Looking to the Future | Eastern NC Now

Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of ECU News Services. The author of this post is Jules Norwood.


    During the July 23 meeting of the East Carolina University Board of Trustees, three reappointed members and four new members of the board were sworn in, and the new class of trustees elected its slate of officers.

    Fielding Miller, Jason Poole and Vince Smith were reappointed to the board. The new members are David G. Fussell Jr., Cassandra Burt and Jeffrey Roberts. Student Government Association President Chandler Ward will also serve as an ex oficio member.

    "You're joining us at a time of new beginnings," said Chancellor Philip Rogers. "You're joining us at a moment of opportunity to lead when the stakes have never been higher for delivering on our mission. That mission depends on each of you buying into our motto, servire, which means 'to serve.'"

    On Thursday afternoon, board members participated in a variety of orientation activities, including a financial overview, an update on fall enrollment and student recruitment, and a campus tour. After being sworn in Friday morning, the board elected Scott Shook as chair, Jason Poole as vice chair and Vince Smith as secretary.

    As the new chair, Shook told the board that ECU has nowhere to go but up. "A lot of hard work has been done over the last couple of years, and now we have the opportunity to look to the future," he said.

    In Rogers' remarks to the board, he outlined five key areas in which he said the university would look to the trustees for counsel and support, including COVID-19 response, enrollment, fiscal sustainability, clinical integration between the Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Health, and the search for a permanent provost.

    Rogers said he is looking forward to having students back on campus and is ready to face the challenges of the fall semester.

    "Our rising sophomore students didn't enjoy the same experiences that we all did as freshmen ... so in many ways we're working with two freshman classes this year to reignite their passion and their connection to the Pirate community," he said.

    On Rogers' recommendation, the board approved the appointment of two long-time ECU employees to key senior administrative roles.

    Stephanie Coleman will serve as the vice chancellor for administration and finance and Paul Zigas has been named university counsel and vice chancellor for legal affairs.

    Coleman has served as the interim vice chancellor of administration and finance since January 2021 and will transition to the permanent role effective Aug. 1. Previously, she was the associate vice chancellor for budget and athletics fiscal affairs.

    Zigas will lead the Office of University Counsel as university counsel and vice chancellor for legal affairs effective Aug. 1 after serving in the interim role since September 2019.

    "Stephanie and Paul have served this university well for many years, including most recently as interim vice chancellors. They are committed to the success of ECU and their institutional knowledge will be a tremendous asset as we move toward the future. I am grateful for their dedication and know their leadership will make a substantial difference," said Rogers.

    In addition to the appointments of Coleman and Zigas, Rogers announced that LaKesha Alston Forbes, ECU's associate provost for equity and diversity and Title IX coordinator, will report directly to Rogers in her role as chief diversity officer.

    The next scheduled meeting of the ECU Board of Trustees will be Sept. 9–10. For meeting materials visit board-of-trustees.ecu.edu.