ECU Alumni Association announces new board members
The East Carolina University Alumni Association (ECUAA) recently welcomed six new members to its board of directors. Sean Bowen, Lt. Col. Billy Dye, Camryn Gutierrez, Charlie Justice, Dr. Chris Ozimek and John Rous began their service July 1 and are eligible to serve two three-year terms that conclude in 2031.
East Carolina University alumni Sean Bowen, Lt. Col. Billy Dye, Camryn Gutierrez, Charlie Justice, Dr. Chris Ozimek and John Rous joined the ECU Alumni Association board in July. (Contributed photos)
Board members are responsible for providing strategic direction and professional expertise to support the university’s alumni engagement initiatives. The new members bring varied experiences and perspectives to inform, involve and serve the ECU family throughout their lifelong relationship with the university.
Amanda Murer ’99, associate vice chancellor for alumni relations, said the new board members will work to advance the university and connect with the more than 200,000 alumni worldwide.
“These outstanding Pirates represent our alumni community, bringing valuable personal and professional experiences that will undoubtedly strengthen our engagement efforts,” Murer said. “We deeply appreciate their dedication and willingness to serve.”
Sean Bowen
Bowen ’11, from Fort Mill, South Carolina, earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice in ECU’s Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences and a Juris Doctor from the Rutgers Law School in 2015.
He works as legal counsel for cybersecurity and data privacy for McDonald Hopkins LLC. Bowen manages pre-breach and incident response in relation to data privacy compliance, ransomware attacks, email compromises and other cybersecurity and privacy incidents. He brings experience in data privacy compliance and various state data protection and breach notification laws.
Bowen joined Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity while at ECU. The experience provided enrichment, helped him develop a sense of community and shaped him as a person, he said.
“I was involved in campus events and experienced things that took me out of my comfort zone. As a result, I have developed a deeper connection to the university, attend homecoming and seek out local events in my city,” Bowen said. “I want to help provide thoughtful leadership to grow the alumni association and enhance the alumni experience for all Pirates.”
Billy Dye
Dye ’04 was commissioned as a distinguished graduate through Air Force ROTC. He became the Air Force ROTC Detachment 600 Commander at ECU in 2022.
Before returning to ECU, Dye served as the chief of wing safety and a T-6A instructor pilot at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas. Previously, he was an Air Force One advance agent, charged with ensuring the safe arrival and departure of Air Force One for the president, first lady, vice president and White House personnel.
“ECU took a chance on me about 25 years ago. So much of what I have enjoyed professionally and personally is a result of being an alumnus. I will forever be indebted, and it’s why I continue to seek out opportunities to serve,” Dye said. “I believe my professional experiences leading teams and organizations, along with my pride for this institution, will allow me to serve our university in a more formal capacity by being a board member.”
His deployments include supporting operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve. He was awarded the Meritorious Service medal, Air Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, among other decorations. He was an ECU 40 under 40 honoree in 2016.
Dye is eager to increase alumni veteran engagement through his work on the board. He believes there are opportunities to connect with military organizations on campus through the Veterans’ Alumni Council.
Camryn Gutierrez
Gutierrez lives in Wake Forest, where she has worked as the downtown development specialist for the town of Wake Forest since 2022. She coordinates a variety of community-wide special events and manages the Wake Forest Downtown social media platforms and webpages.
Gutierrez earned a Bachelor of Science in hospitality leadership with a concentration in lodging management and a minor in business administration.
“Sevire has always held deep significance for me, and it continues to resonate today. I want to continue to showcase just how much Pirate Nation gives back,” Gutierrez said. “I feel a deep connection to the university that helped shape my personal and professional journey. Now, I’m eager to give back and play a part in enhancing the experience for future generations of students.”
At ECU, she was a four-year member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a sorority dedicated to serving the community. She served on the sorority’s executive board and led the organization’s philanthropy efforts in her junior year, raising nearly $25,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
She was honored as a College of Business Intern of the Month in 2020 while completing an internship with the city of Greenville.
Charlie Justice
Justice ’85 ’91 has a 40-year association with ECU, as a student, coach, staff and faculty member. He earned a Bachelor of Science in industrial technology and an MBA at ECU.
His professional career at the university began with the women’s track/cross-country team. During his eight years as head coach, he developed a competitive program that produced conference champions, all-American athletes and outstanding scholar-athlete award winners.
Justice worked in the ECU IT department for 18 years. He is most proud of the ACE student computing initiative, which integrated the use of student-owned laptops into the classroom setting and provided work experience for nearly 30 student employees each semester.
In 2014, he became an instructor in management information systems in the College of Business. He continues to serve as a part-time instructor in the Miller School of Entrepreneurship.
Justice lives in Greenville and is co-owner of the Justice Leadership Group, providing professional consulting, workshop and training services in business management, human resources and information technology.
“Forty years of experience at ECU has blessed me with a large network of ECU alumni from many different areas of campus. Now retired, I would love to use whatever influence I may have with that network to help engage them with ECU’s Alumni Association,” Justice said.
Chris Ozimek
Ozimek ’97 ’02, of Greenville, earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Doctor of Medicine from the Brody School of Medicine. He is a pediatrician with Children’s Health Services and has served as an adjunct faculty member at Brody for 14 years.
His education and training have allowed him to serve health care needs in his community and train medical students and medical residents in a community setting within his practice. He said he is always proud to say that he is an ECU alum in both undergraduate and medical school.
“I would like to give back to the institution that helped shape me into becoming what I am today,” Ozimek said. “I would like to improve the relationship ECU has with its medical alumni and engage with medical students more proactively during their time at ECU.”
Ozimek said he is proud to build relationships with families and see children grow over the years. He also has had the opportunity to serve child-based organizations, including schools and youth programs. He has served on the Greenville Little League board and the J.H. Rose Athletic Boosters board, where he has supported fundraising efforts for international missions and an orphanage in Uganda.
John Rous
Rous ’18 ’19, of Raleigh, earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an MBA at ECU. He is a client executive for Sentinel, where he represents local and international clients with a full-service insurance consultancy.
From fan to student to alumnus and ECU staff, Rous has deep connections to the university. He was a student leader, serving as president of the Student Pirate Club executive board, a Pirate Club intern, an ECU Athletics ticket office employee and membership chair of the Pitt County Young Professionals. Rous served as assistant director of development for the Pirate Club from 2019 to 2021, overseeing 14 regional Pirate Club chapters. He is an active volunteer with the Wake County Pirate Club chapter.
“Having grown up an ECU fan, I only had one school I applied to. Fast forward to now, my wife, Monica, and I have four degrees combined from ECU, are football season ticket holders, and do what we can to give back to a school that’s given us so much,” Rous said. “I would like to give back to my alma mater in a unique way and help advance the mission of the ECU Alumni Association.”
Outside of work, Rous is a two-time “foster fail” and long-time volunteer with Red Barn Rescue in Clayton. He also dabbles with stand-up comedy.