MITCHELSON'S MEMO

According to a recent report (A Common Vision for Undergraduate Mathematical Sciences Programs in 2015) distributed by the Mathematical Association of America and funded by NSF, the status quo is unacceptable. The report is a call to action for the community of mathematical sciences to address key challenges in undergraduate learning (especially in courses taken in the first two years of college): update curricula, articulate clear pathways, remove barriers, and strengthen relationships with other disciplines. I am pleased to report that our Department of Mathematics has emerged as a UNC System leader in North Carolina’s Math Pathways Initiative.

Earlier in February, a team from ECU attended a two-day UNC workshop facilitated by the Dana Center for Mathematics Pathways (UT Austin) and held in Chapel Hill. I wish to thank Bill Downs, Johannes Hattingh, April Talbert (who did most of the heavy lifting), Eli Hvastkovs, Derek Maher, Dave Bucci, Ellen Hilgoe, Elizabeth Coghill, Susan Howard, Sviatoslav Archava, and Danny Barreiro-Talbert for attending with me. The previous work of our Finish in Four Task Force was important in elevating and clarifying this learning issue at ECU. Undergraduate mathematics is now clearly on our radar.

ECU is engaged in some very significant efforts to address undergraduate mathematics issues and we have a ways to go. We have adopted adaptive learning platforms in the Math Cave (April), we have collaborated to modify curriculum (Johannes); we have a strong partnership with Pitt Community College to provide remedial mathematics for those ECU students in need (Susan); we have emphasized (peer) tutoring at the Pirate Academic Success Center (Elizabeth); we host the NC Early Mathematics Placement Testing Program (Ellen); we are sensitive to the needs of other disciplines (Eli); and we are data-informed in our decision making (Danny). An important part of our issue is indexed by the measured need for remedial (pre-collegiate) mathematics. The need for remedial math has grown significantly over the past 5 years, i.e., 716 enrolled in AY 2012-13 and 1,761 enrolled in AY 2017-18. DFW rates in general education sections of math classes aggregate to about 30 percent and they are improving.

There are several projects that we must attend to in coping with the need to improve undergraduate mathematics learning at ECU. They do reflect the general call to action contained in the Common Vision report. We must think carefully about what we want undergraduates to be equipped with when they enter the world of work and citizenship. This varies considerably by academic program and the reliance on college algebra as the default is not wise in many cases. The design of sequencing should be considered. Perhaps remedial work should be offered in co-requisite fashion. Initial experiments suggest that a just-in-time approach to remediation works better. The learning assistant program in other STEM disciplines at ECU (physics, chemistry, biology) seems to be yielding good results and should probably be expanded to include mathematics. Placement methods probably need more careful scrutiny. The list could go on, but you get the general point. We are coping with significant change (student preparation, student diversity, adaptive learning platforms) and this requires us to respond thoughtfully. Over the next few months we will be giving this set of issues considerable thought. You will be hearing more, and I hope you engage in the conversation.

Regards,

RonM

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Gender Studies Executive Board, Women and Gender Office, Gender Studies Program, and Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences invite the ECU community to join us in celebrating International Women's Day on March 12. The theme this year is #BalanceforBetter. We are excited about this year's speakers and wide ranging perspectives. Please register for sessions and lunch HERE.

On Saturday, March 30, 2019, the entire campus community will be all hands on deck for our Pirates Aboard! Admitted Student Day. This full day of sessions will allow students to spend some quality time getting to know the campus and our faculty here at ECU. The students will be able to learn about different departments and major options. This is a great time to represent your department and try to help students find their passion. Let's help these new pirates feel right at home!

The Chancellor's Horizon Awards for Service will take place on Thursday, March 28 from 5:00-7:00 in the Murphy Center. Please email specialevents@ecu.edu before March 22 if you plan on attending.

PIRATE ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER

Each year, the Pirate Academic Success Center holds a faculty-student lunch at the Pirate Academic Success Center. Peer tutors and mentors nominate faculty members who have made a positive impact on their learning experience at ECU. The following faculty members were nominated in 2019: Dr. Elizabeth Jones (Biology), LaRhonda Johnson-Horton (BSUS), Dr. Linda Quick (Accounting), Dr. Frank Lee (Management), Dr. Sue Cohen (Kinesiology), Dr. Ian Hines (Nutrition Sciences), Dr. Gera Miles (English), Dr. Tricia Wilson-Okamura (Foreign Languages), Jan Workman (Accounting), Gerry MacLeod (Math), Dr. Kylene Dibble (Social Work), Lisa Bennett (Chemistry), Dr. Eileen Angelini (Foreign Languages), Debbie Ferrell (Math), Dr. Christy Howard (COE), Dr. Andrew Morehead (Chemistry), Dr. Tim Romack (Chemistry), Debra Schisler (Accounting) , Brittany Thompson (Communication), Ashley Roseno (Nutrition Science), and Dr. Jean Cahoon (Psychology). Thank you, faculty, for all you do for our students!

GLOBAL AFFAIRS

This spring, a record 33 students are participating in the ECU Tuscany study abroad program. ECU Tuscany, led by Dr. Linda Darty, is one of only two year-round international instructional facilities in the UNC system. Students from all majors can take a range of general education courses at our Certaldo campus, located in the heart of Italy.

The ECU Language Academy (ECULA) and the Department of Biology have teamed up to bring five Masters students from Guangdong Ocean University to ECU this semester to improve their English and learn new research skills in biological sciences. ECU’s partnership with GOU has blossomed in recent years, with a total of 16 GOU students assisting in labs while gaining an understanding of American culture.

ECU welcomes three new visiting scholars and two international interns this semester. Xiaoming Wang and Zefang Liao, from Shanghai Ocean University in China, are being hosted by the Office of Global Affairs and the Department of Economics, respectively. Dong Wook Han, from Chonbuk National University in South Korea, is visiting the Department of Kinesiology. Two student interns from Zhengzhou University in China are working with the Department of Chemistry this semester. If you are interested in hosting international interns or inviting any of your international colleagues to ECU as visiting scholars, please contact Julie Williams.

OFFICE FOR EQUITY & DIVERSITY

In 2017, the Office for Equity and Diversity (OED) established the Diversity and Inclusion Research and Scholarship (DIRS) Program to further the goal of incorporating diversity dimensions into scholarly works. DIRS is a faculty development and seed grant program that provides funds to departments with faculty who engage in research projects related to diversity, equity, inclusion and/or cultural competence. Faculty members may apply for financial assistance for either diversity-related research expenses and/or reassignment from teaching assignments for up to one academic year. An application for funding is due by midnight on March 22, 2019, and may be accessed HERE. For more information about the DIRS program, please click HERE and contact Toya Jacobs. In an effort to help potential applicants with the DIRS program and application process, OED hosted DIRS Day on February 28, 2019, with all interested faculty invited to attend. Attendees learned about: (1) the DIRS program; (2) the importance of diversity and inclusion research; and (3) additional opportunities for funding diversity research. Dr. Bhibha M. Das, assistant professor, College of Health and Human Performance and former DIRS recipient, presented her research and assisted with answering questions at the event.

In recognition of Black History Month, the Office for Equity and Diversity hosted a film screening for students and employees on “Talking Black in America,” followed by a panel on February 19, 2019. This film “showcases the history and symbolic role of language in the lives of African Americans and highlights its tremendous impact on the speech and culture of the United States.” “Talking Black in America” is an important contribution to Black history as it sheds light on how African American speech varieties reflect the resilience of a historically oppressed group. Panelists included Mr. Don Donaldson, a Master’s student in Counselor Education and graduate assistant for the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center, Mrs. Toya Jacobs, diversity and inclusion program manager in the Office for Equity and Diversity, Dr. Jeffrey Reaser, associate producer of the film, and Dr. Yolanda Holt, assistant professor in Communication Sciences & Disorders. Prior to joining the faculty at ECU, Dr. Holt was a faculty member at North Carolina Central University and served as a Speech Language Pathologist for children and adults at home, school, and hospital settings. Her research focuses on dialect variation in African American English and Southern American English. The Office for Equity and Diversity is grateful to her for providing her expertise on the panel.

ACADEMIC OUTREACH, CONTINUING AND DISTANCE EDUCATION

On Saturday, January 19, the Lifelong Learning Program hosted its Spring Kickoff. Over 115 attendees were able to visit with the 25 instructors, sponsors and community partners, and register for over 50 course offerings. Karen Eckert from the Daily Reflector spent the afternoon visiting with attendees, volunteers, staff and instructors and produced a wonderful article that appeared on the front page of the Daily Reflector. To view the reflector article click HERE, or to learn more about the Lifelong Learning Program, contact Andrew Ross at 328-9198 or llp@ecu.edu.

Charlene Lee was a guest panelist on the nationwide State Authorization Network (SAN) Monthly Coordinator’s call, which includes over 700 member institutions. Charlene shared insight on the value for ECU as a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) participating institution. SAN was created by WCET (WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies) to serve institutions by providing training, support and opportunities to collaborate and navigate regulatory compliance for out-of-state activities. SAN members collaborate to address the problems, discuss solutions, and prepare for the future.

OFFICE FOR FACULTY EXCELLENCE

The BB&T Active Learning and Leadership program provides participating faculty an opportunity to explore the intersection of active learning and student leadership development within ongoing instructional classroom routines and resources. The following faculty members were selected for the Spring 2019 BB&T Active Learning and Leadership cohort: Kelly Anderson, Eileen Angelini, Erica Cooper, Allison Crowe, Thompson Forbes, Stephanie George, Brent Henze, Mark Hills, Bomna Ko, Seung (Jenna) Lee, Laura Levi-Altstaedter (not pictured), Bethany McKissick, Samantha Mosier, and Ryan Schacht. Spanning 13 different disciplines at ECU, they will be working to infuse an emphasis on student leadership capacity building into their courses.

The Office for Faculty Excellence invites you to register for the annual summer statistics and research workshop series, to be held from May 14 - May 30, 2019. Sessions in the series are open to ECU faculty, staff, fellows, postdocs, and graduate students. Eighteen workshops will be provided, including sessions about popular statistical packages (e.g. SPSS, SAS, R, AMOS), more advanced statistics, qualitative research, and special topics such as meta-analysis and Python introduction. Presenters will include ten faculty members from seven different ECU departments, IPAR, and the Office for Faculty Excellence. Please click HERE to register for those workshops.

The ECU BB&T Faculty Leadership Fellows work with a small team of faculty from various disciplines across the ECU campus to explore principles of student leadership skill development and the integration of those skills into the course design process. Not only will their work positively impact the students in their classes, but professional development resources emerging from this team will benefit many of us at ECU. We are pleased to announce that the following faculty members have been selected as our Spring 2019 BB&T Faculty Leadership Fellows: Marina Alexander, Charles Brown, Jennie Cole, Michael Daniels, Denise Donica, Adrienne Muldrow, and Holly Wei. Both of these programs are made possible by the generous support and wide-reaching vision of the BB&T Center for Leadership Development.

SERVICE LEARNING AND THE CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Dr. Melanie Sartore began teaching in East Carolina University’s Department of Kinesiology in 2007, as ECU’s mission of giving back, specifically to eastern North Carolina, was a major draw. She hopes that she can embody that mission of public service with the ‘more-than-human’ world as well as with her students.

Because of Dr. Sartore’s passion for engaging with students and serving the community, she has been teaching a service-learning course called “KINE 1010: Fitness Dog Walking.” The course, which was highlighted in a recent New York Times article, introduces the basics of fitness walking with companion animals. Sartore notes that one of the main goals of the course is to promote healthy lifestyles while doing good for the community. According to Sartore, “we know from research that college students become more sedentary over the course of their time spent on campus, and those lifestyle choices carry over into adulthood. So, this course is important for helping them understand the basics of fitness walking as well as connecting with companion animals… my hope is that they are going to see that this is a way to get physical activity throughout the rest of their lives.”

From Dr. Sartore’s perspective, giving back to the community in which she and her students live is of the greatest importance. The Pitt County Animal Shelter is the only open-admission location in Pitt County, which was one of the reasons she chose to partner with this organization. The stories that students share in their reflections prove that the greatest purpose and reason for continuing their volunteerism is serving the animals and giving back to their community.

If you are interested in learning more about teaching a service-learning designated course, contact Tara Kermiet at the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement. The CLCE offers service-learning focused professional development workshops, community partnership resources, as well as support for community-based teaching and learning. You can also visit the Service-Learning Committee web page for more information.

RESEARCH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT

ECU received a $1 million award from the Golden LEAF Foundation to support rural economic prosperity through innovation and entrepreneurship. The grant will support ECU’s recently launched university-wide program focused on creating a new generation of businesses. Partnerships created with surrounding counties will develop a pipeline for ECU graduates to establish new businesses in towns throughout the region, which have been hit hard by the loss of manufacturing and supporting industry. Additionally, students will team with small businesses looking for succession and continuity plans as small business owners prepare for retirement.

The Office of Undergraduate Research announced that 32 students received spring Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity awards. The awards provide support for faculty-mentored research and creative projects led by undergraduate researchers in four disciplines, including biomedical science, STEM, social science, and the arts and humanities. Awards range from $1,500-2,000 for each project, and recipients are required to present their findings at venues including Undergraduate Day during ECU’s Research and Creative Achievement Week and the State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium held in November.

Dr. Andrew Stuart, professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Allied Health Sciences, was recently elected to the inaugural class of senior members of the National Academy of Inventors for his contributions to the body of research that has resulted in patented technology, changing the lives of countless people worldwide. During his career, Stuart has been issued 25 U.S. and international patents, which have collectively become the foundation of two ECU start-up companies. The SpeechEasy® Fluency Aid is one such product that has resulted from Stuart’s research. SpeechEasy® is recognized as an effective method for treating many forms of stuttering and has gained international recognition through public media outlets such as Good Morning America, People Magazine, NBC Nightly News, Oprah Winfrey, and many others.

ECU honored its researchers and inventors at its third annual Research and Scholarship Awards on February 5. The university presented Dr. Baohang Zhang with the Lifetime Research and Creative Activity Award, Dr. Jamie Perry with the Five-Year Research and Creative Activity Award, and Dr. Benjamin Blaisdell with the Scholarship of Engagement Award. Additionally, the university recognized Dr. Jitka Virag, Dr. Cheng Chen, Dr. Kenneth Jacobs and Dr. T. Bruce Ferguson for receiving U.S. patents over the past year.

The Office of Tech Transfer has been rebranded as the Office of Licensing and Commercialization under the Office of Innovation and New Ventures. The office facilitates disclosure and assessment of ECU inventions, secures intellectual property protection such as patents and copyrights, and works toward commercialization of inventions through licensing to existing businesses or to new ventures. It also offers pre-venture development services for aspiring ECU inventors and entrepreneurs through the NSF grant funded I-Corps program. Additionally, the office facilitates the transfer of information and research materials to and from ECU under terms of confidential disclosure agreements (CDAs) and material transfer agreements (MTAs). Contact Marti Van Scott, Director of Licensing and Commercialization, to learn more.

ECU is actively exploring research and collaboration opportunities following passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which lifts many restrictions on the production and use of hemp. Twenty ECU faculty, staff and students from biology, engineering, construction management, nutrition sciences, Agromedicine Institute, and REDE recently participated in a tour of Lenoir County hemp facilities, followed by discussion of the future of the industry with local farmers and other stakeholders. If interested in connecting with the group to learn more, contact Marti Van Scott, Director of Licensing and Commercialization, or Keith Wheeler, Executive Director of the Office of National Security and Industry Initiatives.

The second annual Purple and Golden Bus Tour left the station today, with 11 planned stops around eastern North Carolina. The tour connects researchers with identified research projects to the culture, geography, heritage, economy and assets of the region. The program encourages research and partnerships that may have long-term benefits for the people and communities of eastern North Carolina. The tour will span 465 miles across 11 counties. Follow REDE on Facebook and Twitter for bus tour updates.

COLLEGE UPDATES

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

Charlie Ewen (Anthropology) has won the Daughters of the American Revolution History Award Medal. The national award is given to an individual whose study and/or promotion of some aspect of American history on the regional or national level has significantly advanced the understanding of American’s past. Representatives from DAR will present Ewen with his award at a reception hosted by the Department of Anthropology from 3:00-5:00 p.m., March 20, in Joyner Library, Faulkner Gallery.

The Department of Criminal Justice has established a new Criminal Justice Living-Learning Community. The inaugural CJ-LLC freshmen student group will begin fall 2019.

Clinton Van Zandt, retired FBI criminal profiler and hostage negotiator, was welcomed to East Carolina University and the Greenville community on February 21 as the third presenter in the 2018-2019 Voyages of Discovery Series. Van Zandt provided valuable insights and information to help others better understand human behavior and the process of psychological profiling. The next (and final) Voyages of Discovery Series event will feature Dr. Lisa Randall, Harvard University physicist, who will speak about “Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs” at 7 p.m. on April 4, in Wright Auditorium.

Heidi Bonner (Criminal Justice) has been elected 2019 President of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Association.

Ceci Shelton (English PhD student) has been awarded an Association of Teachers of Technical Writing Graduate Research Award. Shelton is one of three scholars to receive the award and will be presenting at the ATTW annual conference in Pittsburgh, PA, this month.

Laura Levi Altstaedter (Foreign Languages and Literatures) has been appointed Executive Editor of the journal Theory and Practice in Rural Education, sponsored by the Rural Education Institute, College of Education. In addition, Irina Swain (Foreign Languages and Literatures) has been appointed Section Editor for Digital Projects of the journal.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Approximately 100 business and economics students and faculty packed a classroom to listen to Tom Barkin, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. His visit to ECU and the College of Business (COB) marked his first time speaking with college students in North Carolina. For more information, click HERE.

East Carolina University has named Dr. Paul Schwager as its sixth dean of the College of Business. The appointment was approved by the ECU Board of Trustees during a special February 18 meeting and begins July 1, 2019. Schwager has served as the college’s interim dean since the summer of 2018, when former dean Dr. Stanley Eakins returned to the faculty as a professor of finance. For more information, click HERE.

The Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge is the signature pitch competition of the College of Business and the Miller School Of Entrepreneurship. The second, three-round challenge concluded February 21 with student-team Vybe taking first place and a cash prize of $15,000. Vybe is an application that allows users to track how busy nightclubs are at any time. It is owned and operated by East Carolina University juniors Camden Bathras, a supply chain management major, and Steven Lipscomb, a marketing and entrepreneurship major. For more information, click HERE.

The Department of Accounting continues to perform well in national rankings related to educational research. Data collected and published by BYU ranks ECU 11th nationally in terms of pedagogical research for 2018, which is up from 37th in the prior year. Over the last six years, Dr. Denise Dickins, accounting professor, ranks 5th in developing case studies and is 12th overall in educational research. Over the last 20 years, Dr. John Reisch, accounting chair, ranks 7th in case publication and 35th in overall accounting education research. For more information, click HERE.

Brittany Coleman is an associate technical training consultant at SAS. She’s been with the analytics company since 2016, the same year she received her BSBA with a concentration in MIS from ECU. Recently, Coleman has taken to heart three ways alumni can give back to the College of Business: time, talent and treasure. On January 25, 2019, Coleman, along with alumna Kathy Kiraly of SAS, conducted a base programming boot camp for 35 COB faculty, staff and students. She gave her time and talent to help camp attendees enhance their professional qualifications. Regarding treasure, Coleman also recently gave a $1,000 scholarship to the MIS department. For more information, click HERE.

In February 2019, the School of Hospitality Leadership’s (SHL) career fair broke attendance records. For the first time since joining the COB, SHL had more than 40 vendors and 200 students participate in the fair. “Recruiters represented companies from across the nation, which validates the School of Hospitality Leadership as an important source for young managerial and leadership talent,” said Dr. Bob O’Halloran, director of the SHL. Companies as far away as Colorado attended the event. For more information, click HERE.

Last week, Melissa Parks, the career center’s assistant director/internship coordinator, was sworn in to serve on the State of North Carolina Internship Council. She will serve a two-year term on the council. The council is responsible for complete oversight of the state’s internship programs. Some of the programs included are Office of the Governor, Legislative offices, Department of Labor, State Auditor and General Administration.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Recently, one initiative within the College of Education, the Student Veteran's Resource Alliance (SVRA), was highlighted at both the ECU Student Success Conference and at the UNC System Student Success Conference. Co-created and co-facilitated by Dr. Allen Guidry, Assistant Dean for Planning and Global Engagement, and Clay Smith, Special Populations Coordinator in the COE, the SVRA aims to aid student veterans in the transition from military life to that of professional educator through forming learning networks and making connections to relevant resources. You can read more about how the SVRA was highlighted at the UNC System Conference HERE.

Recent school shooting tragedies like the one that occurred at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida just over a year ago led to a collaboration between Pitt County Schools and Dr. Travis Lewis, ECU Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership. The collaboration seeks to develop training tailored to the specific needs of North Carolina school districts on how to effectively implement behavioral threat assessment & management strategies within local schools. The initiative, Implementing Tailored Threat Assessment Processes to NC LEAs, aims to reduce targeted violence within our schools by using threat assessment and management techniques to identify potential perpetrators based upon their specific behavior, and then intervene with available school and community-specific supports prior to any escalation resulting in an act of violence. This approach has been demonstrated to be effective in several other states and is strongly recommended by the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security. Implementation began with training of school principals and school counselors in February 2019 and will continue to expand to additional school personnel in the coming months.

Over 170 literacy teachers, school principals, assistant principals, central office curriculum directors, new teacher coaches, and higher education faculty attended a Literacy Summit hosted by the ECU College of Education and the North Carolina New Teacher Support Program (NC NTSP) on February 18. The NC NTSP is a comprehensive induction program offering a research-based curriculum and multiple services designed to increase teacher effectiveness, enhance skills, and reduce attrition among beginning teachers. The NC NTSP is based at ECU and serves over 1,000 beginning teachers in more than 40 school districts throughout North Carolina. Read the full story HERE.

Three Eastern North Carolina Science Teachers will be attending the National Science Teachers Association Conference in St. Louis, MO on April 10 – 14 thanks to awards from Dr. Len Annetta, Taft Distinguished Professor of Science Education at ECU and the College of Education’s Center for STEM Education. Dr. Annetta funded the awards in order to provide local science educators an opportunity for professional growth and peer networking. The recipients of the awards are: Mrs. Yerdia Palmer-Crearer, a science teacher at Grantham Middle School in Wayne County; Mrs. Kristen Corcoran, a science teacher at Duplin Early College High School; and Ms. Emily Nelson; a science teacher at Greene Central High School in Greene County. In addition to funding the awards, Dr. Annetta has invited all three educators to share what they learn at the NSTA Conference with ECU pre-service teachers. “Attending the NSTA Conference was an incredible experience for me when I was a young teacher,” said Annetta. “I want to help teachers in our local schools access this level of outstanding professional development and create opportunities for them to share what they learn with others.”

The College of Education hosted the Margaret Blount Harvey Literacy Institute on February 2, 2019, with two concurrent sessions: one for pre-service teachers and one for district literacy leaders from across eastern North Carolina. The session for pre-service teachers included a review of the development and progression of literacy skills and instruction needed to be successful on the Foundations of Reading Test required for licensure in North Carolina. District literacy leaders discussed advocacy and the issues and challenges literacy leaders and teachers face. The Institute is made possible by the late Margaret and Felix Harvey, and their daughters Leigh McNairy and Sunny Burrows. Named for Ms. Margaret Blount Harvey, a native of Kinston and a former member of the State Board of Education, N.C. Education Research Council, N.C. School Improvement Panel and the Learning Disabilities Association of North Carolina, the Margaret Blount Harvey Literacy Institute promotes literacy leadership and advocacy through a series of on-going professional development seminars and events designed to support public school educators, higher education faculty, and East Carolina University (ECU) students. Dr. Johna Faulconer, of the Department of Literacy Studies, English Education and History Education at ECU, said, “Literacy transforms our lives and makes a difference in our communities. The Margaret Blount Harvey Institutes affect positive change in our region, and we are grateful for the generosity of the Harvey family.”

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

The College of Engineering and Technology recently cut the ribbon on its Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory, the first phase of which features four CNC lathes and mills, funded in part by a $100,000 contribution from the Wells Fargo Foundation. Ultimately the lab will combine robotics, 3D printing, production line and warehousing technologies – and the cybersecurity necessary to ensure the integrity of internet-connected manufacturing operations.

Dr. Ali Vahdati, assistant professor of engineering, had his research published in the journal Computers in Biology and Medicine. Vahdati’s research centers on using semantic data integration, standardization and dimensionality reduction to predict outcomes in bariatric surgery. The work shows how computers and machine learning can be used to improve precision medicine.

At the PearlHacks hackathon in Chapel Hill, members of ECU’s Women in Computer Science and Association for Computing Machinery won the Best Health Related Hack award for developing HealthHelp, an artificial intelligence chatbot that uses Amazon Lex and the Google Translate API to help immigrant populations overcome barriers in access to health care.

Seven students in the Industrial Distribution and Logistics program earned a Recognition Award from the SAP University Alliance, a group of more than 3,500 educational institutions in 113 countries integrating SAP technologies into curriculum.

Twelve ECU computer science students competed in the first round of the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, defending a virtual IT infrastructure from attack. The goal of the competition is to provide hands-on experience for the students, allowing them to apply the theory and skills they have learned in their coursework, as well as fostering teamwork, ethical behavior and effective communication skills.

A team of students from the Department of Construction Management competed in the National Association of Home Builders Student Competition in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team prepared and defended a proposal that included market analysis, product design and selection, site design (subdivision layout), cost estimate and schedule of site work and homes, sales and marketing strategy, financial analysis, risk analysis, and sustainability.

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS & COMMUNICATION

Carroll V. Dashiell, Jr. (jazz, bass) was one of 50 African-American musicians, writers and artists honored on February 14 by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and First Lady Kristin Cooper in celebration of Black History Month. A reception was held in the Executive Mansion, hosted by the N.C. African American Heritage Commission and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

“Watch Hollow,” a new work by New York Times bestselling author Greg Funaro (theatre), was officially released by HarperCollins on February 12. “There is magic, there is good and evil, and there is love all woven into a suspenseful and entertaining mystery. A well-crafted story that should be a hit with readers who enjoy a good scare.”

Chuck Twardy (Communication) is a visiting professor at Krosno State College in Poland through June 20. In addition to teaching, he will supervise a group of students on developing an English language college newspaper.

Cynthia Bickley-Green’s (art education) work “Yellow Miss” was exhibited in Copenhagen through the Art in the Embassies Program, which is managed by the State Department.

Ed Jacobs (composition) leveraged a College of Fine Arts and Communication Research and Creative Activity Award to win support from the Ditson Foundation to professionally record four of his works—al momento, for cello and fixed media; Palladium, for soprano and piano; The Line Between, for soprano and fixed media; and Addressing Wonder, for viola, cello, and piano—on January 28 and 29.

Gina Presson (journalism) was selected to attend “36 Hours@Duke-The Journalism Edition” with David Hartman, co-founder of Good Morning America, Laurence Pulgram, media lawyer on the ABA Supreme Court nominating committee, and reporters from both mainstream media like the Wall Street Journal and WRAL, as well as new media content producers.

School of Music faculty Catherine Garner (piano) and Rachel Copeland (soprano) performed in recital at the University of West Florida recently. Garner and Daniel Shirley (tenor) presented a joint master class and a recital of British songs at Wingate University on January 18.

Douglas Moore-Monroe (clarinet) spent 10 days in China in November as a guest of the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music. He gave master classes, lessons to several individual students, coached chamber music ensembles and produced a recording for clarinet and piano for commercial release. He also taught at Beijing’s Music High School. In related news, Moore-Monroe was a guest musician with the Baltimore Symphony on November 30 and December 2, playing in a program featuring Joshua Bell performing Saint-Saens’s Violin Concerto #3 and Vaughan-Williams’s Symphony #4.

Thirteen students were inducted recently into the ECU Chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. The new members are Ashley Burt, Olivia Chesneau, Megan Crotty, Donterreo Culp, Emily Donston, Casey Fitzsimonds, Bailey Foust, Brianna Gamble, Brittany Good, Zophia Jackowski, Ella White, Jessica Wooten and Shannon Wright.

Four School of Theatre and Dance students received Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) awards recently. Brooke Palmer is incorporating American Sign Language into presentations of children's stories. Connor Gerney wrote and produced an original one-act philosophical mystery, “Twilight Boy,” last month at Greenville’s Whirligig Stage. Taylor Reed is researching the psychological impact of theatre and stories on the performer while studying in Krosno, Poland this semester. Maddie Wells has launched a pool conditioning research study for dancers.

Thirteen ECU students won awards at the North Carolina Chapter of National Association of Teachers of Singing annual classical singer auditions at UNC-Greensboro. First place winners included Laura Hutchins (graduate women), Maggie Fox (junior women), Jacob McCain (sophomore men) and Jacquelyne Lorson (freshmen women). Second place winners included Constance Prince (graduate women), Noelys Montilla and Mikaela Schifter (junior women) and Ashton Worley (junior men). Third place winners included Kate Kasmier (graduate women) and Jordan Snow (junior men). Honorable mentions included Bailey Sutton and Emily Evans (graduate women) and Elizabeth Waser (freshmen women).

Undergraduate Thomas Weybrecht (journalism) won first place at the Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts in the student documentary category. Professor Glenn Hubbard (Communication) won an award of excellence in the Faculty Audio competition for a big band recordings.

The School of Communication held a Career and Internship Fair in the Student Center on February 28. The event, sponsored by WNCT, also included representatives from WCTI, WITN, Red Venture, Brasco, Inc., Waffle House and the Washington Daily News.

Lindsay McCormick (BA ’07) wants to revolutionize the way we brush our teeth. Her company delivers Bite Toothpaste Bits by subscription in a reusable and recyclable glass bottle and compostable refill packets. Pop the mint or mint charcoal bit into your mouth, wet your toothbrush and brush normally. The tablet foams up as you brush. McCormick’s zero-waste product is all-natural and made with clinically-tested ingredients. Bite Toothpaste Bits eliminate the waste and inefficiency of the traditional toothpaste tube.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH & HUMAN PERFORMANCE

The 10th Annual Early Intervention Professional Conference: Brighter Futures for All Children was held on February 8th at the Murphy Center. Dr. Linda Crane Mitchell, associate professor in Human Development and Family Science, is the founder and developer of the conference. Approximately 100 child and family professionals attended the conference this year. Over the years, this conference has provided free professional development to child and family professionals throughout the state.

HHP’s Advancement Council toured the departments of kinesiology and recreation and leisure studies on February 1. Interacting with faculty and visiting our spaces, they observed the 3D motion-capture equipment and projects examining eye movement recordings in the biomechanics laboratory in the Ward Sports Medicine Building. In Belk, they experienced the virtual reality sailing simulator and learned about biofeedback and breathing techniques to help one gain control of their nervous system. The technology and work in these labs translate to research, training for students and community outreach. The work helps to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, those with balance issues and military personnel and others recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Congratulations to Dr. Deb Jordan from the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department. Dr. Jordan was honored at the American Camp Association’s (ACA) national conference as a recipient of the ACA National Service Award, in recognition of her years of service at the regional and national levels.

HONORS COLLEGE

Fifty-two finalists out of a record 600 applicants were invited to interview for the EC Scholars Program this year on Selection Sunday, an annual event that brings together current Scholars, alumni, faculty and staff from across ECU to select the newest cohort of EC Scholars. In addition to the interview, this year’s events included video conferencing with EC Scholars around the world, a showcase of EC Scholar research/innovation, and a dessert reception with performances by the Magnolia Belles and Pirate Raas.

Two EC Scholar-founded startups took top places in the final round of this year’s Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge (PEC), the Miller School of Entrepreneurship’s signature business pitch competition. SweetSip finished in second place, garnering $10K in competition earnings. SweetSip founder Grace Krell, a freshman, said “…When I turned 18, I decided that SweetSip would tackle a problem that was growing in our society: plastic use. I turned to straws because getting rid of them is an easy first step to reducing plastic use. The metal straw is small but mighty!" Health for People In Need Everywhere (Health4PINE) is a 501c-3 non-profit organization founded by Pranaya Pakala that increases awareness on the importance of mental, social, and physical health amongst teenagers and young adults. The organization took home earnings of $1K and a fourth place ranking in the final round of the challenge. Pranaya’s non-profit recently won ECU’s Hult Prize Challenge and will travel to London this spring to compete for $1M!

INTEGRATED COASTAL PROGRAMS

Congratulations to Sarah Watkins-Kenney, CRM PhD student, who successfully defended her dissertation. The dissertation, entitled “Beyond the Waters’ Edge: Complexity and Conservation Management of Underwater Cultural Heritage by a Public Agency in North Carolina,” focused on the nature and complexity of the system within which management of conservation of underwater cultural heritage takes place in North Carolina.

Over 600 excited members of the public turned out for a free “Star Party” community stargazing event, held at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina on February 5, 2019. The event was put on by ECU Integrated Coastal Programs and the Coastal Studies Institute, in partnership with A Time for Science, North Carolina Land of Water (NCLOW), and Jennette’s Pier. The evening featured interactive planetarium showings led by astronomers, children’s activities highlighting the night sky, and opportunities to stargaze through several telescopes set up along the darkened pier. The “Star Party” complimented an ongoing research collaboration between A Time for Science and NCLOW in which CSI researchers and community members have been making field observations to help map and characterize the landscape, soundscape, and viewscape of the nocturnal environment across northeastern North Carolina. The next “Star Party” is scheduled for March 7, 2019 at Bertie Middle School in Windsor, North Carolina. A flyer with more information can be found HERE. For more information on the nocturnal environment research, please click HERE.

ECU Integrated Coastal Programs and the Coastal Studies Institute will offer seventeen summer experiences in 2019 for students 9 – 16 years old. These day camps combine STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) concepts with fun, hands-on activities to keep campers engaged, and actively learning while having a great summer experience. Students will snorkel, kayak, collect species data by seining, trawling and hook-and-line fishing, study plankton in the lab, engineer ocean exploring equipment, and experience many other fun, educational activities. For more information on 2019 Summer Camps, please click HERE. Registration for camp began on March 1, 2019, and can be accessed directly through the ECU/CSI registration page.

The Coastal Studies Institute (CSI), in partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), is hosting a one-day teacher workshop designed to expose area teachers to local scientific research and data sources. Education and Research: Testing Hypotheses (EARTH) is a professional development program that brings together educators and researchers with the goal of bringing real data into classrooms. During this workshop, teachers will engage with CSI and ECU scientists, learning about their research and publicly available data sources. Teacher participants will work with researchers to develop lesson plans that integrate near or real-time data into their curriculum. For more information, click HERE. A registration form can be downloaded HERE.

ACADEMIC LIBRARY SERVICES

Seven faculty were selected for Joyner Library’s 2019-2020 Alternative Textbook Program. The program includes the transfer of $1,000 to the faculty member’s department to assist in incorporating open textbooks, library materials, and/or other free resources in their courses. Additionally, recipients will be paired with a personal librarian who will provide assistance with copyright and identifying possible course materials. The goal of the program is to reduce costs for students while also giving faculty the opportunity to customize their course materials and provide updated and engaging content that will be available to all enrolled students on the first day of class. The recipients are John Bishop (Economics), Andrea Kitta (English), Eduardo Leorri (Geological Sciences), Elena Murenina (Foreign Languages & Literatures), Christopher Oakley (History), Stephanie Wallio (Psychology), and Jennie Ann Cole (Social Work).

The prizewinners in the 11th Annual Joyner Library Graduate Student Exhibition are:

• Friends of Joyner Library Purchase Award: Tim Christensen, “Stones” and “Feathers”
• College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean’s Merit Award: Mairin Gwyn, “Unsweet No. 2”
• School of Art and Design Director’s Award: Jessica Bradsher, “Inspiration”
• School of Art and Design Award: Adam Atkinson, “Hide”
• Dowdy Student Store Award: Tim Rickett, “Waste Management.”

The recipients of the Marie and James Thompson Student Award for fall semester are Alexis Hollingshead, a sophomore who works in the Teaching Resources Center, and Emilie Campese, a sophomore who works in the Circulation Department of Joyner Library.

GRANTS AND CONTRACTS

January 2019

Award Title: Toward a Multi-Scale Theory of Coupled Human Mobility and Environmental Change

Principal Investigator: David Griffith, Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: University of Florida

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Award Title: Ciguatoxin detection and model predictions for use in fisheries management in Puerto Rico

Principal Investigator: Joseph Luczkovich, Biology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: University of Puerto Rico Sea Grant College Program

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Award Title: Phase 2: Oyster reef restoration in Back Sound, Rachel Carson Reserve, Beaufort, NorthCarolina

Principal Investigator: Rachel Gittman, Biology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: North Carolina Policy Collaboratory

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Award Title: US-Brazil-China Biotechnology Workshop

Principal Investigator: Baohong Zhang, Biology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBC)

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Award Title: Effects of the invasive species Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Hydrobiidae, Mollusca) and Didymosphenia geminata (Diatom) on freshwater macroinvertebrate community structure

Principal Investigator: April Blakeslee, Biology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: George Mason University

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Award Title: StateView Program Development and Operations for the State of North Carolina

Principal Investigator: Yong Wang, Geography & Planning, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: AmericaView (AV)

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Award Title: Making Sense of Uncertainty: Improving the Use of Hydrologic Probabilistic Information in Decision-Making

Principal Investigator: Burrell Covey, Geology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: The Nurture Nature Center

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Award Title: RAPID: Acquisition of Critical Data for the Validation of Watershed Response Models in Eastern North Carolina

Principal Investigator: Stephen Moysey, Geology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

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Award Title: Passive scattering beam modeling for proton therapy

Principal Investigator: Jae Jung, Physics, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: Social and Scientific Systems (S3), Inc.

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Award Title: Understanding the Economy and Social Organization for the Underground Market for Cybercrime as a Service Project

Principal Investigator: Olga Smirnova, Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: Michigan State University (MSU)

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Award Title: CSR #5 ECR 2019 Statistical Analysis 1

Principal Investigator: Mark Bowler, Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: Eastcoast Research Services, LLC

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Award Title: CSR #6 ECR 2019 Statistical Analysis 2

Principal Investigator: Mark Bowler, Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: Eastcoast Research Services, LLC

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Award Title: 20th Annual Neuroscience Symposium

Principal Investigator: Tuan Tran, Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBC)

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Award Title: Princeville, North Carolina

Principal Investigator: Susan Pearce, Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: North Carolina Humanities Council

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Award Title: CITE # 487 - Electrical Diagram Training

Principal Investigator: Jimmy Linn, Technology Systems, College of Engineering & Technology

Sponsor: Beaufort County Community College

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Award Title: CITE # 488 - Nutrien, Electrical Troubleshooting-BCCC

Principal Investigator: Jimmy Linn, Technology Systems, College of Engineering & Technology

Sponsor: Beaufort County Community College

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Award Title: CITE # 489 Nutrien Instrumentation and Process / BCCC

Principal Investigator: Jimmy Linn, Technology Systems, College of Engineering & Technology

Sponsor: Beaufort County Community College

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Award Title: Socio-Economic Evaluation of Outer Banks, related to Mid Currituck Bridge Investment Grade Study

Principal Investigator: James Kleckley, Bureau of Business Research, College of Business

Sponsor: Stantec Inc.

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Award Title: Exceptional Children Regional Consultant

Principal Investigator: Alana Zambone, Dean's Office, College of Education

Sponsor: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)

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Award Title: Igniting the Power of Network Improvement Communities to Enhance Professional Learning.

Principal Investigator: Matthew Militello, Educational Leadership, College of Education

Sponsor: US Department of Education (DOED)

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Award Title: Sanford Institute Harmony and Inspire Dissemination and Development Project

Principal Investigator: Margaret Cuthrell, Elementary and Middle Grades Education, College of Education

Sponsor: National University Sanford Instituesof Philanthropy

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Award Title: Collaborating to Overcome Needs by improving the Voice of Exceptional Youth

Principal Investigator: Sandra Warren, Special Education, Foundations and Research, College of Education

Sponsor: US Department of Education (DOED)

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Award Title: Engendering High Quality Personnel Preparation for Educators Serving Students with Significant Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Principal Investigator: Alana Zambone, Special Education, Foundations and Research, College of Education

Sponsor: US Department of Education (DOED)

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Award Title: Reliability of Mobile Apps as Alternative Exposure Assessment Methods for Heat Stress and Solar Ultraviolet Radiation in Agricultural Settings in Eastern North Carolina

Principal Investigator: Jo Anne Balanay, Health Education & Promotion, College of Health & Human Performance

Sponsor: University of Kentucky (UK)

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Award Title: Risk Assessment for Arbovirus Exposure at Horse Farms in North Carolina

Principal Investigator: Stephanie Richards, Health Education & Promotion, College of Health & Human Performance

Sponsor: University of Kentucky (UK)

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Award Title: The Future of Cotton: Educating Merchandising Students on the Future Opportunities for Cotton

Principal Investigator: Erin Parrish, Interior Design, College of Health & Human Performance

Sponsor: Cotton Incorporated