Faculty members embrace recognition opportunity at Author Book Awards
Dr. Larry Tise looks at books on display in the Janice Hardison Faulkner Gallery where the Faculty Author Book Awards ceremony was held. (Photos by Cliff Hollis)
The Faculty Author Book Awards offered the opportunity for East Carolina University faculty to be celebrated for published works outside their traditional campus roles.
Tuesday night’s two-part ceremony, honoring 77 authors and 83 publications from the 2019-2020 and 2020-21 academic years, also was a timely return to in-person recognition. The 2020 event was virtual amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
For Dr. Mikkaka Overstreet, one of the authors recognized in both cycles, deciding to attend the event in the Janice Hardison Faulkner Gallery was a rewarding experience.
“I teach on Tuesdays and Thursdays and they are long days and I haven’t done many events because of COVID and I want to, so I was a little hesitant to come out, but I’m really glad I did,” said Overstreet, an assistant professor in literacy studies, English education and history education in the College of Education. “I think this ceremony sort of helped it to sink in that I wrote books. As a faculty member, we are expected to produce and we don’t often pause to celebrate the accomplishments. It’s often go, go, go and on to the next thing, but this made us really slow down and that it’s a big thing to celebrate. … It seems like it’s part of the job, but often it’s bigger than that. I’m glad I got to come out and celebrate.”
Dr. Grant Hayes, interim provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, emphasized the importance of faculty receiving proper recognition.
“You have illuminated and elevated the work of this entire university,” Hayes said. “I commend you for this remarkable achievement.”
Library Director Jan Lewis praises faculty members for their published works during the Faculty Author Book Awards.
Overstreet’s latest publication was as a co-author with Drs. Christy Howard and Anne Swenson Ticknor for the book “It’s Not One More Thing: Culturally Responsive and Affirming Strategies in K-12 Literacy Classrooms.”
Other book topics ranged from constructing sustainable communities to bugs, research by professors and aspects of entertainment, like Dr. Amanda Klein’s “Millennials Killed the Video Star: MTV’s Transition to Reality Programming.” It breaks down trends and conclusions from MTV’s major shift in the 2000s from music videos to reality shows.
Dr. Aneil Mishra, representing ECU’s College of Business, had intentions of helping students in his book co-authored with his wife, Dr. Karen Mishra, titled “College to Career: Your Guide to Getting Your Dream Job.”
“We are proud to add your work to our collection, either in print or online form,” said Jan Lewis, director of Academic Library Services, of the authors. “Book publication represents one of our highest forms of scholarship, and acknowledging faculty who author books is an important activity for the academy. What better place to recognize faculty authors than in the library?”
The two-year eligibility period for recognition of publication was from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2021.
Academic Affairs and Academic Library Services annually collaborate to recognize authors and editors who have contributed to the prestige of ECU through the creation and dissemination of scholarly monographs. The ceremony was sponsored by the Friends of Joyner Library.
Click here for a photo gallery of all the authors honored.
Medals are displayed before being handed out at the Faculty Author Book Awards.