GREENVILLE – It takes special talent to make therapy for spinal cord injuries seem fun. But Dr. Richard Williams has that talent. Williams, an Associate Professor of Recreation Therapy at East Carolina University since 2000, works on therapy for patients with injuries and disabilities, ethics in recreation therapy and the therapist’s role in public policy…. READ MORE
2% Faculty Raises: Thanks, but not enough
RALEIGH – The budget proposal adopted last week by the state House includes raises of 2% plus a $500 bonus for state employees, and raises for K-12 teachers that average 4.1%.1 A raise for University faculty is long overdue and welcome – they’ve had just one raise from the General Assembly in seven years. But… READ MORE
Seeing music as a student would at Appalachian
BOONE – At its best, a college education treads a fine line between learning and invention. Students need the discipline to master existing knowledge, but also the creativity to discover and imagine new frontiers. Dr. Lisa Runner aims for that balance in her extraordinarily popular music education class at Appalachian State University. As a professor… READ MORE
Dale Pollock: An undeniable force in the UNCSA School of Filmmaking
Photo and profile provided by UNC School of the Arts. Original post appears here. If asked to choose, Dale Pollock would say that his favorite film is “The Wizard of Oz.” Maybe not what you would expect from a man who has spent his life studying and writing about cinema as a journalist, George Lucas… READ MORE
Spellings on K-12 teacher prep: We’re in this together
By Margaret Spellings President, University of North Carolina System I’m nearing the end of my first tour of our state’s public universities, and it has been a thoroughly heartening experience. On every visit, I’ve heard about the remarkable work taking place across North Carolina and seen the pride people take in our campuses. I’ve also heard… READ MORE
Taking ownership of your education at ECSU
ELIZABETH CITY – Dr. Ngozi Oriaku knows the value of good teaching. But she also knows students have the final responsibility for getting the most out of college, and she isn’t afraid to say so. “Take ownership in your education” is the first pillar in Dr. Oriaku’s five keys to success, which she shares every… READ MORE
“Igniting the spirit of inquiry” at NC A&T
GREENSBORO – Dr. Salil Desai researches things most of us struggle to comprehend: How to deposit nano-scale droplets. Bio-chemical sensors. Regenerative tissue engineering. Desai established NC A&T State University’s Integrated Nano and Bio Manufacturing Laboratory. He is creating new paths for drug delivery and was a key member of a team that developed a “bioprinter”… READ MORE
“High tech/high touch” at WSSU
WINSTON-SALEM – Dr. Manjunatha Bhat teaches anatomy and physiology by what he calls “high tech and high touch.” With classes of as many as 100 students, technology must play a role. And Bhat, who came to Winston-Salem State University in 2008, is regarded as an expert in teaching and learning technologies. He helps train fellow… READ MORE
Learning how bees talk at UNC Charlotte
CHARLOTTE – At a time when honey bees are in serious – and mysterious – decline, Dr. Stanley Schneider and his students are figuring out how the bees talk. Schneider, a biology professor at UNC Charlotte, describes teaching as a “contagious enthusiasm” that captures students’ imaginations. Schneider believes taking part in research is the primary… READ MORE
‘Flocking’ to organic chemistry?
WILMINGTON – Who loves organic chemistry? Dr. Sridhar Varadarajan’s students at UNC Wilmington do. “The students flock to his courses and love his lectures,” writes one colleague. “This is the more remarkable as organic chemistry is usually among the courses most dreaded by the students at the outset.” It’s one reason Varadarajan, an Associate Professor… READ MORE