Faculty Profile: Vanessa Irvin

Name: Vanessa Irvin

Title & department: Associate Professor and Assistant Department Chair, Department of Interdisciplinary Professions; Program Director, Master of Library Science Program

What does your new role as assistant department chair of IDP involve, and what are you most looking forward to in the position?

As Assistant Department Chair, I work alongside our department chair, Dr. Crowe, to support the day-to-day operations of the Department of Interdisciplinary Professions and our faculty across Adult Education, Counselor Education, Learning, Design, and Technology, and Library Science. The role lets me think about ways to contribute to the department’s overall success. I am especially looking forward to getting to know my colleagues’ work across IDP more deeply and helping create the structures and support that allow our faculty and programs to thrive.

What are some of your goals for your first year in this role?

My primary goal is to listen and learn. IDP brings together four distinct disciplines, each with their own strengths, needs, and ways of working. I want to develop a strong understanding of the programs’ cultures while helping to make departmental processes as clear, consistent, and efficient as possible. I also want to contribute to a departmental environment in which faculty feel informed, supported, and connected to the larger work of the College of Education.

What are you hoping to bring to the role based on your experience at ECU?

Serving as Program Director for the Master of Library Science Program has given me considerable experience with program administration, curriculum, accreditation, assessment, faculty collaboration, student success, and community engagement. It has also taught me the importance of developing good systems and communicating clearly. I hope to bring those experiences to the Assistant Department Chair role while staying open to learning from colleagues whose programs and experiences differ from my own.

What excites you most about the opportunity to serve in this new capacity?

I am excited to serve the College of Education from a broader leadership perspective. I have spent much of my time at ECU thinking about how to strengthen Library Science, and this role challenges me to widen that lens. I now have the opportunity to think about how we strengthen an interdisciplinary department and support the people and programs within it. I find that both exciting and meaningful.

What’s something fun or unique you’d like people to know about you?

I enjoy painting numeric art. I love taking numbers and using different colors and designs to turn them into a unique piece of art. I’ve even been asked to create a few special pieces for other people, including one that is now hanging in the home of an NFL player!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy spending time arguing with my LabraHound, Ginger, lol.