Sara Thorndike (Contributed photo)[/caption]
"I believe that Sara will be an excellent addition to the university's leadership team. Her demonstrated skills in finance and accounting along with previous strategic leadership experience, including serving on the Chancellor's Leadership Council at UNC Wilmington, should serve her well as she leads this important division of the university," Staton said.
Mitchelson said he's excited for Thorndike to join ECU and that she brings "experience, creativity and intelligence to the position."
During her three years at UNC Wilmington, Thorndike served as associate vice chancellor for finance and controller, leading a team of 65 staff members, managing a university budget of more than $300 million, developing funding options for new campus construction, and serving as advisor for a $1.5 million student-managed investment fund.
Prior to joining UNC Wilmington, she was controller and accounting director for almost 10 years at Principia Corporation, a nonprofit college in Elsah, Illinois, and an independent school for preschool to high school students in St. Louis, Missouri. She also worked as a financial analysist for Express, part of The Limited Corporation at the time, in the corporate offices in Columbus, Ohio.
At ECU, Thorndike will provide leadership, oversight and stewardship to all aspects of the university's financial resources which include total revenues of more than $900 million. The university's total endowment is roughly $200 million. She will also oversee a division of about 1,000 staff members and a divisional budget of approximately $50 million.
"The mission of ECU attracted me most to the university," she said. "ECU educates and attracts students who otherwise may not have access to education.
"As a CPA, MBA and EdD student, education has changed my life. As an administrator, I would like to pay that forward to help students who are working hard so the education they receive can help them make a difference in the world," she said.
Thorndike praised Niswander, whom she knows through their work at fellow UNC System institutions. "Rick is an excellent leader and collaborator. With his many years of UNC System experience, Rick is known as someone that other campuses can go to for guidance.
"Rick is leaving big shoes to fill, but I am confident that with the help of the great team of dedicated and knowledgeable professionals in Administration and Finance, and the strong foundation that Rick established, we will continue to build on the great work that he has done," she said.
Niswander announced his plans last summer to return to a faculty position. He joined ECU in 1993 as a member of the College of Business faculty. He served as dean of that college from 2004 until 2011, when he became vice chancellor.
Thorndike said she plans for her first months on campus to be spent listening, building relationships and trust, "so that I have a good understanding of what is working well and what opportunities we have to add value and to support faculty, staff and students. We will remain focused on supporting ECU's mission and strategic plan."
Thorndike earned her bachelor of science degree in accounting from Franklin University and MBA from The Ohio State University and is a Doctor of Education candidate at UNC Wilmington. RAPID RESPONSE
ECU Police conducts active shooter training on campus
Over several evenings in May, the East Carolina University Police Department took advantage of a quiet, empty campus to conduct active shooter training in Mendenhall Student Center.
“Although we can’t prevent everything, we can be as prepared as we can be and that’s what this training allows for us to do,” said Senior Patrol Officer Frances Finch.
The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT), takes ECU officers through simulated scenarios where an active shooter or shooters are somewhere inside the large, multi-room facility. The officers and actors use soap-like, non-lethal rounds and wear protective head and neck gear. The rounds are colored so you can see who shot who or where the missed shots land. The officers say, this type of training is as real-life as they can get.
“It can get that adrenaline going. That’s what we’re looking to do, we want to become more accustomed to those types of scenarios,” said Senior Police Officer Doug Mann.
This type of training gives officers instant feedback. If they make a wrong move and get shot, they can take a mental note of what didn’t work and refine and perfect their skills.
ECU Police officers go over hallway and room clearing techniques before they gear up with real guns for an active shooter simulation. (Contributed photo)
“I want this to be muscle memory. I want officers to be able to react to this, for this to be second nature,” said Sgt. C.T. Jones who led the training.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to think through what they would do if they encounter a threatening situation like an active shooter. Run, hide, fight are three words law enforcement want running in someone’s mind if he or she is in danger.
“If you find yourself in a threatening situation where there’s an active shooter that has entered your building, your workspace, your residence: Run. Hide. Fight. Run out of the building as quickly as you can, leave your belongings. If you can’t run out of the building, then it becomes necessary to hide where you can barricade yourself. If the gunman threatens your safety, and your only option is to fight, then you fight to live,” said Lt. Chris Sutton.
ECU Police encourage members of the ECU community to download the new LiveSafe app. Launched on campus this spring, the free app allows users to contact ECU Police in various ways, including a phone call, text, video or picture message. Users can discretely message ECU police if speaking during a phone call would be too dangerous.
For more information or to download LiveSafe visit, www.ecu.edu/livesafe.
ECU Police will continue their training in Mendenhall Student Center Friday and Saturday nights. The building will be closed during the training. Signs and police caution tape will remind visitors that the building is closed due to the training.