Faculty: Dr. Holly Fales
Even on the hottest of days, Dr. Holly Fales tends to her family garden.
“There’s just something about starting really small — a small plant or a seed — and just watching it, taking care of it, nurturing it and seeing it produce something,” Fales said. “I guess maybe that’s an analogy for life.”
Dr. Holly Fales, assistant dean for undergraduate affairs and educator preparation in the College of Education, served as a teacher at Greene Central High School for eight years and has been working at ECU for 12 years. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)
As the assistant dean for undergraduate affairs and educator preparation in East Carolina University’s College of Education, Fales helps grow the next generation of teachers, and in turn, the future of North Carolina. She works to expand the legacy of ECU, which began as a teacher’s college more than a century ago.
“We are the flagship teacher education university,” Fales said. “… We still produce the most teachers in the state of North Carolina through our various pathways. We have this legacy of education, and so now it’s my role to keep that going, to perpetuate that, to keep recruiting students into our program and make sure that we continue to be the top choice for teachers in North Carolina.
“If you go into any school district in the state of North Carolina, but specifically any of the districts here in eastern North Carolina, you’re going to find Pirate educators. From your classroom teachers to your counselors to your principals, and in a lot of instances on up to your superintendents, there are Pirate grads.”
Fales grew up in Pollocksville, a rural Jones County town south of New Bern that she said provided a sense of community. She recalls fond memories of sharing time in the woods and fields with family and friends, as well as going to nearby beaches for boating and fishing.
“It was a wonderful place to grow up, and I am proud to be a true eastern North Carolinian,” she said.
Her experiences at school, which included playing on softball and volleyball teams, influenced her decision to go into education.
“Teaching was always a career I considered,” Fales said. “I like helping others. I enjoyed school a lot, had a great experience with school and know how important that is. I had a lot of great teachers that made differences in my life, so I just followed in that trajectory.”
She came to ECU on a North Carolina Teaching Fellows scholarship, and after graduation, taught high school in Greene County for eight years. She later worked for the then fledgling North Carolina Virtual Public School. She said she missed in-person experiences and came to ECU, first on the medical campus as an administrative health records trainer and then later to the College of Education.
Dr. Holly Fales, left, stands with scholarship recipient Hunter Holland, center, and donor Vivian Covington after the scholarship ceremony. (Photo by Kristen Martin)
In her role, she oversees programs that lead to teacher licensure, ensures the quality of ECU education programs and compliance with state and national accreditation standards, and even helps with student recruitment, among her many duties.
“I do have excellent people that I work with, and I have trust in those team members,” Fales said.
She tells ECU students that teaching offers something different every day and stresses the importance of building relationships. She said even though they may teach the same material, they must adapt their instruction to meet the needs of varied students who don’t all learn in the same way.
“It is the most enjoyable and rewarding profession and career, but also the hardest and most challenging,” Fales said.
For her accomplishments as a teacher — she’s a national board certified teacher — as well as for her work at ECU, Fales was inducted into ECU’s Educators Hall of Fame in 2018.
“I was honored,” she said. “I was able to talk about my experience in my classroom and my experience learning here at ECU, so I just really felt like that was a full-circle moment in my career being nominated and inducted into the Hall of Fame. I’m so glad we have that program to recognize educators because I think it’s so special and impactful.”
When not working, Fales enjoys time with her husband, A.J., and their son, Lucas, in numerous outdoor activities, from gardening to swimming. She said she’s always planning for that next home improvement project, and you may just find her belting out classic rock or show tunes.
“There are a few family members that really like to sing, so we kind of hog the karaoke microphones,” Fales said. “We do show tunes, ‘The Greatest Showman.’ I like some old school rock like Heart or some of the big female rock voices. I don’t nail it by any means, but it’s fun to sing.”
Fast Facts
Name: Dr. Holly Heath Fales
Title: Assistant dean for undergraduate affairs and educator preparation
Hometown: Pollocksville
Colleges attended and degrees: ECU, bachelor’s in business and marketing education; master’s in education – business education; UNC Wilmington, doctorate in educational leadership
Pirate Pride
Years working at ECU: 12
What I do at ECU: I oversee and coordinate educator preparation programs, ensuring they meet state and national standards, support student success, and foster collaboration among faculty, staff, and stakeholders.
What I love about ECU: ECU’s strong integration within the community and its proactive approach in addressing the unique needs of eastern North Carolina are what truly set it apart and make me proud to be part of Pirate Nation.
Research interests: Pre-service teacher preparation, alternative teacher preparation pathways, teacher education performance assessments, teacher professional development, digital learning, online instruction
What advice do you give to students? My advice to students is to seize every opportunity during your time here. ECU offers a wealth of activities and opportunities that can enhance both your personal development and professional skills. Challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone and explore new interests.
Quick Quiz
What do you like to do when not working? I really enjoy gardening. I also like to stay active and enjoy a variety of fitness activities.
Last thing I watched on TV: I love home improvement shows, and recently I’ve been watching “Home Town.”
First job: My first job out of college was as a teacher at Greene Central High School, where I spent the first eight years of my career.
Guilty pleasure: Sitting on the beach, reading a fiction book
Favorite meal: Down East clam chowder (my mother’s recipe)
One thing most people don’t know about me: I really enjoy singing. I’m always down for karaoke! I also love interior design and home renovations.