Ronnie Woodward Archives

Three people wearing military uniforms standing on a campus.
Jun 09, 2026
  • Ronnie Woodward

Cadets find community, purpose through ROTC training

This the third article in a four-part series highlighting how East Carolina University supports military-connected students, veterans and leaders through education and partnerships. From ROTC and advanced training to healthcare...

A person looking out to crowd members as they stand at a podium with a microphone on the podium.
May 19, 2026
  • Ronnie Woodward

McNeill shares about book, life lessons at library event

Longtime football coach Ruffin McNeill was introduced in East Carolina University’s Joyner Library by Johnnee Rice. McNeill, an ECU Athletics Hall of Fame member who was head coach of the...

Collage banner showing student activities and campus life: two scuba divers underwater; a group photo outdoors on a trail; a formal group photo in front of a wall display; two people seated on a camel holding a “No Quarter” sign; and a large group wearing purple shirts gathered at the base of a tall white lighthouse, with arrows suggesting progression across the images.
May 18, 2026
  • Ronnie Woodward

Brinkley-Lane Scholar: Whitney Roberts

It was a memorable lunch during Whitney Roberts’ guided tour at East Carolina University that helped clinch her decision to become a Pirate. One of the tour guides asked Roberts...

Two people running and playing soccer on an outdoor field. One person is kicking the ball as the other looks down to the ball to defend.
Apr 29, 2026
  • Ronnie Woodward

Unified soccer kicks off at ECU

Any first-game nerves at the East Carolina University Blount Recreational Sports Complex for the first Special Olympics Unified soccer match were quickly erased by smiles, cheers, high-fives and more smiles....

Apr 21, 2026
  • Ronnie Woodward

Vail-Smith presented with Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Karen Vail-Smith wanted a casual retirement celebration with no speeches. The event was progressing exactly as Vail-Smith had hoped, with one exception. Dr. Michele Wallen, chair of the East Carolina...

Mar 04, 2026
  • Ronnie Woodward

Global scholar Hegde speaks at alma mater in India

The 2026 College of Home Science Nirmala Niketan (Autonomous) International Conference, in Mumbai, India, was a hybrid conference, giving guests worldwide the opportunity to attend in person or join online....

Feb 18, 2026
  • Ronnie Woodward

Students get creative in real-world redesigns

Saccades are rapid eye movements that shift gaze from one point to another, playing a role as a person enters a new room. East Carolina University student Laci Deal thought...

An outdoor wedding ceremony with a bride, groom, reverend and handful of guests standing under large columns between brick buildings.
Feb 09, 2026
  • Ronnie Woodward

They returned to campus to say ‘I do’

Two 1978 East Carolina University graduates were ready to be married in 2025, and they needed to decide on a ceremony location. It was a mutual decision. “We both knew...

Two women laugh on one side of a pickleball court as they each hold their pickleball paddle.
Jan 21, 2026
  • Ronnie Woodward

Pickleball serves up community, social connections

The sport of pickleball can be a connector, pairing East Carolina University students with faculty members and aging adults. One enjoyable thread for players: No phone required. “In a world...

A college faculty member standing in front trees of and a building with a large Pirate logo on it.
Jan 05, 2026
  • Ronnie Woodward

Faculty: Dr. Tony Kulas

An East Carolina University student in the Department of Kinesiology who is interested in furthering their research profile could lean on Dr. Tony Kulas, who can walk the hallways of...

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