishings and Design Association-Carolinas Chapter named Kirandeep Khera, an interior design major, a "Rising Star" design student. Khera will represent ECU and HHP at the Rising Star and Night of Luminaries Event in November in High Point.

The Jennifer Hodgson Fund for MFT & MedFT is dedicated to impacting future clinicians and researchers. Online opportunities are available to support and contribute to the fund. The longstanding impact of Hodgson and many others who have or currently serve and lead the ECU marriage and family therapy and medical family therapy programs were celebrated earlier in the semester at a milestone event. Read more about the 35 years of excellence in ECU marriage and family therapy, and the medical family therapy doctoral program reaching 20 years of innovation.

Jocelyn Ruffin, teaching instructor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science, presented in New Orleans at the Division for Early Childhood's 40th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Disabilities and Their Families. Ruffin served as an Inclusion, Equity, and Social Justice Committee member from the Division for Early Childhood on two sessions of the racial equity point of view. She focused on how to work through reflection, make a commitment to discomfort, and unpacking our relationship to racism and ableism, as well as how to coach and support others on the changes needed to make and to be accountable when working with diverse populations of children and families within our communities.

Head coach Gary Higgins and student-athletes from the ECU women’s soccer team have a partnership with the Nancy Darden Child Development Center, resulting in frequent visits this semester by these players to the center to interact and teach children about soccer and enjoy fun activities together.

Dr. Lori Ann Eldridge, assistant professor in the Department of Health Education and Promotion, is being honored at author recognition ceremonies as one of many ECU colleagues who has expanded and enriched the scholarly culture and reputation of our university through her published works.

The Biting Times fall 2024 Newsletter, produced by the North Carolina Mosquito and Vector Control Association, featured environmental health students Will Murray, Emma Rush, Raven Slade and Naina Sharma Bastakoti and their research projects. The ECU highlights section begins on Page 15.

Dr. Anu Hegde is co-author on an article that recently won the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior’s 2024 Best GEM (Great Educational Material) Award. The award is selected each year by the SNEB Journal Committee. The article, “More PEAS Please! Teaching Teachers How to Integrate Food-based Learning Into Preschool Science,” was published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

Dr. Nicholas Broskey, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, was named interim co-director of the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute. The ECDOI was established in 2005 as a UNC system designated institute that works to develop, promote, facilitate and support interdisciplinary basic and clinical research in disorders of metabolism, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and cancer. Broskey and Dr. Jessica Ellis with the Department of Physiology are the interim co-directors.

HONORS

Mary Archibald, recent graduate, was chosen for the 2023-2024 American Planning Association – North Carolina Chapter’s Marvin Collins Planning Award for the Outstanding Student Project Award. Her project was titled “Housing Market Study and Affordable/Workforce Housing Strategic Vision for Beaufort County, NC.”

Honors alumna Sarah Kautz received the NCAPA Endowment Student Grant, which is given to one clinical year student at each North Carolina Physician’s Assistant program. Sarah graduated from Honors in 2020 with her degree in public health and will graduate this fall from ECU’s Physician Assistant program.

Honors staff have been traveling throughout the country sharing information about the college, including traveling with University Advancement to give updates in New York, California, Washington, DC, and various cities in North Carolina. Our admissions director, Margaret Turner, traveled extensively across North Carolina and Virginia.

Drs. Katie Ford and Diane Majewski took second year Brinkley-Lane Scholars to Washington, DC over fall break. They were able to tour the Pentagon, meet with several ECU alumni, completed service with DC Central Kitchen, and visit the Capitol to speak with honors alumnus Jason Smith.

Honors students had the opportunity to return to their hometowns over fall break to speak at their high schools to students who may be interested in ECU and the Honors College.

Honors alumna and current honors graduate assistant Sarah Elliott attended the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Minneapolis where she presented her research.

Sarah Maisto traveled to Indiana University for the Kelley School of Business National Team Selling Competition where she earned the title as one of the three MVPs in the competition. Sarah is a senior marketing major and the co-president of the Pirate Sales Club.

INTEGRATED COASTAL PROGRAMS

Break out the sweaters and cozy up with our newest issue of CoastLines, the newsletter for CSI & ECU’s Integrated Coastal Programs. It was a busy summer and start to the Fall semester on ECU’s Outer Banks Campus. Catch up on all the happenings with our Summer 2024 issue.

CSI hosted an interdisciplinary symposium on October 10th, bringing faculty and students from DCS, Engineering and the ICS PhD program, together on the topic of Interdisciplinary Frontiers in Coastal Science and Engineering. The day-long event featured several research talks on topics from eastern North Carolina and beyond, including renewable ocean energy on the North Carolina coast, climate change and adaptation, rising groundwater levels in the Outer Banks, mangrove change in the Maldives, new coastal circulation models, and investigations of water quality and salinization. The event was attended by over 25 participants from both ECU campuses, and also featured a 3-minute talk competition where undergraduate, master and graduate students participated. Matthew Stengrim of Engineering and Elnaz Pezeshki of the ICS PhD program were both awarded a certificate for best talk in their respective categories.

The Coastal Studies Institute is deploying CTDs on Outer Banks docks and wharfs over the next couple of months to capture the wave field of the Outer Banks sounds. This important data will help them measure trends from storms and understand their impact on our sounds. These efforts are led by the Muglia lab. Curious to learn more about the science behind this work? Check out the first 5 minutes of Current TV’s latest Education Awareness video.

Coastal Studies Institute high school intern Julianna Forte (First Flight High School) recently produced the first video in a series called The Science of Surfing. In this set of videos to be released one at a time in the coming months, Forte explains the mechanics of waves and forces of nature that come together to make the perfect surfing conditions. Watch the series premier!

CSI representatives from the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program recently attended the International Conference on Ocean Energy in Melbourne, Australia. George Bonner (NCROEP Director; second from left) presented on CSI's role in the Atlantic Marine Energy Center and cross-cutting research and testing to advance marine energy. Dr. Mike Muglia (Coastal Studies; far left) presented on CSI's ocean energy testing platform at Jennette's Pier. Also pictured are Martin Wosnik (AMEC Director - University of New Hampshire), Landon Mackey and Wesley William (WATER Bros - NCROEP researchers leading small business in wave powered desalination technologies).

Carson McGuire, a PhD student advised by Dr. Matt Bryant at NC State, recently visited CSI to test a model Wave Energy Converter (WEC) in the CSI wave tank. During this visit, McGuire worked to fine-tune his point absorber WEC to a variety of wave conditions. His research is supported by the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program.

JOYNER LIBRARY

Game Night at the library was held Oct. 17. This was attractive not only for numerous students to attend and enjoy pizza and games that were offered, but also for ECU students, faculty and staff who are parents to bring children to decorate pumpkins and participate in the other activities.

The library partnered with the Office of Healthy Aging to host an Alzheimer’s and dementia resource fair, bringing social work students, community members, community partners, ECU staff and faculty to the library for quality interactions and conversations. Various individuals and groups of attendees had the chance to talk with local representatives about caregiving, brain health, resources and other related topics in a casual setting inside the library for the two-hour fair, which was followed by an artist talk and reception for the art exhibit “Alzheimer’s Fantasies.”

ECU’s main campus library participated in the national archives month campaign, including Oct. 16 when Alston Cobourn, head of university history and records, answered the question: What other departments or groups do you collaborate with, on or off campus?

A full list of authors is available online for the ECU Main Campus Faculty Author Recognition. This year’s ceremony recognized authors and editors of monographs published between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.

After a recent visit to the library’s Teaching Resources Center by UNC System Office representatives and pre-service teachers from the College of Education, a message representing the College of Education to TRC leadership included: “Amazing! Your expertise was on full display. I appreciate you, your leadership and your partnership.”

LAUPUS HEALTH SCIENCES LIBRARY

Congratulations to Corey Harmon, Library Assistant Professor at Laupus, and co-author Kerry Sewell, Master Teaching Instructor in the College of Health and Human Performance's Research Office, on their recently published article, "Shifting temporal patterns in physical usage of a health sciences library following the extension of operational hours,” available to read in the open access Journal of the Medical Library Association.

Join us for an insightful panel discussion exploring the realities of living with invisible disabilities. Hear from individuals who will share their stories, challenges and perspectives on navigating a world where disabilities aren't always seen but are deeply felt in the interactive session, “You Don’t Look Sick: Invisible Disabilities – A Panel Discussion,” hosted by the Health, Community, and Belonging Committee on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 12:00 - 1:15PM. Register HERE.

Laupus Library now has a portable trunk of five VR headsets in our equipment loan program. All ECU students and employees are eligible to borrow the kit for use in instruction, research, or just to play around with the technology. More information can be found on the Equipment Loan page.

NURSING

Dr. Michael Kennedy, a Pirate and acute care nurse practitioner from Morehead City, was announced October 3 as a member of the 2024-25 class of White House Fellows, an incredibly rare and prestigious honor.

Kennedy is a product of eastern North Carolina, especially her formal education and training. She graduated from Lenoir Community College as an RN, and then Barton College in Wilson with her BSN. In 2011 she completed both a masters of science in nursing and a nurse practitioner program at ECU, before tackling ECU’s doctor of nursing practice program and graduating in 2016.

The Fellows program was established in 1964, and gives outstanding leaders from across the nation an opportunity to work with “senior White House Staff, Cabinet Secretaries, and other top-ranking Administration officials, and leave the Administration equipped to serve as better leaders in their communities.”

When Hurricane Helene rolled into western North Carolina in late September, Pirate nurses — from the mountains to the coast — dropped what they were doing and rushed to storm-ravaged western North Carolina to do what Pirates do best — provide service to those in need with the critical skills they had learned at East Carolina University.

When the storm hit, Dr. Haley Braddock (pictured above, right) was between jobs, having recently graduated. She was set to start in her new position in the vascular surgery service at ECU Health but asked to postpone that first day on the job. "The mountains are where I was supposed to be," Braddock said.

Ann Marie Hammond (pictured above, left), who graduated from ECU’s adult gerontology nurse practitioner program in 2013, lives in Black Mountain, and pitching in to help her community in the hours after the storm passed wasn’t a question. “The town of Black Mountain approached the pastor of my church inquiring about use of space. I happened to be at church that day and the idea of a medical clinic took off from there,” Hammond said.

The two Pirate Nurses continue to stay involved in the recovery process and Braddock has plans to travel back to the mountains soon to help in whatever way she can.

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