The Department of Health Services and Information Management has received the official notification from the UNC Board of Governors to establish the master of science in health informatics and information management program starting in fall 2013.

The MS in HIIM program is designed to prepare health informaticians and information managers who will work to lead, develop and implement clear and effective health information strategies within and across health care organizations.

The establishment of the MS in HIIM program is a direct response to the emerging strong workforce needs from the field as well as the vision of the national association, American Health Information Management Association, to transform health information management to a graduate level education by 2016.

The program at ECU is the second such program approved within the UNC constituent institutions. The program will be offered both on campus and via distance education.

The East Carolina University College of Education hosted 232 clinical teachers in the Latham Clinical School Network March 14 and March 28.

The event provided activities centered around the theme of Crucial Conversations with clinical teachers regarding Teacher Performance Assessment and Electronic Evidences required for teacher education students. Teacher education students need those materials to complete their portfolios for licensure recommendation.

Sessions were presented by faculty members in the College of Education.

Attendees represented Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Edgecombe, Granville, Greene, Hertford, Johnston, Lenoir, Martin, Nash-Rocky Mount, Pitt, Wayne and Wilson County School Systems.

The event was organized by the Office of Professional Development and Student Outreach in the College of Education.

For more information, contact Christa Monroe (monroec@ecu.edu) or call the Office of Professional Development and Student Outreach at 252-328-2950.

The 2012 First Quarter Housekeepers Awards for Excellence recipients for service are Mary Cherry and Linda Tyson with Academics, Doris Stancil with Residence Halls / Student Recreation Center, and Evelena Patterson with Health Sciences Campus / School of Medicine.

Kymia Nawabi

ECU graduate Kymia Nawabi will speak about her art and her life at 5 p.m. May 3 in Speight Auditorium in the Jenkins Fine Arts Center on campus.

Nawabi was the winner of the Bravo television series, “Work of Art: The Next Great Artist.”

For additional information about the event, contact Scott Eagle, ECU School of Art and Design at eagles@ecu.edu.

ECU medical school graduate goes from homeless to hometown physician. Read about it in ECU Health Beat.

The ECU College of Human Ecology dedicated the Nancy W. Darden Child Development Center April 21. Attendees included (left to right) Judy Siguaw, Dean of the College of Human Ecology, and Darden’s family and friend, Robin Newton (niece), Wilbur Douglas Whitfield (brother), Fran Whitfield (sister-in-law), Carla Mangum (niece), Robert “Bobby” Whitfield (brother), and Dr. Dorothy Pruitt (friend).

The East Carolina University Child Development Center has been named in honor of an alumna who graduated in 1956.

The estate of the late Nancy Whitfield Darden donated a substantial gift to establish the first endowed professorship in the ECU Department of Child Development and Family Relations in the College of Human Ecology.

On April 21, the college celebrated Darden’s life and generosity by naming the Nancy W. Darden Child Development Center in her memory. The naming coincided with the 100th anniversary of the ECU’s Home Economics Education and Family Consumer Sciences program, from which Darden graduated.

The Darden bequest qualifies for state matching funds from the Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust Fund created by the North Carolina General Assembly. Remaining funds from the gift will be used for scholarships for undergraduate students preparing for careers working with children and families.

Darden was born and raised in Creedmoor, N.C.  Following her graduation from ECU, she taught high school home economics in Durham for several years. She then co-owned and operated “L’Nanz,” a fashion design company in Durham. From 1978 to 1998, she managed the Creedmoor office of a Durham real estate company, eventually opening her own firm, Darden Real Estate, in Creedmoor.

Darden also founded the Ruth Home, a transitional home for women with drug and alcohol abuse problems, and Angel Spirit, a nonprofit organization that provided financial backing for the Ruth Home.

In 2007, Darden established the Nancy W. Darden Scholarship in Criminal Justice to provide financial support to ECU students majoring in criminal justice.

ECU Women’s Roundtable named Darden one of the 100 Incredible ECU Women in 2007. She was honored as one of the 100 Legacy Leaders for the College of Human Ecology in 2009. Darden died in January 2011.

Dr. Dorothy Pruitt, a life-long friend and ECU classmate spoke of Darden’s generosity to her community, family, and friends. “Nancy worked tirelessly to help others improve their lives. She felt blessed and sought to share her blessings with others,” said Pruitt.

Cynthia Johnson, chair of the Department of Child Development and Family Relations, said, “Nancy’s main concern was the welfare of children and families, and her generosity will continue in perpetuity to enrich the education of our students. We’re so proud to have Nancy’s name beside the door of ECU’s Child Development Center.”

ECU’s Child Development Center, located in the Thomas W. Rivers Building, has been a part of the university for over sixty years, providing students of child development and early education the opportunity to gain practical experience with children and their families. All birth through kindergarten teacher education students and child life majors complete practicums and/or internship experiences in the Center.  The Center is accredited by the Association for the Education of Young Children.

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The East Carolina University Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally (LGBTA) Resource Office is holding a commencement celebration to support LGBTA seniors.

The inaugural Lavender Launch will be held at 7 p.m. May 3 in Greene Residence Hall, followed by a reception in the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center.

ECU Campus Living and Dining are co-sponsors.

Participating in the ceremony are ECU Provost Dr. Marilyn Sheerer, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Virginia Hardy and Dean of Students Dr. Lynn Roeder. Faculty, staff, students and members of the community are welcomed.

Lavender Launch celebrations the leadership, achievements and contributions of ECU’s LGBT and Ally students.

For additional information, contact the LGBT Resource Office at 737-4451 or e-mail lgbt@ecu.edu.