Table of Contents
- Message from Vice Chancellor Frye
- SGA Election Results
- Annual Report 2021-2022
- Student Affairs Making Headlines
- >>Pirate Media 1
- >>ACUI Presentation
- >>NASPA Leadership Exchange
- GROW Survey and Upcoming Assessment Workshop
- SA Awards Nominations
- Love One Another Symposium
- Pirate Nation Gives - Save the Date
- New Hires, Promotions and Separations
From the Desk of Vice Chancellor Brandon Frye
Pirates:
Spring has sprung throughout Pirate Nation! The students just wrapped up Spring Break. We changed our clocks to spring forward an hour last weekend. The baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, and golf teams are all in action. We don’t even have to wait for March 20th to make it official. Springtime in eastern North Carolina is here.
Before I go too far down the road here, let me do some introductions.
First, I am Dr. Brandon Frye and I have the honor to serve as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs here at East Carolina University (ECU). This is my second month on the job, and I am drinking in as much information from the “fire hose” as I possibly can. More on that later in this letter.
Next, this is the e-newsletter for the Division of Student Affairs called On Deck with Student Affairs (On Deck). The division started producing On Deck with Student Affairs in January 2016 (click here to visit our archived editions) and it has been an internal communication tool for sharing all the great things happening in Student Affairs but we are expanding our outreach starting this month.
On Deck will continue feature stories about the division, but we also intend to showcase collaborations, partnerships and opportunities for faculty and staff across ECU. Utilizing our data and key metrics we will also share trends and offer tips and suggestions for navigating often difficult waters related to our students.
Now, back to the topic of taking in and synthesizing all the wonderful information I am learning on my “listening tour” with our students, staff, faculty, and stakeholders. In my first six weeks I have been meeting with the departments and staff within the division, but also with Faculty and Staff Senate, our Student Government Association and Pirate Roundtable (key student organizational leaders) and many leaders at ECU and in the Pitt-Greenville community.
ECU is my sixth higher education institution where I have served, second as a vice chancellor, and it hasn’t taken me very long to figure out what makes this place special. Plain and simple – it’s the people. Staff and faculty are committed to supporting student success above all else. Chancellor Rogers is driving the One ECU model and people really seem to be embracing that approach. It’s also the students. I have greatly enjoyed the formal and informal interactions I have had with our students thus far.
There are many common themes rising out of my conversations with stakeholders. First, I am so appreciative of the welcoming, open arms to this ECU community. Everyone has been honest, candid, and direct in providing their opinions and perspective and that fits my personality perfectly.
For my folks in Student Affairs, I have enjoyed hearing about what brings you joy and fills your cup and, most of all, I get energized when I see the smile on your faces when you talk about our students.
Spring Break is behind us, and we are getting ready for the downhill slide towards Commencement, New Student Orientation and more. We have successfully reached phase four of the annual Student Success Continuum – Connect, Invest, Motivate, and now it’s time to Finish Strong!
Go Pirates!
SGA Elections Results 2023-2024
Student Government Association received the most votes ever with 4,260 students voting in the 2023-2024 elections. In addition, Executive Tickets 1 and 2 had a runoff election with 3,422 total votes.
Newly elected members for 2023-2024 are listed below. There are some seats that have not been filled; they will be filled at a later date through an application process. These new members will take office at the SGA Banquet on March 29th.
Annual Report 2021-2022
The Division of Student Affairs celebrated many amazing accomplishments during the academic year. Please enjoy the 2021-2022 Annual Report that chronicles the divisions commitments to student success, public service and regional transformation.
Student Affairs Making Headlines
N.C. College Media Association Awards
Pirate Media 1 participated in the annual N.C. College Media Association conference Feb. 25, 2023, at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. There were 17 state colleges and universities, both public and private, attending the conference.
Awards presented to The East Carolinian and Rebel were:
The East Carolinian
- Best of Show - Newspaper
- Best of Show - Online
- Digital Storytelling | Second Place | Hannah Bolick, Emily Peek, Jennifer Sieg, Nia Cruz and Olivia Magistro.
- Illustration/Graphic | Second Place | Olivia Magistro
- Single or Two-Page Design | Honorable Mention | Olivia Magistro
REBEL
- Best of Show - Literary Magazine
- Two-Page Spread | Honorable Mention | Olivia Magistro
- Photography/Art | First Place | Kiersten Joyner
ACUI Presentation
Dr. Dean Smith, Senior Director of Student Centers for SIL, presented at the ACUI Annual Conference in Boston held from February 26 to March 1st. The presentation was titled “Fiscal Management Roundtable.”
Session Description: Dr. Dean Smith, Senior Director of Student Centers at East Carolina University, holds concurrent roles at his institution as a CFO and COO (Finance, Facilities, and Operations) and is responsible for the management and coordination of resources in support of student programming. This session is open to all student center professionals, regardless of roles or stages in their careers. While the session will principally focus on financial management, financial management does not exist in a vacuum. It exists to support other areas and functions within your student center. Understanding financial management is critical to your success and the success of your organization. Construction, renovation, cost sharing, resource sharing, inflationary adjustments, facility management, student program support, and organizational leadership are all open for discussion.
- Primary Competence: Fiscal Management
- Secondary Competency: Organizational Leadership (I talk a lot about collaborations, partnerships, conflict resolution, and group management as a method to solve financial shortfalls.)
ECU in the NASPA Leadership Exchange
DESCRIPTION: The conversation about recruiting and retaining top staff has been happening for quite some time among job seekers, hiring managers, and professionals in lower administrative-level roles at colleges and universities nationwide. Senior-level leaders are moving the needle as well. Dr. Erik Kneubuehl, associate vice chancellor at East Carolina University, and J. Scott Derrick, managing search consultant at Spelman Johnson, an executive search firm, provide a preview of their panel presentation on the topic at the 2023 NASPA Annual Conference.
GROW Survey and Upcoming Assessment Workshop
Encourage Your Student Employees to Provide Important Feedback - By Gretchen Brockmann, Campus Living, Dr. Greg Corack, Campus Recreation & Wellness, Dr. Helen Mulhern Halasz, Student Affairs Assessment, Research, & Planning
The Division of Student Affairs depends on 800+ student employees to successfully implement our core functions. The ECU GROW (Guided Reflection on Work) survey to assess student employee competencies will be sent out March 15. Success depends on you, SA student employee supervisors, to encourage feedback via the confidential survey!
The Five Core competencies include foundational career skills and knowledge designed to influence their ECU student experience and preparation for post-graduate careers. Data collected and analyzed from March 2023 survey results of student employee feedback will identify skills, strengths, and gaps to inform professional development priorities. Please encourage your student employees to provide feedback about how knowledge and skills in their current role can apply to post-graduate employment in the future!
Training Workshop on Surveys
2022-2023 Student Affairs Awards - Nominations Open until April 7
The Division of Student Affairs and the SA Awards Committee are pleased to announce the nominations for the 2022-2023 Student Affairs Awards are NOW open.
Once again, the divisional awards are connected to the Student Affairs values: Respect, Inclusion, Student Centered, Excellence, Integrity and Service. In addition to the divisional values awards, we will also present the Emerging Professional Award, Outstanding Support Team Member, and Student Affairs Outstanding Program of the Year.
For the SA Awards, you may nominate each person for up to three divisional awards per nomination form. However, if you wish to nominate more than one colleague, you will need to submit a nomination form for each person.
Awards criteria and detailed information are provided on the 2022-23 nomination form. The deadline to submit a nomination is April 7, 2023.
Here are some of the details specific to the Student Affairs awards:
- Nominations open March 1, 2023 – April 7, 2023
- Self-nominations permitted (must provide an additional reference)
- Nominees will receive official notification from Dr. Frye and may be contacted by the Awards Committee for additional information (if needed)
- All nominees and recipients will be recognized at the Student Affairs Awards Celebration.
For any questions, please contact Chris Stansbury, interim chair of the SA Awards Committee at stansburyc@ecu.edu.
A regional faith symposium on LGBTQ inclusivity
Submitted by Mark Rasdorf, Intercultural Affairs Senior Associate Director
On February 25, the Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Center hosted LOVE ONE ANOTHER, a regional faith symposium on LGBTQ inclusivity. The first-ever event was attended by just over 200 people with participation from across the region including Raleigh, Wilson, Morehead City, and Atlantic Beach.
Mark Rasdorf, Director of the Peel LGBTQ Center, and Dennis McCunney, Director of Intercultural Affairs, welcomed the audience with a special greeting offered by Dr. Jesse Peel. The opening keynote address was delivered by Rev. Dr. Charles T. Dupree (ECU ’93), Rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia and a native of Edgecombe County, North Carolina.
The Shower of Stoles, a project of the National LGBTQ Task force, was featured in a display, as well as display of LGBTQ Leaders of Faith researched and written by Reagan Leandro, an ECU undergraduate majoring in Religious Studies, and designed by Rose Bogue, Peel LGBTQ Center Interim Program Coordinator.
Nine different workshops were offered throughout the afternoon, facilitated by faith leaders from across the region including Rev. Vance Haywood from St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church in Raleigh and Rev. Ian McPherson from Pullen Memorial Baptist Church.
Rev. Dr. Nancy E. Petty, Pastor of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, offered the closing keynote. Her address was followed by the presentation of artwork commissioned by the Peel LGBTQ Center with support from the LGBTQ Priority Fund specifically for this event. Aliyah Bonnette (ECU ’21) works in textiles and created a piece entitled “Come With Me and We Will Go Singing” inspired by the life and work of Pauli Murray, a lawyer, educator, activist, and theologian who was raised in Durham. The artwork was dedicated at the symposium and will be on permanent display in the Peel LGBTQ Center.
The symposium closed with a reflection ceremony led by Samuel Heath, MDiv, MAMFT (ECU doctoral student in the Medical Family Therapy program); Rev. Todd Humphrey, Pastor at Crystal Coast Unity in Atlantic Beach; and Juniper LaNunziata, Director of Christian Formation at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Greenville.
Organizing committee:
- Rev. Paully Adams, St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church, Raleigh
- Rev. Amy Andrews, Cedarbridge Baptist Church, Greenville
- Rev. Dan Burris, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Greenville
- Daewon Goldenbaum-Yang, UKirk Campus Ministry, Greenville
- Rev. Laura Goldenbaum-Yang, St. James United Methodist Church, Greenville
- Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman, Congregation Bayt Shalom, Greenville
- Samuel R. Heath, MDiv, MAMFT, Doctoral Student in Medical Family Therapy, East Carolina University
- Rev. Todd Humphrey, Crystal Coast Unity, Atlantic Beach
- Rev. Karen Jackson, First Presbyterian Church, Greenville
- Rev. Donna Kraus, The Well: Episcopal Lutheran Campus Ministry, Greenville
- Juniper LaNunziata, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Greenville
- Rev. Jason Leighton, Greenville Wesley
- Rev. Micah Ma, Unitarian Coastal Fellowship, Morehead City
- Derek F. Maher, PhD, Chair, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, East Carolina University
- Dr. Dennis McCunney, Director, Intercultural Affairs, East Carolina University
- Dr. Mary Nyangweso, Professor and Peel Distinguished Chair; Director, Religious Studies, East Carolina University
- Rev. Andrew Shue, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Greenville
Pirate Nation Gives 2023
Pirate Nation Gives is Wednesday, March 22. This day of giving is a 24-hour online fundraising event that brings the ECU community together to engage with and give back to the university. Every gift makes a difference in supporting our specific Student Affairs initiatives.
Pirates never back down from a challenge, and this year we are introducing just that to Pirate Nation Gives. Play along, motivate your friends, and win cash for your area of interest at ECU.
NAME A SQUIRREL - With a gift of $5 or more to the Students' Treasure Chest, you can name a squirrel. Once you make your gift, check your email for a personalizable image that you can use to show off your new pal.
New Hires, Promotions and Separations
New Hires
John Fortunato - Campus Living Maintenance Technician
John Fortunato is a new Lead Maintenance Technician for Campus Living. He loves spending time with his family. He also enjoys riding his motorcycle and watching sports.
Justin Pritchard - Central Reservations Office Assistant Director
Justin is the Assistant Director for the Central Reservations Office (CRO). He will be working primarily with Campus Departments.
Justin grew up in Johnson City, Tennessee, where he obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from East Tennessee State University. He relocated to Greenville in August of 2019. Prior to joining Student Affairs, Justin served as an administrative assistant and project manager for the ECU office of Economic and Community Engagement. During his free time, he enjoys reading, crocheting, sewing, and quilting.
Shawn Anderson – Central Ticket Office Associate
Shawn will be the primary customer contact when our student staff isn’t available. He will also help with the supervision of the student staff and handle daily deposits for the CTO as well as share the duties of staffing our satellite box office locations during events.
Shawn is familiar with our division, having served just over two years in a temporary role at Student Health Services as the main point of contact for COVID related matters during the height of the pandemic.
Shawn, an area native from the nearby town of Grimesland, now lives in Greenville and is a huge fan of the NBA and sports in general.
Mikki Davis – Vice Chancellor Administrative Support
Mikki Davis is the new Administrative Support Associate for the Vice Chancellor’s Office of Student Affairs and was welcomed to the team February 27th 2023. She is a native of Greenville NC and attended ECU for her undergrad where she earned a BA Anthropology and a BA Classical Studies. Mikki currently resides in Greenville with her fiancé, Braden, and her two cats Puck and Daisy. She enjoys translating Ancient Greek and Latin and learning about Classical Philosophy in her spare time. She is hopeful to pursue an MA in Classics and teach (hopefully at ECU) in the future.
Steven Campbell – CRW Budget and Resource Coordinator
Steven Campbell is the Budget and Resource coordinator for Campus Recreation and Wellness. This position tracks processes, monitors program budget activity, and initiates student employment hiring and onboarding processes. Steven is born and raised in Greenville and has a BS in Economics with a minor in Business Administration. His previous employment includes 3 years in Biology and almost 2 years with AFROTC. His hobbies are watching new tv shows/movies, sports and enjoying time with friends.
Promotions
- Stacey Crowder – Pharmacy Tech – Student Health Services – February 1
- Jacob Meyer – Tech Support – Campus Living – February 1
- Gabi Lemus – Director – Ledonia Wright Cultural Center – March 1
Separations
- Monica Jordan – Pharmacist – Student Health Services – February 17
- Yulisa Weaver – Certified Med Assistant – Student Health Services – February 20
Credits:
Created with images by Creative Services, University Photographers, and SA Communications.