Impact in motion HHP's August 2025 newsletter

Because we impact everY day.

Bromfield's brief

Welcome to our very first issue of Impact in Motion! I’ve long envisioned a monthly space to share the incredible work happening in the East Carolina University® College of Health and Human Performance — and here it is.

Each month, you’ll find:

#TheHHPExperience: student stories and hands-on learning in action.

Game-changers: celebrating the contributions of our faculty, staff, and alumni.

Curious About What’s Next? key dates and events going on in HHP.

After a slower pace this summer, I’m energized for the new semester ahead. I know this year will be full of accomplishments that reflect our shared passion for ECU and HHP. My vision as dean this year is for HHP to be wayfinders, turning every obstacle into an opportunity to grow, lead, and make an impact every day.

Here's to making an impact together,

Nicole Bromfield, professor and dean

#TheHHPExperience

Public health student Ayden Buechler shadowed a cardiologist and an orthopedic surgeon in Naples for the Doctors in Italy program — "My favorite surgery was an orthopedic surgery where they had to fix a pathological fracture caused by radiation therapy. I've never seen anything happen like that before."
I wanted to experience new cultures and designs in a real-world setting." IDMR student Aniyah Hancock

Committed to experiential learning: HHP 2025 summer study abroad

  • Fashion forecasting and international consumer behavior - Milan, Prague
  • Global health - Switzerland, France, Italy
  • International sport and culture - Australia
  • Exploration of cultures in human and natural environments - Spain, Morocco
  • Sport science in soccer - England, Scotland
  • Early childhood education - Italy
  • Global health - Ghana
Chocolate in Prague.
Pirates™ at the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Tina Marie Devlin and Dr. Leslie Cofie led a 16-day study abroad course in Ghana, where students explored and learned about Ghana culture and public health systems.
Cofie also spent time in Switzerland, France and Italy, with students and faculty member Rose Haddock, for a rare opportunity to visit major global health institutions. This included the World Health Organization, United Nations European Headquarters, International Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders and the University of Geneva Hospitals.
Naina Sharma Bastakoti, MS environmental health candidate, successfully defended her thesis titled, “Occupational Hazards among Mosquito Control Operators and Other Pesticide Handlers.” Dr. Stephanie Richards served as her thesis committee chair. Dr. Jo Anne Balanay and Dr. Avian White were committee members. Bastakoti also has been a graduate research assistant and a graduate teaching assistant with HEP as part of #TheHHPExperience.
Senior public health major Yusef Perez interned at a regional OB/GYN hospital in the Dominican Republic. Perez assisted doctors and nurses in caring for patients, in addition to experiencing community health education and participating in clinic activities. "The most rewarding aspect was to work with the physicians and understand the value of maternal-child health care globally."
Students enjoy a rare experience during their summer trip to Spain and Morocco.

Welcome these Brinkley-Lane Scholars

Two of the new ECU Brinkley-Lane Scholars are public health intended majors: Joel Addy-Wedlock and Lakshanyaa Rajendran Balaji.

New names, same student success model

HHP announced formation of the Department of Recreation Sciences and Sport Management — Sport management fully implemented into RSSM department

Peru Special Olympics delegates pose for a photo on College Hill during a past HHP collaborative project.

Two new sport performance and coaching-focused undergraduate degree opportunities for kinesiology students: the BS in physical education and coaching science, and the BS in sport performance science.

Checking in from Sweden

Kinesiology faculty and students presented at the Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics in Stockholm, Sweden. HHP's calm, confident presenters were: Constantin Heinemann, Mackenzie Hoey, Brittany Trotter, Dr. Nick Murray, Madison Weeks, Kaitlyn Wojciechowski, Thomas Demirjian, Yousef Qadumi, Nikole Galman, Steven Philpott, Stacie Ringleb, Dr. Zac Domire, Alex Vadati, Kendall Nelson.

GradVenture 2025

Doctoral candidates Taylor Kinney and Mackenzie Hoey shared about their insight and interdisciplinary research experiences to incoming HHP graduate students during the GradVenture event. This event, held Aug. 21 on main campus, emphasized how the college has a strong community of support for students and to promote their overall well-being, productivity and peer contacts.

Game-changers

President Walker: Public health 2025 graduate Daniel Walker is the ECU Student Government Association president. Helping students be seen and heard was a key platform point in Walker and vice president Katie Council's election campaign - news.ecu.edu/2025/07/24/sga-officers-prepare-for-new-year/

Social work alumni recognized for success in Pitt County and nationally by NASW

Victor Armstrong, School of Social Work alum and current advisory board member, was honored in Chicago for being named the 2025 NASW National Social Worker of the Year.
Brooke Keefe is a two-time HHP alum in MSW and BSW.
Dr. Stacy Warner's book uses Warner’s sport experiences and local sport narratives to detail her research establishing the Sport and Sense of Community Theory, and the role of sport in fostering community, health and cohesion. The book also honors Dr. Nelson Cooper, Dr. Jimmie Grimsley and Eva Price.
Real-world impact: Drs. Stephanie Richards and Sinan Sousan have a game-changing method to test pesticide effectiveness against mosquitoes. NCInnovation believes in Richards, who was approved for grant funding from NCInnovation for inventions with real-world applications.
Kelli Russell and Dr. Tiffy Blanchflower participated in the Truist Summer Course Redesign Program, supported by the Office of Faculty Excellence and the ECU Truist Leadership Center. This program requires a significant time commitment from participating faculty, who engage in a comprehensive redesign of a selected course to enhance student engagement and integrate leadership skill development.

Assistant professor and ECU Medical Family Therapy director Dr. Kayla Fitzke released the MedFT Newsletter for 2024-25.

ECU News feature: An interdisciplinary approach combines physical therapy, sports psychology and data analytics to improve ROTC cadet injury prevention and overall wellness through holistic health strategies.

Campus and community collaboration: Thanks to HHP and the College of Education, findings from this research featuring Dr. Mary Cate Komoski are expected to influence training solutions that can set students up for successful teaching careers.

Fearless in flight

ECU’s partnerships with D2 Flight Training Center and Washington-Warren Airport continued in offering an unforgettable summer flight academy experience to Junior ROTC high school students. Helping kinesiology faculty members Lisa Frederickson (program director) and Patrick Rider (assistant director) were HHP students who served as chaperones/mentors in the program.

Walter Perkins, a dedicated IDMR board member and CEO of The Hammock Source in Greenville, was featured in Our State Magazine for his longtime connection and talent in the hammock business and lifestyle.

Dr. Lori Ann Eldridge continues to expand the impact from a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to place harm reduction vending machines throughout the state.

Recreational therapy spring 2025 graduate Deallaney Hudson continues to inspire others. WITN covered her transition from HHP student to a summer internship at ECU Health Medical Center in pediatric inpatient rehabilitation.

Dr. Lindsey Oakes led an ice cream social event at The Scullery, which allowed for self-advocates with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) to share the results from their photovoice project and discuss action steps with community members and leaders. The exhibit also will be featured in downtown Greenville on Sept. 5 as part of First Friday Artwalk.

Current HEP faculty member and former ECU baseball student-athlete Brian Cavanaugh delivered a guest lecture to about 30 freshman athletes as part of the Summer Session II Bridge Program. Cavanaugh shared practical insights on setting goals and developing positive health habits to support their transition to campus life.
HHP proudly welcomes new faculty members Dr. Victoria Churchill (HEP), Dr. Ishtehar Swazan (IDMR), David Romeral Gomez (IDMR), Dr. Elizabeth Bjornsen (KINE), Dr. Tiffany Baffour (SOSW), Steffen McGhee (SOSW), Dr. Kelly Bolton (SOSW), Dr. Kari Alberque (SOSW) and Kathy Whitted (SOSW), who begins in January.
Cheerleaders motion to fans during a 2024 ECU football game.

Curious about what's next?

Self-advocates with IDD photovoice pop-up, Sept. 5 from 5-8 p.m. at Greenville Museum of Art

ECU football home opener vs. Campbell, Sept. 6

HHP scholarship social, Sept. 18

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

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