July 2025 Newsletter
A note from Dean Orlikoff
Greetings Pirates of the Allied Health Sciences!
Whether you had a much-deserved restful or exciting Fourth of July weekend, I wish you all a happy new half-year! It is not lost on me that, for many of us, summer is the busiest semester of year. Nonetheless, do make time for yourselves and your loved ones and enjoy the season for which eastern NC is famous or to another pleasant destination of your choosing.
In addition to a warm welcome to Dr. Harrison Jones, who will assume his position of Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders next month, I am glad to report that the additional searches for the chairs of Physician Assistant Studies and Physical Therapy are progressing nicely. My thanks to the search committees as well as to Drs. Mike Wheeler, Guyla Evans, and Leigh Atherton, for going above and beyond as the search committee chairs, respectively.
Having completed our FY2025 CAHS annual report, all of our recent successes and accomplishments fill me with a combination of pride and gratitude for all we do to advance the mission of ECU. We are a model of student engagement, interprofessional education, and community service. But now is not the time to “drop the mic.” Let’s continue our good work but also take some time to enjoy national hot dog and national ice cream month!
Welcome Dr. Harrison Jones, Chair,
Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders
From Dean Orlikoff:
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Harrison N. Jones will be joining the College of Allied Health Sciences as the next chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. He will begin his appointment on August 1, 2025. Professor Jones comes to us from the Department of Head & Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences (HNSCS) at the Duke University School of Medicine. He also serves as a speech-language pathologist in the Department of Speech Pathology at Duke Health.
A graduate of Manteo High School, Dr. Jones earned his bachelor’s degree at NC State before completing his master’s degree in Communication Disorders at Appalachian State. Following graduation, he worked as a speech-language pathologist at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton and then for several years at Duke University Medical Center before beginning his doctoral studies at the University of Florida, subsequently earning his PhD in Rehabilitation Science there in 2007. A prolific and accomplished researcher and clinician, Dr. Jones earned an MMCi degree (Master of Management of Clinical Informatics) from Duke University in 2020.
A special thank-you to everyone who assisted with this important search, especially to Dr. Wheeler who chaired the search committee. I am grateful to all who participated and I truly appreciate your effort and support.
Welcome Holly Batt,
Director of Development
Holly Batt is a public health professional with a strong background in strategic partnerships, cross-sector collaboration, and relationship-building. In her previous role as Director of Applied Nutrition at a mission-driven food tech startup, she supported investor cultivation, science-based education partnerships, and community engagement initiatives. Holly holds a Master of Science in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science and Dietetics from East Carolina University, and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Georgia Southern University. She’s excited to return to Greenville and contribute to the mission of the ECU Health Foundation. Outside of work, Holly enjoys bouldering, organic gardening, and training her German Shepherds in K9 scent work.
Holly can be reached at holly.batt@ecuhealthfoundation.org or 252-816-1257.
Pirate Profiles
We are excited to share that one of our esteemed faculty members, Sherri Winslow, and one outstanding student, Emily Harouni, from the College of Allied Health Sciences were recently highlighted on the university’s website for their exceptional achievements and contributions.
Physical Therapy Alumni Online Meetup- July 16th at noon
We are excited to announce our first Physical Therapy Alumni Online Meet-up via TEAMS on Wednesday, July 16th at noon! We will hear a brief update from the Department Chair, talk about upcoming alumni opportunities, and more!
If you have questions please reach out to Mandy Messerli, messerlim@ecu.edu or 252-744-6171.
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Meeting ID: 216 031 208 810 3
Passcode: DS9Gc2En
SGA Introduces Iris: A New Self-Service Photo Booth for the ECU Community
The Student Government Association is excited to announce the launch of Iris, a new, self-service, studio-quality photo booth now available on campus.
Iris is free for all East Carolina University students, alumni, faculty, and staff. This resource provides high-resolution portraits perfect for LinkedIn profiles, online portfolios, professional websites, and more – helping users present a polished, professional image during job searches and networking.
This innovative booth represents a significant advancement in campus resources. As the first of its kind at ECU, Iris offers 3 professional-grade headshots with ease and convenience. Users can control the booth via a touchscreen monitor or scan a QR code to operate it from their mobile device. Each session takes less than five minutes and includes options for retakes and AI-enhanced editing. Final images are delivered directly to the user’s email in real-time. No apps or complicated sign-ups, simply choose a password to access your photos.
Iris is free for all East Carolina University students, alumni, faculty, and staff. This resource provides high-resolution portraits perfect for LinkedIn profiles, online portfolios, professional websites, and more – helping users present a polished, professional image during job searches and networking.
This innovative booth represents a significant advancement in campus resources. As the first of its kind at ECU, Iris offers 3 professional-grade headshots with ease and convenience. Users can control the booth via a touchscreen monitor or scan a QR code to operate it from their mobile device. Each session takes less than five minutes and includes options for retakes and AI-enhanced editing. Final images are delivered directly to the user’s email in real-time. No apps or complicated sign-ups, simply choose a password to access your photos.
It is suggested that users dress professionally in business casual or business formal attire. Dark-colored outer layers (jackets, blouses, shirts) work best with a light gray background. While there’s no dress code, we recommend wearing clothing appropriate for your career field—something that makes you feel confident.
Location:
Find Iris in the Student Government Association Suite (Room 223) Second Floor, Main Campus Student Center 501 E. 10th Street.
Photo Booth Hours:
Drop-in sessions are available:
Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Please note: The booth is unavailable during finals week or when the university or SGA office is closed.
Group Sessions:
University departments/offices or classes interested in scheduling group photo sessions can email ecupiratephotos@ecu.edu or hunta@ecu.edu for more information.
Key Dates
- July 14 – First billing statement notification sent for Fall
- July 18 – Last day to withdraw from 2nd Summer Session classes by 5:00 pm
- July 31 – Classes end for 2nd Summer and 11-week Summer Sessions
- August 1 – 2nd Summer & 11-week Summer Final Exams
- August 12 – Fall Tuition due by 5:00 pm. All schedules may be cancelled for non-payment after 5:00 pm. If you do not plan to attend, you must officially withdraw on or before the final cancellation date.
- August 22 – CAHS New Student Orientation
- August 25 – 📚✏️ Fall 2025 Classes begin
- August 27 – Last day to make schedule changes (add/drop) for 1st 8-week Fall classes by 5:00 pm
- August 29 – Last day to make schedule changes (add/drop) for Fall (full-semester) classes by 5:00 pm
- September 1 – University Closed
- View All Academic Calendars
- View Payment Deadlines
- View Tuition Refund Schedule