ECU showcase for community engagement distinctions
The College of Health and Human Performance was represented in attendance by multiple leaders and faculty members, including Drs. Angela Lamson, Alice Richman, Anu Hegde and Emily Yeager, at East Carolina University’s Celebration of Engagement and Innovation event held at the ECU Heart Institute.
This event celebrated prestigious distinctions ECU has earned thanks to community engagement, innovation success and economic development. The American Council on Education has reaffirmed ECU with Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, and ECU was one of only 15 other universities to receive the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities’ Innovation and Economic Prosperity 5-year Extension. Lamson, who serves as the interim assistant vice chancellor for economic and community engagement within ECU’s Office of Research, Economic Development, and Engagement, was lauded in her leadership for leading each of the applications in collaboration with more than 80 faculty, staff and community partners.
Dr. Angela Lamson provides remarks at the ECU Celebration of Engagement and Innovation event.
Two HHP-led partnerships also were highlighted as part of these celebrations and the event program. They were with Contentnea Health, led by Lamson, and the Early Educator Support mentorship program, led by Hegde, professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science. Insight and congratulatory remarks were made by Lamson, ECU Chancellor Dr. Philip Rogers, Provost Dr. Robin Coger and Dr. Sharon Paynter, acting Chief Research and Engagement Officer. Paynter highlighted that Hegde has secured nearly $20 million in external funding in the past decade for early educator support.
“This work ensures that all early childhood educators in nonpublic schools participate in mentorship and evaluation practices that lead to improved classroom practices and positive childhood outcomes,” Paynter said. “More than 8,000 children are positively influenced by this program each year and their Beginning Teacher Support Program is a nationally recognized model for supporting teachers, mentors and evaluators through high professional development opportunities.”
Coger’s remarks included the impact of the integrated care program to benefit patients in Greene County and elsewhere in eastern North Carolina. Lamson, a Nancy W. Darden Distinguished Professor in HDFS, and Dr. Jennifer Hodgson, also a Nancy W. Darden Distinguished Professor, initiated collaborations nearly 20 years ago and success has continued to flourish.
“This has supported nearly 160 students over the past 18 years by facilitating pathways for underinsured and uninsured patients to simultaneously receive mental and behavioral health as part of their primary care and dental health visits,” Coger said. “Students from one PhD program, five masters program, one undergraduate program have applied their training to further the healthcare opportunities for youth, adults and families in the east.”