Staff: Dr. Diane Majewski

• Ken Buday

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An experience at a bowling alley when she was young struck a chord in Dr. Diane Majewski. She saw a lane to a future in education, and she spared no effort in getting there.

Majewski is the director of programing and special projects for the East Carolina University Honors College where she creates, implements and manages impact experiences for about 900 students.

"When I was in the eighth grade - it was one of my first service projects I had to do for church - I was assigned to help people using wheelchairs bowl," Majewski said. "It was at that moment that I was like, 'Oh, how can I make this a career? What does this look like?' So, I ended up going into education and majored in psychology and special education, and then I earned a teaching degree and became a special education teacher."

After six years and with support of a college mentor, she moved into higher education and began work in a disability services office at Binghamton (New York) University. She embraced the people she worked with, but "it was too cold and snowy," said Majewski, a native of Lake Ridge, Virginia.

She found a similar role at ECU in 2002 and made the move - but not just for the warmer temperatures.

"I knew when I came here, I knew when I stepped foot on this campus, I was here for life," she said. "I love it here. I love our motto. The students are fun. The environment is great. It just felt like a good fit."

An opportunity to serve on a university committee with Dr. Todd Fraley, dean of the Honors College, produced a job offer that allowed her to maintain her commitment to ECU students in a new role.

"Our top priority in the college is to help students feel like they belong," Majewski said. "When they belong, they feel connected and safe. That's a recipe for academic and personal success."

Majewski plans and organizes events designed to give students that sense of belonging while building college tradition. A pinning ceremony for first-year students and a medallion ceremony for seniors are just two examples. Party on the Porch is a homecoming event each fall, and when approached by students who missed their high school proms during the COVID-19 pandemic, Majewski developed a formal dance called the Golden Gala that takes place each spring.

When planning events, she reaches out to students for their input, calling the work they do together the best part of the job.

"I value student voices the most. It's the most important thing," she said. "Students have great ideas. I take those ideas, nurture them and develop them."

Majewski also organizes trips that connect students with alumni, provide service opportunities and complement classroom learning.

"I think that aligns with what we value here at ECU," said Majewski, who has been everywhere from Ocracoke to Raleigh to New York and even to Northern Ireland. "We want to stay connected to our alumni, we want to serve and we want to learn, so that's part of every trip."

Majewski reorganized the college's onboarding process for new students to incorporate a program she had created called "8 is GR8." The time management and study skills system splits the day into eight hours for classes and study, eight hours for recreation and eight hours for sleep. Each eight-hour block includes elements to keep students on track.

"When we surveyed our freshmen before they came to college, the No. 1 thing they're concerned about is time management," said Majewski, noting that time management is a learned skill that is different from high school to college. "… It's a great way for them to start thinking about the concept of balance for their life and time management."

FAST FACTS

Name: Dr. Diane Majewski

Title: Director of programming and special projects for the Honors College

Hometown: Lake Ridge, Virginia

Colleges attended and degrees: Longwood College, Bachelor of Science in psychology and Master of Science in special education; ECU, Doctor of Education in educational leadership

PIRATE PRIDE

Years working at ECU: 23

What I do at ECU: I create, implement, manage all programs and impact experiences for the college. Oversee student leadership organizations within the college.

What I love about ECU: My colleagues who make every day an adventure

What advice do you give to students? Pace yourself. Life is a marathon not a sprint.

QUICK QUIZ

What do you like to do when not working? CrossFit, yoga, walk my shih tzu Ava, shopping for shoes and handbags, paddle board, go to the pool, socialize with friends and family, craft and decorate my home

Last thing I watched on TV: "Heartland"

First job: Roy Rogers breakfast buffet attendant (I kept the buffet stocked)

Guilty pleasure: Pizza at Cucinella's and Trader Joe's

Favorite meal: Bagelman breakfast sandwich: blueberry bagel, egg, American cheese and bacon

One thing most people don't know about me: I'm terrified of ziplines.