April 6, 2017
Dr. Vivian Martin Covington and Dr. Crystal Chambers have been named 2017 Women of Distinction at East Carolina University.
The College of Education’s Dr. Vivian Martin Covington and Dr. Crystal Chambers have been named 2017 Women of Distinction at East Carolina University.
Dr. Vivian Martin Covington
Covington, executive director of undergraduate affairs and educator preparation, and Chambers, associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, were two of 10 women honored in a ceremony April 4.
The awards are given every other year by the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Women to recognize the outstanding contributions of faculty, staff, alumni and community members to East Carolina.
Covington also recently received the 2016-17 Creed Award for Integrity at ECU. She is one of 20 faculty, students or staff recognized for integrity, diversity, responsibility and citizenship.
Dr. Crystal Chambers
“Real women, like these Women of Distinction, see the value of mentoring, face challenges, lead despite criticism, seek diversity, spark ingenuity, see possibility, inspire communities, fight doubt, weigh risk, count cost, and in full view of the world, press forward,” said keynote speaker Tonya Jefferson Lynch, a local writer and entrepreneur who also works as the web coordinator for the ECU Writing Center. “You are real, and we are mighty glad about it.”
Most of ECU’s employees and students are women, at 63and 60 percent respectively.
“The majority of human beings on our campus are women and they combine their dynamic leadership abilities with courage and intellect to elevate and enhance our thriving academic environment,” said Chancellor Cecil Staton. “This committee draws attention to the achievement of women at ECU. This is important in the life of our university.”
The recipients were chosen from 39 nominations.
“Like most of you, I believe that a leader is not born, but that the ability to lead is cultivated and nurtured along the way,” said Dr. Virginia Hardy, vice chancellor for student affairs. “These recipients impact the experience of thousands of students.”
The event was sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, the Division of Student Affairs, ECU Police, Joyner Library and Human Resources.
_ By Crystal Baity