Grants, Research, & Creative Activity News
Research Excellence in Harriot College
Harriot College faculty, undergraduates, and graduate students play a major part in ECU’s mission to lead the way in creating important discoveries through research. Our knowledgeable faculty researchers and enthusiastic student researchers help develop new technologies, medicines and innovative approaches to transform the local communities and the world around us!
Harriot College hires top-notch individuals whose research interests span disciplines both within the college and across the university. Faculty have numerous opportunities to apply for university and college awards, reassignment time, and external funding to support and advance their research.
Student researchers in Harriot College benefit from the many college faculty who choose to guide and mentor them in their research projects and goals. Throughout their studies, undergraduate and graduate students work in labs and offices, develop and direct experiments, perform data analysis, participate in internships, and more. Student researchers work with faculty in the disciplines of biology, chemistry, geological sciences, psychology, and sociology, and through ECU’s Brody School of Medicine, College of Health and Human Performance, College of Technology and Engineering, and various other academic units. Students also learn valuable research and communication skills that allow them to write and submit papers for publication, showcase their work at university research events, attend and present at professional conferences, and help secure new grants and awards for the college and university.
Learn more about the research excellence provided by the faculty and students in Harriot College!
ECU Research Dashboard
ECU’s Research, economic development and community engagement activities are having a significant impact in North Carolina. Our continued increase in research and creative activities is benefiting the people, communities and businesses of the state. ECU’s Research Dashboard allows the community and our partners to track our progress. Learn more about how our researchers are affecting the region.
Research, Economic Development and Engagement
Recent News of Grants, Research, and Creative Activities
November 2024 - Harriot College Grant & Contract News
Full report and funding opportunities for November 2024
Anthropology Faculty, Students Assist in Case of Human Remains
Dr. Charles Ewen, Dr. Christopher Wolfe, and five graduate students from the Department of Anthropology, recently lent their expertise to the Greenville Police Department investigating the case of human remains found on Oct. 5 at the former B.G. Barrett Funeral Home in Greenville. The group used the department’s topography surveying tool and newest ground penetrating radar device, acquired in part due to a generous donation from Dr. Bonner Guilford. Photos of the team using the equipment, by Paul Armstrong at Beyond Limits Productions, are on the Greenville, NC Police Department Facebook page.
Investigation of skeletal remains at former funeral home closing up
Mazow Shares Expertise at Conferences
Dr. Laura Mazow, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Director in the Department of Anthropology, has presented her research at numerous conferences and talks. This summer she traveled to London, England, for the Islands of the North Atlantic conference, presenting a lecture on “The Lecherie of Clothing: Weighing Wool and Measuring Weaves in Late Medieval England,” and to Helsinki, Finland, for the 69th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, presenting a paper on “The Debate Between Weaver and Fuller: A Re-Examination.” While in London, she gave a public talk, “Reclaiming the Road not Taken: Indigenous Knowledge versus Classical Perceptions at Beth Zur (or What is the function of a bathtub?)” for the Palestine Exploration Fund. She recently returned from Cambridge, England, where she attended the Early Textile Study Group conference, presenting “Who will reject a fine Web of Cloth for a little course List at the end: Decoding Woven Textile Edges in Southern Mesopotamian Text and Iconography.” Listen to her public talk “‘And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam’ (I Sam 17:6-7): Weaponry, Weaving, and Broken Similes in the Duel Between David and Goliath” for the American Society of Overseas Research.
Friends of ASOR Webinars
Perry Discusses Petra, Jordan, Interviewed about Ancient Tombs
Dr. Megan Perry, Professor in the Department of Anthropology, attended the European Paleopathology Association conference in Leiden as the parent association’s Vice President and then presented a paper, “Interfacing with Our Elders: Aging and Health at Petra, Jordan,” at the European Archaeology Association meeting in Rome. In addition, Perry recently shared her expertise when she was interviewed on the public radio program “The World” about the Nabataeans and human remains discovered in an ancient tomb at Petra in Jordan.
Ancient tomb discovered at Petra in Jordan
Biology Student Conducts Hands-on Research, Receives Scholarship
This summer, Ashley Eakes, an undergraduate in the Department of Biology, began an exciting research experience under the mentorship of Dr. April Blakeslee and Dr. Rachel Gittman, Associate Professors in the Department of Biology. Their research focuses on using biological indicators, such as parasites, to assess the effectiveness of different shoreline restoration techniques. The project involves collecting data from several coastal field sites and returning to the lab for in-depth analysis. Eakes’ research experience provided valuable hands-on experience in field and lab research, integrating aspects of ecology and molecular biology. She is continuing the research this academic year, incorporating new methods of analysis, shared her research, “Exploring Effectiveness of Living Shoreline Restoration,” at a research symposium, and she has received a Water Scholars award through the Water Resources Center, which will help support her research in Blakeslee’s and Gittman’s labs.
Department of Biology
New Biologist Interviewed about Work in Madagascar
Dr. Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology, whose research expertise examines the interactions between human health, animal health and environmental health, was featured in an Al Jazeera documentary where he was interviewed about his work in Madagascar.
Inside the battle to contain infectious diseases in rainforests and cities
Policy Advisor Speaks at Economics Symposium
After a brief hiatus due to the Coronavirus pandemic, The Department of Economics recently hosted its annual symposium. Christopher Neely, senior economic policy advisor at The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, discussed the nature of interest rate risk experienced by banks, bank runs and circumstances that led to the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023. The event was made possible by the Economics General Trust Fund and the Harold C. Troxler Distinguished Professorship.
Department of Economics
Recreation of Kilcolman Castle Featured in Great Courses DVD Series
A few years ago, Dr. Thomas Herron, Professor in the Department of English, built a 3-D digital recreation of Edmund Spenser’s Kilcolman Castle for his Centering Spenser website. The castle and website features prominently in the 22nd episode of “Great Castles of Europe,” part of The Great Courses DVD/video lecture series produced by The Teaching Company. The open-access, multidisciplinary VR modules based on the same digital model are available online.
Castle to Classrooms
English Professor Raises Money for Asheville’s River District
Dr. John Hoppenthaler, Professor in the Department of English, was a featured reader at the Writer’s Association of Northern Appalachia online reading, “WANA LIVE,” to raise money for Asheville’s hard-hit River District. In addition, he recently was a featured reader at the West End Poetry Festival in Carrboro.
WANA LIVE! Reading Series Benefit for Southern Appalachian Artists
Blome Helps Students Interpret Scientific Data
Dr. Meg Blome, Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences, recently attended a Data Labs Workshop. Data Labs is a National Science Foundation-funded project aimed at assisting higher education faculty in developing education plans that use data collected by the NSF Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) in their general courses. This workshop focused on updating current educator tools for oceanographic data literacy and creating new tools that add a coding literacy component. “I was amazed at how much progress was made in a short time, and how each participant had student learning foremost in their mind as we decided how best to update existing labs and what topics to add based on feedback from educators and students,” said Blome. “I use some exercises from the OOI Data Lab Manual in my own Oceanography Lab course, and I am excited to collaborate on the next version to help students increase their familiarity and comfort interpreting scientific data.”
Exploring the Ocean with OOI Data
Kassab Discusses Impact of Cuisine on National Identity
Dr. Hanna Samir Kassab, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, delivered a presentation in June on his current project on nationalism and national identity to the American University of Armenia’s program in politics and governance. During the talk, he presented how national symbols and cuisine have a crucial impact on the rise of nationalistic senses of the conflicting nations.
BAPG Program Hosted Talks in June
Zhang Co-Authors Journal Articles
Dr. Yan Zhang, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, has co-authored two new publications. The first is “Parent-child relationship quality and older parents’ cognitive trajectories,” published by the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. The second is “The Association Between Parity and Odds of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementias Status,” published by Demography.
Parent-child relationship quality and older parents’ cognitive trajectoriesOctober 2024 - Harriot College Grants & Contract News
Full report and funding opportunities for October 2024
Foreign Languages Student Wins Prestigious Scholarship
Mikaela Trank, a student in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, has received the Mitchell and Manolita Buck Honorary Scholarship from the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina. This is the second year in a row, and fourth student in nine years from ECU, who has received the award. "It is an honor to be awarded this scholarship and invited to attend their conference. I am excited to hear about the future of foreign language education," Trank said. "All my thanks to the FLL faculty for their continued support!"
Check out other FLL accomplishments
English Alumnus and Former Faculty Member Wins Book Award
Dean Marshall Tuck, a Creative Writing alumnus (B.S. in English, '03; and M.A. in English, '08) and former English faculty member, is the recipient of the James Alan McPherson prize by the Association of Writers and Writing Programs for his novel, "Twinless Twin." The AWP recently announced his book was chosen by National Book Award Winner Jason Mott, among several hundred novels submitted for the prize. The University of Nebraska Press will be publishing Twinless Twin in 2025, and Tuck is invited to read from his novel at the 2026 AWP conference. Tuck regularly teaches creative writing at Wayne Community College and co-edits their creative writing and art magazine, Renaissance. He also serves on the editorial board of ECU’s North Carolina Literary Review.
James Alan McPherson Prize for the Novel
Planning Alumna Receives Outstanding Student Award
ECU and Harriot College alumna, Isabella Sardina (B.S. in Community and Regional Planning, ’24), has received the 2023-24 American Planning Association (APA) Outstanding Student Award. “I am honored to have received the award,” she said. “Speaking at last year’s APA-NC conference in Durham, and attending the National Planning Conference in Minneapolis, MN, were invaluable experiences, exposing me to the multitude of opportunities APA offers to planners nationwide. I credit my journey to the education and experiences gained from ECU’s Community and Regional Planning Program.”
Read more about Sardina's journey
Microbiologist Interviewed about Titanic Decomposition
Dr. Erin Field, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology, shared her expertise of microorganisms and the decomposition process taking place on the Titanic in a recent USA TODAY article.
A 1.7 million-ton iceberg sank Titanic. A tiny microbe is making the ship disappear.
Economist Shares Expertise on Inflation
Dr. Philip Rothman, Professor in the Department of Economics, was interviewed by WITN for a story about inflation data and how the rate continues to slow.
ENC shoppers and economics expert react to inflation cool down in August
Sears' Research Featured in Cardiovascular Business Article
Dr. Sam F. Sears, Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, is the lead on new research that is the subject of an article on the Innovative Healthcare's Cardiovascular Business website. The article focuses on how the implantable Barostim device improves the long-term quality of life in heart failure patients.
Implantable Barostim device improves long-term heart failure symptoms
Historian Explains Importance of Underwater Archaeology
Dr. Jennifer McKinnon, Professor in the Department of History, participated in more than half a dozen interviews and stories in English and Bahasa that came about during her visit as a US State Speaker. McKinnon discussed the importance of underwater archaeology and historical preservation, including the preservation and documentation of sunken war vessels.
Watch an English language interview with McKinnon for Kompas TV in Indonesia
Geology, Water Resources Team Attends Fall Summit
Harriot College faculty from the Leading Inclusive Transformation in Geoscience (LIT-GEO) research team attended their first intercultural summit at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo August 29 through September 2, 2024. ECU faculty who attended from the Department of Geological Sciences and the Water Resources Center included, Dr. Adriana Heimann-Rios, Dr. Alex Manda, Dr. Stephen Moysey, and Dr. Michelle Henderson.
Find out more about LIT-GEO
English Faculty Gives Lecture at Library of Congress
In early September 2024, Dr. Andrea Kitta, Professor and folklorist in the Department of English, gave a lecture as part of the Botkin Lectures at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. In her lecture on, "Conspiracy Theories, Folklore, and Belief: Birds Aren't Real, Loch Ness Monsters, and Microchips," Kitta discussed some definitions of conspiracy theories and how they fit into other belief traditions and narratives with a focus on understanding why people believe in conspiracy theories and how they function.
Learn more about Dr. Andrea Kitta's lecture and expertise
Anthropologist Designs Special Statistics Course for Non-Statistics Majors
Dr. Christopher Wolfe, Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology, who participated in an NSF-funder summer workshop on an innovative means of teaching statistics, has been selected to operationalize his project by teaching a special topics course in social science data analysis to undergraduate and graduate students in spring 2025. The project incorporates funding from three different grants and is part of a broader program to improve STEM education. His proposal was novel in that he wanted to teach to students who may not have a robust statistical background. He developed a course that melds together statistical theory, probability, and research design.
Learn more about WolfeSeptember 2024 - Harriot College Grant & Contract News
See the full report and funding opportunities for September 2024
English Doctoral Candidate Celebrates Awards
Congratulations to ECU’s Codi Renee Blackmon (she/her/hers), a fourth-year doctoral candidate in Rhetoric, Writing, and Professional Communication in the Department of English, who was selected as a 2024 Association of Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW) Graduate Research Award Recipient. The award supports advanced graduate students (especially those working on their dissertations) with clearly defined research projects that contribute to the field of technical communication. Recipients receive free registration to the conference and a $500 honorarium to support their research. Blackmon was recognized at the association’s virtual awards reception in June. Additionally, Blackmon is one of two recipients of the 2024 Diversity Scholarship from the Council of Programs for Technical and Scientific Communication (CPTSC). This award provides $1,000 in travel support and waived registration fees for the council’s annual conference. Also awarded from the CPTSC, Blackmon is one of three winners of the second annual CPTSC Graduate Student Research Award. Her project, "Implementing A Graduate Student Instructor Institute on Race and Ethnicity," was awarded $250. Finally, Blackmon recently published, “On Developing a TPC Program Graduate Orientation,” in Programmatic Perspectives, a peer-reviewed journal of the CPTSC. In the article, Blackmon uses survey data to inform technical and professional communication programs about the perspectives of currently enrolled graduate students and alums regarding the key components necessary for a successful orientation program, which may be used by TPC faculty and administrators to improve orientation programs and better support students. "I am so honored to receive these awards and be recognized for my contributions to this exciting field,” Blackmon said. “I owe a lot of my success to the mentorship of the doctoral faculty in the Department of English who model academic achievement and excellence."
View more of Codi Renee Blackmon's accomplishments in English
Students, Faculty Collaborate in Community Engaged Think Tank with Nags Head
In August, ECU graduate students from the Integrated Coastal Sciences PhD Program; the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Biology, Biochemistry, and Chemistry; and the M.S. in Biology—Jillian Eller, Colin Finlay, Mariela Garcia Vega, Jessica Miller, Jacquelyn Moore, and Shalimar Moreno—took part in the 2024 Challenge at the Coast at the Coastal Studies Institute, as Coastal Community Environmental Data Scholars. This prestigious National Science Foundation Research Traineeship program expands the use of data science in addressing real-world environmental challenges facing communities. Faculty mentors Drs. Rosana Nieto Ferreira (Geography, Planning and Environment), Stephen Moysey (Geological Sciences), Mike O’Driscoll (Coastal Studies) and Randall Etheridge (Engineering) provided guidance throughout the project, helping the students partner with the City of Nags Head to develop an educational campaign addressing the challenges of on-site wastewater management amid increasing tourism and a changing climate. The educational campaign will go live on City of Nags Head social media during National Septic Week, September 16-24.
CCEDS NRT ProgramAugust 2024 - Harriot College Grant & Contract News
See the full report and funding opportunities for August 2024
Student Helps Save Life in French Café
Gabriel "Gabe" Keeling, who is studying abroad in La Rochelle, France, under the direction of Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures' Dr. Larkin Murphy, is helping save lives. While casually enjoying a meal at a local café, Keeling noticed an elder gentleman having difficulties standing and displaying signs of weakness. Keeling, a trained paramedic, recognized the gentleman as displaying signs of a stroke. He assessed the situation and recommended the cafe staff call an ambulance -- using both English and French. The gentleman was promptly picked up by the local EMS and rushed to the hospital. Keeling's quick thinking and ability to act and communicate in French allowed him to #MakeAMajorDifference in this person’s ability to be treated!
Watch Keeling's interview with WCTI 12
Ewen Interviewed for National Geographic TV Show
Dr. Charles Ewen, professor in the Department of Anthropology, appeared on a recent episode of National Geographic Channel's "Pirates: Behind the Legends," talking about Blackbeard. Check out episode six, through your TV provider, which aired on June 22.
Learn about "Pirates: Behind the Legends"
Li Co-Authors New Journal Article
Dr. Yumin Li, professor in the Department of Chemistry, has co-authored a new article with chemistry student Sam Lindsay, "Coarse-grained modeling of annexin A2-induced microdomain formation on a vesicle." Their article recently was published in the Biophysical Journal. In the article, the authors
Coarse-grained modeling of annexin A2-induced microdomain formation on a vesicle
Bauer Featured in Green Documentary and Book
Dr. Margaret Bauer, professor in the Department of English, was a featured scholar in a documentary on Paul Green that aired on PBS on July 11. Additionally, her new co-edited (with Georgann Eubanks) collection of essays on Green is coming out in early August. Green is best known for his outdoor historical dramas, which are still performed across the United States.
Bauer Featured in Green Documentary and Book
English Alumna Appointed Editor of Appalachian Journal
Founded in 1972, Appalachian Journal: A Regional Studies Review, is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed quarterly journal housed in Appalachian State’s Center for Appalachian Studies. The journal celebrated its 50-year milestone at the 46th annual Appalachian Studies Association Conference in 2023.
Cory Appointed Editor at Appalachian Journal
Kitta Publishes New Journal Article
Andrea Kitta has just published "'You may now become who you thought was disposable:' COVID-19 politics and ableism" in the Journal of American Folklore. The essay examines the intersection of COVID-19, Long COVID, ableism and health care disparities in the United States, emphasizing the transformative impact of COVID-19 as a mass disabling event with a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.
“You may now become who you thought was disposable”: COVID-19 Politics and Ableism
Harris and McKinnon Named U.S. Speakers for the Department of State
Dr. Lynn Harris and Dr. Jennifer McKinnon, professors in the Department of History who teach courses for the MA in Maritime Studies, have been selected as U.S. Speakers for the Department of State. Harris was selected on topics related to African maritime heritage and heritage at risk, while McKinnon is working with the program for an upcoming exchange trip in August. The U.S. Speaker Program recruits dynamic U.S. citizen experts to engage foreign professional audiences on topics of strategic importance to the United States. Speakers can present lectures, conduct or facilitate workshops and seminars, appear in foreign media and on social media livestreams, and serve as consultants for targeted professional audiences.
U.S. Speaker Program
Maritime Studies Alumna Hired by Marine Sanctuary
Andi Yoxsimer, an alumna of the Department of History's Maritime Studies Program, is one of two new staff members hired by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, MI.
Marine Sanctuary welcomes new team membersJuly 2024 - Harriot College Grant & Contract News
See the full report and funding opportunities for July 2024
Clark's New Book and Podcast Interview
Dr. Erin A. Clark, Associate Professor in the Department of English, has authored a new book, "Feminist Technical Communication: Apparent Feminisms, Slow Crisis, and the Deepwater Horizon Disaster." In her book, Clark fuses the well-documented surge of work in feminist technical communication throughout the 1990s with the larger social justice turn in the discipline. In addition to the publication, Clark was interviewed about her book on episode 156 of "The Big Rhetorical Podcast."
"Feminist Technical Communication: Apparent Feminisms, Slow Crisis, and the Deepwater Horizon Disaster" podcast
Hoppenthaler's Recent Events
John Hoppenthaler, Professor in the Department of English, enjoyed a recent residency fellowship at the Wofford College Goodall Center for Environmental Studies. During the residency, he gave a reading for Wofford students and wrote poems based on the unique historical landscape in and surrounding the Glendale Shoals Preserve. Additionally, Hoppenthaler recently served as the featured speaker for the South Carolina Poetry Society's Annual Forum in Charleston. He gave a reading, was a judge for their poetry contest and offered a workshop, "Every End A Beginning: Working with the Free Verse Line." Finally, most recently, Hoppenthaler read in the popular New York City Poetry Series at the Reading Room in Bryant Park.
Congratulations to John Hoppenthaler on all the community engagement!
Richter selected for the First National Nature Assessment
Dr. Steven M. Richter, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, has been selected as one of more than 150 experts to author the first-ever National Nature Assessment (NNA1), by The U.S. Global Change Research Program. With the full author team in place, the writing phase of the NNA1 is now kicking off. Over the next two years, Richter and other authors will take stock of what nature provides in terms of its inherent worth, our culture, health and well-being, jobs and livelihoods, safety and more, while looking ahead to understand how these benefits might change in the future.
Authors Selected for the First National Nature Assessment
Mercer Publication Announced
Dr. Calvin Mercer, Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, is co-editor of the 10 book series "Palgrave Studies in the Future of Humanity and Its Successors," with fellow scholar Steve Fuller. Following peer review, a new book in the series has been accepted for publication, "Ingrid Dunér’s Julian Huxley's Path from Darwinism to Transhumanism: Controlling Destiny."
Palgrave Studies in the Future of Humanity and its Successors
Sears Participates in World Heart Summit
Dr. Sam F. Sears, Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, recently attended the World Heart Summit, an annual meeting organized by the World Heart Federation, in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Heart Summit is a thought leadership event designed to elevate cardiovascular disease (CVD) as the top priority for opinion leaders, World Health Organization representatives, Ministers of Health, public health officials and industry leaders. During the meeting, Sears participated in a session on “The Dual Burden of CVD and Mental Health Conditions," where he and other experts delved into the lesser-known connections between mental health issues like depression, anxiety and PTSD, and their impact on heart health.
Watch the World Heart Summit video
Sociologists Interviewed for Podcast
The American Sociological Association (ASA) recently interviewed Dr. Susan C. Pearce, Professor in the Department of Sociology, and Jennifer O’Neill, Teaching Instructor in the Department of Sociology, for a podcast where they discussed their article, "One World, Many Stories: Finding Human Connection through Global Sociology," published in the April 2024 issue of Teaching Sociology.
"One World, Many Stories: Finding Human Connection through Global Sociology" podcastJune 2024 - Harriot College Grant & Contract News
See the full report and funding opportunities for June 2024
Maritime Studies Graduate Student Gives Presentation to NC Estuarium
Olivia Livingston, a Maritime Studies graduate student in the Department of History, recently gave a talk at the North Carolina Estuarium, where she presented some findings of her thesis research on the submerged remnants and maritime infrastructure surrounding Castle Island. The island is situated in the middle of the Pamlico River, off the Washington, NC, downtown waterfront. Previous research from the Maritime Studies fall 2021 field school focused on the industrial landscape of Castle Island, and indicated that Washington was once a bustling port. "The analyzation of wharf construction and artifacts demonstrate that the island was in use prior to its first known reference in 1818," Livingston said. "Following this, it was decided to use dendrochronology to date the timbers of the remaining wharf structure. My advisor, Dr. Jason Raupp, and I are working with Dr. Stockton Maxwell of Radford University to try to date the core samples taken. Although we are still processing the samples, there is potential that the wharf was erected and submerged during the 18th century."
Watch the North Carolina Estuarium video
Dr. Marame Gueye, Associate Professor in the Department of English, recently was a guest on Voice of America's "Our Voices," a TV show broadcast in several African countries. She was invited to speak about the impact of polygamy on women. The conversation unpacks the relationship between the practice, religion and cultural perceptions, and the fact that the newly elected Senegalese President has two wives.
Listen to the Dr. Marame Gueye interview
Biology Professor Featured on Fisheries Podcast
Dr. Jeffrey McKinnon, Professor in the Department of Biology, recently was interviewed on The Fisheries Podcast, an independent podcast, available online. The interview discussed McKinnon's research on the evolution of fishes populations around the world.
Listen to The Fisheries Podcast
English Professor's Newest Publication
Amber Flora Thomas, Associate Professor in the Department of English, has authored an essay, "Killing the Rabbit," recently published in Orion Magazine. First published as a quarterly magazine in 1982, Orion has become a focal point in a rich period of nature writing. The magazine has evolved into a bimonthly and the range of its interests has broadened to include not only environmental but cultural concerns.
Read, "Killing the Rabbit"
Sociology Graduate Student Co-Authors Paper
Leya Essex, a graduate student in the Department of Sociology, has co-authored a research paper, "Continuity of Health Insurance Coverage and Choice of Contraception Method," recently published in the Journal of Women's Health. The objective of the research was to evaluate whether being uninsured part-year or year-round was associated with reduced likelihood of using prescription contraception methods versus nonprescription methods or none at all. ECU co-authors include Dmitry Tumin, Research Associate Professor in the Brody School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, and Samantha Malone, a Brody MD graduate, who is now heading into an OBGYN residency.
"Continuity of Health Insurance Coverage and Choice of Contraception Method"
Smith Honored with International Education Award
Dr. David Smith, Interim Chair and Professor of German in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, was recognized at Carnegie Hall on April 18 with the “Mid-Career Professional Award for Accomplishments in International Education between the USA and Germany.” The award was presented by the Alumni Association of the German Academic Exchange Service, or Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), which supports fellowships and programs for students and scholars. “I am humbled and honored to have received this award, though I consider it a group recognition for how successful we have been in our department in mentoring students to apply for and receive funding to study or conduct internships abroad,” said Smith. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue that work.”
Mid-Career Professional Award for Accomplishments in International Education between the USA and Germany and DAAD
Harriot College Majors Accepted into UNC Pharmacy School
Congratulations to Harriot College biology and chemistry undergraduate majors on their early acceptance into the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy! Naomi Benson, from Charlotte, earned a BS in Biology and a BA in Chemistry. Gracey Bowers, from Union Bridge, MD, received a BS in Chemistry. Trinity Coates, from Concord, received a BS in Biology, and Zaniah Peacock (not pictured), from New Bern, received a BS in Biology.
Learn about the UNC Eshelman School of PharmacyMay 2024 - Harriot College Grant & Contract News
See the full report and funding opportunities for May 2024
Anthropology Professor Publishes New Book
Dr. Charles R. Ewen, Professor in the Department of Anthropology, has co-authored a new book, "Becoming the Lost Colony: The History, Lore and Popular Culture of the Roanoke Colony." The book explores how the headlines claiming that the Lost Colony has been found, after each new hint or discovery, do not pass muster. The writers use historical, archaeological, and literary evidence to demonstrate.
"Becoming the Lost Colony: The History, Lore and Popular Culture of the Roanoke Colony"
Maritime Studies Graduate Student Takes Inaugural Phoenician Language Course at Oxford
Madison Elsner, a graduate student in the Maritime Studies degree program in the Department of History, was one of a lucky few applicants accepted to the take a free, online intensive course in Phoenician language offered for the first time by Oxford University. She attended the course for two hours a day, April 8-13. Last summer, Elsner participated in a three-week excavation season at Abel Beth Maacah, Israel, where she worked on Levantine Phoenician material culture and religion, to better inform her master's thesis work on Carthage, a Phoenician colony in Tunisia. Elsner receives her MA degree this spring 2024.
Read about Elsner's summer 2023 research in Israel
English Faculty's Poetry Featured in Online Web Anthology
Another poem from English professor Dr. John Hoppenthaler's latest book, "Night Wing over Metropolitan Area," has been featured on Verse Daily.
"Nocturne"
Kitta Serves on Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Andrea Kitta, Professor in the Department of English, recently served on the scientific advisory board for the volume, "Vaccine Hesitancy in the Nordic Countries." Kitta's service was part of her trip to Lund, Sweden, where she also gave a lecture. She was the only U.S. participant at the event, and was thanked in the introduction of the volume.
Vaccine Hesitancy in the Nordic Countries
Squint Presents at Appalachian Studies Association Conference
Dr. Kirstin Squint, Associate Professor in the Department of English, presented her paper, “Gadugi and Duyvtka: Cherokee Values in Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle’s Even As We Breathe,” at the 47th annual Appalachian Studies Association conference held at Western Carolina University in March. The paper offered a reading of Cherokee epistemologies as represented in Clapsaddle’s novel, the first published by a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Appalachian Studies Association conferenceApril 2024 - Harriot College Grant & Contract News
See the full report and funding opportunities for April 2024
Biology Students Share Research at Conference in D.C.
Seven graduate and undergraduate students from the lab of Dr. Elizabeth Ables, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology, traveled to Washington, D.C. over spring break. In addition to seeing the Lincoln monument, they shared their latest research in developmental genetics at The Allied Genetics Conference. This unique cross-disciplinary conference sponsored by the Genetics Society of America brought together scientists worldwide to network and communicate research in genomics, neurogenetics, and developmental genetics. The conference is unique in that scientists studying various genetic models (human, mouse, fruit fly, C. elegans, zebrafish, and yeast) gather, linked by common research goals. In addition to the support provided by the Department of Biology for the trip, two of the students, senior undergraduates Gage Outlaw (B.S., Biology 2024) and Lindsay Swain (B.S. Biology/Public Health 2023) were among 12 undergraduates nationwide awarded the prestigious Victoria Finnerty Travel Award for their research achievements. Both Outlaw and Swain have conducted their Honors thesis research under the direction of Ables. Undergraduates Allison Simmons and Lovens Paul were funded by a National Science Foundation Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) grant, and graduate students Amanda Powell, Alex Warren and Lauren Jung were funded by the department and Ables’ research grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Learn more about Ables' research
Downtown Dialogues
Approximately 60 community members attended A Downtown Dialogues in the Humanities and Fine Arts panel discussion on Feb. 15 at the Greenville Museum of Art. The panelists included Dr. Aleia Monae Brown, Whichard Distinguished Professor in the Humanities and a visiting association professor in the Department of History; Dr. Marame Gueye, from the Department of English; Dr. Jarvis Hargrove, from the Department of History; and Dr. Mary Nyangweso, J. Woolard and Helen Peel Distinguished Professor in Religious Studies. The event was moderated by Dr. Richard Miller from the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. Panelists discussed “Perspectives on the African Diaspora,” background of the diaspora, the impact of the diaspora on the United States, and the use of African artifacts, such as the masks used in religious ceremonies, in influencing the creation of contemporary art. The discussion complemented the museum's three-person art exhibit “Marauders.”
Learn more about Philosophy and Religious Studies
Dr. Bonner Selected for National Review Panel
In recognition of her body of scholarly work on gender-based violence, Dr. Heidi Bonner, Chair and Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, has been selected as a member of the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) Violence Against Women Standing Review Panel (SRP). NIJ is the research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, and they receive numerous requests to fund social and behavioral science research across the country. Bonner will serve alongside other experts in the field to identify meritorious proposals on specific types of violence and abuse, along with the associated justice system responses, procedures, policies, and challenges. This SRP will facilitate important work that, as the motto of the NIJ states, is critical for “Advancing Justice Through Science.”
Read more about the NIJ
Sociologists Publish Paper in Prestigious Journal
Dr. Susan Pearce, Professor in the Department of Sociology, and Jennifer O'Neill, teaching instructor of sociology, have published a paper in Journals of the American Sociology Association, the top teaching journal in sociology. The paper focuses on their experiences and insights from teaching an ECU Global Understandings course through a sociological lens.
One World, Many Stories: Finding Human Connection through Global SociologyMarch 2024 - Harriot College Grant & Contract News
See the full report and funding opportunities for March 2024
Lida Cope Interviewed by International Scholarly Journal
Dr. Lída Cope, Professor and Chair of the Department of English, was interviewed by Věra Dvořák about her academic journey and research on the historically Czech community in Texas. The interview was published in the Spring 2024 issue of Czech Language News, the journal of the International Association of Teachers of Czech, on pages 17-24.
Read the interview with Lida Cope
English Faculty Co-Authors Article in Professional Journal
Constance Haywood, Assistant Professor in the Department of English, has co-authored an article in the spring 2024 special issue "Social Justice and Translation" (part 2) of the Technical Communication and Social Justice journal. The article takes a narrative approach and focuses primarily on the importance of supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) graduate scholars in relation to graduate program development, curriculum, and writing program administration.
"BIPOC Graduate Students’ Coalitional Healing in Writing Programs and Colonial Institutions"
English Faculty's Book Earns New Honors
Stephanie West-Puckett (former ECU English faculty), Nicole "Nikki" Caswell (associate professor of English), and William "Will" Banks’s (professor of English) book, "Failing Sideways: Queer Possibilities for Writing Assessment," has received two new honors. The Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) has awarded their book an Honorable Mention in the Best Book category, as well as an honorable mention for the Advancement of Knowledge Award. All three authors will be recognized at an awards presentation of the 2024 CCCC Annual Convention in Spokane, WA, in April.
"Failing Sideways: Queer Possibilities for Writing Assessment"
Psychology Doctoral Students Present at Conference
Dr. Erik Everhart, Professor in the Department of Psychology, led his Cognitive Neuroscience Lab to attend the International Neuropsychological Society (INS) conference. While at the event, doctoral students in the department’s clinical health concentration presented their poster on “Exploration of the Relationship between Cumulative Lifetime Stress and Cognitive Function in a Sample of College Students.”
International Neuropsychological Society (INS) conference
PhD Psychology Student Selected for Fellowship
Angela J. Johnson, M.A., a doctoral candidate of Clinical Health Psychology in the Department of Psychology’s Health Psychology PhD program, has been selected as a 2024-2025 American Psychosocial Oncology Society Health Equity Scholar! The fellowship is offered to individuals committed to reducing health disparities in cancer through clinical or research practices. Johnson’s research interests focus on HPV-related cancer disparities and prevention-seeking behaviors among Black women. She is currently working on her dissertation, “Using a Black Feminist Lens to Examine Black Maternal Intention to Vaccinate their Children against Human Papillomavirus,” and her research findings may help develop culturally tailored interventions to increase HPV vaccination uptake within the Black community.
American Psychosocial Oncology Society
Psychology Alumna and Faculty Win Competition
Congratulations to Sarah Hayes, who earned the MA School Psychology/Specialist in School Psychology (MA/SSP) in 2022, and Dr. Jeannie Golden, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology, who have received national recognition for their paper, “School Psychologists Improving Equity for Students of Color: Is Applied Behavior Analysis the Answer?” They have been invited to present their prize-winning paper in a special session for the Scholarly Contributions to DEI Paper Competition at the Association for Behavior Analysis International. Currently, Hayes is working as a full-time school psychologist for Durham County Public Schools.
Discover more about the ABAIFebruary 2024 - Harriot College Grant & Contract News
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Biology Majors Receive Funds to Present Research
Congratulations to Biology undergraduates, Lindsay Swain (B.S. Biology, B.S. Public Health December 2023) and William “Gage” Outlaw (B.S. Biology, anticipated May 2024), who received the Victoria Finnerty Award from the Genetics Society of America. The award supports travel for Swain and Outlaw to present their research at the Annual Drosophila Research Conference, held in conjunction with other model organism meetings at The Allied Genetics Conference in Washington, D.C. in March. Awarded annually, this year’s Finnerty Award recognizes 12 outstanding undergraduates in the fields of genetics and cell biology following a rigorous nationwide competition. Swain and Outlaw pursued their Biology Honors Thesis research under the direction of Dr. Elizabeth Ables, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology.
Learn more about Biology
Gueye Recognized by Africa Report
The Africa Report named Dr. Marame Gueye, Associate Professor in the Department of English, among 10 African scholars to watch in 2024. Africa Report is a Paris-based, English-language quarterly magazine focusing on African politics and economics. It is a branch of Jeune Afrique, the most widely-read Panafrican magazine. In addition, Gueye was this year’s Distinguished Lecturer at Kennesaw State University’s College of the Arts. She conducted two workshops for students in the dance department and gave a public lecture on Women and Performance in Senegal. Finally, January 4-5, Gueye conducted the orientation for the Council of American Overseas Research Centers at their Faculty Development Program in Washington, D.C. This is a pre-travel orientation for 15 faculty fellows who will spend three weeks conducting research projects in Senegal. This was Gueye's 3rd year conducting the orientation.
Read more Gueye accomplishments from English
Research of History Student Published Posthumously
Dr. Jen McKinnon, Professor in the Department of History, has co-authored a research publication with Jim Pruitt, a student who died tragically during a diving event in 2023. The article, "Site Formation Process Studies as Aircraft Site Identification: A WWII-Era Flying Boat Case Study," appears in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology. Compared to the study of shipwrecks, the investigation of submerged aircraft is relatively recent in underwater archaeology. With the passing of time and the addition of World War II sites to historical registers, the inclusion of aircraft in the Sunken Military Craft Act of 2004, and the continued expansion of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s (DPAA) mission to recover lost pilots and crew, these studies have become increasingly important to a variety of stakeholders.
Site Formation Process Studies as Aircraft Site Identification: A WWII-Era Flying Boat Case Study
Mona Russel Co-Authors New Book
Dr. Mona Russell, Associate Professor in the Department of History, has published a new book with Dr. Lisa Pollard, from UNCW. The book, "History, Women, and Gender in the Modern Middle East," explores the modern Middle East from the 18th century to the present, and the various ways in which gender has defined the region and shaped relations in the modern era. In particular, the book captures three aspects of change simultaneously: the events that mark the “modern” Middle East, women’s encounters with the transition to modernity and gendered responses to modernity.
"History, Women, and Gender in the Modern Middle East"
Physics Paper Top 10 Downloaded in 2023
Dr. Nathan Hudson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, co-authored a paper that made the top 10 downloaded publications in 2023 from the journal Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis! The article examines the body's process of breaking down blood clots after healing.
Fibrinolysis: an illustrated review
Sears Interviewed about Career
Dr. Samuel Sears, Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Cardiovascular Sciences, recently was interviewed for a segment on Heart Rhythm TV, the flagship YouTube channel of the Heart Rhythm Society. The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) is an international nonprofit organization that represents 7,000+ medical, allied health and science professionals who specialize in cardiac rhythm disorders. Their mission is to improve the care of patients by promoting research, education and optimal health care policies and standards. During his interview, Sears discussed his 29-year career, his research on implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), support groups for patients with ICDs, and a variety of other topics.
Watch the Heart Rhythm TV video
Sociology Faculty, Student Paper Named "Article of the Year" for 2023
Dr. Kirk Miller, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, and sociology graduate major Elizabeth Alves, co-authored a paper, "The State of Diversity in Criminal Justice Higher Education: An Analysis of Curricula in Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Programs," which has been selected as article of the year for 2023 by the editors of the Journal of Criminal Justice Education. Miller and Alves were invited to an awards ceremony at the ACJS meetings, where they were given a plaque for the honor.
The State of Diversity in Criminal Justice Higher Education: An Analysis of Curricula in Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Programs
Sociology Professors Research Experiences of Black Women Sexual Assault Survivors
Dr. Kristen Myers, Chair and Professor of Sociology, and Kirk Miller, Associate Professor of Sociology, with co-authors at Northern Illinois University, have published a new paper, “Framed as (Un)Victims of Sexual Violence: An Intersectional Model,” in the journal Feminist Criminology. The study presents an intersectional analysis of beliefs about and experiences of Black women regarding sexual violence, using focus groups and survey methods with BIPOC college students. Specifically, this model explains the experiences of Black women survivors of sexual violence who simultaneously experience sexual victimization, are denied legitimate victim status, and have reason to distrust legal forms of justice. The researchers theorize the process of (un)victimization enables future sexual assault of Black women.
Framed as (Un)Victims of Sexual Violence: An Intersectional ModelJanuary 2024 - Harriot College Grant & Contract News
See the full report and funding opportunities for January 2024