BOARD OF TRUSTEES

New members sworn in

Published Jul 28, 2017 by
Filed under:

Three of four new members of the East Carolina University Board of Trustees were sworn in during the board’s meeting on July 28 at the East Carolina Heart Institute. 

Jason Poole of Fayetteville; Vince Smith of Vienna, Virginia; and student body president La’Quon Rogers, who serves as an ex-officio member of the board, took the oath to begin the meeting. The fourth new member, Fielding Miller of Raleigh, was not in attendance. 

Poole, who earned his master’s degree in accounting from ECU in 1999, is a partner at the public accounting firm Todd Rivenbark and Puryear, PLLC. Miller is the CEO and co-founder of the financial advising firm CAPTRUST. Smith received his undergraduate degree in history from ECU and spent 23 years as an active duty U.S. Air Force officer, retiring as lieutenant colonel.

Keiran Shanahan was appointed as the board’s chair for a two-year term.

The board voted to appoint new officers: Kieran Shanahan, chair; Vern Davenport, vice chair; and Kel Normann, secretary. The officers will serve two-year terms. 

“I’m honored for the responsibility and privilege of serving in this capacity,” said Shanahan. 

Chancellor Cecil Staton presented the board with a recap of the past year, including the launch of a $500 million comprehensive campaign. More than $140 million has already been raised or committed toward that goal. He also recognized several research achievements as well as awards and recognitions received by faculty members and students. 

The board also heard a report from Rogers on the work and goals of the Student Government Association. 

Staton was recognized with a resolution from the board acknowledging the achievements and milestones reached by the university during his first year as chancellor.

Dr. Mark Stacy was introduced to the board as the dean of the Brody School of Medicine and senior vice chancellor for medical affairs for the Division of Health Sciences.

The board approved a memorandum of understanding between ECU and the Pitt County Board of Education to establish the Innovation Early College High School at ECU. The proposal goes to the Pitt County Board of Education for approval on Aug. 7. The application is due by Sept. 15 to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. With approval, the early college high school will begin in fall 2018. 

In other business:

  • Board member Kel Normann presented an update from the Athletics and Advancement committee. The university has raised more than $48 million in the past fiscal year, and individual giving was up from the previous year.
  • The board approved the purchase of 6.71 acres of land on East Belvoir Road for $165,000. The property will be the location of a new greenhouse for ECU.
  • The board approved the lease of clinical/office space at 2390 Hemby Lane for use by ECU Physcicians, Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine.
  • The extended jurisdiction agreement between ECU Police and the Greenville Police Department was approved.
  • The board approved an update to the university’s drug education, screening and counseling program for student athletes.
  • The University Affairs committee received an update on ECU’s lab school, which will open on Aug. 28 at South Greenville Elementary School. ECU is one of eight UNC system schools chosen by state officials to create and operate a laboratory school to help elementary students perform better. ECU and Western Carolina will be the first two UNC system schools to open a lab school this fall.
  • The board requested that the ECU Foundation acquire an appropriate temporary residence for the use of the chancellor. No state appropriated funds or tuition dollars are to be used for the purchase. The board expects the residence to be used for approximately three years while repairs and renovations to the chancellor’s residence on Fifth Street are completed.

Chancellor Cecil Staton presented the university’s year in review.