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Faculty Features | Summer 2026

Published Jul 31, 2026 by
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Check out the latest news from our faculty from the last quarter, approximately May to July 2026.

With College of Business colleagues, Dr. Erika Johnson from the School of Communication presented information about perfecting grand proposals during an ECU Research event for ECU medical and engineering scientists.

We welcome back Dr. Narae Lee as the School of Music’s new collaborative pianist, starting in Fall 2026.

We welcome Dr. Yena Lee as the new School of Music assistant professor of violin, starting in Fall 2026.

Voice and vocal pedagogy professors Dr. Jami Rhodes-Galloway and Nicole Franklin are filling an educational gap by offering their vocal pedagogy workshop for voice teachers and conductors for the second summer in a row, and offering an advanced workshop due to high demand.

Longtime School of Music faculty member Jim Searl died July 13. He joined the SOM for Fall 1965. He served as program director of the Institute for Music in Contemporary Education at ECU; he was promoted to associate professor in 1971; and in 1977 he was selected as “Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher” by the Faculty Senate. In 1989 he gave a series of four lectures on music theory and history to surgery residents at the ECU School of Medicine. He retired from ECU in 1998 and and received emeritus status after 33 years of service.

Tuba instructor Scott Sutherland, who has played with the musical crew of multiple movies and TV shows, played on the recently released “Toy Story 5” soundtrack, one of two tubas with the soundtrack musicians. While Scott received some nice coverage from local TV stations, the timing was such to also provide coverage to our Summer Band and Orchestra camp, featuring SOM faculty and visiting instructors!

Also in the School of Music, the East Carolina Piano Festival enjoyed another successful week this summer, featuring our faculty artists, great guest artists, and talented young pianists.

We had the best time creating and exploring with nearly 60 high school students during our Art and Design Summer Camp in June, featuring SOAD faculty and at least one alumni instructor. This is the type of experience we offer to pre-college students who want to explore their creativity.
Our School of Theatre and Dance faculty, students, and alumni organized another great summer of camps for pre-college performers! Both in July, young students performed “Finding Nemo KIDS” in our popular Youth Drama Camp, then spend a week learning and moving during Jazz Dance Camp. Watch our college and SOTD social media for images from these great experiences.