1. It just takes one...
Did You Know?
Graduating seniors are asked to identify a “person at ECU who made the most significant positive
contribution to his/her education”? Seniors graduating in Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters
acknowledged 4,026 ECU personnel who made such an impact. Faculty and staff recognized in this
survey will soon receive thank-you postcards identifying the appreciative students. The postcards
will be a nice reminder to all of you who work so hard for the benefit of our students.
One Instructor...
Being identified by a student as having the single most significant positive contribution to his/her
education is remarkable. Many ECU faculty/staff were identified by multiple students as that “one”
person. Three individuals, Ms. Cynthia Miller, Mr. Danny Morton, and Dr. Peggy Yates, were standouts
having been collectively identified by over 170 students as the “One.” I asked them to share their
personal philosophies for working with students. Please read about these remarkable people below:
Ms. Cynthia Miller is a Teaching Instructor and Undergraduate
Advisor in Business Information and Technology Education.
In this position, Ms. Miller works with many Distance
Education students. Ms. Miller notes that, “Working with
non-traditional students requires attention. I am enthusiastic
in my role as advisor, mentor, coach, teacher, and friend to all
Cynthia Miller, Left, Evelyn Edwards, Right students. Older learners are NOT digital natives but rather
Working via the internet with ECU student
working people with family obligations. They are focused on
their studies and because of their ages, have an urgency to succeed. Ms. Miller forged this
philosophy from her personal journey. “After 30 years of taking college classes toward one degree
or another, I decided to get it done and with the help of the good people in the BITE department
reached my goals at age 50. It takes a lot of nerve to return to college. I understand as I have been
on both sides of the desktop!”
Mr. Danny Morton is an Instructor in Construction Management. He
says his recipe for being the “One” is to always have an open door to
his office and to be available to students in the office, via email, or by
phone. “I teach teamwork because it is vital in the construction
industry. And, the way I teach teamwork is by modeling it to my
students. If they are working on a project, I am essentially a ‘team
member’ since I am almost always available for consulting...except
after 9pm,” he says with a smile!
Danny Morton
Being a Team Member
Dr. Peggy Yates is an Assistant Professor in
Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Yates believes that
“…teaching is not only a matter of reaching the minds of our students, but also the
hearts of our students.” She believes that ”connecting with students makes all the
difference and can change a student’s direction in your class.” She actively
involves students in the content they are learning, encourages students to “think
and share out loud,” and feels that students deserve immediate feedback. She
makes an intentional part of each day to answer emails, provide weekly updates
on Blackboard, grade assignments in a timely fashion, and communicate with
Peggy Yates
Reaching the students before, during and after class about individual concerns.
Hearts of Students
A Special Thank You To:
Chuck Rich (Institutional Research and Planning) for providing results from the Graduating Senior
Survey and to Debra Mercer, Vivian Merritt, Evelyn Edwards, and Gail Wallace (Academic Advising
and Support Center) for processing the postcards which have been routed today via campus mail.
Jayne Geissler, PhD
Executive Director, Retention Programs and Enrollment Services
...to make a difference in a student’s life.
Each of us owns this responsibility.