September 26, 2024
Department of Literacy Studies, History Education and English Education Updates (2023-2024)
Manis showcases determination in educational journey
Star Manis embodies the ideas of persistence and determination. The East Carolina University graduate student is a leukemia survivor and first-generation college student who continues to push herself out of her comfort zones.
“Growing up, education wasn’t ever a huge focus among my siblings — they eventually dropped out,” she said. “I decided to make it my mission to break barriers and not become a stereotype.”
During her undergraduate studies, Manis struggled with adapting to the college culture and lifestyle, including the best ways to study.
“As a current graduate level student, I continue to struggle with how much work is too much and how much work is too little,” she said. “I feel as if I have to work twice as hard to keep up with my graduate level peers.”
Manis is pursuing her Master of Education in reading and literacy with a certificate in community college instruction while teaching second grade in Enterprise, Alabama. She credits her current progress in the program to the faculty in the Department of Literacy Studies, English Education and History Education (LEHE) for being helpful and understanding.
“Being a distance education student can be nerve-wracking and it can be scary to think that you might not have any support when times get challenging or tough,” she said. “I have discovered this is not the case in the MAEd reading program.”
In addition to her graduate studies and teaching career, Manis is a graduate assistant for the department. She assists Dr. Christy Howard, the director of LEHE graduate programs, and notes that this role has helped her learn more about the program and feel connected even as a distance education student.
“I also love that I get to connect with fellow students by being a listening ear when they have successes or they have struggles,” Manis said. “I can offer them advice and lead them on the right path towards helpful resources.”
In the future, Manis is looking toward a career path in adult education and feels her graduate assistant role is helping her to understand what that might look like.
“It is helping me see the types of tasks that professors have to complete and the activities that they have to be a part of,” she said.
LEHE students connect with peers, excel in classrooms
This year, the Department of Literacy Studies, History Education and English Education launched two student ambassador programs that funded undergraduate students attending state conferences in their field — the North Carolina Reading Association Conference and the North Carolina Conference for Social Studies.
History education student ambassadors Lydia Surprenant, Lucas Madden, Delicia Cherry, Alex Schweitzer, Remington Sullivan and Ryan Keller participated in the Greensboro-based NC Council for the Social Studies annual conference.
They engaged in sessions on technology, content-specific pedagogy, and other social studies-related subjects. Networking with educators from across the state, the ambassadors left a lasting impression and strengthened ECU’s connection with the educational community.
Eight reading concentration students had a similar experience at the NCRA conference in Winston-Salem. This year’s conference had a theme of “Through the Looking Glass: A Literacy Wonderland.” Students were able to present and listen to panel discussions on literacy topics.
Award Winners
History education student Ryan Keller was recognized as the North Carolina Council for Social Studies Student Teacher of the Year. During his senior internship, he was a student teacher at South Central High School in Pitt County.
English education major Arthur Schupbach was one of the recipients of the ECU Creed Award for Citizenship.
Faculty celebrate accomplishments
Several faculty in the department were recognized for their research and dedication to students at the university and national level.
Dr. Todd Finley won the ECU Honors College Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award for his mentoring work with English education undergraduate students Shayna Cox and Camille Watkins. Dr. Christy Howard was also recognized for her mentorship at the ECU Research Awards with the ECU Distinguished Graduate Faculty Mentor Award.
Howard’s research was lauded by her College of Education peers during the annual faculty research showcase, winning her the event’s main prize.
Faculty also served in leadership roles including literacy studies professor Dr. Anne Ticknor, who has served as the chair of the ECU Faculty since fall 2022. Howard represented the university on a national stage with her role on the National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Standing Committee in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Jennifer Gallagher celebrated several accomplishments this year, including being one of four who received an AERA Research Conference Award for the project, “Critical Inquiry in Social Studied Education: Directions for Research and Practice.” The award total is $31,480. Gallagher was also featured on the North Carolina Council for the Social Studies podcast, along with current history education major Jason Dustin, to discuss ECU’s history education program and the ways that education majors receive a comprehensive social studies curriculum.
- Categories:
- InspirED Fall 2024
- InspirED Magazine