Course Happenings

Greetings Everyone,

I want to welcome you to my Course Happenings Blog! This is the place where all of my students, colleagues, staff, and administrators can check out some of the latest activities and events associated with my major courses at ECU. In particular, I will highlight my undergraduate courses in Anthropology and my graduate courses in Public Health.

Since I have a joint appointment in two departments (Anthropology & Public Health), I felt the need to start this blog to showcase some of the special activities associated with my courses.

My undergraduate courses are:

• Cultural Anthropology – ANTH 2200
• Medical Anthropology – ANTH 3252
• Professional Development Anthropology – ANTH 4501

My graduate courses are:

• Ethnic Health & Health Disparities – MPH 6008
• Global Public Health – MPH 6007
• African American Health – MPH 6005

Capstone Experience in Ethnic Health & Health Disparities – MPH 6009

So these are the major courses that I will be highlighting on my new blog — COURSE HAPPENINGS!!

Finally feel free to share your ideals on my blog because I want to hear from everyone who has similar interests.

Eric Bailey Professor Eric Bailey, Welcome & Greetings

What another amazing semester with my Professional Development Anthropology class! Although this class was the smallest class that I had for this course, it actually was beneficial that it was this size. With only three students in the class, we were able to visit several ECU offices and administrators and learn much more information as to what they do for students at ECU.

The major objectives of this Professional Development Anthropology class were:
1. To recognize what type of practical skills that students have acquired through their coursework;
2. To recognize how these practical skills whether specializing in archaeology, cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, medical anthropology or other anthropology subspecialities can assist students in obtaining jobs that are based in the field of anthropology or not necessarily anthropologically-related;
3. To research and learn about specific job opportunities and internships related to student’s area of interest;
4. To provide an opportunity for various organizations at ECU to present information on practical skill building strategies for students; and
5. To provide a forum for students to learn from other students about the practical skills that students have acquired through their anthropological training.

After all of the site visits, the class discussions and our special lecturers from the 3rd Annual ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture series, it was time for each student to present their presentation on what they plan to do with their anthropology degree. Each student has the freedom to present their presentation in any format – formal or informal and in any method that they wanted.

My students – Jesse Miller, Molly Street and Jacki Smith — all gave outstanding presentations and I was so pleased that they expressed more definitively what they wanted to do with their degrees after graduating from East Carolina University. To me, this is the major outcome of this class! I felt very proud of their accomplishment. Additionally, I felt that they felt more at ease about choosing anthropology as their major!

Eric Bailey Dr. Eric Bailey, Jacquelyn Smith, Jesse Miller, Molly Street, Professional Development Anthropology

On April 4th, Mandy Dough presented her lecture for the 3rd Annual ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture Series. Currently, Mandy is the UNC Online Proctoring Coordinator for the entire UNC university system. She graduated from the department of Anthropology with a B.A. degree and later acquired a Masters degree in Literature. Her area of speciality in anthropology was Cultural Anthropology.

During her presentation, Mandy recalled the anthropology graduation ceremony in which the department faculty traditionally hands out mugs to all the graduates. She indicated that when she received her mug that’s when the realization of graduating and what would be her next steps in life hit her. After a semseter off and working with various organizations such as Americore, she decided to obtain a graduate degree in literature. After her master’s degree in literature, Mandy eventually landed the job as UNC Online Proctoring Coordinator.

Basically, proctoring is a preventive measure to monitor a student in taking an exam. Yet for online courses, a system needs to be in place and coordinated so that students are properly monitored throughout the online system whether locally, statewide, nationally and globally. Mandy helps students and faculty to learn and set up their proctored exams. She indicated that there is a “proctoring culture” that develops in each place and it’s important to understand how this proctoring culture differs from one place to another.

In addition, Mandy has other interests such as she would love to work for the U.S. Park Service. When asked questions, Mandy emphasized that it is so important for students to plan for paying for your college years, do not take out student loans, and practice building your resume. This is exactly what many of the students wanted to hear.

At the end of her presentation, I presented Mandy the ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture Award.

Eric Bailey 3rd Annual ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture Series, Dr. Eric Bailey, ECU Anthropology Alumni Lectures, Mandy Dough

On March 28th, Aaron Bowman presented his lecture for the 3rd Annual ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture Series. Currently, Aaron is an Anthropology and Sociology Instructor at Surry Community College located in Dobson, North Carolina in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Aaron was a graduate student ten years ago and received his Masters degree in Anthropology from ECU’s Anthropology department.

During his presentation, Aaron talked primarily about his teaching activities at Surry Community College and Salem College in which he teaches part-time. At Surry Community College, Aaron stated that he teaches six classes. He also teaches online video classes. When asked why does he enjoy teaching anthropology and sociology, Aaron said that he enjoys sharing his knowledge to students and seeing them flourish with the new knowledge about the world and other people. Aaron also said that he was inspired to be a teacher because his mentors enjoyed teaching.

In addition, Aaron has research interests in tourism and the social and behavioral aspects of gambling. At the end of his presentation, I presented Aaron the ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture Award.

Eric Bailey 3rd Annual ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture Series, Aaron Bowman, Dr. Eric Bailey

On March 21st, Karen Dizio presented her lecture for the 3rd Annual ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture series. Currently, Karen is a Senior Shopper Insight Analyst for Family Dollar and Instructor at Central Piedmont College in Charlotte, NC. Karen was a 2006 Master’s degree graduate of ECU’s Anthropology department.

During her presentation, Karen talked primarily about her first job experience after graduation in working for a Cultural Resource Management (CRM) business and her current job responsibilities as a Senior Shopper Insight Analyst for Family Dollar. Specifically, Karen talked about the “real life” adjustments in working on CRM projects and the cultural anthropological business strategies that she uses on her current job. After her talk, Karen received several questions from the much larger audience which included students from my Professional Development Anthropology class, anthropology undergraduate majors and graduate students as well as Anthropology faculty.

In addition, Karen talked about her teaching anthropology courses at Central Piedmont College. She teaches courses in the early evenings and uses this teaching opportunity to develop more of her skills as a public speaker. At the end her presentation, I presented her the ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture Award.

Included are several photos of Karen’s presentation at the 3rd Annual ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture series.

Eric Bailey 3rd Annual ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture Series, Dr. Eric Bailey, Karen Dizio, Professional Development Anthropology

On March 14th, the 3rd Annual ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture series started with an excellent presentation and discussion from Binta Dixon. Currently, Binta is a senior Anthropology major who will be graduating this Spring 2012 and attending graduate school in the fall. Binta presented her recent student exchange oppportunity where she spent time at the University of Botswana in South Africa.

Binta showed excellent slides of the Botswana people, countryside, city, animal reservation, University of Botswana, Aparteid Museum and her research team. Binta research project involved examining the local indigenous languages and developing strategies to preserve them. After her talk, Binta received several questions from my Professional Development Anthropology class who were in attendance. At the end of her talk, Binta stated that she learned that she had more similar ways of life as the Botswana people.

In addition, Binta talked about her next phase of her career which includes preparing for graduate school. She has applied to doctoral anthropology programs and it looks like she will be ready to start in the fall. One of the reasons why Binta felt strongly about Anthropology and importance of furthering her education in graduate school is primarly that anthropology allows a student to be creative and to develop their own type of higher education “expertise.”

Included are several photos of our first speaker for the 3rd Annual ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture series.

Eric Bailey 3rd Annual ECU Anthropology Alumni Lecture Series, Binta Dixon, Professional Development Anthropology

On February 29th, the Professional Development Anthropology class visited ECU’s Graduate School. Our hosts were Dean Paul Gemperline and Graduate School Admission Director Robin Armstrong. We met in the conference and they shared with the class indepth significant information on many issues related to graduate education and getting into graduate school at ECU.

Dean Gemperline shared information on the benefits of graduate education and highlighted the various strategies in getting into a graduate program. He talked about how students can finance their graduate education as well as once the student achieve their graduate degree, more opportunities will become available for the individual graduate student.

After Dean Gemperline’s discussion, Robin Armstrong shared with the class all the major steps involved in getting into graduate school at ECU. She emphasized that students should present themselves in very professional and focused way when applying to a graduate program. Every graduate program are looking for certain type of excellent students and students that best fit their programs. Overall, Robin said that students should do their initial research of each graduate program that they’re interested in and find the best “fit” not only with the coursework but also the faculty in the graduate program.

Throughout Robin’s and Dean Gemperline’s discussions, Molly, Jacquelyn, and Jesse asked a number of detailed and investigative questions. I believe the answers to their questions truly helped to dispel many misconceptions about graduate education and also provided clarity to the process of getting into graduate school.

Overall, our class visit to the Graduate School was an insightful, informative and enriching experience that I’m sure my class appreciated. We truly appreciated the extra time that Robin and Dean Gemperline shared with us.

Eric Bailey Dean Paul Gemperline, Dr. Eric Bailey, Graduate School Admission Director Robin Armstrong, Professional Development Anthropology

On February 22nd, the Professional Development Anthropology class visited the ECU Career Center. Our host and Career Counselor was Mr. Patrick Roberts. His presentation and tour of the career center were excellent. It’s exactly what the class needed to experience.

Our visit to the career center started with a tour of the two-story house. Mr. Roberts showed the class all the offices on the first floor and upstairs. We met many of the counselors and staff throughout the center. After the tour, we returned to the first floor, sat in one of the front rooms, and listened to Mr. Roberts presentation.

Mr. Roberts highlighted in his presentation all the services and programs associated with the career center. He emphasized to the class issues such as career exploration, readiness, recruitment programs, available technology from the career center, and the career planning model. In particular, the career planning model involves three steps: 1. Self-Assessment, 2. Career Exploration, and 3. Take Action. At the very end of his presentation, he mentioned “Focus 2″ – an interesting self-assessment software which will give students a profile of their personal characteristics and determine whether it matches their major.

The class was very appreciative of the presentation and asked questions. Mr. Roberts assurred them that they can come back again and again, but particularly take advantage of all the Career center tools that are online when they visit their website at: http:://www.ecu.edu/career.

Eric Bailey ECU Career Center, Patrick Roberts

For our first site visit on ECU campus this spring, the Professional Development Anthropology class visited Joyner Library to participate in a training session entitled, “Graduate 101.” Our expert host and Associate Professor was Bryna Coonin. Dr.
Coonin gave the class an entire overview on how to use many of Joyner Library’s data bases and tools to conduct research as an undergraduate and graduate student.

She showed the class how to use such online research tools as Refworks, AnthroSource and JSTOR. AnthroSource and JSTOR are specific databases for anthropology related research. Bryna Coonin also highlighted the difference between undergraduate research versus graduate research. Her discussion of all the various online research tools were presented in a very practical and informative approach.

Overall, the class including myself learned alot of new information about how to use Joyner library’s research databases. There are a wide variety of databases that can help any student whether first year student, experienced undergraduate, and graduate. I highly recommend that all students at ECU take a research training session from Joyner library instructors and for those who are graduates, check out their new “Graduate 101″ tutorial at: http://libguides.ecu.edu/Graduate101

Check out some of the photos of our visit at Joyner’s research computer room.

Eric Bailey Bryna Coonin, Graduate 101, Joyner Library, Professional Development Anthropology

We are at the start of the Spring 2012 semester and it’s time for another great semester of teaching. During the spring semeter, I teach two undergraduate courses and one graduate courses. The courses are:

ANTH 4501 – Professional Development Anthropology

ANTH 3252 – Medical Anthropology (DE)

MPH 6008 – Ethnic Health & Health Disparities (DE)

Each course brings its own set of exciting and investigative issues to discuss and investigate. Whether the course is face-to-face or distance education, I enjoy finding new ways to present the lecture material and encouraging students to take the lead on their projects/proposals.

Let’s get started!

Eric Bailey Dr. Eric Bailey, Graduate Course, Professional Development Anthropology, Professor Eric Bailey, Undergraduate Course

One of the most exciting classes that I teach throughout the year is the Ethnic Health & Health Disparities class – MPH 6008. This course continues to be a very unique course primarily because it allows students to investigate practical and serious ethnic health issues that are often overlooked in our society today.

Here are some of 2011 Ethnic Health & Health Disparities fieldwork projects/proposals:

The Need for Good Nutrition and Physical Activity Within the African American Population Especially the School Children

Eliminating HPV Linked Cancer Disparities among Minorities Within Eastern North Carolina

“Que Onda..?” A Discussion about Health with Honduran Male Immigrants Living in Durham, NC

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Treatment of Pain

Perceptions of HIV Risk among Black Women in Eastern North Carolina

Efficacy of Smoking Cessation Programs for Rural White Virginians

Obesity and its Ethnic Health Disparities

Motor Vehicle Crashes among Lumbee Youth in North Carolina

An Individual and Community-Based Intervention to Decrease the Prevalence of Diabetes among Lumbee Indian Youth and Prevent the Occurrence of Cardiovascular Disease

These fieldwork projects/proposals showed alot of diversity of the type of relevant ethnic health and health disparity issues in North Carolina and throughout the United States.

Eric Bailey Dr. Eric Bailey, Ethnic Health & Health Disparities, Graduate Course, Spring 2011 Courses