Mitchelson's Memo

I brag about ECU all the time and it does not matter the audience. The excellence that we have attained within our mission of student success and regional transformation is a compelling source of institutional pride. In turn, these advances do not happen without excellent faculty and staff. ECU supports outstanding faculty in their teaching, research, and service with superior professional development programs and individual consultation. While much of that activity resides within the units, the primary ECU infrastructure for those services is centered in the Office for Faculty Excellence (OFE). It’s a hub of innovation and dissemination. I would argue that a small crew of dedicated servant-leaders has a very large impact indeed! Dr. Sarah Williams (Executive Director), Dr. Hui Bian (Research Consultant), Andrew Horne (Instructional Technology Consultant), Kiwana Ellison (Support Associate), Sandra Williams (Administrative Assistant), and Dr. Eboni Baugh (Faculty Fellow, COE) are a high-performance team. I am grateful for their many contributions. I know that many of you would echo that gratitude.

Just last Friday (in an invitational email from OFE) I was reminded of the large volume of faculty opportunities that OFE manages for our campus: use of grant databases (SPIN), statistics consultation, SAS Introduction, and the Korean Faculty Interest Group (“preparing a teaching grant”). These were just a few examples and we are invited on weekly basis. On this past Wednesday, OFE partnered with Senate Officers to provide the second Promotion/Tenure (P/T) workshop of the fall semester. In addition to a large variety of face-to-face opportunities, OFE provides an important set of on-line resources that are of immediate interest to faculty (P/T processes, evaluation, reappointment, teaching/learning resources, peer observation, Universal Design for Learning, Faculty 180, etc.). In particular, OFE has championed Universal Design for Learning (UDL). So many ECU courses have benefited (in design) from the simple recognition that there are many learning differences among our students that can be easily accommodated. ECU is recognized as a center of innovation and dissemination for UDL.

OFE also maintains important partnerships with other organizations to assist with orchestrating and marketing opportunities for faculty. Their relationship with the BB&T Center for Leadership Development (Headed by Dr. Steve Ballard) is a good example. The BB&T Faculty Leadership Fellows Program, the BB&T Active Learning Program, and the BB&T Course Redesign Program are orchestrated through OFE. OFE has championed learning communities at ECU primarily through its relationship with College STAR although a number of other Faculty Interest Groups (FIGs) are also facilitated. They partner with REDE to offer research workshops and training. I am particularly pleased with Dr. Baugh’s development of mentoring approaches and programs at ECU. These have been very well received.

Two very large and important “events” are designed and implemented by the OFE - Faculty Orientation in August of each year and the University Teaching Awards Ceremony during the spring semester of each year. OFE provides key staff support for the Senate’s Faculty Awards Committee (Teaching Awards, Research Awards, UNC Awards, etc.). These are labor-intensive annual highlights and I know we are grateful for how well they are done.

I could belabor this point and continue the litany of contributions that clearly support and benefit faculty and their teaching, research, and service agendas. But, you get the idea. Our institution’s excellence could not be achieved without faculty excellence and the support needed to secure it. I wanted you to be aware of this wonderful resource, its talented leadership, and the gratitude that I feel for their efforts. OFE is just another team at ECU that goes above and beyond. Visit them in person at their office on the first floor of Joyner or explore the many on-line options at OFE. Thanks for listening!

Regards,

RonM

ANNUAL STATE EMPLOYEES COMBINED CAMPAIGN

The annual State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC) is running now through mid-November. This is a way for you to give a one-time donation or a regular payroll deduction to your organization of choice, making a powerful and positive impact on our local, national, and global communities. All participating organizations are non-profits that rely on good citizens like you to continue doing their work in the community. Ninety percent of your contribution goes straight to the charity, with no additional administrative fees. Your contributions are tax-deductible. This year, almost 900 charities are eligible for contributions. To search charities and to learn more about SECC, click HERE. Please contact your division representative to pledge today.

EFFECTIVE INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES

The Think UDL podcast series showcases staff and faculty from a variety of colleges and disciplines using practices aligned closely with the principles of Universal Design for Learning.

You can listen to the podcast “15 Steps to Group Project Success” with Robin Spring, a faculty member in Advertising and Public Relations at Grand Valley State University, that outlines a process to create successful group projects in undergraduate advertising classes. This case study is applicable across disciplines and is also available as a CollegeSTAR module. Listen as Robin and Lillian detail this great technique that you can try out, too!

Be in touch with College STAR or the Office for Faculty Excellence if you would like to learn more about an idea in one of the podcasts - or if you would like to be featured in an upcoming podcast for your work surrounding UDL.

GLOBAL AFFAIRS

We are very proud to announce that this fall semester ECU welcomed our largest undergraduate international student class on record. Thirty-two new international degree-seeking students enrolled representing 26 countries, an increase of 33% over the past two years. The top intended degree programs among these students are within College of Engineering and Technology and the College of Business. Kudos to the international recruitment and enrollment team in Global Affairs for their efforts!

Global Business, the first course developed through the Global BEEHIVE project, launched this Fall. Over the semester, Dr. Tope Adeyemi-Bello and his students will work with partners at Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM) in Mexico, Université de Tours in France, and China Pharmaceutical University in China to discuss business etiquette and protocols, examine case studies, and work on collaborative projects surrounding leadership, starting businesses in other countries, competitor analysis, and market segmentation. College of Business senior, Joseph Feiden, offers a positive review of the course: “The Global Business course has introduced me to relationships outside of the classroom that I never thought I’d experience. It is really giving me a better knowledge about other countries' laws, cultures, and business environments. This course has been like no other and I’m excited for our future collaborations.”

The Office of Global Affairs has worked to secure both internal and external scholarship funding in support of new study abroad programs with four prestigious international universities - American University in Cairo, Seoul National University, Shanghai Ocean University and Universidad Piloto de Colombia. Up to 13 ECU students will be able to spend a semester (or summer) abroad with scholarship funding through the Thomas W. Rivers Foreign Exchange Scholarship or through financial support from partner universities abroad.

The Office of Global Affairs held its inaugural International Tailgate for the ECU/William & Mary football game on September 21st. Attended by 70+ international students, faculty and visiting scholars, the event offered participants an opportunity to experience one of the most endearing ECU traditions while sharing foods and traditions of their native countries.

Upcoming October Events:

• Study Abroad Fair (10/10)
• Thomas W. Rivers Study Abroad Scholarship Deadline (10/13)
• Forum on Comprehensive Internationalization: Advising Students on Study Abroad(10/16)

ACADEMIC OUTREACH, CONTINUING & DISTANCE EDUCATION

Charlene Lee, ECU’s State Authorization Compliance Specialist and SARA Coordinator served as co-coordinator of the SARA-NC (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements – North Carolina) annual meeting held in Greensboro last week. SARA-NC is the portal agency for all institutions of higher learning in NC which participate in NC-SARA (National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements). More than 83 public institutions, private institutions and community colleges, along with NC-SARA and WICHE (Western Interstate Commission for Higher) representatives were in attendance. During the meeting, Charlene presented ECU’s web-based Experiential Learning Inventory (ELI).

PIRATE ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER

This semester, the PASC Peer-Led Study Group Program will host 59 study groups providing the opportunity for students enrolled in introductory courses to meet on a weekly basis with a group of no more than 7 peers to review course material, solve problems, and gain an understanding of course concepts. Study groups are conducted by peer facilitators who have already successfully completed the course, earned an A, are faculty recommended and are trained in collaborative learning techniques.

Study group meetings are designed to engage all group members and are not meant to be tutoring appointments led solely by the group facilitator. PASC study group leaders use collaborative learning techniques, encouraging and supporting members to teach and learn from each other. Study group membership is voluntary, but members are required to attend regularly and participate actively. PASC study groups meet in two campus locations; at the main center in the Old Cafeteria Complex and in collaboration with Campus Living partners, on college hill in Legacy residence hall. Faculty or staff that have questions about the Peer-Led Study Group Program should e-mail tutoring@ecu.edu or contact Monique Barrett at 737-3009.

OFFICE FOR FACULTY EXCELLENCE

The BB&T Center for Leadership Development Active Learning & Leadership program enables participants to explore opportunities for infusing student leadership capacity building throughout a selected course. The Fall 2019 cohort will be working through the semester to find opportunities in their courses for students to build experience and confidence in leadership-related skills. Cohort members include Natasha Bell, Christopher Brighton, Misty Brown, Kathryn Slocumb Carroll, Tamra Church, Gabrielle Freeman, Cui Meadows, Kristina Simeonsoon, Melissa Wrenn, and Jennifer Valco.

Would you like to increase your writing productivity, connect with a supportive online community and have a chance to win some ECU swag? Join your fellow ECU faculty, graduate students, and post docs in the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) 14-day Writing Challenge from October 28th – November 10th. Register now for the 14-day Writing Challenge HERE. Contact the Office for Faculty Excellence for more information.

RESEARCH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs celebrated National Postdoc Appreciation Week in September, welcoming University of Illinois at Chicago Associate Dean for Research Dr. Phillip Clifford to campus to speak to the university’s 30 postdocs. Clifford is a leader in the field of career development, offering tips, tools and advice to postdocs for their future careers inside and outside of the classroom. ECU’s current postdocs represent more than 15 academic disciplines. Learn more about postdoctoral research and events on campus HERE.

ECU’s Biomaterials Research Cluster hosted its second lightning talks event in September with 13 researchers sharing their work with the campus community. Nine different departments participated in the event, ranging from general dentistry to physical therapy and engineering. The Biomaterials Research Cluster focuses on the broad field of next generation biomaterials, including materials for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and drug delivery, as well as protein-based and biomimetic materials. Learn more about the cluster HERE.

The Economic Development and Engagement Council will host a pair of events featuring S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Global Vice President of Research Development and Engineering, Mergers and Acquisitions Dr. Andrew Gilicinski. Gilicinski will speak on October 14 at a faculty event before speaking with students a day later. Gilicinski’s visit gives the campus an opportunity to hear perspectives from someone in business who has taken research and development and moved it to the marketplace, providing a potential blueprint for researchers to turn their research into real-world applications. The events are sponsored by the Miller School of Entrepreneurship and REDE with the goal of bringing positive change in economic development to rural North Carolina.

The Office of Innovation and New Ventures reported that the university received three new patents this summer. Congratulations Mark Mannie (Microbiology and Immunology), Gregg Givens (Communication Sciences and Disorders, ret.), Jason Yao (Engineering), Cheng Chen (Physics), Ken Jacobs (Physics) and Bruce Ferguson (visiting scientist) for your achievement! Read more about the patents HERE.

EHRA employees who engage in an External Professional Activity for Pay (EPAP) must submit a Notice of Intent to Engage in an External Professional Activity for Pay. This Notice must be submitted and approved by an immediate supervisor for each separate activity in which the employee wishes to engage. Regulations require that the Notice of Intent is to be completed in the AIR System at least 10 calendar days in advance of the EPAP. Employees with recurring EPAPs should submit a new EPAP Notice each new academic year for that recurring activity. For questions regarding EPAPs, please contact the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance.

REDE Tip: Research investigators should not underestimate the importance of disclosing potential conflicts of interest. The U.S. Department of Justice recently indicted a researcher at the University of Kansas for not disclosing a relationship with a university located outside the U.S. Researchers should disclose activities, interests and relationships annually when research projects are proposed or awarded, and anytime a potential conflict arises. Contact ORIC with questions or concerns. Also, be aware of the growing concern of undue foreign influence on research at U.S. universities. In June 2019, Vice Chancellor for REDE Dr. Jay Golden provided additional details in an announcement.

CAREER SERVICES ANNOUNCEMENT

ECU Career Services is excited to announce a new campus-wide training for faculty and staff called Career Advocate Network that will be hosted on:

• November 13, 2019 from 10 am – 12 pm in Mendenhall Student Center, Room 221
• November 14, 2019 from 2 pm – 4 pm in the Laupus Library, Room 1504

Any ECU faculty and staff who is interested in learning about exclusive resources and tools provided by Career Services to assist ECU students in their career development should consider attending.

The Career Advocate Network supports the University’s mission to prepare students with the knowledge, skills and values to succeed in a global, multicultural society.

Once you have completed the training, you will receive a Career Advocate symbol to display in your office and you will be listed on the Career Services website as an advocate. To register in Cornerstone click HERE.

SPACE WILL BE LIMITED! Deadline to register is: November 1, 2019

For questions about the training, contact Patrick Roberts.

College Updates

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

Savannah Booke, Brianna Rosser and Ryan M. Stack, chemistry students, are performing internships this semester at Mayne Pharmaceuticals.

Joi Walker (Chemistry) is helping three local community colleges transition their general chemistry labs into Argument Driven Inquiry (ADI) labs. This approach is well established at ECU. The ECU XLabs Research team - Walker (Chemistry), Heather Vance-Chalcraft (Biology), and Steven Wolf (Physics) - are disseminating the curricular materials and research findings for the laboratory transformation project. ECU graduate, Jocelyn Francis, is implementing the chemistry laboratory curriculum at Lenoir Community College and Sharon Ermolowich, also an ECU graduate, is working to transform the laboratory program at Wilson Community College. Faculty from Beaufort County Community College attended a training workshop with ECU graduate students in August and are planning to try some of the new labs this year. The ECU XLabs Research team will conduct a morning workshop for faculty and administrators at Pitt Community College on October 15.

Nick Musarra’s (undergraduate, Geography, Planning and Environment) planning project, “Movement Murfreesboro,” has been selected as the recipient of the 2019 North Carolina Marvin Collins Planning Award for best undergraduate student project.

The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies recently hosted a panel discussion for the Downtown Dialogues in the Humanities and Fine Arts series on, “Greenville, Then and Now,” the current exhibition at the Greenville Museum of Art. The event, held on September 25, drew 41 attendees; 53% female and 47% male. George Bailey (Philosophy and Religious Studies) described the question and answer session with the audience as “one of the most important aspects” of the event. Trista Porter, the museum director, also viewed the gathering as a positive event for the community.

Nichelle Huber (Ph.D. student, Clinical Health Psychology) was selected to be a member of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology Journal Club over the next year. She will provide reviews and narratives of the top articles in her field.

Aimee Smith (Psychology) was selected for the 2019 Rebecca Goldberg-Kaufman award by the American Epilepsy Society. This award honors epilepsy health care professionals who have clinical expertise and have published on the psychiatric aspects of epilepsy.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

eCommerce: A Stakeholder Approach, a textbook by Dr. John Drake, associate professor in management information systems, was just published and explores the various stakeholders and work roles central to successful e-commerce initiatives.

This summer, Dr. Jon Kirchoff, associate professor in supply chain management, visited Verona, Italy to work with colleagues on a closed-loop supply chain research project. In particular, they looked at trying to identify a solution for the needs of industries located in Northern Italy. They looked at how one can find value in the waste generated from a supply chain environment and how it can be put back into the supply chain.

ECU’s Board of Trustees recently approved the establishment of the Crisp Small Business Resource Center, which will be housed in the College of Business’ Miller School of Entrepreneurship. The mission of the Crisp Center is to provide emerging entrepreneurs from ECU and the surrounding communities access to best practices and proven knowledge for anyone who plans to start or sustain enterprises in eastern North Carolina. The Crisp Center is possible thanks to a $1 million gift from Matt and Kim Crisp. As a Washington, North Carolina, native, Matt Crisp credits his family and his College of Business education for putting him on the path of success in both his career and life. Now, he wants to pay it forward. “This gift from my wife and me to the Miller School of Entrepreneurship is our small way of giving back to the eastern North Carolina business community,” Crisp said. “It is our expectation that the Crisp Center will assist aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams of starting and running successful businesses here in the area and help the local economy thrive.” Read more HERE.

The Miller School of Entrepreneurship’s, Dr. Dennis Barber, III, and David Mayo received a teaching grant that will complement the School’s current entrepreneurship curriculum. With the new focus on corporate entrepreneurship, student teams will be placed in 12 large, regional manufacturing companies and will make recommendations on product innovations, adjacent or vertically integrated startups, or efficiency improvements. Entrepreneurship will be used as a tool to identify problems and create actionable solutions at these companies. The first placements for corporate entrepreneurship will take place in the fall 2019 semester. Students will first gain a deep understanding of the industry and learn interview and active observational skills before observing on the manufacturing floor. They also will conduct interviews with management, employees, customers and suppliers to identify problems. Companies will receive final student presentations at the end of the fall semester.

The Miller School recently co-hosted (along with Pitt Early College) and sponsored the Youth Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition, which attracted 85 middle and high-school teams from across the east to present their innovation or entrepreneurial pitch ideas. Ideas ranged from mental health awareness and social justice to physical products. The winners took home prizes totaling $2,000 to further their ideas. The overall winner, incoming freshman Hannah Sanders, won for her product Gvegas Slimes. She plans to major in entrepreneurship. Read more HERE.

The Miller School of Entrepreneurship has announced that the third annual Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge will award more than $100,000 in cash prizes and in-kind services to this year’s winners, making it the largest student-focused entrepreneurship competition in the University of North Carolina system. The Pirate Challenge is a three-round pitch competition that’s open for any ECU student enrolled in the 2019/2020 academic year. Alumni who have an ECU student on their team can also participate. Round one of the Pirate Challenge is Tuesday, October 15, 2019, from noon to 2 p.m., on the lawn behind the Main Campus Student Center (MCSC). Twelve winning teams from round one will move on to the second round, which is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20, 6-8:30 p.m., in room 249 of the MCSC. The final round of the Pirate Challenge will conclude in February 2020. To register for the third annual Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge, click HERE.

The Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) program celebrates 10 years! Large thanks to Dr. Brenda Wells, Dr. Brad Karl, and Kurt Fickling for making the program so successful in such a relatively short amount of time. Read about some of the achievements of the program HERE.

Dr. Cody Logan Chullen, associate professor of management, was recently reappointed by the Pitt County Board of Commissioners to the Pitt County Nursing Home/Adult Care Community Advisory Committee for a 3-year term. Read more HERE.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Students attending the ECU Community School achieved growth during the 2018-19 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s annual report card. On September 4, the department released school performance grades to the state’s public schools, showing the Community School met its expected growth goal with a growth index of 1.97. For a school to exceed growth, the growth index must be at least 2.00. The Community School was .03 away from exceeding the state’s expected growth. Read more HERE.

Dr. Leonard Annetta, the Taft Distinguished Professor of Science at East Carolina University’s College of Education, received a $250,000 Early Concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) from the National Science Foundation. The money will fund a proof of concept, a small exercise to test a project’s viability, for Mixed Reality for Improved Science Reading Comprehension, a partnership between ECU, Cumberland County Schools and Spark Plug Games. The partnership seeks to create an augmented reality or mixed reality technology that will help young students understand vocabulary embedded in text, specifically science concepts and vocabulary. Read more HERE.

The Discoveries in Earth Science program recently completed its 2019 summer session. The program ran for three weeks in June and July on the ECU campus. This is the first year that ECU has hosted the program. The goals of the program are to increase competence in science for students with blindness or visual impairment (BVI), develop participants’ skills to independently conduct Earth science activities, assist participants with analyzing scientific data, and prepare participants for the scientific workforce. Read more HERE.

Students and faculty from Hiroshima University visited ECU’s College of Education on the week of September 16. They spent time working with teachers and students at Elmhurst Elementary, Wahl-Coates Elementary, and C.M. Eppes Middle School in Pitt County Schools. They also visited College of Education classes and toured the ECU Community School.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Students interested in careers in information technology gathered for the first IBM IT Career Connection event on September 14 at the Murphy Center. The College of Engineering and Technology, along with ECU Career Services, helped put on the event that focused on mainframe computing. Representatives from banks such as Wells Fargo and First Citizens, along with IBM and others attended the event, looking for students to take internships and to choose their companies for their future careers. About 50 students attended the half-day event that included presentations and a Master the Mainframe demonstration.

The Department of Technology Systems hosted the Red Hat Academy Fall Kickoff Event outside the Main Campus Student Center. It was the first such event for Red Hat, an open source software company headquartered in Raleigh. ECU has been a Red Hat Academy campus since 2005 and was the Red Hat Academy Partner of the Year in 2018. The goal of the event was to introduce the company to students interested in careers in technology.

A nearly $299,454 grant from the National Science Foundation will allow a team of researchers to look at sea level rise and its impact on communities. Dr. Randall Etheridge, assistant professor of engineering, is the principal investigator on the grant. He will work with Dr. Raymond Smith, an associate professor of engineering, Dr. Linda D’Anna, a research associate with the Coastal Studies Institute, and Dr. Cynthia Grace-McCaskey, assistant professor of anthropology and a Coastal Studies Institute research associate, as well as three groups of engineering students to explore and design possible solutions to flooding in the Lake Mattamuskeet area of Hyde County and to develop a process with community input that could then be used to help other similar communities.

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS & COMMUNICATION

Cynthia Bickley-Green (Art Education) was nominated for recognition as the North Carolina Art Education Association Higher Education Art Educator of the Year.

Linda Kean (Communication) served as the moderator of a question and answer session with Soledad O’Brien on September 18, following the journalist’s Voyages of Discovery lecture. The School of Communication was a co-sponsor of the event.

“Navigating Restlessness: New Work in Paper and Glass,” featuring work by Lisa Beth Robinson (Art and Design) and two colleagues, is on exhibition at the Gallery 110 North in Plymouth, Wisconsin, through November 29.

The School of Theatre and Dance is hosting a series of informal talks with visiting alumni on Fridays. To date, the school has hosted Jen Bartels (BFA ’03), Jeremy Woodard (BFA ’01) and Jennifer Paulson-Lee (BFA ’86).

COLLEGE OF HEALTH & HUMAN PERFORMANCE

The College of Health and Human Performance launched its inaugural prevention science initiative with a Design for Disability kickball kickoff on September 30. ECU alumna Judy Byrd ’72 spoke with students and faculty about creating opportunities for sports participation and physical activity for individuals with visual impairments. She shared her work developing Beep Kickball and led a game in Minges Coliseum with students and faculty. In the afternoon, Ms. Byrd and the Design for Disability team visited Wintergreen Intermediate School for a game with second through fourth grade students.

The merchandising program connected students with alumni at a panel discussion on building their careers and their professional networks. Panelists included Chris Knott, founder of Peter Millar; Erin Davis, CEO of Truly Yours Boutique; Freddy Simon of Freddy Simon and Associates; Stephanie Bond, director of marketing at Lenox Industries; and Walter Perkins, CEO of Hammock Source.

Health Education and Promotion student organization Preconception Educating Pirates (PEP Squad) partnered with the Office of Minority Health to conduct a Preconception Peer Educator Training in late September for ECU students and also welcomed visitors from Elizabeth City State, Mount Olive, Barton and several other community colleges in attendance. This certification equips members with the ability to share preconception health information with their community members and peers to aid in keeping moms and children healthy.

HONORS COLLEGE

The Honors College hosted its 2019 convocation on Thursday, August 29, 2019. Convocation is the last step freshmen take before officially becoming members of the Honors College. It's a time for them to gather and learn more about the college from both Honors College staff and student leaders. Read more HERE.

College of Business and Honors College student Taylor Chappell received a job offer from KPMG.

ECU Honors College alumnus Corey Winkler was selected to represent East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine in the annual Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application (SCADA) to be held in Washington DC. The SCADA is an international student research competition held annually that promotes the integration of research and independent learning into dental education. Corey participated in the Summer Scholars Program where he completed a project titled "Artificial aging effects on the color stability of composite resins," which examined color stability of various dental restoratives.

EC Scholars alumna and current graduate student McKenzie Shelton published a photo essay on the Americans for the Arts blog after receiving a scholarship to attend their national convention this summer. Read more HERE.

The EC Scholars hosted their annual Celebrating Excellence event where EC Scholars were able to talk and share a meal with donors and friends of the program.

INTEGRATED COASTAL PROGRAMS

Dr. Jake Hochard (Coastal Studies Institute/Department of Economics) was awarded an NSF CoPe EAGER grant. The proposed work will establish standards to help coordinate rapid response data collection following major disasters. A coordinated approach to these efforts will improve the research community's ability to analyze and understand the impacts that disasters have on human livelihoods and the policy responses that are likely to protect at-risk communities from disaster exposures and improve recoveries in disaster-stricken communities. This research will democratize large data sets, enabling PIs with reduced research capacity to utilize multiple data sources, in order to test hypotheses related to coastlines and people.

Dr. David Lagomasino (Department of Coastal Studies) conducted field work in Cote d'Ivoire and Benin alongside a team that included researchers from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Scripps Oceanographic Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from August 14th through the 24th. While in West Africa, the team worked closely with the students and professors from Félix Houphouët-Boigny University in Cote d'Ivoire and researchers from the Benin Space Sciences Institute and a bio-remediation company, Green Keepers Africa, in Benin.

Dr. Lagomasino also attended two international meetings focused on his research. First, he attended a Remote Sensing and Mapping of Seagrass Expert Workshop at Oxford University in Oxford, England. Seagrass experts from all around the world met to identify knowledge gaps and develop a road map for mapping seagrass at national-to-global scales that can be used by coastal countries around the world to assist in reporting their National Determined Contributions. In addition, Dr. Lagomasino recently attended Google's Geo for Good Summit in Sunnyvale, CA. There he met with an interdisciplinary group of natural and social scientists as well as computer engineers to discuss available tools to answer pressing socio-environmental concerns. He presented his research on disaster recovery efforts after the 2017 hurricanes in Puerto Rico and Florida.

Dave Sybert (Coastal Studies Institute K-12 Education Specialist) is currently supporting a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Sciences (NCCOS) underwater habitat study off the coast of North Carolina in Onslow and Raleigh Bays. The study is conducted aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster, a 187 ft. oceanographic research vessel dedicated to improving the understanding of the marine environment. The studies conducted on this research cruise include echosounder surveys of the ocean floor from the ship, and fish counts and structure-from-motion modeling conducted by dive teams.

Dr. Rachel Gittman (Coastal Studies Institute) co-authored a paper featured in Frontiers in Marine Science, titled, “Voluntary Restoration: Mitigation's Silent Partner in the Quest to Reverse Coastal Wetland Loss in the USA.” This paper resulted from the collective efforts of a Coastal Restoration expert working group for which Dr. Gittman was a co-lead. The group was supported by a grant from the Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP). SNAPP is a collaboration of The Nature Conservancy, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The paper examined the effectiveness of Federally funded, voluntary restoration efforts in helping avert losses of coastal wetlands by assessing: (1) What are the current and past trends in coastal wetland change in the U.S.?; and (2) How much and where are voluntary restoration efforts occurring? They found that from 1996 to 2010, the U.S. lost 139,552 acres of estuarine wetlands and 336,922 acres of palustrine wetlands. From 2006 to 2015, restoration of 145,442 acres of estuarine wetlands and 154,772 acres of palustrine wetlands occurred. Wetland losses and restoration were not always geographically aligned, resulting in local and regional “winners” and “losers.” While these restoration efforts have been considerable, restoration and mitigation collectively have not been able to keep pace with wetland losses; thus, reversing this trend will likely require greater investment in coastal habitat conservation and restoration efforts.

Drs. Mike O’Driscoll (Coastal Studies), Charlie Humphrey (Environmental Health Sciences), and Guy Iverson (Environmental Health Sciences) were recently awarded funding from the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory for a study focused on onsite wastewater nutrient inputs to Falls Lake Watershed. Falls Lake is a critical water supply for Raleigh but has suffered from nutrient-related impairments over the last several decades. This research will help quantify the influence septic systems have on contributing nutrients to the surface waters in the Falls Lake watershed and help to improve watershed models.

Dr. Sidharth Narayan (Department of Coastal Studies) co-authored the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s latest Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. This latest international report is a critical global call to action for responding to rising sea-levels and increasing coastal hazards all over the world. Coastal risks to human populations and natural ecosystems will rise significantly and soon, but timely adaptation responses can be effective. Dr. Narayan, currently a research scientist at UC Santa Cruz and one of the newest faculty in ECU’s Department of Coastal Studies, finds that ecosystem-based adaptation, i.e. using reefs and wetlands, etc., can provide multiple benefits to reduce local coastal risk and improve resilience. However, more on-the-ground examples and scientific research are needed to understand the long-term effectiveness of these measures.

Upcoming events and opportunities:

• ICP/CSI will be hosting the regional competition for the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, the Blue Heron Bowl, on February 1st. High school teams will compete in an ocean science knowledge competition for a chance to move on to the national competition. There are volunteer opportunities for ECU faculty, staff and students. Please contact David Sybert or call 252-475-5451 for more information.
• The NC Renewable Energy Challenge will be hosted in partnership with Appalachian State University, Jennette’s Pier and KIDWIND at Coastal Studies Institute on March 21, 2020. Elementary, middle, high school, undergraduate and graduate students from all over NC will engineer devices to create electricity from wind, solar, ocean waves and ocean currents. Experts in these alternative energy fields will be there to judge the competition and interact with students. For more information on either of these events contact David Sybert or call 252-475-5451.
• Spring 2020 Semester Experience at the Coast - The Undergraduate Semester Experience at the Coast is a structured residential program (housing available) located on ECU’s Outer Banks Campus for students with an interest in coastal studies. This semester-long program provides students interested in coastal resources, science, and management to immerse themselves in an environment where courses are hands-on with field and lab-based experiences

ACADEMIC LIBRARY SERVICES

Join us for a reception to celebrate the NEH On the Road exbibit “For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights” in Joyner’s Janice Hardison Faulkner Gallery on Thursday, October 10, at 4:30 p.m. “For All the World to See” is on display through October 20. Complementary exhibits on the first, third and fourth floors will be on display through the end of the semester.

Zena Howard, architect and principal at Perkins & Will in Durham, will speak about urban design as urban healing on Thursday, October 10, at 6 p.m. in the Main Campus Student Center, Ballroom C. Howard has designed spaces including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and Greenville’s Sycamore Hill Gateway Plaza. Her visit is presented in partnership with ECU’s Office for Equity and Diversity and the City of Greenville.

Hank Klibanoff, journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning co-author of “The Race Beat,” will discuss civil rights cold cases and why they matter on October 14, at 4:30 p.m., in Joyner Library room 2409.

Gather your young Pirates and set your course for Pirate Family Fun Day after the Homecoming parade on Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Join us for Storybook Theatre performances, story time, a treasure hunt and more.

Grants & Contracts

August 2019

Award Title: Evaluation of DVHPDI LAP Sites

Principal Investigator: Heidi Bonner, Criminal Justice, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: Pitt County Sheriff's Office

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Award Title: CoPe EAGER: Establishing Interface Standards for Physical Exposure and Human Impacts Data Collection and Publication in Rapid Response to Coastal Hazards

Principal Investigator: Jacob Hochard, Economics, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

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Award Title: Apprehensions: six senses of the world & the North Carolina Museum of Art

Principal Investigator: Helena Feder, English, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)

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Award Title: Remediation of Underprepared Students in College Algebra

Principal Investigator: April Talbert, Math, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: University of North Carolina System Office (UNC SysOff)

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Award Title: Student Success Innovation Lab: Replication and Scale: Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Impact of Learning Assistants

Principal Investigator: Derek Maher, Philosophy, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: University of North Carolina System Office (UNC SysOff)

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Award Title: Graduate Assistantship with Beaufort County Schools

Principal Investigator: Christy Walcott, Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: Beaufort County Schools

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Award Title: Prepare for Practice: Training future psychologists to address the opioid epidemic and behavioral health needs across a continuum of integrated care settings

Principal Investigator: Robert Carels, Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences

Sponsor: Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

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Award Title: Outreach Programming and Documentation of "New York Bight Collaborative Archaeological Survey"

Principal Investigator: Ronald McCord, Coastal Studies Institute, Academic Affairs

Sponsor: Cardinal Point Captains, Inc.

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Award Title: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Principal Investigator: Paul Gemperline, Graduate School, Academic Affairs

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

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Award Title: Building Global Understanding in Business, Education, Environment and Health through International Virtual Exchange

Principal Investigator: Jami Leibowitz, Office of Global Affairs, Academic Affairs

Sponsor: US Department of Education (DOED)

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Award Title: Providing Innovative Residential and Transfer Engineering Support

Principal Investigator: Ricky Castles, Engineering, College of Engineering & Technology

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

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Award Title: CITE #505 - Lean Six Sigma White Belt Training

Principal Investigator: Merwan Mehta, Technology Systems, College of Engineering & Technology

Sponsor: Beaufort County Community College

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Award Title: Management Information Systems (MIS) STEM Camp Project Profile 2019

Principal Investigator: April Reed, Management Information Systems, College of Business

Sponsor: Wells Fargo Foundation

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Award Title: EAGER: Mixed Reality for Improved Science Reading Comprehension

Principal Investigator: Leonard Annetta, Math, Science, and Instructional Technology, College of Education

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

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Award Title: EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY NOYCE SCHOLARS PROGRAM FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION

Principal Investigator: Anthony Thompson, Math, Science, and Instructional Technology, College of Education

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

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Award Title: NC NewMusic Initiative

Principal Investigator: Edward Jacobs, School of Music, College of Fine Arts & Communication

Sponsor: Columbia University

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Award Title: Center for the Study of Tobacco Products

Principal Investigator: Eric Soule, Health Education & Promotion, College of Health & Human Performance

Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)

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Award Title: NC BLP

Principal Investigator: Kristin Black, Health Education & Promotion, College of Health & Human Performance

Sponsor: NC DHHS Division of Public Health (DPH)

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Award Title: Mosquito Identification Service III

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

Sponsor: Albemarle Regional Health Services

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Award Title: Cellular energetics as a regulator of muscle mass and mitochondrial content during muscle atrophy

Principal Investigator: Jeffrey Brault, Kinesiology, College of Health & Human Performance

Sponsor: NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMSD)

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Award Title: Oakmont Baptist GA Partnership 2019-2020

Principal Investigator: David Loy, Recreation Sciences, College of Health & Human Performance

Sponsor: Oakmont Baptist Church

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Award Title: Understanding Postadoption and Guardianship Instability for Children and Youth Who Exit Foster Care 2018-19

Principal Investigator: Kevin White, School of Social Work, College of Health & Human Performance

Sponsor: Research Triangle Institute (RTI International)

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Award Title: Greenville on Screen

Principal Investigator: Joseph Barricella, Joyner Library, Academic Library Services

Sponsor: National Film Preservation Foundation