COGER'S CORNER
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Welcome to our February Issue of First Monday.
I want to thank all of our students, faculty, and staff for the many ways you inspire each other, and me, daily. You’ve heard me say before that I firmly believe that the people of the Pirate Nation are our strength. The people of East Carolina University will always be the right place to place our anchor – since our capacity to ensure the University’s continued viability and relevance for decades to come, is appropriately dependent on who we are as ECU.
Last week was the February meeting of the Board of Trustees, where all sessions were packed with information and discussion. (Refer to ECU’s website for a few highlights). As I reflected on the meeting, I thought about the substance shared by so many and the passion visible in several exchanges. When coupled, “substance” and “passion” are two things that are valuable to an institution of higher education because one is crucial for delivering knowledge and content, while the other is evidence that the individual cares. By consistently leveraging both, a university has essential tools to evolve as needed for its continued effectiveness. This is especially important in times such as these, where multiple aspects of higher ed are rapidly shifting. For instance, learners (and faculty and staff) have changed and will continue to do so, as have the services and supports learners need and expect. The funding models and performance expectations for universities across the United States are continuing to shift, and the packaging and formats for which potential learners want their education delivered have also expanded. For our University, how we rise to the occasion of now, together, will make the difference between East Carolina University being the national model consistent with our mission, or not.
This brings me to a question I have for you:
ON A SCALE OF 1-10 (WHERE 1 IS POOR AND 10 IS EXCELLENT), WHAT IS OUR UNIVERSITY’S CONSISTENCY IN DIFFERENT ECU UNITS COLLABORATING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE SIGNIFICANT GOALS?
The consistency of the behavior is key here, as is the focus on achieving significant goals. If you gave our University community a lower score, you think our norm across the University leans more toward working in silos. If you gave a score closer to 9 or 10, your perception leans toward it being a norm across ECU to design effective solutions to complex opportunities and problems using a multi-disciplinary team approach. Whatever your score, I ask your help in assessing how you, as a citizen of the Pirate Nation, might be able to take action within your part of ECU to further improve where our University ranks on that scale.
Ensuring that ECU is a university that regularly works together to create innovative solutions that address big challenges is one way to ensure that our University continues to prosper. For some Pirates, collaborating on attracting and preparing learners well prepared to succeed within in-demand professions may be attractive. For others, linking across disciplines to effectively tackle growing problems in public health (e.g., mental health, geriatric health and well-being, etc.) may be more fitting. For others, teaming to implement strategies across ECU for helping our learners (from first-year students to pending graduates) more readily appreciate the applications of required coursework to their planned careers, can be a path to further deepen the constancy of our students fully engaging in their own learning and simultaneously shape ECU’s positive reputation. The list of possible challenges to address is vast and certainly larger than the few examples presented here – yet one thing I know for certain is that ECU is a University of experts who care, and when we the people of the Pirate Nation shift into solution mode and commit to working collaboratively, our University, North Carolina and the nation all win.
As I close, I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to this issue of First Monday, with a special thanks to Jules Norwood of ECU News Services for lending his help to Academic Affairs over the last few months when we were down a team member. We all hope you enjoy this February issue.
Have a great month, everyone.
- Robin Coger
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BY THE NUMBERS
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AROUND ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
PIRATE ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER
PASC Excels: Celebrating the academic achievement of first-time freshmen and transfer students
Students transitioning to college face academic and social challenges that can impact their academic achievement. On Jan. 27 the staff of the Pirate Academic Success Center celebrated learning community students who achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher in their first fall semester despite transition challenges. Keynote speaker Dr. Allen Guidry, interim associate vice chancellor for academic operations, congratulated the PASC Excels students and recognized their achievements. Guidry encouraged them to seek out the people who support them and express their gratitude. Honored students received a certificate of achievement and a dessert reception at the PASC.
Of the students recognized, 80 are a part of the Gear Up NC program, 31 are Freshmen who choose to participate in the PASC learning community program this year, and 32 are TrACE transfer students. For more information about learning communities or the Gear Up NC and TrACE system grants, visit the PASC website.
OFFICE OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS
The Office of Global Affairs thanks Faisal Abouelhassan, Raphael Yaft, and Chuks Ubah, among others, for their work in re-forming and reinvigorating the International Student Association. ISA is open to all students with an interest in advocating for issues of importance to international students. The group is currently recruiting members. If any of your students would be interested, please direct them to the ISA Engage page for more information.
Miller School of Entreprenuership is partnering with World Learning (a Washington-based NGO), the U.S. Department of State, and a group of other U.S. higher education institutions, to bring 15 leaders in academic organizations in the MENA region to the U.S. The program is designed to deepen relations between higher education institutions in the regions and build capacity in the areas of entrepreneurship, accreditation, societal impact and international cooperation.
At the request of numerous faculty, staff and ECU consituents, Global Affairs has initiated a scholarship opportunity for students from Afghanistan, Ukraine or other countries suffering from social or economic hardship due to war, humanitarian crisis or natural disasters. To contribute to this Countries in Crisis Scholarship, please visit the International Student Scholarship portal.
Upcoming Events
Global PIRATES - Building Inquisitiveness & openness, Respectfulness, and Self-awareness in the Classroom: The second in a series of annual interactive workshops designed to assist faculty in incorporating intercultural skill-building in their courses. This year we focus on inquisitiveness/openness, respectfulness, and self-awareness. Feb. 22 from noon to 3 p.m. in Main Campus Student Center Room 253. Sign up today.
International Coffee Hour: Fridays throughout February from 3-5 p.m. in Cynthia’s Lounge (Mendenhall). Free coffee, tea, snacks and games. Meet our international students and scholars. All are welcome!
Global Zone Training: Help build a more welcoming and inclusive community for international students, faculty, and staff at ECU. Global Zone Training provides an interactive and engaging opportunity for you to better understand the challenges international Pirates face and develop strategies for helping them navigate rough waters. March 21 from 2-5 p.m. in Main Campus Student Center Room 249. Sign up today.
OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
The Office of University Scholarships has moved. Its offices are now located in the G210 Suite of Old Cafeteria. Please send students and families with scholarship questions to the new location and stop by if you are in the building!
OFFICE OF RESEARCH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & ENGAGEMENT
Research Communications Workshop - Feb. 22
The Office of Research, Economic Development and Engagement is partnering with the University Communications' News Services office to offer a half-day Communications Workshop for ECU faculty researchers. The workshop will take place Feb. 22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Willis Auditorium. Lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required.
This workshop will focus on:
- Working with ECU News Services to amplify your story.
- Lights, camera, mic! How to talk to reporters.
- Adjusting your language for the general public.
- ECU Experts: Steps to take when reporters reach out.
- What you can and can't reveal with sponsored projects; intellectual property and embargoes.
- Pitching your research story.
- What's in it for you? Benefits of public outreach.
Space is limited and spots are going fast. Pre-registration is required for this professional development opportunity. To be added to a waiting list, contact Dr. Mary Farwell or Kim Tilghman.
Seeking Submissions for Research and Creative Achieve Week (RCAW)
The 17th annual Research and Creative Achievement Week (RCAW), April 3-6, 2023, will highlight the extraordinary accomplishments of our students in research and creative activities. This year’s event will include in-person podium presentations, poster sessions, performances, and showcases, as well as virtual posters featuring the research and creative activities of our undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral scholars from across ECU.
At this time, faculty should engage with their students and post-doctoral scholars to help them determine which research project they might submit for this event. Abstract submissions are due Feb. 15, 2023.
Visit the RCAW website for more information and to sign up to be a moderator or judge.
New Quarterly ‘Compliance Connection’ Newsletter
The Office of Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC) has initiated a new quarterly newsletter called Compliance Connection (PDF). This newsletter serves as another mechanism by which we can connect with the University community to provide timely and important information on emerging compliance topics and issues. You’ll find that while many of the topics relate specifically to the research community, others may be relevant to the broader University community.
Each quarter, Compliance Connection will bring you curated information, relevant news, and best practices related to regulatory compliance both on campus and nationally.
- Curated topics include information related to:
- Conflicts of Interest
- Export Controls
- Responsible Conduct of Research
- Research Misconduct
Newsletters will be archived on our website.
If you have any questions, please contact us at oric@ecu.edu.
Research Administration Staff Announcement
Jessica Yoder has been named the Business Compliance & Research Analytics Coordinator with ORA Data Analytics. She brings previous experience with data management, analysis and visualization along with knowledge of ECU research and research administration. Yoder was previously part of REDE’s Compliance Monitoring and Strategic Initiatives team.
REDE Team Helps Northeastern NC Address Housing Need
Partnerships. Collaboration. Service in action. Learn how a REDE team helped several northeastern NC counties obtain consistent funding to address the area's affordable housing needs. Read more.
Two ECU Faculty Researchers Selected for Pitch Event
Dr. Sharon Rogers Moore (digital tools) and Dr. Jitka Virag (therapeutics) have been selected to participate in the Equalize pitch competition for 2023. Equalize accepted 22 participants from across the country covering four areas: therapeutics, medical technologies, physical sciences, and digital tools. The pitch event will be held on June 29, 2023.
EOSA Faculty Recognition
Congratulations to the following faculty members who have been selected to participate in the 2023-2024 Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy (EOSA) program:
- Dr. Carrie Bergeson, College of Health and Human Performance
- Dr. Yilei Huang, College of Engineering and Technology
- Dr. Eric Wade, Integrated Coastal Programs
- Dr. Tianjiao Zhao, College of Engineering and Technology
Learn more about the 2023 EOSA cohort HERE.
SECU Public Fellows Internship Program Accepting Applications
The SECU Public Fellows Internship Program (click here for video) connects the university and regional communities through projects that address community-identified priorities. Undergraduate student placements provide opportunities for fellows to develop leadership, analytical, problem solving, communication and project management skills, as well as allowing them to network in professional settings.
Applications for the summer internship opportunity are available at go.ecu.edu/pfi.
Application Deadline: March 6, 2023
Continuing and Professional Education
Lifelong Learning Program participants went on a winter excursion to the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge on January 20 to experience the migration of tundra swans. The program’s spring session kicked off January 27 with over 60 participants at the registration event. View the Spring 2023 online catalog of courses and trips, and share the affordable opportunities with someone you know. The Lifelong Learning Program is now open to all adult learners, age 18 and up.
If you would like to offer your expertise as an instructor or propose an excursion, contact Annette Kariko or click here to propose a course.
Upcoming Opportunities:
- Glass Blowing at the GlasStation – multiple classes available
- Assistive Technology Foundations – register by Feb. 27; program begins Mar. 6
- Mapping Eastern NC – Feb. 28; seats available
FACULTY SENATE
2022 - 2023 Faculty Senate meeting dates are as follows:
- Feb. 21, 2023
- March 28, 2023
- April 25, 2023
- May 2, 2023 (Organizational Meeting for 2023-2024)
For more about ECU Faculty Senate, click HERE.
CENTER FOR PRE-PROFESSIONAL ADVISING
East Carolina University and the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, the No. 1 pharmacy school in the country, have established an early assurance program (EAP). This partnership means current and incoming ECU students interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in pharmacy may be eligible for assured admission to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. The first cohort of ECU early assurance scholars will be selected in spring 2024 and will begin their journey toward the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy that fall. Up to 10 students will be admitted each year through the program. The partnership will give them opportunities to network with and shadow current pharmacists and participate in workshops with leaders from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
PRIME PIRATES
East Carolina University continues to build on its success of educating non-traditional students with a focus on expanding support for adult learners.
Non-traditional students are those that are 25 years of age or older. In other words, Pirates who are in their Prime! The landscape of higher education is changing, with the number of non-traditional students growing faster than the population of traditional students. Many of these students are working full-time, caring for a family, and often doing all of this while also desiring to complete a college degree. Many non-traditional students are active military or veterans. ECU understands the challenges that are associated with these demands and wants to support these students to make their dream of a higher education a reality.
One tool to provide support for this cohort of students is the newly launched Prime Pirates website. From here, students can find all the resources they need to make the important decision to start or continue in their pursuit of a college degree. The site is also a full-service home for adult students to quickly find all the answers and support services ECU has available for them while they are enrolled and beyond. Current and prospective non-traditional students who want to get in touch with the appropriate support staff can use the “Contact Us” option on the website. Check out this new site and use the Contact Us form to provide any feedback.
ONLINE LEARNING, ACADEMIC OUTREACH, AND ACADEMIC INNOVATION
Dr. Bobbi Jo Carter has joined Pirate Nation as the executive director of Online Learning, Academic Outreach, and Academic Innovation (OLAOAI) within Academic Operations as of Feb. 1. Carter has worked in higher education since 2000, serving in various roles primarily focused on eLearning, professional development, and workforce development. Her experience is derived from working at colleges and universities in South Dakota, Alabama, and Vermont. Carter has earned a bachelor’s degree with majors in economics and business finance, a master’s degree in e-learning technology and administration, and a Ph.D. in information technology management. She is a progressive and collaborative leader who has built her career on fostering organizational relationships and community partnerships. Her commitment to service leadership has positively impacted academic outreach efforts through her participation on local, state, and national boards and committees.
As executive director of OLAOAI, Carter will provide strategic and innovative leadership and oversee operational management for OLAOAI. Specifically, she will direct staff of the programs that operate within the office: distance education (ECU Online), DOE state authorization reciprocity agreements, Experiential Learning Inventory (ELI), ECU testing center, military outreach, and off-model programs. A new responsibility for the executive director of OLAOAI will be the coordination of the ECU Collaborative for Online Learning (CfOL), formed in January 2022. In this role, Carter will help develop, revise, and communicate a vision for the CfOL to both internal and external stakeholders.
Thank you to Jennifer Baysden for her service over the past 17 months as interim executive director of OLAOAI. She provided exceptional leadership as OLAOAI transitioned out of the pandemic and from Academic Outreach and Distance Education (AODE) to its current configuration. Baysden will transition back to her role leading ECU Online.
ECU Testing Center
The ECU Testing Center has re-opened on a full-time basis to provide test administration services for the ECU campus community. The Testing Center is located at Brewster B103. National undergraduate and graduate college entrance exams (i.e., SAT, ACT, GRE Subject, and MAT) are administered at the Testing Center. Meazure Learning licensure and credentialing exams are also available at the Testing Center. Students can save money by using the CLEP college credit-by-examination program available at the Testing Center. Depending on capacity, the staff at the Testing Center can assist faculty with the administration of high-stakes licensure and program-specific comprehensive exit exams.
The Testing Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Faculty or students needing assistance can visit the Testing Center at Brewster B103 or call 328-6811.
Good luck throughout the 2023 spring semester. Go Pirates!
SARA/State Authorization Compliance
SARA Compliance Website - We welcome you to browse the new and revised SARA Compliance website. Our website contains all things you need to know regarding state authorizations, NC-SARA, Professional Licensure compliance and ECU’s Experiential Learning Inventory (ELI). Contact Charlene Lee, SARA Compliance Specialist, with any questions or comments.
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COLLEGE UPDATES
ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES
Dr. Leigh Atherton, associate professor in addictions and rehabilitation studies, received a new $2.5 million federal grant to support outreach and engagement work in eastern North Carolina.
Engage ENC: Minority Aids Initiative (MAI) is providing services for racial and ethnic minorities with a history of substance use who are at high risk for developing HIV/AIDS. It complements Atherton's Workforce Development project, also funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Continue reading about Engage ENC.
Additionally, Atherton is partnering with a nursing researcher to provide resources for her project which seeks the best ways to communicate with HIV-positive women in rural regions, such as eastern North Carolina.
Continue reading about the Nursing Project Partnership.
Faculty and students in the Department of Physical Therapy developed an exercise program to assist patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms. Pirate PTs encourage their patients to move through a series of activities designed to keep those with PD mentally and physically active. Surrounded by fellow patients, the group setting helps patients connect with one another and avoid isolation.
Seniors in the Nutrition Science Quantity Foods Lab prepare a themed menu which they serve to campus each Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Under the direction of Roxanne Wilder, clinical instructor, students rotate in a management role where they decide what to cook, which recipe to use, and how to alter it for larger quantities. A la carte items can be preordered Monday-Wednesday with pickup in 160 Rivers and 2435 Health Sciences Building.
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty, staff and administration welcomed members of the Scottish Rite for their annual presentation of financial support. One of two facilities supported by the organization, the Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic offers school-aged children with limited access to special education services a comprehensive evaluation through the Scottish Rite Childhood Language program.
Dr. Denise Donica, professor and chair of occupational therapy, spoke to Newsy about the benefits of learning cursive writing for children. One of Donica's research interests is handwriting, including curriculum, skill and evaluation.
Clinical Laboratory Science students practice a test known as latex agglutination. This rule-out test is used to determine if a patient's blood clot has broken down.
Bradly Boaz, a Health Services Management student, received a Life Saving Award for helping to rescue a fellow ECU student. Boaz performed CPR on the student who passed out during a jog earlier this year.
December graduates of the Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2022 celebrated with a White Coat Ceremony.
ARTS & SCIENCES
During the fall 2022 semester, the Department of Criminal Justice faculty, staff, and students participated in the “Cans for Credit” food drive, which resulted in a donation of 1,510 pounds of food to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. East semester, participation in Cans for Credit is led by the criminal justice student organizations, and faculty offer nominal extra credit for donations of canned food.
Congratulations to two Harriot College staff members who completed their undergraduate degrees in December 2022. Heather Bateman, lead administrative support associate for the Department of Political Science, earned her B.S. in industrial distribution and logistics. Bateman, who has worked with Harriot College since 2018, graduated Magna Cum Laude, and as a student in one of ECU's accelerated programs, she has already started taking courses toward the Master of Science in technology management. Chanel Higgins, administrative support associate for the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, earned her B.S. in university studies. Higgins pursued her degree with a thematic core of wellness and human behavior, and she also completed a minor in psychology.
“Searching for Jimmy Page,” a novel by Christy Hallberg, teaching professor in the Department of English, has won a new award and has been named a Shelf Unbound 2022 Notable Indi Book. Since its late 2021 publication, the novel has won awards or accolades from the American Writing Awards (Winner Best New Fiction, Winner Best Fiction General), Independent Press Awards (Distinguished Favorite in General Fiction), BookFest (Honorable Mention in Fiction), Firebird Book Awards (3rd place Literary Fiction, 2nd place Southern Fiction, 1st place Pop Culture Fiction), and National Indie Excellence Awards (Finalist in Music).
ECU’s Department of History faculty, staff and students will host and serve as judges for the regional competition of students participating in the annual National History Day competition. The regional competition will be held on March 22, in the Main Campus Student Center. ECU has hosted this highly regarded academic event for middle and high school students and their parents since its inception as a national program in the early 1980s. History Day begins locally at the school level, proceeds to the regional level, here at ECU in the spring, and winners then move on to Raleigh for the state competition, and possibly to Washington, D.C. for the national competition.
“According to a national study, History Day helps transform students into strong writers, critical thinkers, and high performers,” said Tim Jenks, interim chair of history. “The event is a good example of how ECU participates in regional transformation, stressing the significance of understanding the human past.”
U.S. Representative Don Davis, as reported by The Daily Reflector, has chosen two Harriot College political science alumni to serve as staff within his Washington, D.C., and district offices. Kimberly Mack (Master of Public Administration '18) will serve as the District Director of North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. Mack most recently served as the special assistant to the president for Governmental, Community, and College Affairs and the executive assistant to the president and Board of Trustees at Halifax Community College for more than 10 years. Mack previously served as a research assistant for the late North Carolina Senator Jeanne H. Lucas. Mack serves on the ECU School of Public Administration Advisory Committee and is a doctoral student at North Carolina State University. Chris Hardee (B.S. political science '16, with a minor in public administration) will serve as Davis' regional director. Hardee is a management consultant and served more than 20 years as the 3rd Congressional District Democratic Party chairman.
BRODY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
The 39th annual Andrew A. Best, MD Senior Recognition Banquet honored an eastern North Carolina legacy in medicine — and celebrated the graduating members of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) in the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. The Jan. 21 banquet, hosted by Brody’s chapter of the SNMA and the Andrew Best Medical Society, was held at ECU’s Murphy Center and celebrated Best as an important contributor to the advancement of medical students from groups that the Association of American Medical Colleges considers to be underrepresented in medicine — Black, Hispanic and Native American.
Fifteen Brody students were also honored for their efforts through SNMA to carry Best’s legacy through their positive impact on the community, initiatives in addressing health disparities, academic excellence and aspirations as culturally responsible physicians.
Higginson balances new roles
Dr. Jason Higginson, executive dean of East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine, took on yet another role when he took over command of the U.S. Navy Reserve’s Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command in Bethesda, Maryland. Higginson also serves as the chief health officer for ECU Health, as a practicing physician in the neonatal intensive care unit of ECU Health Medical Center, as a professor of pediatrics, bioethics and interdisciplinary studies at Brody, as a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, as chair of the medical executive committee for the Navy Reserve, and as husband and father of two.
The new role is a two-year assignment, during which Higginson — who joined the Reserves in 2012 after 13 years of active duty — will oversee a pool of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals who are available for the Navy to deploy for worldwide contingency support.
“Walter Reed is where I spent a long, long part of my military career,” Higginson said. “It is a privilege to be able to go back and be in charge of an organization that’s dedicated to saving someone’s life who’s really contributing to that overall effort. I am excited to be back at the place that shaped me most as a Naval officer.”
Physician of the Year
Shannon B. Dowler, a 1999 graduate of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, was named the 2022 Distinguished Family Physician Award winner by the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians (NCAFP), the state’s largest specialty medical association. The Distinguished Family Physician Award is the most prestigious award given by the NCAFP. Dowler was honored for her career as a family physician, for working to combat the spread of sexually transmitted infections and for her expertise in health care policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She currently serves as chief medical officer (CMO) for N.C. Medicaid and deputy CMO for Health Access within the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. She was previously medical director of a federally qualified health center and a physician executive within Mission Health System before joining N.C. Medicaid in 2018. She is a part-time volunteer at the Buncombe County Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic.
“The influence of my medical education at Brody (then ECU School of Medicine) significantly impacted my career,” she said, “from understanding the critical importance of a foundational medical home and a desire to drive meaningful improvements in health equity, to the influence of a person’s environment and experiences that ultimately contribute to achieving optimal health.”
BUSINESS
As part of a Department of State-sponsored program, the Miller School of Entrepreneurship will host four representatives from international academic institutions in February to share knowledge and resources about the entrepreneurial programs established at the Miller School and East Carolina University. The visit will also include a tour of the region the University is serving. Dr. Dennis Barber III, acting director of the Miller School, helped develop the program with colleagues from Rowan University of New Jersey. ECU’s Office of Research, Economic Development and Engagement, College of Business and Office of Global Affairs will also play host to the visitors.
The COB’s School of Hospitality Leadership has revamped its annual Career Fair (Feb. 9) to include a morning session that welcomes area high school students interested in learning more about the hospitality industry. During their visit, the high school students will hear from hospitality representatives, participate in a panel discussion on hospitality careers and preview the SHL Career Fair, which starts at 1 p.m. and is open to all ECU students.
North Carolina economic research continues to come out of the COB. Its Bureau of Business Research recently posted an N.C. Community Engagement Survey for December 2022. Results of the survey, which looks at the local living conditions throughout North Carolina since the start of the COVID pandemic, show long‐term optimism and modestly upward trends tempered by short‐term challenges in access to basics like housing, childcare, and eldercare. Check back here for additional monthly reports.
Six teams have been selected to move on to the finals of this year’s Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge. The second round, held Jan. 25 in the Main Student Center, featured 11 teams pitching their ideas to a panel of six judges. The College of Business, College of Engineering and Technology, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences and College of Health and Human Performance will be represented during the finals, which are April 6 in Harvey Hall. For more information, click here.
As part of ECU’s Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy, Drs. Christine Kowalczyk, Shirley Mai and Linda Quick recently worked with students at the Innovation Early College High School on a research project called “Toolbox Leadership Academy.” The project, which also included support from four ECU Scholars, focused on leadership and featured exercises where 21 students (freshmen and sophomores) learned about empowerment, teamwork and goal setting. For more information, click here.
The Miller School of Entrepreneurship has named Dr. Sharon Moore as its inaugural innovator-in-residence. Moore joins the Miller School from the College of Health and Human Performance. Moore will work with faculty, staff, and administration in her position to build a culture of innovation among Miller School students. Faculty will be able to discuss their courses and curriculum with Moore and determine the best way to incorporate the resources in the Isley Innovation Hub and the Wornom Makerspace into their courses.
Dr. Andrew Herdman joins the College of Business as the new Thomas D. Arthur Distinguished Professor. Herdman has more than 25 years of applied leadership, business development and human resource experience across various companies and industries. Most recently, he served as VP of the Group Human Resources for Mayne Pharma, a global pharmaceutical company, where he led the global HR effort and served as an executive committee member. Prior to joining Mayne Pharma, he was an associate professor in the COB’s Department of Management. Click here to find out how Herdman plans to use his gift. For more about Herdman, click here.
Thanks to a sponsorship from the College of Business, 16 COB faculty and staff members have joined the Women in Business Education Network. This sponsorship with WBEN is a first for the COB and further illustrates the College’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and its support of the professional development of its employees. WBEN is a global network champions women’s leadership in business academia. COB participants include Stephanie Bae, Rachel Brassine, Yeliz Eseryel, Tracy Ginn, Leah Grubb, Zhan Furner, Christine Kowalczyk, Karen Kus, Ericka Lawrence, Ying Liao, Amy McMillan, Laura Madden, Shirley Mai, Linda Quick, Brenda Wells and Lucky Zue.
DENTAL MEDICINE
White Coat Ceremony
The School of Dental Medicine presented its second-year students their White Coats on Friday, Jan. 27, marking the transition from preclinical work to the clinical phase of their dental education. The 52 members of the Class of 2025 celebrated the rite of passage in front of family, friends, faculty, staff, administrators and members of the dental community during the White Coat Ceremony in Hendrix Theatre.
“This ceremony marks a momentous event in your professional journey,” Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean of the ECU School of Dental Medicine, told the students. “It is a tradition that marks your transition from learning how to apply the clinical skills and knowledge you’ve gained to putting those skills and talents into action through patient care. From this point on, you will be held to a higher standard — that of a doctor of dental medicine and a member of the dental profession.”
The ceremony was a meaningful milestone for the students as they take another step toward becoming dentists.
Hyde County clinic reaches new patients
Created through outreach and partnerships born of necessity, the Hyde County Outreach Clinic has made the most of high-tech dental education and smalltown ingenuity since opening its doors in April 2022. Students and faculty have provided care for close to 75 unique patients from seven counties.
Hyde County, which connects to Beaufort County to the west and reaches into a pocket of the Atlantic Ocean cradled by the Barrier Islands, joins Tyrrell and Camden counties as the only three of North Carolina 100 counties with no practicing dentists.
ECU’s partnerships with local health and government agencies work to creating solutions to the lack of access and dental professional shortages. The program’s partners — which include the Hyde County Health Department, Hyde County government and the county commissioners, Ocracoke Health Center and Engelhard Medical Center, among others — have pledged to make a difference for those in remote, forgotten communities. The dental school’s part of that promise is to make sure patients receive quality care through strong provider-patient experiences that establish trust between the community and dental school.
“We want the citizens of Hyde County and nearby areas to know who we are and why we are there, and we want them to trust us to provide them with quality care,” said Greg Chadwick, dean of the ECU School of Dental Medicine. “It is our hope that they will consider us a part of their community.”
EDUCATION
The McClammy Counseling & Research Lab and the Department of Literacy Studies, English Education & History Education (LEHE) participated in the university’s National Day of Racial Healing event this month.
The McClammy Counseling & Research Lab has revitalized its website and referral forms. Check out the site here and also check out this video explaining what McClammy is.
LEHE’s Dr. Rachelle Savitz co-authored a book that provides methods for teaching and discussing difficult topics in the classroom, called “Teaching Challenged and Challenging Topics in Diverse and Inclusive Literature.” You can view and pre-order the book here.
COE data manager Mary Worthington received an international award for her expertise and work in Sonia, the placement management system used by the college. You can learn more here.
Counseling education faculty member Dr. Shanita Brown was featured in two Essence publications recently: Mental Health New Year’s Resolutions You Need On Your List For 2023 and 10 Ways To Feel Rejuvenated After The Holidays According To Wellness Experts.
K-12 students participating in the Discoveries in Earth Science program presented their scientific findings during a science fair this month. Check out the WNCT feature on the fair.
ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
The College of Engineering and Technology celebrated the grand opening of its new CET Digital Lounge in the Rawl Building. The new “collision space” offers students a fun place to explore technology, meet with other students, enjoy a game or two, study, complete classwork or simply relax. Read more here.
Dr. Tarek Abdel-Salam, professor and associate dean for research in the College of Engineering and Technology, has been elected as an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Associate Fellow. Abdel-Salam received recognition by the AIAA Board of Trustees and membership during the 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum in National Harbor, Maryland. AIAA associate fellows are members “who have accomplished or been in charge of important engineering or scientific work, or who have done original work of outstanding merit, or who have otherwise made outstanding contributions to the arts, sciences, or technology of aeronautics or astronautics,” according to the organization.
Students with ECU’s chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) are being celebrated internationally for helping create a new event that received plenty of interest and support. Along with the Society for Advancement of Management, Manage-A-Hack took place Nov. 11, bringing business and computer science students together to create and present Minimum Viable Product ideas to solve problems. More than 30 students participated, and the event received acclaim in ACM’s international newsletter. Read more here.
FINE ARTS & COMMUNICATION
School of Art and Design Visiting Scholar
SoAD visiting scholar Yeon Mi Lee is an artist, jeweler, and art educator living in Seoul, South Korea. Yeon Mi earned her BFA from the Seoul National University of Science and Technology and her MFA from Seoul National University. Now she is a candidate for DFA at Seoul National University. She exhibited her work through various group exhibitions and gave lectures at several universities in Korea.
Lee focuses on imperfections that arise in visual and material transformation. First, she works using planned figures which she creates through a 3D CAD program. Then, by manipulating and translating them into other material, she pays attention to the possibilities and variables often eliminated to achieve one perfect result.
During her stay, Lee will conduct joint research with Professor Mi-Sook Hur, an enamelist and jewelry artist in the School of Art and Design at ECU. She will focus on making jewelry using a 3D printer and casting technique and will also experiment with enamel techniques in her work. In addition, she will participate in the group exhibition during the Material Topics Symposium with other Korean Artists at the College of Fine Arts, Seoul National University. It will showcase the craft and cultural exchange between East Carolina University and Seoul National University.
School of Communication Visiting Scholar
The School of Communication and the College of Fine Arts and Communication welcome a visiting professor, Dr. Jung Kyu Kim. Kim is an associate professor of the School of Media Communication, Pukyoung National University, Busan, South Korea. He received a Ph.D (Communication & Information Science) from the University of Alabama. Over the past decade, Kim has published more than 50 articles probing the effectiveness of storytelling advertising, transparency of PR in Social Network platforms, and virtual immersions of Virtual Realities (AR, MR, and Metaverse).
During his stay, Kim will conduct joint research with Professor Jin-Ae Kang, associate professor, School of Communication. The study will focus on social media use and subjective happiness of young adults and adolescents. His guest lecture was Wednesday Jan. 25. He introduced his study areas and share research know-hows with graduate students in the School of Communication. Lastly, he is looking forward to having academic and cultural exchange between East Carolina University and Pukyoung National University.
School of Music
ECU School of Music composition and theory alum Brittany Green (MM 2018) has been named “23 for ’23: Composers and Performers to watch this year” by the Washington Post.
The Post says of Green: “The Durham N.C.-based composer and educator is a creative force of attention-seizing versatility. She can light up expansive orchestral landscapes or dig deep with vivacious chamber works …”
Described as “cinematic in the best sense” and “searing” (Chicago Classical Review), Green’s music works to facilitate collaborative, intimate musical spaces that ignite visceral responses.
Servire is a professional vocal ensemble that is also a service organization, and as part of Alexander Series, performed at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for a night of inspiring vocal chamber music. Founded by ECU graduates, Servire Chorus has unique mission to foster stronger connections within communities in need while presenting a high level of musical artistry in our performances. Following their performance at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the dozen singers assembled to volunteer at East Carolina University’s Purple Pantry.
School of Theatre and Dance Welcomes Visiting Scholars
Donna Michelle Vaughn, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, received her early childhood training from Dance Dynamics under the direction of Donna Jean Wiencke. Studying ballet, tap, jazz, and gymnastics, Donna became a member of the Hotshots National Dance Team, traveling to participate in regional and national competitions and conventions, where she was awarded numerous scholarships for continued studies at various intensives. Vaughn was accepted into Baltimore School for the Arts, one of the top five performing arts high schools in the country. She completed high school at Carver Center for the Arts and Technology, where her passion to teach and choreograph began. Vaughn continued her academic and dance training at Virginia Commonwealth University, studying a variety of dance techniques and composition, all the while training under several notable professional dance companies such as Clay Taliaferro – Jose Limon, Merce Cunningham, Graham, Lar Lubovitch, Gerri Houlihan, Robert Battle and Donald Mckayle.
Roland Culler is from New York City, where he began dancing at a young age and trained with the youth theatre company, TADA. He attended the High School of Performing Arts, now called Fiorello H. LaGuardia, while studying on scholarship at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, and The School of American Ballet. Roland has worked with Les Ballet Grandiva touring extensively in Japan, as well as Pennsylvania Ballet, Boulder Ballet, David Taylor Dance Theatre, and The Longmont Dance Theatre, touring and dancing in many classical and neo-classical roles. In 2002, he relocated to Milan, Italy to train, perform, and model, where he taught master classes in various techniques all over the country. Roland is an adjunct professor of ballet at Pace University, works with Project Plié, a program affiliated with American Ballet Theatre, and teaches the Pa’lante scholars, the top level professional studies students at Ballet Hispanico.
GRADUATE SCHOOL
HEALTH & HUMAN PERFORMANCE
Dr. Dina Al-Dajani announced the interior design program was recognized by the National Kitchen and Bath Association as an official NKBA student chapter. A $500 grant was awarded to support student chapter activities.
The department of interior design and merchandising is launching a new initiative for students who need business clothing to check out or select items from a campus clothing closet to use for interviews, events or other opportunities. Current fashion merchandising and consumer science students also would benefit from gaining hands-on and real-world experience through various opportunities such as staging, inventory management, sustainability and market needs. Learn more here about how to support this project.
Jamie Williams and Molly Robinson, teaching instructors in the department of health education and promotion, were selected as part of the Society for Public Health Education inviting faculty teams to its annual Institute for Higher Education Academy to be held in March in Atlanta. The goal of the IHE Academy is to enhance participants’ understanding and provide training on essential tools and resources that reflect high-quality curriculum for the preparation of health and physical educators in K-12 schools. Williams and Robinson aim to improve school health education through pre-service and in-service professional development, curriculum development and training to create a more welcoming and inclusive school climate.
Health education and promotion teaching instructor Tamra Church led a National Day of Racing Healing event Jan. 17 at ECU at the Main Campus Student Center. Church said a purpose was to, “Bring us all together to build connections and build empathy.” Many campus partners were involved in addition to the College of Health and Human Performance. Here is more about the event.
ECU recreation sciences alum Duane Grooms has committed to planned gifts totaling more than $50,000, which will endow scholarships through HHP and ECU baseball. Read more about Grooms’ support in this ECU News feature.
HONORS
Several Honors students presented their research this month at the National Collegiate Research Conference at Harvard University. The Honors students who presented were Marzuq Islam, Myna Tirapattur, Nandini Vishwakarma, and Elisabeth Reed.
Over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, the senior EC Scholars traveled to New York City for their final high impact experience with Dr. Katie Ford and Dr. Diane Majewski. While there they visited with donors and alumni, attended a Broadway show, and saw NYC landmarks such as Times Square, the 9/11 Memorial and Rockefeller Center.
The Honors College Student Council arranged a talent show for Honors College students that included a performance section and a visual arts section. All Honors students were invited to submit their art and talents, regardless of major. Pictured is visual art winner Olivia Winter with her artwork depicting Bo Burnham.
Dr. Steve Ballard was recognized at the Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Center PRIDE Dinner and Celebration with the Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Advocacy Award in recognition of his visionary support of the creation of the center.
Dr. Katie Ford, acting Honors College associate dean, recently presented at a conference in San Francisco for the Modern Language Association, one of the largest professional associations for all language departments. She was a part of a panel titled “Cocreating DEI Initiatives to Retain Students.”
Gabriella Galvan presented her work as part of the Honors Art Makers Residency before heading to Italy this semester for study abroad. This year’s theme was Growth and Gabriella’s pieces reflected an individual throughout the major stages of growth – childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
INTEGRATED COASTAL PROGRAMS
A new research article published by ICS Ph.D. students Samantha Farquhar, Maria Gomez Saldarriaga, and Yicheng Xu, DCS faculty member Dr. Nadine Heck, and their colleague from Madagascar was recently covered by Hakai Magazine, The Atlantic, and News Break.
Diving and Water Safety's graduate assistant Lindsay Wentzel is a recent recipient of The Society for Underwater Technology's 2022-2023 scholarship, which recognizes students who have demonstrated a passion for Underwater Technology and academic excellence. Lindsay joined Integrated Coastal Programs Diving and Water Safety staff as a diver on the Waves2Water project hosted at the Coastal Studies Institute last Spring and Summer. Lindsay will use the funds from the scholarship for additional dive training to advance her skills in scientific diving.
Ph.D. student Dominic Bush is a recipient of The Society for Underwater Technology's 2022-2023 scholarship.
Dr. Eric Wade (Assistant Professor, DCS) published a new study, "COVID-19 impacts on food systems in fisheries-dependent island communities," in Ecology and Society on the impacts of COVID-19 on small-scale fishing communities in Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and St. Lucia. Using a food systems approach, they found that COVID-19 had multi-scalar and nuanced impacts on fishing communities, which impacted communities social and economic wellbeing. The study is part of an ongoing longitudinal and multi-institutional study with James Cook University and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Dr. Sid Narayan (DCS) presented at the Coastal Studies Institute’s most recent Science on the Sound event. A recording of his talk, “Forces of Nature: The Role Ecosystems Play in Protecting Coastlines and Communities” can be found on CSI’s YouTube Channel.
The National Sea Grant Program and the US Coastal Research Program recently announced that Drs. Rachel Gittman, Nadine Heck, Sid Narayan, and Hannah Sirianni will receive a new grant to collaborate with NC Sea Grant and the Carteret Community College to develop a framework for coastal protection design and siting, as well as living shoreline training courses and a certification program. The project will also involve ECU students from multiple departments.
Dr. Reide Corbett (Dean, Integrated Coastal Programs) was recently featured on CBS Sunday Morning related to changing shorelines and rising seas along the N.C. coast. Corbett emphasized the significance and timing of sea level changes.
The Coastal Studies Institute has announced the dates and themes for its upcoming 2023 Summer Camps. Registration will open on March 1. More information can be found on CSI’s camp webpage.
A real talk about marine science careers. Genevieve “GG” Guerry and Kyra Hagge, Integrated Coastal Sciences Ph.D. students, discuss roadblocks they have encountered in their marine science careers in a new podcast. Guerry is interested in public health and aims to work on the public perception of forever chemicals such as PFAS in the Cape Fear watershed and climate migration. Hagge is integrating behavioral economics and social psychology with hydrogeology to tackle questions about pro-environmental behavior and adoption of green technology along the coast of North Carolina. They have an open and honest conversation about studying and working in the marine science field. This is in an effort to help young marine scientists and voice concerns over work ethics. Pay, degree requirements, internships, and living arrangements are all discussed.
JOYNER LIBRARY
Academic Library Services university archivist Alston Cobourn is co-author for an article published in American Archivist. The article, titled "Toward Metaliteracy and Transliteracy in the History Classroom: A Case Study Among Underserved Students," is available to access through The Scholarship, ECU’s institutional repository. Examining a class project at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the authors argue that certain digital projects promote metaliteracy and transliteracy, offering students a holistic learning experience and that these projects are advantageous at institutions.
Unique creations by graduate students are on display in the Janice Hardison Faulkner Gallery - second floor of the main campus library – for the 15th annual School of Art and Design Graduate Student Art Exhibition. A reception and awards ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. The 18 participating artists are: Sina Bennett, Emily Booker, Tamia Boone, Parker Estes, Michael Gaines, Kidd Graves, Nick Hesson, Joogab Kim, Haley McElroy, Anthony Naimo, Thaddeus Prevette, Loraine Scalamoni, Chase Shotton, Haleigh Stanley, Katelyn Stanley, Lindsay Swan, Lee Turner, Morgan Zichettella. One of the students will receive the Friends of Joyner Library Purchase Award, and other pieces will be selected for award recognition.
ECU Libraries is seeking applications from ECU faculty to participate in the 2023-2024 Alternative Textbook Program. Proposals are due by March 13. Ten awards of up to $1,000 each will be awarded. To read about the two options and for more program information and to apply, click here.
LAUPUS HEALTH SCIENCES LIBRARY
Love Data Week
Love Data Week is an international event intended to engage researchers in dialogues around issues and methods in data creation, analysis and visualization.
As federal and foundation funders increase their focus on rigor and reproducibility, conversations about data are more important than ever. Join us as we tackle various data-related topics during the week of Valentine’s Day, Feb. 13-17. This year Laupus Health Sciences Library will be hosting nine presentations dealing with data-related topics. REDCap training will also be provided during this week. Most sessions will be in-person in the 4th Floor Gallery and streamed online.
Learn more about Love Data Week and programs offered throughout the week.
Enhancing ECU’s reach
ECU is receiving $1.39 million for a collaborative project that aims to improve access to digital technology and literacy, resources and skills training for residents in 29 eastern North Carolina counties. Laupus Health Sciences Library is taking an active role in the project.
The project is funded by the State Office of Digital Equity and Literacy and led by Leslie Cofie, principal investigator and assistant professor of health education and promotion in the College of Health and Human Performance, and Alice Richman, co-principal investigator and professor of health education and promotion, along with ECU Health and Laupus.
A primary goal is to enhance the capacity of ECU as a center for bridging the digital equity divide experienced by rural and underserved communities in the region.
Key support will come from Jamie Bloss and Amanda Haberstroh, representing Laupus Health Sciences Library, and Abby Schwartz from the ECU School of Social Work. ECU Health, the Care Share Health Alliance and Roanoke Chowan Community Health Centeralso are partners in engagement and supporting community health workers. Funds will help train community health workers, with plans for at least half of them to be bilingual in Spanish and English. The project will also build on previous collaborative research involving the College of Health and Human Performance and Laupus Library focused on farmworker health-related and digital access improvements.
“This grant provides us the opportunity to continue previous outreach while supporting our colleagues in rural public library systems,” said Haberstroh, a librarian liaison to the ECU College of Nursing and graduate programs. “We are looking forward to this collaborative effort and are hopeful for the future of health information access through improved digital equity in eastern North Carolina.”
NURSING
Nationally ranked programs
ECU’s College of Nursing is ranked in the top 10% nationally and is the highest ranked public university in North Carolina. The college jumped to 18th place from 29th last year for online master’s nursing programs. Nursing ranked fifth for veterans, up from sixth last year. Additionally, the nursing education program was ranked seventh and the nursing leadership program was ranked 17th in the nation.
“For the first time in five years, we have the top-ranked master’s level online program in the state, and our UNC System sister institutions have very strong programs so that is a high honor,” said Bimbola Akintade, dean of the College of Nursing. “Advance practice Pirate nurses are known nationally for the quality of their education — the rankings that were just announced only reaffirm what we know to be true.”
Partnering for international health care
A team of ECU College of Nursing faculty and students have joined with colleagues from Poland and Ukraine to assess the nursing guidance needed to help provide quality health care to refugees from the war in Ukraine.
The study team includes Dr. Kim Larson, (principal Investigator); Dr. Lucyna Płaszewska-Żywko, co-investigaor at Jagiellonian University in Poland; Natalia Sira, MD, PhD (from Ukraine); Anya Rozumna, RN (from Ukraine); and ECU honors students: Lauren Briggs, Toby Bryson, and Neha Makanangot, and doctoral student Marianne Congema.
Millions of Ukrainian refugees have fled to Poland while others have joined family in the U.S. and a prepared and competent nursing workforce is critical to meet the needs of these refugees. A study titled, “Intercultural Nursing Care for the Health and Well-being of Ukrainian Refugees” involving CON researchers collaborating with colleagues from Poland and Ukraine, aims to design, deliver and evaluate intercultural nursing care guidance to sustain refugee health.
The study builds on an established partnership between nursing faculty at ECU and the Jagiellonian University in Poland. The goal is to improve nurses’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes in caring for refugees from Ukraine through a global health international virtual exchange course, in-depth interviews with nurses and refugees in Poland, consensus-building using the Delphi technique with an expert panel of nurses in Poland and Ukraine. The intercultural nursing care guidance will be available on-line to schools of nursing in countries that are caring for refugees from Ukraine.
Lamp of Learning
The College of Nursing held its Lamp of Learning Ceremony on Jan. 26 at the East Carolina Heart Institute, to welcome its newest students to their first steps toward becoming Pirate Nurses.
The Lamp of Learning Ceremony includes a traditional pinning. The Lamp of Learning pin, presented to all ECU nursing students at the beginning of their nursing education, is one of two physical symbols of being a nurse trained at ECU. Students are encouraged to wear the pin on their uniforms during their time in the College of Nursing. The other, a school-specific nursing pin, is presented by most nursing schools and represents the institution’s ethos.
ECU’s nursing pin, a symbol of membership in the Pirate Nurse family that students will receive upon graduation, was designed by the university’s inaugural nursing class in 1960 and incorporates iconography relevant to the profession and the school: a globe to signify service to all; a book, quill and inkpot to represent knowledge and learning; the caduceus with nursing’s ‘N;’ and a representation of Florence Nightingale’s lamp, which she used at night to care for soldiers of the Crimean War and serves as the model for the Lamp of Learning pin.
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