Interim Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

As we bring the Spring 2021 semester to a close, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your exemplary work and dedication to East Carolina University. As I’ve previously expressed, you continue to demonstrate unparalleled commitment and passion to our university and to those we serve.

We are all aware of the enrollment challenges we face because of looming population data trends, projecting fewer and fewer incoming college freshmen. We are starting to feel those effects, in one way or another. The enrollment work that we all have been engaged in over the last couple of years will hopefully position us to manage the enrollment challenges many universities will face over the next few years.

To be very clear, each stage of the enrollment journey is critical. In this state of uncertainty, it is so important that we pursue innovative strategies so we can thrive during times of uncertain funding and provide the support students need most. We have seen enormous shifts concerning the face of the student population, the support services they require, and the most effective strategies to engage and recruit them. Recruiting and retaining students is more challenging than ever.

Our marketing department and admissions staff are some of the most creative, visionary, responsive, and engaging staff anywhere. They have worked tirelessly to assure that ECU is at the forefront of every high school student in North Carolina’s mind when it comes time to decide where to further their education. They have organized engaging events - in the midst of a pandemic - that have led many students to this campus, either virtually or physically, and we are seeing and hearing of the positive effect this engagement is having. Their work is only part of what is necessary to meet our enrollment goals.

Every interaction a prospective student has with this university is part of the recruiting process. It’s easy to forget that, for many of our students, this is the first time anyone in their family has gone to college. Whether they are a first-generation student or the child of an alum, they are looking to us to help them chart a course of success. That’s where we all have a part to play. The university needs you, all of Pirate Nation, to help showcase how committed we are to serving our students at ECU. That message is delivered over and over in our recruiting communications but must also be matched in each student’s experience: in every phone conversation, in every email response, and in every orientation “event,” and from before they arrive until they graduate.

We must continue to seize upon the strategic opportunities that we have before us. This is the time to develop and take proactive measures to assure that we showcase to our historic number of applicants just how special of a place ECU is. This is a time for us not only to serve, but to serve better, with more intention, and in a unified way that sends two critical messages: “We truly want you here at ECU,” and “We want to help you succeed at ECU.”

As always, thank you for all you do.

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BY THE NUMBERS

PIRATE ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER

Welcome new Gear Up NC Success Coach, Omari Tait! East Carolina University has partnered with the UNC System/GEAR UP NC and Inside Track, Inc. to implement post-secondary services for high school graduates. Housed within the Pirate Academic Success Center, 35 North Carolina high school students who enroll at ECU will receive coaching services in the 2021-22 academic year. New to ECU, Omari Tait has joined the PASC staff as the ECU NC Gear Up coach and will be supporting students with study skills coaching, Freshmen Seminar instruction, enrollment assistance, and one on one student success meetings. Omari is a graduate of Wingate University (Masters in Sports Management) and Pembroke University (Bachelor of Science in Psychology). He is also active-duty Army National Guard and comes to ECU with student success and mentoring experiences. GEAR UP North Carolina is a college access initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of the grant is to increase the number of first-generation, low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. For more information about the Gear Up NC grant, click HERE.

OFFICE OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS

Congratulations to the recipients of the Global Affairs’ International Virtual Exchange Development Grant. There were many interesting and innovative projects proposed for this grant competition. We are excited to be able to support nine projects for implementation in 2021-2022.

• Amin Akhnoukh (Construction Management) for the project “Incorporating Artificial Intelligence in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Exploration” in collaboration with German University in Cairo.
• Laura Levi Altstaedter (Foreign Languages and Literatures) for the project “Collaboration Across Cultures Among Foreign Language Teachers in Training” in collaboration with Universidad Tecnological Nacional in Argentina.
• Blakely Brooks (Anthropology) for the project “An Exploration of Social Issues in Latin America: Migration” in collaboration with Universidad Latina de America in Mexico and Universidad Piloto de Colombia.
• Teal Darkenwald (Dance) for the project “Dance Kinesiology Global Exchange” in collaboration with the University of Chichester in the UK and University of Nicosia in Cyprus.
• Bomna Ko (Kinesiology) for the project “Global Link with International Partners in KINE 6110” in collaboration with East China Normal University.
• Ramiro Murata (Dentistry / Foundational Science) for the project “Problem-Based Learning and Global Awareness” in collaboration with Universidade Ferderal de Lavras in Brazil.
• Sachiyo Shearman (Communication) for the project “Intercultural Communication through Virtual Exchange” in collaboration with Meiji University in Japan.
• Jeffrey Skibins (Recreation Sciences) for the project “A Noble and Global Profession: Issues in International Interpretation” in collaboration with University San Francisco Quito in Ecuador and University of Freiburg in Germany.
• Chia Jung Yeh (Human Development and Family Studies) for the project “Interdisciplinary Partnerships: globalization and Multicultural Perspectives in Early Care and Education” in collaboration with Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Chang Gung University of Science in Taiwan, and Tamkang University also in Taiwan.

The ECU Language Academy is excited to announce the launch of a new, online English language program for professionals and academics. The first session will begin in June with an inaugural cohort of nine professors from Grupo UniEduK in Brazil (Faculdad de Jaguariúna). In this four-week course, participants will strengthen their English skills through synchronous interaction via Zoom as well as through asynchronous instruction using texts, articles, and realia.

The 14th Annual Global Partners in Education Conference will once again be held online this year. This year’s theme will focus on how lessons learned from this past year will shape a path moving forward for both virtual exchange and global education more broadly. For more information, click HERE.

OFFICE FOR EQUITY & DIVERSITY

Support for those Committed to the Pledge to ACT Against Racism and Injustice

The list of those who are committed to standing with the Office for Equity and Diversity in the Pledge to Act Against Racism and Injustice continues to grow, and areas across campus are ACTING against racism and injustice in the most inspiring ways. The Office for Equity and Diversity (OED) launched a new blog to share these stories with the campus community. New resources to support those who are committed to this work are available HERE; check back often as new resources are added periodically. Contact OED to share how your area is taking action against racism and injustice and help OED inspire others.

Both current and recent events have caused so many of us to deal with a multitude of feelings, most of which are difficult and emotional. Supportive resources for those experiencing racial trauma are available HERE.

Employee Resource Groups

As part of ECU's commitment to diversity in the workplace, OED assists in forming and supporting the efforts of Employee Resource Groups. These groups help foster connectedness to the university community, thus encouraging retention and recruitment especially in underrepresented groups. Groups include the American Indian Faculty and Staff Group; Black Faculty Organization (BFO); Chinese Association of ECU Faculty, Staff and Friends; Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Faculty and Staff Group; and the Organization of Black Staff (OBS). More information about ECU’s Employee Resource Groups may be found HERE.

OFFICE FOR FACULTY EXCELLENCE

Summer 2021 Research and Statistics Series

The 2021 summer statistics and research series will be offered virtually this year from May 18 to June 3. The full schedule is ready for viewing, and we hope to see you there.

Spring 2021 Teaching Awards

Congratulations to all faculty who were recognized during the 2020/2021 Teaching Awards ceremony! More information and a video of the ceremony can be found on the 2021 University Teaching Awards Website. Faculty honored during the virtual ceremony included:

• Scholar-Teacher Awards:  Erin Field (THCAS), Chia-Cheng Lin (CAHS), Laura T. Madden (COB), Jennifer-Scott Mobley (CFAC), Anuradha Mukherji (THCAS), Alexander M. Schoemann (THCAS), Brian Sylcott (CET), Deborah E. Tyndall (CON), Chia Jung Yeh (CHHP)
• Robert L. Jones Award Teaching Award: Birgit Jensen (THCAS)
• University Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Awards: Dan Elliott (CFAC), Tricia Wilson-Okamura (THCAS)
• Max Ray Joyner Award for Excellence in Teaching through Distance Education: Christine Kowalczyk (COB)
• Board of Governors Distinguished Professor for Teaching Awards: Dennis Barber III (COB), Holly Wei (CON), Brittany Myles Wright Thompson (CFAC), Tony Thompson (COE), Jakob F. Jensen (CHHP), David Loy (CHHP)
• University Service-Learning Teaching Excellence Award: Guiseppe Getto (THCAS)
• Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching: Ricky T. Castles (CET)

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COLLEGE UPDATES

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

The ECU Water Resources Center has announced the spring 2021 Student Water Scholars. The WRC Student Water Scholars Program provides funding for currently enrolled ECU undergraduate and graduate students who are seeking support for a student-led, faculty-supervised creative, educational, or research project. The WRC encourages students to apply for a scholarship for the fall 2021 semester. Proposals should include a component that supports and builds the WRC community. The deadline to apply is Friday, September 10. Visit WRC Student Water Scholars Program webpage for more information.

Spring 2021 recipients include:

• John Bass (Environmental Engineering), “Source Tracking Wastewater Contamination in Nearby Waterbodies”
• Julienne Beblo (Ceramics), “An Exploration: Ceramics as a Marine Conservation Tool”
• Mallory de Araujo Miles (Biology), “We Mean No Harm”
• Ariana Donini Rivera (Geological Sciences), “Quantifying Lignin in Suspended Particulate Matter in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System During the 2018 Hurricane Season”
• Kathleen Ferris (Chemistry), “The Quantification of Low Concentrations of Dissolved Lignin Derived Phenols in Estuarine and Coastal Water Samples”
• Aied Garcia (Biology), “Bringing Awareness to the Research and Volunteer Opportunities at the Water Resources Center”
• Jason Kops (Integrated Coastal Sciences), “Creating a Flood Memorialization Database for Increasing Awareness of Repeated Flood Risk in Eastern North Carolina”
• John Sabin (Integrated Coastal Sciences), “Socio-Ecological Restoration at the Boundary: Interdisciplinary Planning & South Florida's East Coast Buffer”
• Olivia Sessoms (Environmental Engineering), “Increasing Public Engagement with Water Quality Testing and Treatment Technologies with Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance Systems”

In case you missed the final 2020-2021 Voyages of Discovery live-streamed event featuring Dr. Marshall Shepherd, the recording is now available online. Shepherd, former president of the American Meteorological Society and current professor and director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program at the University of Georgia, discussed “Zombies, Sports and Cola: Implications for Communicating Weather and Climate Science.” The video is only viewable for one year. Check it out HERE or on the Voyages of Discovery website!

Helen Dixon (History) has been named to the editorial board of a new journal in her field, Metatron. The publication is a free, open-access collaborative project with Yale University’s Renewed Philology scholars and presents an interdisciplinary model of scholarship. It is a peer-reviewed journal of modern philology and the ancient imagination, offering new vistas on the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. Named after the mediating angel of Jewish mysticism, it is designed to open cutting-edge research to a broad intellectual community. The journal features short articles meant to launch discussions. View Metatron’s first issue.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Dr. George Schilling, a third-year physical medicine and rehabilitation resident at Vidant Medical Center and ECU’s Brody School of Medicine, and College of Business marketing major and sophomore Grant Smith took first place in the 2021 Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge. The cross-campus team won $15,000 in cash prizes and in-kind services for their winning idea, InHouse Call. InHouse Call is an app that will provide a physician all hospital phone numbers needed to attend to a patient’s care. Immediate access to this information could quickly expedite the health care services provided to the patient and save the hospital money by reducing hospital stays for the patient, increasing revenue-generating opportunities, and improving patient care by reducing the risk of errors and hospital complications. The Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge is the signature pitch competition of the Miller School of Entrepreneurship and the College of Business.

Congratulations to Dr. Brenda Wells, the Robert F. Bird Distinguished Professor of Risk Management and Insurance and the COB’s Risk Management & Insurance Program director. She was recently appointed as a Gamma Iota Sigma board of trustees Faculty Representative. As Dr. Wells tells us, “now, ECU has a face and name on this board, which will give us visibility that we didn’t have before.” Incorporated in 1965 and boasting an annual membership of over 6,000 students and 35,000 alumni from 95 U.S.-based colleges, Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS) is the industry’s premier collegiate talent pipeline with more than 50 years of experience engaging students and preparing them for careers in insurance.

The Miller School of Entrepreneurship, along with NC State, will jointly host the USASBE 2022 annual conference in Raleigh, North Carolina this January. USASBE 2022 will take place January 5-9, 2022 in a hybrid format that supports both on-premise and online attendance, thereby providing conference access to the entire USASBE community regardless of one’s ability to travel to an in-person event. The conference will embrace USASBE’s hallmark collaborative energy as well as the cooperative nature of the host institutions. “Whether in-person or virtual, attendees can be assured the event will be both memorable and actionable,” says Michael Harris, director of the Miller School. “The Miller School plays a key role in helping ECU transform its region, and this conference will be another opportunity to showcase the entrepreneurial spirit found in North Carolina.” Find more info HERE.

College of Business instructors took their curriculum to the internet as the Executive Farm Management program went virtual for local, regional and national farmers, agribusiness owners and managers. Management’s Sharon Justice and the Miller School of Entrepreneurship’s Dave Mayo joined five additional instructors who delivered coursework centered around the business model canvas, an approach that could help the 48 plus attendees with matters related to their organization’s value proposition, infrastructure, customers and finances and people. In the prior four years, the program was in-person and took 12 days to compete over 8 weeks. This year’s program was condensed down to three days where participants virtually worked with each other to discuss the curriculum and how it could be applied to their operations.

Zeke Sigler served as a College of Business (COB) Peer Mentor from 2014-2016 and graduated with his BSBA in 2015 and MSA in 2016. Zeke was always the first to volunteer, help out, lend a hand, and cheer for others. To honor Sigler’s memory, COB’s Center for Student Success annually awards the Zeke Sigler COB Outstanding Peer Mentor Award to the student who excels in all areas of Peer Mentor program and goes above and beyond expectations of the position. This year’s recipient is Keyshorn “Key” Smith. Key is a senior graduating with a BSBA in Finance with a concentration in Risk Management & Insurance. Key is also a member of ECU’s Honors College and served on their Student Financial Wellness and Literacy Committee. During the summer, he plans to work full-time at his internship with Towne Bank in Greenville. Key will return to ECU in the fall to pursue his MBA and plans to still be involved in the Peer Mentor program as much as possible. While at ECU, he was also involved in Beta Gamma Sigma, Gamma Iota Sigma, and Sigma Alpha.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

The Department of Educational Leadership collaborated with the ECU’s Dance program to sponsor an artist-in-residence who choreographed a dance for the Spring Dance 2021 concert. Learn more about this collaboration HERE.

Learning how to identify indicators of traumatic stress and build community resource networks was the focus of the Rural Disaster Mental Health Summit. Learn more about the summit HERE.

The College of Education has launched a new virtual internship supervision model proving that ECU’s educator preparation program has and can excel with remote instruction and supervision. Part of this program includes the GoReact tool. Learn more about GoReact’s role in virtual educator prep HERE.

College of Education faculty and staff raised over $2K for the ECU Community School during this year’s Holiday Hustle. Learn more about the friendly competition and how you can help HERE.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Department of Technology Systems senior Harrison Thaxton won the Palo Alto Networks national cybersecurity competition and a $10,000 first-place prize. It is the second straight year an ECU student has won the title. Another ECU student, Ian Gunn, was among the 10 finalists in the event. Read more HERE.

A team from the College of Engineering and Technology has been selected to work with the U.S. Testing Expertise and Access to Marine Energy Research program. TEAMER’s purpose is to accelerate the viability of marine renewables by providing access to experts in the field as well as lab facilities for testing, which in ECU’s case will be the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in Golden, Colorado. The team includes Abdel-Salam, Drs. Faete “JT” Filho, Kurabachew Duba and Zhen Zhu from the ECU Department of Engineering, Dr. Mike Muglia from the Coastal Studies Institute, and Dr. Mehran Elahi of Elizabeth City State University. ECU’s project is a groundbreaking desalination system that aims to use wave and solar energy to produce drinkable water while producing no brine waste discharge that is typically part of the process. It was one of just 23 projects across the country selected for the program. Read more HERE.

Engineering student Shea Middleton has been awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. The oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the NSF GRFP provides a three-year annual stipend of $34,000 to the student as well as a $12,000 allowance for tuition and fees. Middleton, whose concentration is in biomedical engineering, is the first recipient of the fellowship in the Department of Engineering. Read more HERE.

Dr. David Batts, an associate professor in the Department of Technology Systems, has been named editor of the Journal of Technology Studies. The journal, which is published twice per year, is a publication of the Epsilon Pi Tau international honor society for technology. Batts has been on the editorial board of the journal since 2011. Read more HERE.

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS & COMMUNICATION

ART CAST, a collaborative, interdisciplinary studio that reflects on community and connection, has released its second episode. Co-organizers Cat Normoyle (graphic design) and Jessica Teague (ballet) host seven segments featuring faculty, an alumna and a student:

• Carroll V. Dashiell Jr. (jazz), Everyday I Have the Blues;
• Gabe Duggan (textiles), Either Way;
• Freshman dance major Ellie Ergenzinger, It’s you, it’s me, it’s us;
• Daniel Shirley (opera theatre), Opera Role Study Project;
• Kayla Clark (MFA ’19), Global Postcard Exchange Project;
• Normoyle and Teague, Dancing Shapes;
• Bryan Conger (acting/directing) and Michael Shoaf (lighting design), Trifles Radio Play Excerpt.

The episode is hosted HERE and on YouTube.

On March 2, the Division of Research, Economic Development and Engagement hosted the 2021 Research and Scholarship Awards program.

• Jessica Christie (art history) was awarded a Five-Year Research and Creative Activity Award, recognizing her publishing record, including the in-press work “Earth Politics of Cultural Landscapes and Intangible Heritage: Three Case Studies in the Americas.”
• Gabe Duggan (textiles) was recognized as a 2021 Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy (EOSA) Cohort member.
• Carroll V. Dashiell Jr. (jazz), Mary Tucker-McLaughlin (journalism), Daniel Kariko (photography) and Jen-Scott Mobley (theatre/dramaturgy) were recognized as Outstanding Research Scholars and Artists.

On April 20, the Office of Faculty Excellence presented the 2020-2021 University Teaching Awards. CFAC professors recognized were:

• Jen-Scott Mobley (theatre), CFAC Teacher Scholar;
• Dan Elliot (graphic design), ECU Alumni Award for Outstanding Teaching; and
• Brittany Thompson (Communication), Board of Governors Distinguished Professor for Teaching Award.

Patch Clark (theatre education and theatre for youth) and Carol Goodwillie (Biology) have shared an interdisciplinary project, “Celebration of Trees,” with public schools and the N.C. Science Festival. The project includes choreography by both Jayme Host (Director/dance) and Jessica Teague (ballet).

Cynthia Bickley-Green’s (art education) painting “Hansa,” appeared in a new group exhibition catalogue from American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center in Washington, D.C. “The Long Sixties: Washington Paintings in the Watkins and Corcoran Legacy Collections, 1957-1982” is a new, cross-sectional consideration of visual art from the Washington area.

Senior voice major Koby Gallman was recently chosen to be a Young Artist for Brevard Music Center’s Janiac Opera Program. He will sing the leading role of Rinuccio in Brevard’s production of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi this summer. The program hosts only 15 singers, selected from across the nation.

Dance and public relations double-major Abigail Telenko won an Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity award from the Division of Research, Economic Development and Engagement. Her work will examine the importance of touch.

Illustration alumnus Timothy Bada (BFA ’18) published his first children’s book, “I Feel Better Now,” with author Hiba Melheim. Bada works full time as a graphic designer at Impact Graphix and Signs of Seaford, Delaware.

Kaylee Garber (BFA ’18) was named WITN’s Teacher of the Week. She’s in her second year of service at Northside High School in Onslow County, where she teaches art.

Bite Founder and CEO Lindsay McCormick (BS ’07) and Selfmade Founder and CEO Stephanie Lee (BS ’08) were featured presenters on the live webinar series “A Pirate’s Path: Career Journeys and Lessons Learned,” offered by the ECU Alumni Association.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE

The School of Social Work at East Carolina University has announced Kirk A. Foster as its new director. He will join ECU in July.

“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Kirk Foster to the School of Social Work,” said Dr. Anisa Zvonkovic, dean of the College of Health and Human Performance. “The faculty and I were so impressed by his leadership qualities and fit with ECU’s mission. He is a rare leader who combines strong administrative experience with stellar research credentials and clinical expertise. We especially value his leadership in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion which are vital for training today’s social workers.”

Since 2011, Foster has been a faculty member in the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina, where he was an associate professor and associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Faculty news

Sheresa Blanchard, associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science, has been named a Promising Scholar by the Foundation for Child Development. Promising Scholars demonstrate exceptional potential to conduct rigorous high-quality implementation research focused on the early care and education workforce. Over the course of their professional development year, they will receive resources and supports to assist in further refining their research. “I am elated to be chosen as a Promising Scholar because the program will provide support to help me hone my skills and become a stronger researcher. The possibility of digging into my research area to uncover systemic barriers in the pipeline of early educators of color has an enormous potential of impacting the lives of early educators in my state and beyond and rippling into lives of their young children and family partners for generations,” Sheresa said.

Priti Desai has been named Operation Smile’s 2021 U.S. Volunteer of the Year. She has been heavily involved this past year in the creation of the organization’s Psychosocial Care Provider FUEL documents and has worked alongside our education team to support curriculum and resource creation as programs were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, she also joined Operation Smile’s Medical Advisory Council where she currently serves as the Psychosocial Care Provider co-chair. In this role, she has played an integral part in the review process of our Psychosocial Care Provider Credentialing Policy and has been supporting the credentialing of new volunteers for the organization. Priti serves as a certified child life specialist on Operation Smiles programs and has participated in over 10 missions.

Angela Lamson has been named the next Nancy W. Darden Distinguished Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science. She will serve a three-year term beginning on July 1, during which time she will implement her proposed project entitled “ACEs Ambassadors for Change.”

Essie Torres and Alice Richman from the Department of Health Education and Promotion were awarded a $775,000 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration entitled Maternal and Child Health Scholars, Training, and Enrichment Program (MCH-STEP). The purpose of MCH-STEP is to inspire the interest of rural underrepresented racial/ethnic diverse undergraduate students in MCH-related public health, help them explore and envision MCH-related career paths, and serve as a training program to enhance the diversity of next generation of MCH-related health professionals.

Emily Yeager, assistant professor in the Department of Recreation Sciences, and students in her tourism planning course have been collaborating with the Greenville-Pitt County Convention and Visitors Bureau on the African American Culture Trail. The course project, “Stakeholder Engagement and Asset Expansion Plan for the Greenville-Pitt County African American Culture Trail,” proposes strategies for community engagement with the trail. Students have worked to find ways in which sites along the trail can serve as opportunities to educate the public on historical events.

“It is really a privilege to work on this project for the AACT advisory board and with the City of Greenville. Be on the lookout for more news as the project progresses. There is a planned soft launch for the trail on Juneteenth 2021,” Emily said. “I also want to give a shout out to another HHP collaborator who is serving on the AACT advisory board – Jennifer Hodgson. I was fortunate to steal a bit of Jennifer’s time to speak with the class about opportunities for AACT sites to serve as places of healing for visitors. Her passion for serving the advisory board and the Greenville community is inspiring.” Read more about the project HERE.

HONORS COLLEGE

EC Scholar and engineering student Cole Dickerson was accepted into the German Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) program for the summer. Learn more about Cole HERE.

EC Scholar and engineering student Elliot Paul has been named a Goldwater Scholar for the 2021-2022 academic year. This scholarship is the most prestigious national undergraduate scholarship in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Learn more HERE.

The Honors College celebrated their Makers Arts Residency students with a virtual showcase. View their showcase HERE.

The Honors College is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a look back at alumni over the last decade. Learn more about alumni from colleges across campus HERE.

Honors student Shea Middleton is ECU’s first engineering major to receive a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Shea plans to graduate with his undergraduate degree this May and pursue his engineering graduate degree at ECU in the fall. Learn more about Shea HERE.

Honors College sophomore Grant Smith was one half of the InHouse Call team, which took home first place at this year’s Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge. Learn more about when East meets West HERE.

Congratulations to current EC Scholar Ono Abuhulimen and EC Scholar alumna/former Honors College graduate assistant Meghan Lower for winning ECU Creed Awards this year.

Several Honors College students took home awards during the 15th annual Research & Creative Achievement Week, including an Honorable Mention for Amanda Powell’s LaserTAG entry as the only undergraduate entry. Learn more HERE.

Seventeen Honors College students received Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Awards this semester, including one of the student groups from Honors 4500. Learn more about their awards HERE.

INTEGRATED COASTAL PROGRAMS

Dr. Mike O’Driscoll (Coastal Studies) was elected for a 3-year term to the Board of Directors for the Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR). UCOWR expands the capacity of universities and their partners to address current water resources challenges through sharing expertise, fostering leadership, and developing interdisciplinary collaborations.

Drs. Mike O’Driscoll (Coastal Studies), Bob Christian (Biology, Emeritus), Jacob Petersen-Perlman (Geography, Planning and Environment), and Guy Iverson (Health Education and Promotion) were recently funded by the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership on a project entitled “Developing Coastal Plain Ecological Flow Guidance in the Albemarle-Pamlico Basin: Trent River Pilot Study.” The overall goal is to provide scientific guidance to improve management of ecological flows in coastal watersheds within the Albemarle-Pamlico Drainage Basin.

Drs. Sid Narayan (Coastal Studies) and Nadine Heck (Coastal Studies) will be working with Global Sustainability Scholar Niza Contreros. The GSS Fellows program offers a 10-week paid immersive training and mentoring with a global sustainability organization, and Contreros has been paired with the Negotiating Ocean Conflicts among Rivals for Sustainable and Equitable Solutions (NO CRISES) at ECU. Narayan and Heck will also host a National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) intern in Summer 2021.

Brian Bartlett (Integrated Coastal Sciences Ph.D. student) won second best oral presentation at the American Fisheries Society (AFS) Tidewater Conference.

The Coastal Studies Institute will host four weeks of summer camp beginning on July 12 and running through August 6, 2021. The camps focus on STEAM concepts and utilize hands-on experiences and exploration of the Outer Banks. Two programmatic themes will be offered- Coastal Marine Biology and Ecology and Oceanography & Marine Science Technology. Each camp costs $285, and up to 13 campers will be accepted per week. For more information and to register, please click HERE.

The fifth installment of the Coastal Studies Institute’s Meet the Scientist was held on April 29, 2021. The episode was streamed live via YouTube and featured Dr. David Lagomasino (Coastal Studies). Dr. Lagomasino uses Earth-observing satellites to make sense of when, where, why, and how coastal areas are changing around the world. During the interview he shared how his studies can provide crucial information that helps inform better decisions about how to conserve, restore, and protect coastlines.

ACADEMIC LIBRARY SERVICES

ECU Libraries and its fellow members of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL) have partnered with Adam Matthew Digital to gain perpetual access to all Adam Matthew Digital content published through 2016.

“ASERL is thrilled our member libraries were able to make these investments that unlocked a wonderful trove of content,” commented Jan Lewis, director of Academic Library Services at East Carolina University and president of ASERL’s Board of Directors for 2020-2021. “The past year has been so challenging for so many libraries in so many ways – it’s really wonderful ASERL libraries are able to receive this membership benefit to boost their collections.”

The cache of content now available to ASERL institutions includes 77 collections from the award-winning publisher such as Colonial America, American History, American Indian Histories and Cultures, Global Commodities, Slavery, Abolition and Social Justice, and Popular Culture in Britain and America.

Working as a group to reach a collective spend goal, ASERL libraries are celebrating the additional, unprecedented level of access to essential primary source content from Adam Matthew Digital.

Access to primary source content is particularly vital in the current moment when physical archives are restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This partnership supports ASERL’s mission of “providing and maintaining top quality resources and services to students, faculty, and citizens of their respective communities.”

Learn more about Academic Library Services’ open access and sustainable scholarship commitments HERE.

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