For immediate release

February 4, 2009 Contact: Dee Dobson Harper

252-737-1351

ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH SCHOLARS ACADEMY

INDUCTS INAUGURAL CLASS

GREENVILLE – The ECU Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy (EOSA) inducted 10 faculty members into its inaugural class on February 2, 2009. In an induction ceremony held in the Willis Building Auditorium, Chancellor Steve Ballard, Vice Chancellor Deirdre Mageean, and Associate Vice Chancellor of Engagement, Innovation and Economic Development Ted Morris welcomed the following scholars, who presented brief descriptions of their research interests and goals for participating in the academy:

  • Jeannie Golden, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
  • Jane Painter, Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Allied Health Sciences
  • Michael Harris, Assistant Professor, Department of Management, College of Business
  • Kylie Dotson-Blake, Assistant Professor,Department of Counselor and Adult Education, College of Education
  • Rebecca Dumlao, Associate Professor, School of Communication, College of Fine Arts & Communication
  • Sharon Rogers, Assistant Professor Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance
  • Kim Larson, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing,
  • Paige Averett Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, College of Human Ecology
  • Gene Dixon, Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering, College of Technology and Computer Science
  • David Collier, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine

“The faculty scholars represent a range of disciplines from the 10 colleges and schools. Nominated by their deans and chosen by a selection committee of peers, these tenured and tenure track faculty members are dedicated to working with communities and sharing responsibility for enhancing the quality of life of eastern North Carolinians. We look forward to their accomplishments and believe they will serve as leaders and mentors for others at ECU,” said Dr. Beth Velde,director of the EOSA.

The EOSA’s purpose is to cultivate engaged scholars who can be leaders in their professions while working with communities to improve quality of life and foster economic prosperity. Scholars were chosen by a selection committee of faculty from the colleges and schools based on the following criteria: a demonstrated active research agenda that contributes to the discipline and an

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impact on the community;a desire for new learning about scholarship of engagement;experience in community; a commitment to actively participating in the program including planning and implementing an engaged scholarship project in collaboration with a community partner;and the capacity to effectively communicate and disseminate the results of their research and engaged scholarship to external audiences.

Scholars will attend six workshops to learn about community-based research,the resources available to them on campus, and work with a coach to develop their research plans. ECU faculty and community partners who are experts in the scholarship of engagement will serve as instructors. Serving as coaches are Dr. Hunt McKinnon, Dr. Ted Morris, Dr. Margie Gallagher, Dr. Herb Garrison, and Dr. Jim Mitchell.

The selection committee was comprised of Dr. Jim Mitchell, Dr. Sharon Ballard, Dr. Barry Elmore, Dr. Marie Pokorny, Dr. Jim Kleckley, Dr. Paul Kauffman, Dr. Maria Clay, and Dr. Ted Morris.

In support of this mission, the Office of Engagement, Innovation and Economic Development actively promotes and celebrates the engagement of ECU faculty, staff and students with industry, government and communities to address pressing regional needs. This engagement not only makes ECU a go-to partner in enhancing the economic vitality and quality of life within the region but also enhances education, research and innovation, and scholarship across campus.

For more information about the Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy, please contact Dr. Beth Velde at 252-737-1377 or .

The Office of Economic Development is an office ofthe East Carolina University Division of Research and Graduate Studies and includes the Regional Development Institute, the Center for Survey Research, the Entrepreneurial Initiative, the Office of Technology Transfer, the SBTDC Eastern Regional Service Center and the Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy. For more information about the divisions of the ECU Office of Economic Development, call 252-737-1380 or visit .

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