APLU Recognizes ECU’s Commitment to Community Engagement | News services

GREENVILLE, NC (11/14/2024) — In recognition of extraordinary commitment to community engagement, innovation and economic prosperity, East Carolina University received two national awards from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities during its annual meeting this week.

Chancellor Philip Rogers, Dr. Angela Lamson, Dr. Tom Irons and Dr. Sharon Paynter poses with the trophy for the C. Peter Magrath Community Engagement Scholarship Award after being announced as the 2024 recipient during the APLU Annual Meeting.

Chancellor Philip Rogers received the 2024 C. Peter Magrath Community Engagement Scholarship Award during APLU’s annual meeting in Orlando on Nov. 12 on behalf of the university.

ECU also received APLU’s Innovation and Economic Prosperity Award for Talentwhich recognizes the university’s work as the economic hub spurring urban revitalization while focusing on education and workforce development throughout eastern North Carolina.

As a recipient of the Magrath Award, ECU exemplifies community engagement in action among public and land-grant universities, said Dr. Marlene Tromp, president of Boise State University, who introduced Rogers, Dr. Sharon Paynter, Dr. Angela Lamson and Dr. Dr. Tom Irons Sr. with the trophy.

ECU was one of four finalists for the award after being selected by the Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC) as a regional winner in August of the WK Kellogg Foundation Community Engagement Scholarship Awards. ECU was selected for its efforts to address suicide and significant unmet behavioral health needs stemming from economic stressors, geographic isolation, family dynamics and other health challenges facing rural North Carolina residents.

In 2006, ECU launched a partnership with Contentnea Health (formerly Greene County Health Care) to increase access to critical primary care and behavioral health services for underserved populations. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among 10-65 year olds in North Carolina, with higher rates in rural areas and significant unmet mental health needs resulting from economic stressors, geographic isolation, family dynamics, and health challenges. Over the years, the partnership has proven to be mutually beneficial for community members and university students, providing 154 PhD and Masters students with basic clinical and research training.

The partnership has supported more than 126,000 integrated behavioral health encounters with patients through primary care clinics, dental clinics, on farms and in school settings since its inception. The effort provides behavioral health services to an average of 7,000 people each year, Tromp noted in her remarks announcing ECU as a Magrath recipient.

Accepting the award, Rogers said, “Our university was founded in 1907 as an institution designed to serve eastern North Carolina, and throughout our more than 115 years, we have adapted and delivered on the promise of opportunity to the people of our state through our conscious mission of student success, public service and regional transformation.

“In my opinion, there is no better initiative that personifies our mission and vision to be a national model of community engagement than ECU’s expansive partnership with Contentnea Health. We are proud to do this work, proud to serve our community and deeply proud to accept this honor that demonstrates the public value of higher education to our communities and society,” said Rogers.

ECU also brought home another honor from the meeting – the Innovation and Economic Prosperity Award in the Talent category. This award recognizes exemplary initiatives in education and workforce development.

ECU was recognized by the APLU for using stakeholder engagement to assess, design and implement innovative talent strategies for key industry sectors throughout North Carolina.

Several programs were highlighted to demonstrate ECU’s success in developing talent. The programs offer transformative learning experiences for students, prepare them to better meet the state’s pressing needs, and cultivate professionals who have gone on to excel in their fields. Examples include a telepsychiatry program, a teacher preparation initiative that increases the success of our youngest students, and the integration of university-based dental clinics in rural areas.

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