ECSU Magazine 2.1.pmd - Elizabeth City State University

Sponsored Programs,Contracts Grants&OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLORNational Youth Sports Program (NYSP)-Department ofAthleticsThurlis Little, Assistant Athletics Director and NYSPDirector, received $63,500 funded by the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services. Theprogram provides unique opportunities for active sportsparticipation and educates youth about health choices toprevent obesity. This summer program targets youthbetween the ages of 10 and 16 from low-income familiesproviding participants with free breakfast and lunch.DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRSPartners for Rural Initiatives in Science and Mathematics(PRISM)Dr. Carolyn Mahoney, Provost and Vice Chancellor forAcademic Affairs, Dr. Gary Harmon, professor inBiology, and Dr. Barbara Johnson, professor inEducation received $310,369 funded through UNC-OP.ECSU’s School of Mathematics, Science and Technologyand School of Education and Psychology will partnerwith five high-need school districts of Bertie, Chowan,Edgecombe, Halifax and Perquimans counties. Thispartnership focuses on middle grades (6-8) mathematicsand science teachers and connects with fifth gradeteachers, when possible. Thirty teachers from 10 middleschools will have the opportunity to participate in theprogram. School districts and the participating teacherswill determine what is needed to achieve the highqualitystandards as determined by the state. Aprofound need exists to provide a continuum ofdevelopment for teachers that facilitates ongoingreflection and renewal and propels growth and efficacy.Improving teachers’ knowledge and skills should resultin improved student performanceThe Use of Proteomics to Analyze Antioxidant andPhosphoinositol Signal Tranduction Pathways in PlantsAfter Exposure to MicrogravityDr. Camellia Okpodu, the former Marshall A. RauchDistinguished Professor and Chairperson in Biology,received $81,691 from the NASA Glenn ResearchCenter. This program describes the development of abilateral Research Center for Microgravity, Molecularand Cellular Biology (MMCB) at ECSU. The centerincorporates research with teaching and outreach.Specific focus is on ascertaining, at both the cellular andmolecular levels, the effects of microgravity onphospholipid metabolism.Institute for Global EnvironmentDr. Linda Hayden, professor in Mathematics andComputer Science, received $45,000 from the Institutefor Global Environment. This grant supports theenrollment of 10 local elementary school teachers intothe ELEM 635 Earth System Science for ElementaryTeachers graduate course. Teachers receive stipendsand tuition.University Linkages ProjectDr. Linda Hayden also received $25,000 from the U.S.Agency for International Development (USAID). ThisUniversity Linkages project involves a seed grantawarded jointly to Cairo University and ECSU, and theU.S. Counterpart University. The project includesdevelopment of computer-aided physics modules and aninteractive CD-ROM, analyzing computer hardwareneeds, and providing hardware and software trainingfor Egyptian researchers and faculty. The goal is tocreate modules and CD-ROMs compatible with all majortextbooks in physics.giving mattersECSU MAGAZINE FALL 2003 27