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
June 2026 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full grants report and funding opportunities for June 2026
Sociology alumna, MPA student honored with Bridge Builder Award
Jessica Adams, Director of the Carteret County Department of Social Services, an ECU and Harriot College alumna (BS Applied Sociology, '07), and current Master of Public Administration (MPA) student, was recently recognized at the South Central Regional THRive Local Awards Luncheon hosted by Trillium Health Resources at the Jones County Civic Center. Adams received the Bridge Builder Award, which honors individuals who foster collaboration across agencies to strengthen local services and better serve their communities. She was recognized for her leadership in connecting health and human services systems, helping to improve coordination and access to care for Carteret County residents. Through her efforts, Adams has enhanced the ability of individuals and families to access critical mental health and disability support services, making resources more streamlined and accessible across the region.
Students donate books throughout Greenville
This April, during National Library Week, students in Carla Pastor’s ENGL 2201 class organized and carried out a book donation project designed to support literacy among young students in the community and provide resources to help them understand and navigate experiences of loss. In alignment with these goals, the class distributed the book, "Where Is Mykal?," to 25 schools and nonprofit organizations throughout Greenville. The book honors the memory of a rising ECU sophomore who passed away in 2023.
Anthropologist awarded excellence in teaching award
This year, ECU hosted the 19th annual Global Partners in Education (GPE) online conference. Harriot College's Dakota Pavell, teaching instructor in the Department of Anthropology, was announced as one of this year’s two winners of the Rosina C. Chia Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award recognizes exceptional achievements of faculty who consistently demonstrate the commitment and flexibility necessary to foster an inclusive and nurturing learning environment.
Find out more about the annual conference
Whichard Professor publishes new article
Dr. Amy E. Wright, Whichard Distinguished Professor, has published a new research article. The article, "Sanity or Sickness in the Soaps: Representation of Mental 'Illness' as Superpower in Mexico's Diana Salazar," appears in Special Dossier with AATSP “Health, Well-Being & Illness in Hispanophone Contexts,” - Hispania. Vol. 109:1, March 2026.
Learn more about Wright and her research
Harriot College majors accepted to UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Early Assurance Program
Harriot College majors Greta Bublitz (Chemistry and Foreign Languages and Literatures), Jaylen Queen (Chemistry) and Annika Rogov (Biology) are exceeding expectations. These bright, pre-health professionals have been accepted to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Early Assurance Program!
Learn more about the program
Folklorist talks about conspiracy theories on podcast
Dr. Andrea Kitta, folklorist and professor in the Department of English, recently appeared on an episode of the Doha Debates podcast titled, "Should we ever take conspiracy theories seriously?" The episode asks whether conspiracy theories have value in a world where uncertainty is high and institutional accountability is low. Do they only make the spread of misinformation and disinformation worse? Or are they a way for people to express real suspicion toward systems that often feel hidden or unaccountable?
View the episode on YouTubeMay 2026 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full grants report and funding opportunities for May 2026
Two new books from philosophy professor
Dr. Mary Nyangweso, Religious Studies and Peel Distinguished Chair in Philosophy and Religious Studies, has authored two new books through Routledge. Her first book, “Pan-Africanism in Dialogue: 21st Century Strategies for the Future," was released in April. The volume centers on Pan-Africanism as a theological and interdisciplinary framework for exploring the African experience. Her second book, "Transnational Africa: Culture, Religion and the Diaspora," is to be released in August, and explores the resilience and influence of African culture and religions across the globe. The book is accessible at https://www.routledge.com/Transnational-Africa-Culture-Religion-and-the-Diaspora/Nyangweso/p/book/9781041265054.
Learn more about "Pan-Africanism in Dialogue"
History and foreign languages students curate art exhibit on campus
Dr. Renée Altergott, from the Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures, and Dr. Helen Dixon and her students in the Department of History 5930 class, coordinated a new, public exhibit at the Gray Gallery in the Jenkins Fine Arts Building. The exhibit, "Sacred Resonance: Recontextualizing East Carolina University’s Sub-Saharan Artifact Collections,” ran through April 24. History students did a tremendous job curating, researching and presenting these works, and five French majors and minors contributed voices and original poetry to the immersive soundscapes.
Professor to serve as poet-in-residence
John Hoppenthaler, professor in the Department of English, will serve as poet-in-residence at the famous Chautauqua Institution this August. Theodore Roosevelt once visited the center and described it as, "The most American thing in America."
Learn more about the Chautauqua Institution
Kalpana Shrestha, a third-year doctoral student of English, recently was honored at the annual Conference on College Composition and Communication in Cleveland with the 2026 Scholars for the Dream travel award. Shrestha received the award for her paper, “Navigating Platform Algorithms: Global South Feminist Activists' Rhetorical and Composition Practices in Digital Advocacy on Social Media.”
Learn more
Atmospheric scientist publishes new textbook
Dr. Tom Rickenbach, professor in the Department of Earth, Environment and Planning, has a new textbook, published with Elsevier/Academic Press, on "Science, Culture and Climate: Navigating Change." The book provides a big-picture interdisciplinary overview of humanity’s deep connection to climate, from the tentative rise of our species to the climate crisis spawned by the energy choices of 8 billion modern humans. The book explores, in a concise, engaging and accessible manner, how solutions to the climate crisis require real understanding of the process of science, weaved with discussion of the forces, social constructs, and history that inform and drive how societal change is accomplished. For instructors interested in examining the textbook for adoption, please contact Emily Harris: emily.harris@elsevier.com or Latoria Ray: l.ray@elsevier.com.
View chapter summaries online
Chemistry collaboration across campus leads to new publications
We are very proud of the innovative and collaborative ECU Research conducted in our college. Work by Dr. Robert Hughes, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, has led to publications with Dr. Ramiro Murata, in the ECU School of Dental Medicine, for anti-microbial peptide production used to kill bacteria (https://bit.ly/4w8z18K), and Dr. Karen Litwa, in the Brody School of Medicine, for a mutation of the protein cofilin that binds cells and may assist in stalling neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's (https://bit.ly/4w7sFGv). Congratulations!
April 2026 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full grants report and funding opportunities for April 2026
Anthropology faculty wins college research award, international grant
Dr. Megan Perry, professor in the Department of Anthropology, is a recipient of the 2025–26 Harriot College Research Award, one of the college’s most competitive faculty research honors. The award gives Perry time this semester to advance a cornerstone project in her research portfolio: the publication of “The Petra North Ridge Project: 2012-2016.” This archaeological initiative, centered in the ancient city of Petra in southern Jordan, has generated significant insights into daily life, mortuary practices and community organization within one of the world’s most iconic heritage sites. Complementing Perry’s college award, she is the recent recipient of an Archaeological Institute of America’s Samuel H. Kress Grant for Research and Publication in Classical Art and Architecture, which will help with the publication of “The Petra North Ridge Project: 2012-2016” by the American Society for Overseas Research.
Anthropology alumna to publish book
L. Wright Wallace, an ECU anthropology alumna (’24) and current Harvard University graduate student, will release her book, “A Wingman for Miss Universe,” in late April. The book explores the unlikely connection forged at the Miss Universe pageant at the height of the Vietnam War. The book’s origins are linked to the Van of Valor — a national storytelling mission Wallace launched alongside her husband Dr. Kevin P. Wallace. The couple’s story is one of service and art to preserve the legacies of American heroes. While traveling over 27,106 miles and conducting more than 317 interviews for the Van of Valor project, Wallace discovered the fleeting but profound 1967 encounter between Marine fighter pilot 1st Lt. Dennis Peek and Sylvia Hitchcock.
Explore the van of valor website to learn more
Associate Dean authors chapter in new book
Dr. Marianne Montgomery, Harriot College associate dean for faculty and student affairs, and associate professor in the Department of English, has a chapter in the new book "Shakespeare, Race, and Anglophone Popular Culture." Co-edited by Vanessa I. Corredera and L. Monique Pittman, this collection theorizes the intersections between race, Shakespearean adaptation and pop culture. Montgomery's chapter explores Shakespeare, race and color conscious casting in an episode of the Apple TV+ streaming teen drama "Dickinson," ‘I am afraid to own a body’ (2019), which focuses on the meeting of the local Shakespeare club.
Learn more about the book
Maritime Studies graduate student wins ECU master's thesis award
Alexander S. Morrow, a graduate student in the Maritime Studies program in the Department of History, is this year's recipient of the ECU Humanities and Fine Arts Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award. Morrow will be recognized at an awards luncheon on April 10 during ECU's Research and Creative Achievement Week. Under the direction of his thesis director and history professor, Dr. Jennifer McKinnon, Morrow conducted research that combines archaeology with aircraft accident investigation to better understand historical aircraft crash sites. He explored how aircraft crashes, which often involve high speeds, explosions and steep impacts, create very different patterns of wreckage.
Read Morrow's thesis
Harriot College alumna wins at regional law competition
Mikenna Morrison ('23, B.A. Philosophy and Religious Studies; '23 B.S. Political Science), now a student at Campbell University School of Law, is part of a group that won the American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Regional Competition. The team will compete in the national competition in New Orleans.
Read the Campbell news article
Philosophy faculty authors new book
Dr. Michael Veber, associate professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, has authored a new book. "Epistemology: What it is and Why You Should Care," was published by Routledge. In the book, Veber argues that epistemology—like water to fish—is often invisible yet essential to our lives. He shows how controversial assumptions about knowledge and inquiry are fundamental and pervasive, shaping even our simplest efforts to understand the world.
Learn more on the publishers websiteMarch 2026 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full grants report and funding opportunities for March 2026
Maritime staff publishes article
Jeremy Borrelli, staff archeologist with the Department of History's Program in Maritime Studies, has published an article in the esteemed Mariner's Mirror titled, "Soldier of Fortuna: The final voyage of a Spanish corsair in King George’s War, 1748."
Read the article online
English hosts 25th annual conference
The Department of English and Greensboro College co-hosted the 25th annual Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages/Applied Linguistics Graduate Students Conference (TALGS) on Feb. 7. The conference brought together researchers and practitioners from throughout the southeast to discuss best practice in language teaching. Attendees were largely area students and teachers, including a cohort of teachers from Pitt County Schools as well as interested faculty from ECU and Greensboro College. Dean Danell opened the conference with a message introducing the conference as an annual opportunity for professional growth and networking among K-12 teachers and graduate students in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The conference hosted 60 attendees and offered 14 presentations and workshops, three of which were delivered by current ECU students and two by ECU alumni. ECU Ph.D student Ernestina Akorli is pictured here, giving her presentation.
Pastor attends ECU spring 2026 leadership fellows program
Faculty from several disciplines gathered in January to kick off the Spring 2026 Faculty Leadership Fellows program. Supported by the ECU Truist Leadership Center, and coordinated by Marina Alexander (College of Health and Human Performance), this intensive semester-long program provides the opportunity for faculty to work together in small teams to explore and integrate principles of student leadership skill development in a selected course. Faculty selected for the program include: Navid Bargrizan (College of Fine Arts and Communication), Abigail Croom (College of Allied Health Sciences), Danielle Dietz (College of Education), Yusef Ewais (College of Business), Jerry Gao (College of Engineering and Technology), Devlyn McCreight (College of Education), Carla Pastor (Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, Department of English; pictured in the middle, bottom row) and Morgan Rich (College of Fine Arts and Communication).
Loudon receives ECU international award
Dr. James Loudon, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, has received the ECU 2025 Achievement in International Research and Creative Activity Award for his extensive and influential body of primatological research, which spans two of the world’s most significant field contexts: Bali’s Ubud Monkey Forest and South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind. Loudon has built long-term collaborations with local scholars and communities, strengthening the cross-cultural and interdisciplinary foundations of his work. His studies on microbiome transmission, human–wildlife interactions and the ecological dynamics shaping primate behavior have contributed valuable new insights to the field. Loudon also brings his research to his students, offering transformative hands-on experiences. Through these opportunities, he continues to advance both scientific knowledge and the next generation of scholars in anthropology and evolutionary science.
Saidel awarded international fellowship
Dr. Benjamin Saidel, professor in the Department of Anthropology, has been awarded the 2026-27 Seymour Gitin Distinguished Professorship from the W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem. This prestigious fellowship recognizes distinguished scholarship in the archaeology of Bedouin peoples of the region. The honor reflects Saidel's significant contributions to the field and provides him the opportunity to be in residence in Jerusalem this fall, where he will focus on advancing his research.
Learn more about the fellowshipFebuary 2026 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full grants report and funding opportunities for Febuary 2026
Anthropology chair working to increase majors
Dr. Chad Morris, chair and professor of the Department of Anthropology, recently participated in a roundtable discussion as part of the Anthropology Career Readiness Network’s (ACRN) Departmental Advisory Initiative. The program's goal is to enhance career focus in anthropology courses and grow majors. Morris is nearing the end of one year with the initiative and said, "Our department developed a clear vision focused on student success that has already led to administrative buy-in and growth in majors."
Learn more about ACRN
Anthropologists honored with Society for Historical Archaeology award
Congratulations to Dr. Charles Ewen and Dr. Tom Shields, from the Department of Anthropology. They have been selected as this year’s Society for Historical Archaeology Deetz Award winners for their book "Becoming the Lost Colony: The History, Lore, and Popular Culture of the Roanoke Mystery." Named in honor of influential archaeologist James Deetz, the award recognizes works that are grounded in strong scholarship and are engaging, accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience. Ewen and Shields’ book brings the enduring mystery of Roanoke to life in a way that resonates far beyond the discipline. Their achievement will be formally recognized at the SHA annual meeting in January.
Read more about the society's awards
Biology graduate student receives GlaxoSmithKline Foundation scholarship
Congratulations to Jake Roberson, who is seeking his MS in Biology from Harriot College. He has been selected to receive a GlaxoSmithKline Foundation scholarship. He is a mentee of Dr. Tracey Woodlief in the Brody School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Dr. Michael Brewer, associate professor of biology, said Roberson is "is a very engaged, mature and talented student who came to grad school with strong undergrad research experience under Dr. Woodlief."
Find out more about the foundation
Chemist approved for NCInnovation grant
Dr. Robert Hughes, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, is the recipient of a $720,000 NCInnovation research grant for his project, “Cleaner, Safer Coatings for Marine and Industrial Equipment.” Marine vessels — from fishing boats to research ships — struggle with fouling: the buildup of algae, barnacles and sludge that slows vessels down and increases fuel costs. The goal of Hughes’ project is to develop environmentally friendly coatings that prevent this buildup without relying on toxic substances. “I’m excited to work on a project that has a potentially high impact on our region of North Carolina,” Hughes said.
Read the ECU news release
Bonner selected selected by the governor to serve on state commission
Governor Josh Stein has selected criminal justice and criminology professor and department chairperson, Dr. Heidi Bonner, to serve a two-year term as the academic member of the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission. “I’m honored to be appointed to this commission and excited to collaborate with stakeholders from across the criminal justice system,” Bonner said.
Read the full ECU news release
Airline pricing study informs ongoing litigation
Dr. Nicholas Rupp, a professor in the Department of Economics, is helping to shed light on airline pricing practices, which are the subject of ongoing legal battles.
Read the ECU article
New book on American whaling industry
Dr. Jason T. Raupp, assistant professor in the Department of History, is the author of a new book, “Wrecked on the Reef: Maritime Archaeology of American Whaleships in the Pacific Ocean." Raupp offers readers a look at everyday life aboard 19th-century whaling vessels during the ‘Golden Age’ of whaling. He examines the tools used to hunt and process whales, the strict labor hierarchies onboard and the physical evidence of diverse, often vulnerable crews who lived and worked under demanding conditions.
Listen to an interview about the whaling industry with Raupp on Hawaii Public RadioDecember 2025 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full grants report and funding opportunities for December 2025
Interdisciplinary team investigates saltwater intrusion effects on wild horses
An interdisciplinary team of Harriot College researchers, including Rodney Jackson, Dr. Mike O'Driscoll and Dr. Matthew Sirianni, from the Department of Earth, Environment and Planning, and Dr. Sean Charles, from Coastal Studies and the Department of Biology, are featured in a new article about their ongoing work with the horses on Shackleford Banks and how saltwater intrusion may be affecting their behavior. The research is part of a grant funded by the National Park Service in 2024.
Read the EOS article
Criminal Justice major part of ECU robotics team that wins 1st place in competition
Caitlin Kim, a criminal justice major, is part of the ECU robotics team that won overall 1st place in the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering conference competition in Memphis in October. They were judged not just on the robot but also on a technical report and poster, among other items. Kim took on the task of technical poster lead, winning in that category.
Learn more about the ATMA
English professor gives talks on conspiracy theories
Dr. Andrea Kitta, professor in the Department of English, recently returned from giving a lecture about conspiracy theories at Harvard. In addition, she also gave the plenary at an online meeting of the American Folklore Society, where more than 700 attendees nominated her presentation, "Studying Belief in a World of Misinformation,” as the one to hear out of all presentations!
View the schedule from the meeting of the American Folkore SocietyNovember 2025 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full grants report and funding opportunities for November 2025
Cultural anthropologist selected for Faculty Innovator Program Ideas Lab
Dr. Cynthia Grace-McCaskey, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, is one of 17 faculty members selected to participate in the Faculty Innovator Program Ideas Lab hosted by the National Science Foundation (NSF) National Center for Atmospheric Research. The Ideas Lab is a collaborative workshop for faculty to develop research proposals, often in partnership with other researchers, to address complex challenges or create innovative projects. The national recognition celebrates Grace-McCaskey’s innovative approach to research, teaching and collaboration and is the first step toward joining the 2026-28 Faculty Innovator cohort.
Learn more about the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research
Biology Researchers Awarded Nearly $700K Grant to Probe Seagrass Expansion and Coastal Resilience
Drs. April Blakeslee, Michael Brewer and Rachel Gittman, associate professors in the Department of Biology, have received a National Science Foundation award of $697,607 for their collaborative research project. The project will investigate the northward expansion of the subtropical seagrass Halodule wrightii (shoal grass). The species is gradually replacing the temperate seagrass Zostera marina (eelgrass) in some regions, reshaping coastal ecosystems that provide vital habitat, fisheries support and shoreline protection. The team will explore how ecological, physiological and genetic traits may allow seagrasses to adapt to changing coastal environments. This approach will not only inform conservation and restoration strategies but also provide training opportunities for ECU students.
Read more
Criminal Justice professor quoted about Trump's deployment of troops and resulting lawsuits
Dr. Paul Lucas, associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, was recently quoted in an article pertaining to the legality of Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops within United States cities and the lawsuits brought by the cities.
Read the article
Economics students benefit from annual symposium
The Department of Economics hosted its annual alumni and student symposium on October 23 in ECU’s Life Sciences and Biotechnology building. This year’s event highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of economics, with a specific focus on the field of environmental economics. To underscore this aspect, the symposium was co-hosted by the Departments of Biology, History, and Earth, Environment and Planning’s program in Environmental Studies. The featured guest speaker was Spencer Banzhaf. Banzhaf is an internationally known environmental economist, a professor at North Carolina State University and the author of “Pricing the Priceless: A History of Environmental Economics.” The event drew a capacity crown and was open to ECU students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.
Learn more about the Department of Economics
Bradley and Amador Win Teaching Awards
ECU English alumni, Steven Amador and Anna Bradley, recently were selected as winners of the Bertie Fearing Award for Excellence in Teaching by Graduate Teaching Assistants for AY 2024-2025. Amador won in the PhD student category, and Bradley, won for the MA student category.
Find out their thoughts about teaching and the awardsOctober 2025 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full grants report and funding opportunities for October 2025
Asch Co-Authors Paper on Endangered Fish Species Habitat
Dr. Rebecca G. Asch, associate professor in the Department of Biology, co-authored an article earlier this summer that appears in Global Change Biology. The journal is a biweekly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering research on the interface between biological systems and all aspects of environmental change that affect a substantial part of the globe, including climate change, global warming, land use change, invasive species, urbanization, wildfire and greenhouse gases. The article, "Current Marine Protected Areas Conserve Fish Spawning Aggregations Under Climate Change due to Habitat Refugia," examines oceanographic conditions at known spawning sites of critically endangered Nassau grouper, along with future climate conditions under multiple emissions scenarios, to project were future suitable spawning habitats may exist for the species.
Read the article online
Biologist Receives Grant to Social Interactions in Fish and Humans
Dr. Fadi Issa, associate professor in the Department of Biology, has received a nearly $490,000 grant from the DHHS - NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) for a three year study that aims to understand how social interactions shape the structural and functional organization of the brain, and how that is reflected behaviorally in how animals behave. Studying zebrafish, a small fish species with similar brain structure and function to humans, Issa hopes to gain a better understanding of the neurophysiological principles underlying social motivation, aggression and stress that are applicable not only to fish but also to humans.
Learn more about Issa
Clinical Health Psychology Doctoral Student Presents Research at International Cardiology Conference
Maeve Sargeant, a student in the clinical health psychology doctoral program, recently presented research at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) annual congress in Madrid Spain. Fewer than 7% of submitted abstracts are accepted for presentation, which shows what an accomplishment it is that Sargeant was selected to present at the event. "I am very honored to have had this opportunity, and give many thanks to my ECU advisors and lab (we are definitely a team). This opportunity is really thanks to their incredible mentorship and the support of the psychology department," Sargeant said.
Find out more about the ESC congress
Sears Invited Guest at Aortic Awareness Day
Dr. Sam Sears, professor in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, was a guest speaker at ECU Health's 2nd annual Aortic Awareness Day. The event was held on Sept. 19 at the East Carolina Health Institute in Greenville, where Sears gave the 2025 ECU Aortic Program Progress Report and answered attendee questions.
Read more about ECU's clinical health psychology programSeptember 2025 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full grants report and funding opportunities for September 2025
Perry Selected as Kershaw Lecturer
Dr. Megan Perry, professor in the Department of Anthropology, has been selected by her peers as an Archaeological Institute of America Kershaw Lecturer in Near East Archaeology. Through the lecture series, Perry will give invited talks in Charleston, South Carolina; Huntsville, Alabama; Nashville, Tennessee; and Amherst, Massachusetts. She will present her first talk, "Life, Death and Disease: Insights from Petra’s Tombs and Cemeteries," in Charleston this November.
Find out more about the Kershaw Lectures
Walker Appointed Distinguished Visiting Professor at the United States Naval Academy
Dr. Joi Walker, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, is sharing her knowledge and proficiency with others. Since January 2025, she has had the tremendous chance to serve as the Kinnear Chair Distinguished Visiting Professor in Chemistry at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The appointment will continue through December 2026. During the spring semester, Walker taught an introductory chemistry course and a corresponding lab and worked with faculty to modify the existing curriculum to incorporate team science strategies (communication, conflict resolution and planning) developed at ECU. This fall, seven faculty members will implement the new program in 10 laboratory sections involving 200 midshipmen. The faculty will use Walker’s expertise and the research gathered from this pilot project to continue curricular modification over the next two years.
Find out more about the professorship's namesake, James W. Kinnear
Bonner Interviewed by CNN
Dr. Heidi Bonner, professor and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, shared her expertise in a recent CNN interview about Trump's decision to federalize DC's police force. She said any long-term impact on crime is doubtful.
Read the full CNN article
Caswell Elected Vice President of Writing Association
Dr. Nikki Caswell, professor in the Department of English, has been elected as vice president of the Online Writing Centers Association (OWCA). As part of this five-year commitment, she will then serve as the association’s president and past president. The OWCA was founded in 2020 to support students and professionals who are researching and/or implementing online writing support services.
Find out more about the OWCA
Kitta Featured on 'The UnXplained'
Dr. Andrea Kitta, professor in the Department of English, recently was featured on an episode of "The UnXplained" with William Shatner. The episode on "Mysterious Urban Legends" included Kitta discussing spontaneous human combustion, the Highgate Cemetery Vampire, a video game that supposedly killed people, and more.
Log in to your cable provider to watch the episode
North Carolina Literary Review Honored
The North Carolina Literary Review was honored for its legacy preserving and promoting North Carolina's rich literary tradition since 1992 during the annual gathering of the North Carolina Writers Conference, July 18-19, in Greensboro, NC. The magazine's longtime editor Dr. Margaret Bauer, professor and the Rives Chair of Southern Literature in the Department of English, received the honor on its behalf. (Pictured, left to right: NCWN Director Ed Southern, founding NCLR editor Alex Albright, Margaret Bauer, and Senior Associate Editor Christy Alexander Hallberg.) Congratulations to the NCLR Team.
Discover more about the NCLR
Physics Alumnus Co-Authors Paper on Nanoparticles that Help Identify Cancer Cells
You don't have to be an ECU medical student to receive excellent mentorship in biomedical research and help find new ways to detect cancer! Samuel Minier ('24, MS in physics with a concentration in medical physics) has published his first research paper in collaboration with Dr. Juan Beltran-Huarac, assistant professor in the Department of Physics. The paper appears in the American Chemical Society’s journal, Applied Materials and Interfaces. Minier and his collaborators show how stimuli-responsive nanoparticles — activated by pH, light and magnets — are reshaping cancer imaging and treatment, specifically concerning breast cancer. They have identified nanoparticles that are more effective in breast cancer imaging and may lead to earlier detection of cancer cells.
Read the paper on the ACS websiteAugust 2025 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full grants report and funding opportunities for August 2025
Biologist Receives Prestigious Field Biology Award
Dr. Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology, has been selected as one of only five recipients of the 2025 Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation award in Field Biology. The $100,000 award is given in recognition of a person's past efforts in the area of field biology and in perceptions about their future contributions to the field. It is intended to support the winners’ individual work, elevate their diverse perspectives and enable them to commit time to the observation and experimentation that help us better understand ourselves and the world around us. Rasambainarivo's research strives to understand the ecological drivers of infectious diseases within populations and ecosystems. He focuses on how habitat degradation, as well as human and animal interactions, are changing the patterns of pathogen transmission across geographical and ecological boundaries in Madagascar.
Learn more about the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation and Rasambainarivo
Shannon's University Studies Practicum Receives Quality Matters Certification for Course Design Quality
Following a rigorous review process, Dr. Amy Shannon, Director of the University Studies Program, has earned the Quality Matters (QM) Certification Mark for her course “UNIV 4990-University Studies Practicum.” The QM certification is the internationally recognized symbol of online and blended course design quality and represents Shannon’s ongoing commitment to creating learning environments that provide learners with a clear pathway to success. The certification is the result of Shannon’s dedication to continuous improvement and the course is now listed on the QM directory of certified courses. “The Quality Matters official review provided the opportunity to reflect on this course and examine it from the learner’s perspective,” said Shannon. “From accessibility to learner engagement and assessments, the review used internationally recognized standards and best practices to examine critical course components related to the learner experience and ultimately learner success.”
View the QM directory of certified coursesJuly 2025 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full grants report and funding opportunities for July 2025
Faculty, Staff Host Community Science Camp
Harriot College and ECU faculty, staff, students, and volunteers from multiple departments and programs (Biology, Geological Sciences, Water Resources Center, and Coastal Studies) recently hosted an engaging community science camp for 30 middle school and high school students. Dr. Tara van Niekerk, organized the fun, educational week, and participating campers gave presentations of the StoryMaps they created about their week.
Find out more about Biology community partners
Rothman Featured Speaker at Roundtable Discussion
Dr. Philip Rothman, Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Economics, was the featured guest speaker at a roundtable discussion on the Eastern North Carolina Commercial real estate market. The event was jointly sponsored by Truist Wealth and Kittrell & Armstrong, LLC.
Learn more about Economics
Feder Receives ACLS Grant
Congratulations to Dr. Helena Feder, Professor in the Department of English, who has received an American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Sustaining Community Connections Grant. The grant provides funding to continue her work with the North Carolina Museum of Art as Editor of Tar River Poetry. This project focuses on the study and practice of poetry, interarts, and audience building.
Learn more about ACLS grantsJune 2025 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full report and funding opportunities for June 2025
Defending Anthropology
Dr. Chad Morris, Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology, recently served as a panelist in Washington, D.C. at a “Defending Anthropology” town hall webcast for the American Anthropological Association. The virtual event focused on discussing the future of anthropology and its place in society. It was designed to engage the anthropological community and other interested parties in a discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing the discipline. Morris provided his academic perspective on the topic.
Find out more about the American Anthropological Association
Ginger Grimes Earns Master's Degree
Congratulations to Ginger Grimes, Undergraduate Studies Administrative Specialist in the Department of Biology, who received her Master of Art degree in Adult Education and a Student Affairs in Higher Education certificate this spring.
Learn more about Biology
Biology Graduate Student Wins Association's Poster Award
Ariel Harrington, a graduate student in the Department of Biology who is working with Dr. Lauren Anllo, Assistant Professor of Biology, received the award for best research poster by a graduate student at the 66th Annual Drosophila Conference earlier this year.
Learn more about the Dros conference and awards
Biology Graduate Student Wins Best Talk
Everett Rhymer, a graduate student in the Department of Biology working with Dr. Lauren Anllo, Assistant Professor of Biology, won the best talk at the Triangle Fly Symposium held at Duke in May.
Learn more about the graduate program in Biology
Doctoral Students Place in Research Poster Competition
In May, students in the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Biology, Biomedicine and Chemistry (IDPBBC), Daniel Reed, Greyson Sanchez, and Chelsea Dennis - mentored by Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Pingping Meng - presented their research at the 2025 North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute conference. They were awarded 4th place in the poster competition. Following this conference, they also presented their research at the Research and Education Conference for the Association of Environmental Engineering & Science Professors (AEESP) at Duke University.
Learn more about the interdisciplinary doctoral program
Economist Interviewed about Trump Tariffs and Walmart Prices
Dr. Phil Rothman, Professor of Economics, was interviewed in May by WITN reporter Chris Cooke about Walmart raising prices in response to President Trump’s tariffs and how eastern North Carolinians have responded.
Watch the WITN interview
Faculty, Students Author article on Generative AI
Dr. Desiree Dighton, Assistant Professor in the Department of English, along with two Ph.D. students, Ben Abel and Mina Bikmohammadi, have published “Localizing with GAI in the Archives: Exploring Practitioner Attitudes on Challenges and Opportunities,” which appears in Technical Communication Quarterly. The study explores how archival professionals are implementing generative AI (GAI) in their work and what their experiences can teach us about ethical, equitable innovation. With key takeaways for technical communication, digital humanities and knowledge sector professionals, the article emphasizes participatory localization and the role of local knowledge in shaping responsible AI use.
Read the article, "Localizing with GAI"May 2025 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full report and funding opportunities for May 2025
Chemist Speaks at Prestigious Conference
Dr. Adam Offenbacher, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, was an invited speaker at the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) for Quantum Biology. These are small meetings of 100-200 people at all stages of their careers, with highly-focused research topics ranging from life to physical sciences, with presentations representing cutting-edge research. Offenbacher discussed, "To Tunneling and Beyond! Investigations into the Oxidation of Fatty Acids by Lipoxygenases". The presentation focused on how nature exploits non-trivial quantum mechanics to drive macroscopic, biological function and/or behavior. Specifically, his talk highlighted data stemming from undergraduate and masters students from ECU on the interplay between the classical dynamic properties of enzymes - biological catalysts for achieving unparalleled reactivity to sustain life - and the effectiveness of achieving hydrogen wave function overlap to facilitate tunneling. "Information gleaned from these studies is helping to develop blueprints for the de novo design of enzymes for cheap and efficient bio-energy production," Offenbacher said.
Learn more about the Gordon Research Conference
Hoppenthaler Published in Ploughshares
John Hoppenthaler, Professor in the Department of English, has a new poem, "Glendale Mill, 1837-2004," which has been published in the Spring 2025 issue of Ploughshares. Dubbed “the Triton among minnows” by the New York Times, Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Since 1971, Ploughshares has discovered and cultivated the freshest voices in contemporary American literature and provides readers with thoughtful and entertaining literature in a variety of formats.
Learn about the Ploughshares publication
English Scholars Lead Presentation at Southeast Native Studies Conference
Dr. Kirstin Squint, Associate Professor in the Department of English, and English graduate student Anna Bradley presented papers at the 20th annual Southeast Native Studies Conference held at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Their presentations, “Reckoning with Removal in Joy Harjo’s An American Sunrise” (Squint) and “Annette Clapsaddle’s Even As We Breathe as Tribalography” (Bradley), were part of a panel organized by Squint on, “Contemporary Southeastern Native Women’s Writing.” UNC-Pembroke’s Southeast Native Studies Conference is the only national conference dedicated solely to the unique histories and cultures of Southeastern Native Americans.
Learn more about the annual conference
Historian Wins Two Society Awards
Dr. M. Todd Bennett, Associate Professor in the Department of History, has received the 2024 Book Award and the 2024 Member Award from the Society for History in the Federal Government. He received these two awards for his book, "Neither Confirm Nor Deny: How the Glomar Mission Shielded the CIA from Transparency."
Learn more about his book from Columbia University Press
Zipf Accepted to National Humanities Center Fellowship Program
Dr. Karin Zipf, Professor in the Department of History, has been awarded a Fellowship at the National Humanities Center for the 2025-26 academic year. Her fellowship will support her book project, "Field Ghosts: The Vanishing American Farmworker and the New Slavery." The National Humanities Center is a residential institute for advanced study. They state their fellowships “are an opportunity to make progress on scholarly projects, socialize and share ideas with other scholars and be reinvigorated by a hiatus from regular demands of academic life.” Zipf’s fellowship begins September 2 and will conclude on May 22, 2026. NHC fellowships provide a stipend of $44,500, a private study, library services, daily lunches, regular scheduled programming and an environment conducive to scholarly work.
Read more about the NHC Fellowship experienceApril 2025 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full report and funding opportunities for April 2025
Emerson Receives National Award
Dr. Tisha Emerson, James E. and Constance Paul Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Economics, has been awarded the 2025 Henry H. Villard Research Award by the National Association of Economic Educators. Emerson received the award at the NAEE spring conference held in early March in Philadelphia. “I’m humbled to be recognized as the 2025 recipient of the Henry H. Villard Research Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in economic education research,” Emerson said. “Previous recipients are giants in our field, and I’m honored to be in such amazing company. I look forward to continuing to grow our knowledge of best practices in economic education in order to contribute to the goal of improving the quality of economic education for all.”
Learn more about the award on the NAEE websiteMarch 2025 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full report and funding opportunities for March 2025
English Graduate Students Attend Professional Conference
On Feb. 8, four English graduate students attended the ECU-sponsored "Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) and Applied Linguistics Graduate Student Conference," also known as TALGS, which is co-directed by Dr. Mark Johnson, Associate Professor in the Department of English. Students attended a keynote presentation and workshop with Dr. Katya Sudina, a linguist at the University of Maryland and a former ECU English faculty member. Shannon McGinnis, one of the ECU graduate students in attendance, presented her paper, “K-Pop’s Foray into Language Education: Analyzing Learn! Korean With BTS.” Next year’s TALGS conference marks the 25th anniversary of the event, which was founded in 2001 by Dr. Lida Cope, current ECU English department chair.
Learn more about the accomplishments in English
English Faculty Authors Article on Prince and James Brown
Dr. David Wilson-Okamura, Professor in the Department of English, has authored an article, "Uptight Funk," on Prince and James Brown. In the article, published by PopMatters, Wilson-Okamura writes, “In fact, funk was never as free as it seemed, starting with Soul Brother No. 1, His Bad Self, the Minister of New New Super Heavy Funk, James Brown. Like Prince, Brown was raised by an authoritarian father; and, like Prince, he fined his staff when they didn’t meet his standards. The stories about both men point to a larger truth about funk music in general: it might be nasty, but it was never undisciplined.”
Read the article on the PopMatters website
Wilmes Presents at Columbia University
Justin Wilmes, Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures who specializes in Russian studies, presented at an event at Columbia University. The event promoted a new book on Russian documentary cinema, "Contemporary Russian Documentary: Negotiating the Personal and the Political" (2025, U of Edinburgh Press), in which Wilmes authored one of the chapters. Wilmes interviewed the renowned documentary filmmaker Vitaly Mansky following a screening of his film Putin’s Witnesses (2018). The event raised awareness about the craft of documentary filmmaking in Russia in the Putin-era, including the role of bearing witness to Russia's shift to authoritarianism and the challenges of filmmaking in that context.
Learn about the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Escourido's International Collaboration
Dr. Juan Escourido, Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, recently collaborated with the University of Santiago de Compostela on a digital mapping project. The project to geolocates sites mentioned in 12th- to 14th-century pilgrimage poems, allowing users to explore the sanctuaries referenced in these historical texts through interactive maps and visual resources. Integrated with the existing databases, the platform provides comprehensive access to texts, biographies, bibliographies and manuscripts. The project bridges literature, history and technology in English, Spanish and Galician, showcasing the College of Arts and Sciences' commitment to global research and digital humanities innovation. The project was officially launched on December 17, 2024, at the Centre for Research in Humanities in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Learn more on the Cantigas de Romaría website.
Wall Publishes New Paper
Dr. Edmund Wall, Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, has published a new paper "MacInterean Ethics and Lessons About Teleological Ethical Theories," in the journal, Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review. In the article, Wall states that Alasdair MacIntyre’s moral approach in contemporary philosophical ethics have overlooked basic requirements of teleological ethical theories, and that his most fundamental error is his failure to pursue and develop ultimate ends.
Read the article at Cambridge University Press
Research in Antarctica
Tristan Bench, a postdoctoral researcher working with Dr. Regina DeWitt, a Professor in the Department of Physics, recently returned from a trip to the McMurdo Station in Antarctica. He is applying his skills to record glacial melt fluctuations, evaluate current glacial melt events and help predict future scenarios under climate change conditions.
Find out more about about Bench’s recording of glacial melt in Antarctica
Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology
The Department of Sociology is pleased to announce that the University of North Carolina system has approved the department’s fully online Bachelor of Science degree in applied sociology.
Learn about SociologyFebruary 2025 - Harriot College Grant and Contract News
Full report and funding opportunities for February 2025
Ewen and Shields Appearing in Episode of "Hunting History"
Dr. Charles Ewen, Professor in the Department of Anthropology, and Dr. Tom Shields, emeritus professor from the Department of English, will be part of an episode of the History Channel's show "Hunting History," which dives into some of American history's greatest and most perplexing mysteries through a new lens. This episode airing in February, will address the topic of the Colony of Roanoke, the first English settlement in North America. (Illustration Design by William Ludwell Sheppard, Engraving by William James Linton)
View "Hunting History"
Keene Co-Authors Paper on SIDS Research
Dr. Keith L. Keene, Harriot College Associate Dean for Research and Professor in the Department of Biology, has co-authored a research paper with colleagues from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he previously served as founding director of UVA’s Center for Health Equity and Precision Public Health. The paper, "Metabolomic profiles of infants classified as sudden infant death syndrome: a case-control analysis," offers a way to identify biomarkers in a newborn's blood that may be a way to identify babies at risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Keene will continue to work with his former colleagues through the summer in an effort to identify even more genomics related research for SIDS.
Read the University of Virginia School of Medicine News Release
English Graduate Student to Present at Conference
Anna Bradley, who is pursuing her Master of Arts in English, has received a student travel grant to attend the 2025 Southeast Native Studies Conference, hosted by the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Bradley will be presenting her paper, “Annette Clapsaddle’s Even As We Breathe as Tribalography,” as part of the panel “Contemporary Southeastern Native Women’s Writing,” chaired by Dr. Kirstin Squint, ECU Associate Professor in the Department of English.
Learn more about the Southeast Native Studies Conference
Clark Receives Outstanding Book Award
Dr. Erin Clark, Associate Professor in the Department of English, has been selected by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) as a recipient of the 2025 Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) Outstanding Book Award in the Monograph Category and a 2025 CCCC Technical and Scientific Communication Award for her monography, “Feminist Technical Communication: Apparent Feminism, Slow Crisis, and the Deepwater Horizon Disaster.” Clark will receive both awards at an awards ceremony held during the CCCC annual convention in Baltimore, Maryland, in April. The CCCC is a constituent organization within the NCTE.
Visit the CCCC website for more information on the awards
Kitta Co-Edits New Book on Conspiracy Theories
Dr. Andrea Kitta, Professor in the Department of English, has co-edited a new collection on conspiracy theories. "Whispers in the Echo Chamber: Folklore and the Role of Conspiracy Theory in Contemporary Society," makes the case that conspiracy theories are fundamentally a folklore genre. The volume’s three parts lay out folkloristic approaches to conspiracy theories; ways folkloristics can help us understand how conspiracy theories are constructed; and how the genre of conspiracy theories interacts with particular, contemporary political contexts.
Find the book on the University of Wisconsin Press website
Wilmes to Participate in Panel Discussion on Russian Documentaries
Dr. Justin Wilmes, Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, will participate in a panel discussion of Russian documentary cinema at Columbia University in mid-February. He will conduct a Q&A with documentary filmmaker Vitaly Mansky before a screening of Mansky's film, "Putin's Witnesses." The event promotes a new book that features an article written by Wilmes -- "The New Russian Documentary: Reclaiming Reality in the Age of Authoritarianism" Eds. Masha Shpolberg and Anastasia Kostina (University of Edinburgh Press, 2025) -- and will raise awareness about the craft of documentary filmmaking in Russia in the Putin-era, including the role of "bearing witness" to Russia's shift to authoritarianism and the challenges of filmmaking in that context.
Read more about the Columbia University eventJanuary 2025 - Harriot College Grant & Contract News
Full report and funding opportunities for January 2025