From the Desk of Vice Chancellor Brandon Frye
Dear Colleagues:
February is here! The Super Bowl is over, Valentine’s Day has passed, and soon we will begin to hear cheers for our student athletes from Clark-LeClair Stadium (Baseball) and Max R. Joyner Family Stadium (Softball). February 1, 2024 also marked the completion of my first year in Pirate Nation as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. What a year it has been for me in this role and for my family as we jumped back into our North Carolina roots and embraced Eastern NC with our three children (Solomon, Lawsen, and Sebastian). I moved to this community in January 2023 and Jenny and our children joined six months later in July. We have been welcomed by this warm community and our Pirate Family. We truly feel a sense of belonging to this wonderful place called East Carolina University (ECU).
Belonging is important. It is one of our new values in Student Affairs, developed through our recent strategic planning process. Students come to ECU for so many reasons, but I do believe that most complete their degree and give back to ECU with their time, talent, and treasures because of the sense of belonging they develop as members of Pirate Nation. Let me be clear, students should be here to get a great education, develop a sense of service to others, and build skills to excel in a field of work that enhances the quality of their lives and their respective communities. However, it is very often those connections with others (faculty, staff, peers, etc.), engagement opportunities inside and outside of the classroom, support services, and culture of care that aids in developing a sense of belonging for our ECU students.
It is important to keep this at top of mind for staff and faculty that our daily interactions, both large and small, all add to the student success ecosystem and contribute to each student’s sense of belonging. A sense of belonging aids with student persistence and retention, and in turn should aid in enhanced timely graduation rates and a skilled workforce to develop our communities.
So, as we focus on student success in our various roles on campus, please remember each of our interactions with students can help them understand that this ECU is a “home” away from home and that they do belong here in our ECU Family.
My family wants to warmly thank this great community for our welcome and a wonderful first year. We proudly wear the Purple and Gold, have learned to offer “No Quarter” to our opponents, and look forward to many more years of belonging in the Pirate Nation.
Go Pirates!
Student Success Starts with You
“Student-faculty, student-staff, and student-student relationships are crucial for learning, well-being, belonging, and success.” (Mayhew et al., 2016; Baik et al., 2019; Waldinger & Schulz, 2023).
This quote was shared by Dr. Peter Felten, keynote for the 2024 Student Success Conference held on January 26. Dr. Felten is the Executive Director of the Center for Engaged Learning at Elon University and has authored multiple texts including Relationship-Rich Education: How Human Connections Drive Success in College (with Leo Lambert) and Connections are Everything: A College Students’ Guide to Relationship-Rich Education (with Leo Lambert, Isis Artze-Vega, and Oscar R. Miranda Tapia).
One participant commented “It only takes one!...[He] Really made me think about how important every interaction is.”
The theme for the conference, “Student Success Starts with You!”, was chosen to help showcase how each interaction with a student has an impact. Over 165 faculty, staff, and administrators attended the conference, participated in the keynote, and had the opportunity to choose from 12 concurrent sessions. A student panel wrapped up the day and an attendee stated:
“The student panel was great. It was eye opening to see myself as a faculty from the eyes of my students. What intimidates them from us and what we can do to create a safe zone in the classroom.”
Various networking opportunities were available throughout the day and being able to interact with others across campus continues to be one of the conference highlights.
This was the 11th Annual Student Success Conference and is a joint venture between the Divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs.
S.H.O.E.S.
S.H.O.E.S., which stands for Students Honoring Others’ Everyday Struggles/Stories, is an award-winning program created by Campus Living in 2016 to help ECU students who may be dealing with challenging times. College students may experience depression, anxiety, stress, addictions, or thoughts of self-harm, but may feel isolated and unable to manage their responses.
“Mental health touches all ages, races, and sexual orientations, which is a huge problem within the world today,” said Waz Miller, director of residence life. “We are striving to bring awareness that mental health issues are real and impact many in hopes that people realize that what they are feeling and experiencing is real, legitimate, and can hopefully be helped through the resources that are available.”
This year’s event featured a display of 450 pairs of shoes collected from ECU and Hope Middle School students, each attached to a story of someone struggling with a family situation, medical condition, mental health issue or other life challenge.
In addition to the shoes on display, there was a So Worth Loving Board, a chalkboard where students can write down the reasons why they are worthy of being loved!
ECU students and staff distributed thousands of positive messages in campus buildings and ECU Transit buses during the S.H.O.E.S. project. The display of positivity is an effort to lift everyone’s spirits during the month of February and to inspire hope.
Donor Spotlight: Dasha and Kirk Little
Dasha and Kirk Little are both proud graduates of East Carolina University. Dasha graduated in 1981 with a degree in Art and Kirk graduated in 1982 with a degree in Business Administration (Management). Both came to ECU as a result of the impact of their high school teachers who were both ECU graduates; Dasha was encouraged by her high school art teacher, Gloria Hart and Kirk was influenced by Diane Fincher, his high school English teacher.
Both Kirk and Dasha were heavily involved in Student Government while at ECU. Kirk was Sophomore Class President before being elected to two consecutive terms as SGA Treasurer. Dasha represented Greene Dorm in the SGA Legislature for two years and was elected Senior Class Vice President. They were formally introduced at the end of an SGA Legislature meeting in February 1980 and quickly became engaged before getting married in August 1982.
Following graduation, Kirk entered the Air Force as a Space Operations Officer and began a series of operational and staff positions in Satellite Operations and Space Control assignments in Nebraska, Turkey, Colorado, Italy, Colorado, Rhode Island, and Virginia. During this time, Dasha completed her master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Nebraska and embarked on a career first in college administration and later as a vocational rehabilitation counselor. At the same time, Kirk completed a master’s degree in Human Resource Management Development from Chapman College as well as a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies at the Naval War College before ultimately completing his doctorate in Business Administration from Temple University. They also raised four children during this time frame, Forrest, Robert, Meredith, and Raleigh—and all four graduated from East Carolina!
When Kirk retired from the Air Force in Norfolk, Virginia, it was the closest he had ever been stationed to his hometown of Jacksonville and the same was true for Dasha who hailed from Marshville. This allowed them to become re-engaged as Pirates on a personal basis instead of just hoping for the chance to see athletic teams competing on television. They both dove into various committees and groups associated with ECU, ranging from over 25 years with the Pirate Club, to Kirk’s 14 years on the Business Advisory Council for the College of Business, to Dasha’s 8 years on the Health Sciences Foundation to Kirk’s 7 years as Chairman of the Student Affairs Advancement Council (which Dasha now serves on), to the Advancement Council for the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement they have both served on for over 5 years. During this time, they have endowed scholarships within the School of Art for a first-year student, College of Business for an accounting major, Fraternity & Sorority Life for a member of a fraternity belonging to the North American Interfraternity Conference, Military and Veterans Resource Center for a Veteran pursuing a degree in business administration, and College of Allied Health Sciences for a student pursuing a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. They have also been ardent supporters of programs within the Division of Student Affairs including the Purple Pantry, Student Pirate’s Chest, Ambassadors, Student Health, Military and Veterans Resource Center, and Fraternity & Sorority Life.
Both have been recognized by East Carolina for their contributions, with Kirk being inducted into the Distinguished Military Service Society in 2012 and Dasha was recognized as an “Incredible Woman” by the Women’s Roundtable in 2013.
In 2002, Dasha and Kirk founded Apogee Solutions, Inc., a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) encompassing three Service Lanes: Rehabilitative Services and Warrior Care, Training Services and Exercise Management, and Analytical Services and Force Development. They currently have 143 employees operating in 16 states.
MLK Day of Service and National Day of Racial Healing
The Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement hosted its annual MLK Day of Service on January 15, 2024. This event provided students the opportunity to help create the “beloved community” that Dr. King so frequently spoke about. Over 150 students volunteered their time at over 10 different community partner organizations in Pitt County. The day of service began with a kick-off event in the MCSC Blackbox Theater where Dr. Dennis McCunney, Director of Intercultural Affairs, and Iyaira Williams, former Student Leadership Assistant and student, spoke about the summer Serve & Learn experience in Jamaica. This opportunity was connected with Dr. Kings legacy and teachings of serving others.
Students then departed the Blackbox Theater in groups based on where they were volunteering. Service sites included Macgregor Downs Health & Rehab facility, Winterville Montessori school, Share the Bounty Food Pantry, Greenville Community Garden, and more! After two hours of service, students returned to the Blackbox Theater for a reflection activity connecting the service completed with the legacy and teachings of Dr. King. Reflection included some of Dr. King's most important speeches and activities around quotes from Dr. King. As the reflection ended, students were given a Pirates Give t-shirt and encouraged to continue volunteering and serving our community in honor of Dr. King and to uphold the mission of our institution, Servire.
In celebration of the National Day of Racial Healing and the annual MLK keynote, the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center hosted a resource fair followed by dinner and keynote on January 16th in the Main Campus Student Center. The program was a collaboration with the Office for Equity and Diversity (OED), the College of Health and Human Performance (CHHP), and Department of Health Education and Promotion (HEP). The resource fair gathered departments across the university to provide students with information and resources around equity, belonging, and creating connections across diverse communities. The National Day of Racial Healing is a national movement that encourages individuals to come together to explore their common humanity and build relationships to create a more just and equitable world.
The dinner and keynote featured professor, journalist, and author Dr. Kristal Brent Zook. Dr. Zook’s entertainment, cultural, and social justice journalism have appeared in dozens of publications, including Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Life, Essence, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and elsewhere. She is a former contributor to NPR and has appeared on a wide variety of radio and television outlets such as CNN, C-Span, MSNBC, and MTV. Over 150 attendees enjoyed dinner while engaging in Dr. Zook’s talk and were encouraged to build solidarity across campus.
ECU Creed Nominations
The Office of the Dean of Students hosts the ECU Creed Recognition Ceremony each year. This event recognizes faculty, staff, and students who exemplify the pillars of the Creed.
Please click here to nominate a student / faculty / staff member for the ECU Creed Awards.
Deadline for nominations is Monday, February 26, 2024.
5 Design Tips for Campus Inclusivity
To help campus communities feel valued and included, many colleges and universities are investing in identity spaces. These spaces foster a sense of belonging and provide platforms for individuals with shared identities, experiences, or interests to find community and thrive.
Here are five lessons learned from university staff who helped design identity centers on their campuses.
- Lesson 1 - Gain design input
- Lesson 2 - Actively encourage engagement
- Lesson 3 - Balance transparency and privacy
- Lesson 4 - Be open to change
- Lesson 5 - Design to pay it forward
Featured in the article from ECU are Dean Smith, senior director of student centers, Mark Rasdorf, director of the Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Center, and Gabriela Lemus, director of the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center.
First year students had the opportunity to meet with staff from various university offices to learn more about ECU support services available to them. The students received free resources, interacted with other first year students, and enjoyed refreshments and conversation.
Green Zone Training
ECU Faculty and Staff are invited to participate in Green Zone training hosted by the Military & Veterans Resource Center taking place in February, March, and April. Green Zone is a two-hour training focused on military-affiliated students in higher education and provides the opportunity to speak directly with a student veteran panel about their experiences at ECU.
The premise of the Green Zone program is that knowledgeable and supportive contacts throughout East Carolina University will create a more veteran-friendly environment, which will positively affect these military students' success. Click here for more information about Green Zone Training.
- February 28th, 10-12 pm in the Main Campus Student Center Room 253
- March 27th, 1-3pm in the Main Campus Student Center Room 253
- April 24th, 2-4pm in the Main Campus Student Center Room 307
Register for Green Zone Training in Cornerstone. Please login and then search for Green Zone.
For questions please directly contact Dr. Nicole Messina, Director of the Military & Veterans Resource Center, at 252-737-6542 or messinan21@ecu.edu.
Pirates to the Polls
Did you know that Early Voting for the 2024 Primary Election begins February 15th?
The Student Government Association (SGA) and Pirates Vote from the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (CLCE) would like to share information with you about the 2024 Primary Election. We are committed to providing our students, faculty, and staff with non-partisan information and encouraging everyone to vote.
The Main Campus Student Center will be a one-stop early voting location again this election! The one-stop early voting site in the Main Campus Student Center (room 125) will be open February 15 – March 2 (specific dates/times can be found above). College students have the option to register to vote using their campus address (residence hall or apartment) or permanent home address. You must be registered in Pitt County to vote at this early voting location. You can register and vote same day at this location! For more information about same day registration during One Stop click here.
ECU has partnered with the Andrew Goodman Foundation to provide an online portal where you can check your registration status, register to vote, look up candidates through your sample ballot, request an absentee ballot, and more! Please click here for that portal or visit our Election 2024 website for more information.
Should you have any questions related to voting please feel free to stop by the Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement in 208 of the Main Campus Student Center or email vote@ecu.edu.
New Hires and Retirements
New Hires
John Lantz – Associate Dean of Students and Director of Safety and Services
John Lantz is the Associate Dean of Students and Director of Safety and Services. John joined the team at the end of January. John will oversee the University Behavioral Concerns Team; ECU Cares and he will oversee case management services and supervise staff.
John brings to ECU years of experience doing threat assessment and crisis management, most recently at the University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign. John also has experience in residential life, admissions, enrollment management, conduct and fundraising. John's wealth of experience and knowledge makes him a great asset to the Dean of Students team. In John's free time he enjoys spending time with his spouse and three children, hiking, and being outdoors.
Paul Harwell - Director of Disability Support Services
Paul Harwell is the new ECU Director of Disability Support Services (DSS), who started on February 1, 2024.
Paul comes to ECU most recently from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire where he served as the Associate Director of ADA/504 Compliance. Prior to Dartmouth, he made professional stops at Purdue University, Harvard University and Texas A&M University.
He completed his undergraduate and masters work at Stephen F. Austin State University and is expected to complete his PhD work from Texas A&M in May 2024.
Paul will be leading the DSS team which is housed in the Mendenhall Building which includes testing centers in Mendenhall and the Health Sciences Campus Student Center. Paul is a well-respected leader in the field of student disability support services at national level (AHEAD) with a special emphasis on instructional technology accessibility and digital accessibility. His dissertation focus is on university faculty perceptions about disability, accommodations, and access.
Laura Witherington - CRW Assistant Director of Fitness
Laura Witherington is the new Assistant Director of Fitness for Campus Recreation and Wellness. She will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of personal training, small group training, group fitness programs, and various fitness events to the ECU community on Main Campus and the Health Sciences Campus. In addition, she will oversee the fitness floors in the CRW managed facilities.
Laura attended the University of Kentucky for her undergraduate degree and is currently finishing up her master's in health promotion online. She grew up in a big family (1 of 5) and is the classic middle child. She does not currently have any pets but is constantly tempted by the idea of getting a dog.
Cristina Brown – CCSD Administrative Support Associate
Cristina Brown has joined the Center for Counseling and Student Development as their Administrative Support Associate where she will assist with front office procedures. She will also be helping clients with appointment scheduling for counseling.
Cristina has 14 years' experience working at ECU with 12 in Housekeeping and 2 in the Cashier’s office. Born and raised in Greenville, NC, she has one daughter and enjoys her church, traveling, and spending time with family.
Retirements
- Aaron Lucier – Director of Housing Operations – Campus Living – January 31