Sharon Paynter, Associate Vice Chancellor for Community Engagement, East Carolina University

Summary: Universities often serve three main roles in society: teaching, researching and engagement (a fancy word for service.) A huge part of community engagement is listening to what people have to say. This week's First in Future guest, Sharon Paynter, associate vice chancellor for community engagement at East Carolina University, is part of the conversation with communities around and beyond the university. Right now, a big part of any eastern North Carolina conversation has to do with Hurricane Florence and the struggle of communities as they continue to clean up from the storm. ECU is helping the efforts in myriad ways. Visit florencerecovery.ecu.edu for more information.