As we continue to navigate the impacts of COVID-19, a focus on health and well-being must be a priority for all of us. Many have experienced setbacks, hardship or fatigue during these unprecedented times. I recognize the challenges associated with the pivot this fall, necessary social distancing, and the general uncertainty surrounding this global pandemic. We are all dealing with feelings of stress, anxiety and even frustration and, for some, we are very weary.
I want you to know that I remain committed to supporting you during these difficult times. As a licensed mental health professional, I recognize the vital importance of wellness and healthy minds. During these times, our personal and professional priorities may have shifted in order to deal with the adversities that we are facing. To assist in managing these challenges, a refocus on one’s self-care could be of great benefit. It is also important to tell loved ones and colleagues how they can support your wellness efforts (e.g., asking loved ones to listen without offering advice, going for a walk outside, or asking for quite time). Further, we must continue to have empathy for the individuals and communities in which we engage.
We must establish proactive initiatives to improve the health and well-being of our campus community, by focusing on the whole person, the whole institution and the whole university community. As you work toward the goal of making well-being a priority, please consider our Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP), which is an excellent option for support, assessment and referral when needed. Information on FASAP services is available here.
You are critical to the mission of this great university, and we all must engage in the collective well-being of our ECU family – we remain as one! Remember to breathe a little deeper, be good to yourself, and support the health and wellness of others.
B. Grant Hayes, PhD, Distinguished Professor
Interim Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
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PIRATE ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER
ECU in the national spotlight for supporting neurodiverse student success
Twelve ECU authors contributed to the monograph, "Supporting Neurodiverse College Student Success, A Guide for Librarians, Support Services, and Academic Learning Environments." Published this month by Roman and Littlefield, co-editors Dr. Elizabeth Coghill (Pirate Academic Success Center) and Jeffrey Coghill (Laupus Library and Eastern AHEC) gathered Higher Education leaders across the country to contribute to this work. Promoting awareness of college students with learning differences, the book highlights many ECU programs and assists higher education leaders in better understanding the way campus services can create supportive environments in and out of the classroom. Campus spotlights include the Pirate Academic Success Center’s integration of UDL and learning communities, Project STEPP’s work with students with learning differences, College Star’s contributions at ECU and Appalachian State University, Laupus Library’s anatomy models, and Joyner Library’s collaborations with Project STEPP students. ECU authors include: Dr. Sarah Williams (Office of Faculty Excellence, Project STEPP, College Star), Dr. Jennifer Williams (College of Education and College Star), Abby Benzinger (Pirate Academic Success Center), Alysha Gray (Project STEPP), and Jamie Bloss, Amanda Haberstroh, Corey Harmon and Janna Schellinger (all from Laupus Library).
OFFICE OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS
A fundamental mission of ECU is to “prepare students with the knowledge, skills and values to succeed in today’s global, multicultural society”. This spring and summer the Office of Global Affairs organized several focus groups with constituents on campus to better understand how to gauge our performance in this arena. The project culminated in a 3-year $200,000 US Department of Education grant to assess student growth and development through international activities. The Global PIRATES program, led by Jami Leibowitz and Jon Rezek and including Greg Howard (Economics), Baekkwan Park (Political Science) and Marion Eppler (Psychology), will investigate student growth along seven dimensions in coming years: Perspective-taking, Inquisitiveness/openness, Respectfulness, Adaptability, Tolerance of ambiguity, Empathy and Self-awareness. While the grant supports assessment of international programs, the characteristics assessed are generalizable across an array of diversity programming. We encourage you to learn more by contacting Jami Leibowitz at leibowitzj@ecu.edu.
This month the Office of Global Affairs conducted a five-part workshop on International Virtual Exchange for the UNC system. As Covid-19 continues to restrict international mobility, more and more universities are looking to develop the types of virtual exchange capacity that has made ECU an international leader in this field for over 15 years. The workshop covered a range of topics starting with an introduction to virtual exchange and why it is beneficial and moving into topics that need to be considered when developing a virtual exchange project, and ending with a panel discussion on lessons learned from those who have done virtual exchange in the past. 176 participants representing 14 UNC system schools registered for the workshop.
This semester, the ECU Language Academy piloted a successful evening program in Arabic Language and Culture. This conversational course saw ECU students, faculty, and staff along with community members embark on a voyage of discovery of this critical language and the varied cultures which speak it. A successful Evening English Program was also launched for members of our community who wish to improve their fluency. The next session for both programs starts in January; each session lasts eight weeks and requires a commitment of only two hours per week. Email program director Nicole Ianieri at ianierin18@ecu.edu for more information.
Upcoming Programming and Deadlines
- Fulbright Opportunities for Faculty: Nov. 11 — Michelle Bolourchi, Outreach and Recruitment Specialist, U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program. Meeting on Zoom. Visit https://apply.iie.org/register/EastCarolinaUniversity to register or contact Jon Rezek at rezekjo17@ecu.edu.
- Africa Faculty Interest Group: Nov. 9, Meeting on Teams. Featured presentations from Alex Manda (Geology) and David Lagomasino (Coastal Studies). Email GlobalAffairs@ecu.edu to join the A-FIG Team.
- International Awards Deadlines: Dec. 15. International Teaching, International Research and Creativity, International Service and Engagement, Staff Award for International Service, International Graduate Student Award, International Undergraduate Student Award. Visit https://global-affairs.ecu.edu/international-awards/ for more information.
OFFICE FOR EQUITY & DIVERSITY
Emerging Scholars Symposium
Diversifying East Carolina University’s faculty pipeline with emphasis on groups underrepresented in their field is the primary objective of the Emerging Scholars Symposium, hosted by the Office for Equity and Diversity. This year, we reformatted our symposium, held Oct. 29-30, to a two-day virtual format in response to the fall semester challenges, including managing in the midst of a global pandemic. The symposium brought in 16 advanced doctoral students and post-doctoral scholars representing a range of disciplines from the Colleges of Allied Health Sciences, Business, Education, Fine Arts and Communication, as well as Arts and Sciences.
Interim Chancellor Ron Mitchelson welcomed our scholars and talked about ECU, our strategic directions, and the exciting things happening here. Scholars learned about our academic programs through a roundtable discussion with deans from each participating college, led by Interim Provost Grant Hayes. The symposium featured scholar research/clinical presentations, which were open to the campus community and showcased the great work of our scholars.
Scholars engaged with administrators, faculty and students through a workshop and panel discussions about faculty life and the student experience at ECU. Virtual tours and networking events provided the scholars with additional information about the campus and Greenville community.
We plan to host the next Emerging Scholars Symposium in fall 2021 and hope to return to our previous format and be back on campus! For more information, contact the Office for Equity and Diversity at oed@ecu.edu or 328-6804.
Pledge to ACT Against Racism and Injustice mini-grants awarded
OED invited the campus community to commit to working for social, cultural, and structural change and sign the Pledge to ACT Against Racism and Injustice. The campus community responded with over 1,000 signers.
To support these actionable efforts against racism and injustice as outlined in the pledge, OED announced its 2020-21 mini-grant program to increase the number of anti-racism initiatives in divisions, colleges, and departments by awarding mini-grants to staff and/or faculty. OED is pleased to announce its Stand With OED: Pledge to ACT Against Racism & Injustice Mini-Grant Recipients for the 2020-21 academic year: Nicole Ianieri, Global Affairs; Dr. Eboni Baugh, Human Development and Family Science; Amy Curtis, Academic Library Services; Dr. Erin Roberts, HDFS/ECU Family Therapy Clinic; Drs. Denise Dickins and Joseph Reid, College of Business-Accounting; and Dr. Nicole Caswell, University Writing Center.
OFFICE OF RESEARCH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & ENGAGEMENT
ECU’s warehouse district gets new name, plan for future
ECU’s former warehouse district received a new name as the university and its development partner, Elliott Sidewalk Communities, introduced a master plan for the millennial campus property. Designated Intersect East, the property covers 19 acres between main campus and the Dickinson Avenue corridor, including the historic Export Leaf Tobacco building, the American Tobacco Company storage warehouse No. 2 and the Prichard-Hughes Warehouse. The eight-year master plan includes the development or repurposing of 14 buildings and an investment of more than $150 million. The completed project is expected to create up to 1,500 jobs with a financial impact exceeding $141 million annually with $3 million in annual tax revenues.
ECU, Pitt County Schools partnership recognized with national honor
A partnership between ECU and Pitt County Schools was recognized with a national honor by the Engagement Scholarship Consortium. The decade-old partnership between College of Human Health and Performance associate professor Sharon Rogers Moore and PCS was awarded the Excellence in Community Partner Engagement Award for keeping high school athletes safe in Pitt County and beyond. After the 2008 death of J.H. Rose football player Jaquan Waller, Moore partnered with PCS Athletic Director Ron Butler to provide greater safety measures for teams and players, including placing certified athletic trainers at each of the county’s six high schools.
Research team awarded $1.5M grant to study watershed resiliency
A nearly $1.5 million grant awarded to an ECU research team by the National Science Foundation combines science and economic policy to support eastern North Carolina’s environment, farmers and rural communities. The four-year study aims to determine how environmental changes modify nutrient pollution in the Tar-Pamlico River Basin. The study also examines how local, state and federal nutrient management policies influence water quality now and in a saltier, wetter future. Associate professor of biology Ariane Peralta leads the interdisciplinary research team, which includes faculty from ECU’s biology, anthropology, coastal studies, economics and engineering departments.
Engineering associate professor appointed to NSF position
An ECU associate professor will serve as the director of the National Science Foundation’s Engineering of Biomedical Systems program, shaping the way the foundation funds biomedical engineering research over the next two years. After a national search, ECU Department of Engineering faculty member Stephanie George was appointed to the program director position within the NSF’s Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems. The program provides opportunities for creating fundamental and transformative research projects that integrate engineering and life sciences techniques to solve biomedical problems.
OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR
The campus-based scholarship process kicked off for existing students on Nov. 1. Students are encouraged to apply via their Pirate Port account (ECUAWard tile). There are over 1,100 named scholarship opportunities, and the deadline to apply for most of them is Jan. 15, 2021. Departments are encouraged to remind the students in their majors to consider filing an application. Questions about the process can be emailed to scholarships@ecu.edu.
As a result of the change to alternative delivery methods for Fall 2020 courses due to the spread of COVID-19, the university implemented emergency grading accommodations for the semester. Undergraduate students have the option to have their 1st block, 2nd block, or 15-week Fall 2020 courses graded as pass/fail.
- A grade of pass/fail will not count toward a student’s GPA. A pass/fail grade will also not be included in the determination of a student’s degree with distinction honors eligibility.
- The pass/fail option is only available for undergraduate students.
- Courses in which a grade of pass are earned will count toward earned hours.
- Courses graded as pass will apply toward applicable graduation requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to contact their academic advisors prior to making decisions to declare courses as pass/fail. Some majors will be excluded from the pass/fail option due to accreditation or program standards.
- All undergraduate academic transcripts will have a note added to Fall 2020 term indicating the major disruption the coronavirus pandemic has caused to the academic experience.
- The request form students access to select the pass/fail option for any Fall 2020 course will be available in PiratePort starting Dec. 2. The Registrar’s Office will send out communication to students closer to this date providing detailed instructions on the pass/fail request process. Students will have until Dec. 15 to request the Fall 2020 pass/fail option. The request form will not be available to students after this date.
- Students cannot use a pass grade to grade replace a previous attempt in the course.
Instructors must submit Fall 2020 grades by 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1. After the deadline to submit grades and upon completion of the end-of-term grade processes, students will be able to view all Fall 2020 grades on transcripts and Degree Works audits.
Questions about the Fall 2020 emergency grading accommodations can be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar at regis@ecu.edu.
COLLEGE UPDATES
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
Earlier this academic year, Dr. Ariane Peralta (Biology), was appointed director of the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Biology, Biomedicine and Chemistry (IDPBBC) housed in Harriot College. The IDPBBC previously was known as the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Biological Sciences. The program, which was established in 1999, currently has 29 majors with students registered from biology, chemistry and the Brody School of Medicine. The program has granted 30 degrees in the past five academic years 2014-15 through 2018-19.
Dr. Andrea Kitta (English) has received the international 2020 Chicago Folklore Prize for her book “The Kiss of Death: Contagion, Contamination and Folklore.” The prize is the oldest international award recognizing excellence in folklore. Kitta’s book sheds light on how information and misinformation spread during an outbreak like COVID-19. Read more about her award.
Mariel Ortega-Guerrero (undergraduate, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Hispanic Studies Education) has been awarded the Mitchell-Buck Scholarship by the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina. “It truly means a lot to me,” Guerrero said. “I’m so thankful to be part of a program that is truly there for their students. Had it not been for professor Laura Levi Altstaedter, I would not have been able to accomplish this.” This is the second time in the last five years that a major in the program has received the prestigious scholarship. Read more about the award.
Heather Mosesso (undergraduate, Geography, Planning and Environment) has received a Marvin Collins Undergraduate Student Award from the American Planning Association’s North Carolina Chapter (APA-NC). Victoria Bishop and Tristyn Daughtry (graduate certificate students, Geography, Planning and Environment), and their “Bertie County Emergency Operations Plan,” received an honorable mention for the Marvin Collins Graduate Student Project. The APA-NC is an association of 1,400 professional and citizen planners working to preserve and create great places throughout North Carolina.
Melissa Regine Glenn and Rebecca Lynn Harrell (doctoral students, Psychology) were announced this fall as recipients of the newly established Graduate Walker Mayo Scholarship. The scholarship was established with a goal of enhancing mental health services in North Carolina and is a need- and merit-based scholarship for doctoral students in psychology who also completed their undergraduate degree at ECU. “Receiving the Walker-Mayo Scholarship has been a true honor, [and] it [is] more evident that any given day really is a great day to be a Pirate,” said Glenn, who is studying in the pediatric school psychology program. Harrell, who is studying in the clinical health psychology program said, “The support provided by this scholarship will allow me to achieve my educational and career aspirations without the worry of financial strain. I am truly humbled and honored to be a 2020-2021 recipient.”
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
The College of Business held its annual Assessment Week in late September. During this one week, the faculty from various departments, schools and committees met virtually to address Assurance of Learning (AOL) Outcomes. Each of the twelve meetings in Teams targeted a specific program or set of programs that faculty reviewed for quality and potential areas for improvement. One of the main goals for this series of meetings was to “close the loop” from the prior reporting period. Closing the loop involves identifying critical to quality learning objectives and, through data collection and analysis at the close of each academic year, implementing guided improvements to program curriculum and pedagogy.
Despite COVID-19, the Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge (PEC) kicked off for the fourth time Oct. 12. While prior years had the first round taking place on the grounds of East Carolina University with students, faculty and staff casting votes for their favorite products/ideas, this year’s challenge started online. After more than 4,000 votes cast and almost 10,000 video views, 20 teams will move on to the second round, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. For the second round, each team will submit a five-minute video for PEC judges to review. Judges then will meet with the teams for a private two-minute Q&A session, and after which teams will compete “live” (viewable by the public) in a 15-minute group Q&A session. Five judges will select five teams to mentor for the final round. From Feb. 1-7, the sixth spot will be decided by popular vote and will follow the same format as the first round. Click here for the list of first-round winners.
The School of Hospitality Leadership (SHL) inducted 16 new members into Eta Sigma Delta, the International Hospitality Honor Society, during the Oct 14 virtual induction ceremony. Eta Sigma Delta is led by student officers president Hailee Austin, vice president Laura Weber, and secretary-treasurer Toketa Greenfield. SHL Professor Cynthia Deale is the Honor Society advisor and was one of the original founders of the SHL chapter 10 years ago. The SHL chapter has been a global honor society leader and has been recognized multiple times as one of the top three chapters in the world and specifically noted for its service projects.
Thirty seniors in SHL’s Hospitality Financial Management class earned the national Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) recently. Students in the class achieved an 83% pass rate for the examination. CHIA is the leading certification in hotel business analytics. Recognition provides evidence of a thorough knowledge of the foundational metrics, definitions, formulas, and methodologies that are used by the hotel industry. The certification is recognized by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals Association, the Institute of Hospitality, the International Council of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education, and the Pacific Asia Travel Association.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Undergraduate student Mariel Ortega-Guerrero was awarded the Mitchell-Buck Scholarship by the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina. This is the second time in the last five years that a major in the Foreign Language Educator Preparation Program at ECU has received this prestigious scholarship from the state's professional association.
The Rural Education Institute (REI) is creating a webinar series on race and rurality for educators that will be led by Black, Indigenous and People of Color colleagues within ECU and the local school and community organizers. Throughout the month of November, REI will hold a crowdfunding campaign to support the educators leading this initiative.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
Red Hat, the world’s leading provider of open source software, has named East Carolina University as its 2020 Red Hat Academy of the Year. The award is the third straight for ECU, which offers Red Hat Academy curriculum through the Department of Technology Systems. Teaching instructor Lee Toderick helped start ECU’s Red Hat Academy in 2005. The courses provide skills for students to become Linux open source operating system administrators or engineers. Around 300 ECU students take Red Hat courses during the academic year.
Dr. Ciprian Popoviciu, assistant professor in the Department of Technology Systems, is leading ECU’s effort to help develop an 8,000-mile, international optical network ring capable of delivering science data at 200 billion bits per second. By comparison, a typical high-definition video requires about 8 million bits per second. Popoviciu said today’s large-scale scientific experiments require faster speeds to transmit data. ECU and George Mason University have received a $463,256 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop the ring that includes Washington, D.C., New York, Amsterdam and Paris.
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS & COMMUNICATION
Cynthia Bickley-Green (Art Education) was commissioned by the North Carolina Museum of Art to create work for a billboard that will be installed in November. The artist painted three large-format panels in a piece called “Lamentations.” The work expresses her emotions regarding racial unrest, the political climate and the pandemic. Greenville’s WITN-TV covered the news and interviewed the artist on Sept. 22.
Both the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival of Eastern North Carolina and the ECU/Loessin Playhouse have transitioned to virtual seasons. Four Seasons announced four residencies this fall, with enhanced opportunities for virtual personal interaction, like backstage Zoom sessions and in-depth conversations with performing artists. ECU/Loessin Playhouse has launched a Radio Play series. Four productions of works by American playwrights are available for streaming over four consecutive weekends. Additionally, ECU Storybook Theatre performed A Woman Called Truth, by Sandra Fenichel Asher. The work was delivered virtually to general audiences on Oct. 22 and is also available, with study guides, to educators.
Caroline Copland served as virtual guest artist in residence in School of Theatre and Dance Director Jayme Host’s Dance History class. Copland, the Associate Director of the New York Baroque Dance Company, instructed ECU students remotely. Her credits include performances with the Boston Early Music Festival and the Metropolitan Opera. Note that the ECU dancers are masked, distance-limited and that class size is greatly reduced for safety.
Alice Arnold (Art Education) served as a panelist for “Facing COVID-19: Challenges and Re-envisioning and Interconnective Future” at the virtual conference of the International Society for Education through Art on Oct. 15.
Pam Hopkins (Communication) was faculty for “You Can Become a More Engaging Presenter!,” an Eastern Area Health Education Center (Eastern AHEC) workshop for health professionals offered on Oct. 1.
Brittany Thompson (Communication) is serving as the Office of Faculty Excellence Teaching Fellow in 2020-2021.
Chase Coston, a candidate for BFA degrees in Musical Theatre and Theatre Arts Education, crafted a filmed performance of Karen Ackerman’s children’s book, "Song and Dance Man." The work is an offering of the student organization Dance-Ability at ECU, a group that provides inclusive dance experiences to children with and without disabilities, typically face-to-face on Thursday evenings. Coston narrated the story and served as the lead character, showcasing his tap skills.
Jackie Traish (BM ’14) has joined NYsoundCircuit as their resident flutist and Public Relations Coordinator. As a freelance musician, she’s performed with the Metropolitan Opera and the Martha Graham Dance Company.
COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE
Aging Well Together speaker series continues
Please mark your calendars for Nov. 19, 4:30-5:30 p.m., for AWT’s next virtual talk with music therapist and ECU faculty member Adrienne Steiner. A link to join us via WebEx will be shared closer to the talk.
Adrienne C. Steiner, Ph.D., MT-BC is an assistant professor of music therapy and board-certified music therapist who recently joined the faculty at ECU. Prior to her appointment, Steiner was a clinician running a university-based clinic and working with a variety of populations including: children with various exceptional needs, adolescents with emotional/behavioral disorders with history of abuse/neglect, and medical populations. Steiner’s research interests include the use of music-based interventions to assist informal/family caregivers with their complex biopsychosocial needs, and on the use of music for students and other populations for coping and psychological well-being.
The Enriching the Future Symposium on Aging was held virtually on Oct. 20. Talks were recorded and may be found at https://hhp.ecu.edu/preventionscience.
The symposium was hosted by the College of Health and Human Performance’s Aging Well Together initiative with support from ECU’s Lifelong Learning program, the Mid-East Commission Area Agency on Aging and Vidant Medical Center.
HONORS COLLEGE
Honors students spoke about how they’re still benefitting from internships and other high impact experiences throughout the pandemic, whether they are taking place virtually or with radical changes. You can learn more about their experiences here.
INTEGRATED COASTAL PROGRAMS
ECU Integrated Coastal Programs and the Coastal Studies Institute are launching a new live monthly video series entitled “Meet the Scientist.” The first episode is scheduled to premiere at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Held monthly, this series will highlight ECU and CSI scientists and their work on coastal and marine topics in North Carolina and around the world. Join us for the first program with Dr. April Blakeslee, assistant professor in the Department of Biology and former Coastal Fellow at the Coastal Studies Institute, as she discusses her work on coastal parasites and their hosts including “zombie crabs.” The program will be broadcast live on the CSI YouTube channel and will be archived for viewing after the broadcast.
Dr. David Griffith (Coastal Studies) will have an article published in Anthropology Now entitled “Working Through the Pandemic: What Crises Tell Us About Economics”.
Additionally, both he and ICS student Genevieve Guerry have had abstracts accepted for the 2020 American Geophysics Union Meeting and will be presenting virtually on Dec. 9. The presentations and posters are part of a two-panel session on Environmental Change and Human Migration. Their sessions are:
- GC036 - Environmental Changes and Human Migration: Advances in Modeling and Analysis I
- GC044 - Environmental Changes and Human Migration: Advances in Modeling and Analysis II
- GC040 - Environmental Changes and Human Migration: Advances in Modeling and Analysis III Posters
The Muglia research group (Coastal Studies Institute) deployed an 800-pound subsurface buoy 100 meters below the ocean surface just east of Cape Hatteras on the upper shelf slope. The buoy will frequently be beneath the Gulf Stream (GS) edge in water 230 meters deep within the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP) focus area for GS energy resource characterization.The deployment is a second experimental deployment collaboration with Bob Heitsenrether’s Ocean System Test and Evaluation Program (OSTEP) group at NOAA. Additionally, Jennifer Dorton at SECOORA introduced us to Dr. Joy Young, who works with the FACT (Florida Atlantic Coastal Telemetry) network, suggesting we had offshore moorings she might like to take advantage of for attaching a FACT receiver. Muglia added one of Dr. Young’s receivers to the deployment. These instruments will be deployed for one year and recovered next fall. Read more here.
Dr. Mike O’Driscoll (Coastal Studies) was selected by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to be a member of the White Lake Scientific Advisory Committee. This committee will provide technical and scientific guidance and recommendations related to the short and long-term planning and management of White Lake in Bladen County.
Drs. Nadine Heck and Sidharth Narayan (Coastal Studies) recently released a news report with the University of California Santa Cruz, insurance firm AXA, and The Nature Conservancy, highlighting work done while still at UCSC. Drs. Heck and Narayan, along with researches from UCSC and IH Cantabria in Spain worked to quantify the cost-effectiveness of mangroves for flood risk reduction. In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and AXA, the team worked to combine the flood risk reduction benefits of mangroves with conservation costs to develop spatially explicit benefit-cost ratios across the Caribbean region. The team identified more than 3,000 km of coastline that have cost-effective opportunities for mangrove restoration, with Cuba, the Bahamas, and Florida having the most study units with cost-effective opportunities for mangrove restoration.
ACADEMIC LIBRARY SERVICES
Please spread the word! Joyner Library has five “Learn from Home Kits” available to be checked out by students, faculty or staff. Each kit contains a wireless hotspot, a webcam, a tripod for the webcam, and a small whiteboard: https://librarycatalog.ecu.edu/catalog/5498281. Two additional wireless hotspots are also available: https://librarycatalog.ecu.edu/catalog/5498276. This equipment was added to Joyner’s collection thanks to a State Library of North Carolina CARES grant.
Jeanne Hoover, Cindy Shirkey and Lisa Barricella recently published the article “Exploring sustainability of affordability initiatives: a library case study,” in Reference Services Review. You can read the article here.
Catch up on Joyner’s recent virtual talks!
HUAC vs. the “Greenville Benevolent Association”: Investigating the Klan in Eastern North Carolina, 1965-66, with David Durant, Collection Development Librarian at Joyner Library: https://ecu.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/ecu/recording/playback/08e09e64458249c8935c497e8c08be2f, Password: 6kQsfFJ*
In 1965, with the civil rights revolution at its height, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) opened an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). The committee found that the Klan’s largest presence was in North Carolina, especially eastern North Carolina. Pitt County alone contained seven Klan klaverns (chapters), operating under such innocuous sounding names as the “Pitt County Improvement Association” and the “Pactolus Hunting Club.” Every county bordering on Pitt also contained at least one klavern, usually more.
During public hearings in September 1965, and again in January 1966, HUAC interviewed a number of witnesses who discussed KKK activity in Pitt County and eastern North Carolina. The hearing revelations were amplified through articles in the press, especially the Daily Reflector, and the News & Observer. The ensuing publicity documenting the extent of Klan activity in North Carolina greatly embarrassed the state’s political elites and led to a crackdown on the KKK by state authorities that helped render the organization irrelevant within two years.
While HUAC conducted a number of investigations pertaining to North Carolina, the committee’s 1965-66 Klan investigation is the only one in its history that directly involved Greenville and Pitt County.
ECU Assistant University Archivist Patrick Cash on The Civil Rights Movement in Greenville and Pitt County: “Documenting the Fight for School Desegregation in Greenville/Pitt County”: https://thescholarship.ecu.edu/handle/10342/8758.
Using documents from the Verona Joyner Langford North Carolina Collection and the East Carolina Manuscript Collection, Patrick Cash will examine the response of North Carolina’s government to the 1954 Brown v. Board decision and the efforts to resist school desegregation. The talk will also examine the response of Pitt County and Greenville City School officials after local families and the courts system began to challenge the status quo of local schools in the 1960s and '70s. The presentation will also include materials from the North Carolina Collection at the Louis Round Wilson Library at UNC Chapel Hill as well as the North Carolina State Archives. The talk was sponsored by the Eastern North Carolina Village and Farm Museum.