OUTSTANDING SCHOLARS

Faculty recognized for research, creative achievements, inventions and community engagement

Along with recognizing the Lifetime Achievement for Research & Creative Activity Award winner, East Carolina University honored faculty members throughout the university for their research, creative activity, inventions and community engagement contributions over the past year at the 2022 Research & Scholarship Awards ceremony.

Additionally, outstanding research scholars and artists, Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy members, and inventors who received patents in 2021 were recognized during the 2021 Research & Scholarship Awards ceremony. First-time inventors were inducted into the ECU chapter of the National Academy of Inventors.

Members of the University Research Council work with each of their colleges and schools to select outstanding research scholars or artists based on faculty achievements this past year and use of criteria that were most appropriate for their discipline.


Five-Year Research & Creative Activity Award Winner


Elizabeth Ables, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences


Scholarship of Engagement Award Winner


Dr. Randall Etheridge, College of Engineering and Technology


Outstanding Research Scholars and Artists


Brody School of Medicine

Qun Lu, Anatomy and Cell Biology
Lisandra de Castro Bras, Physiology
Darla Liles, Hematology-Oncology

College of Allied Health Sciences

Stacey Meardon, Physical Therapy
Lauren Sastre, Nutrition Science
Paul Toriello, Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies

College of Business

Erik Taylor, Management
Shirley Mai, Marketing and Supply Chain Management
Lucky Xue, Management Information Systems

College of Education

Anne Ticknor, Literacy Studies, English Education, and History Education
Charity Cayton, Mathematics Education, Science Education, and Instructional Technology
Africa Hands, Interdisciplinary Professions

College of Engineering and Technology

Teresa Ryan, Engineering
Brian Sylcott, Engineering
Rui Wu, Computer Science

College of Fine Arts and Communication

Cynthia Bickley-Green, School of Art and Design
Aysel Morin, School of Communication
Adrienne Steiner, School of Music
Jessica Teague, School of Theatre and Dance

College of Health and Human Performance

Sheresa Blanchard, Human Development and Family Science
Jeff Skibins, Recreation Sciences
Essie Torres, Health Education and Promotion

College of Nursing

Courtney Caiola, Nursing Science
Nancy Dias, Nursing Science
Chandra Speight, Advanced Nursing Practice & Education

Integrated Coastal Programs

David Lagomasino, Coastal Studies

School of Dental Medicine

Ramiro Murata, Foundational Sciences
Linda May, Foundational Sciences
Acela Martinez Luna, Surgical Sciences

Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences

Joi P. Walker, Chemistry
Helen Dixon, History
Ryan Schacht, Anthropology


2021-22 Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy Cohort


Natasha Bell, College of Engineering and Technology
Rachel Gittman, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Jarvis Hargrove, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Jennifer Hodgson, College of Health and Human Performance
Ericka Lawrence, College of Business
Laura Levi Altstaedter, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Amy McMillan, College of Business
Angela Novak, College of Education
Rita Soulen, College of Education
Scott Walfield, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Emily Yeager, College of Health and Human Performances


2021 ECU Inventors


U.S. Patent No. 8,641,731

Jason B. Hack*, Brody School of Medicine

U.S. Patent # 10,940,200

Mark Mannie, Brody School of Medicine

U.S. Patent # 10,948,350

Sunghan Kim, College of Engineering and Technology

U.S. Patent # 10,960,013

Rukiyah Van Dross, Brody School of Medicine

U.S. Patent Nos. 11,010,849 & 11,170,658

Robert Todd Watkins, Jr., School of Dental Medicine

U.S. Patent No. 11,185,069

Anthony Kennedy, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Jean-Luc Scemama, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Jitka Virag, Brody School of Medicine

U.S. Patent No. 11,202,777

Kori Brewer*, Brody School of Medicine
Stefan Clemens, Brody School of Medicine

U.S. Patent No. D939,913

Daniel Dickerson*, College of Education

*Denotes first-time inventor who was inducted into the ECU chapter of the National Academy of Inventors.

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