Published Works
East Carolina Grad Named one of The Daily Record's "VIPs Under 40"List
(published in East Carolina University's School of Communication Alumni Newsletter)
A School of Communication graduate recently received some “surreal” recognition for her hard work. April Baer, was recognized this past September for her accomplishments in her career at Frostburg University.
Maryland newspaper, The Daily Record, named Bear one of their “top 50 very important professionals” in 2011. This list recognizes professionals under the age of 40 who have made significant achievements in their work and community.
Bear works at Frostburg University, in Frostburg, M.D. as the coordinator for University Wellness. Baer related that it felt “surreal” to receive this kind of recognition for her work.
“I believe in always doing something that fulfills me, so it wasn’t even on my radar. I was just doing my job at a small university,” Baer said.
Baer received her bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in public relations in 2006, graduating Cum Laude. Baer then returned to ECU where she received her masters in communications with a concentration in health. She completed her graduate program with Phi Kappa Phi honors in 2008.
Aside from her job as the coordinator for University Wellness, Baer has been working closely with a new program at Frostburg called CHILL.
“CHILL was a generous gift given to us by AstraZeneca and I have been tasked with it. It stands for creating healthy, informed, lasting lifestyles. CHILL has really become my child,” said Baer.
CHILL works to promote the health of students at Frostburg by providing them with preventative health screenings, encouraging wellness and many other activities, and offering educational programs that encourage the importance of exercise and good nutrition all over the campus. Baer was also part of a project to make Frostburg a smoke-free campus.
In the future Baer hopes to expand her program.
“ I want to take my work and put it on a national level. I want to educate students not just at Frostburg on the importance of quality of health and how to lead lives that are healthy,” said Baer.
Director of the School of Communication, Dr. Linda Kean had Baer as a student while she was at ECU.
“April is an incredibly exceptional individual. She has always been a hard worker who values the health of the university student and addresses that in a variety of ways,” said Kean.
Kean also says that East Carolina’s graduate program gives students the tools they will need in their future. “We believe that our MA in communication with an emphasis in health communication provides individuals with the information and opportunity to achieve success in serving the health needs of our communities through expertise in communication,” said Kean
Baer says that what she learned while completing her degrees at East Carolina’s School of Communication has helped her a great deal today.
“The communications program taught me tenacity. That no doesn’t mean no; it means maybe. You always have potential and you just can’t be afraid, you have to push the boundaries,” said Baer. “ECU taught me to go for it and I think that’s what all Pirates have in common.”
Voice of a Victim
(published in the Pitt County Women's Journal)
Most students join on campus clubs to pad their resumes, or to get in some extra volunteer hours. But 19-year-old Mollie Daniel has a different purpose. Daniel is a sophomore at East Carolina University who is the co-president of the campus club Voices for Victims, an organization that raises awareness about sexual assault.
At first glance Daniel is a genuinely happy and bright individual, excited to speak about the organization that she puts so much of her heart and soul into whenever she gets the chance. Twisting a lock of her long dark hair, she explains about Voices for Victims.
“We just finished three events total but we’re adding even more this year,” says Daniel. When asked about how Daniel got so involved in Voices for Victims, her tone grows more serious.
“ I got involved in September of 2009 because I was date raped here at school. I went to the victims’ advocate here on campus for help, Sue Molhan, and she told me that whenever I was ready to start my healing process, to come out for a Voices for Victims meeting. It was a very open thing,” said Daniel. Just a few months later, Daniel became an officer for the organization.
“Mollie is a very courageous young lady and because she has decided to disclose her story it has assisted other’s to come forward. It appears that Mollie telling her story is helping her heal in her own way. Everyone has to do it ‘their own way’. For Mollie, she has just recently been able to share her story with many other students and finds it cathartic. Mollie is making a difference for so many victims of crime,” Sue Molhan, also the sponsor of Voices for Victims said. Daniel uses her past to help organize events that Voices for Victims puts together to raise awareness.
Daniel’s bright eyes light up as she explains an event the organization hosted, “Earlier this year we did a ‘Take Back the Night’ march where the boys wore high heels and marched all the way from College Hill to Joyner library on campus. After their march we held a candle light vigil to represent all of the women who have been hurt because of sexual assault. It was symbolic because the boys actually walked a mile in our shoes to show their appreciation and support.”
Daniel also told of an event held just recently where Debbie and Rob Smith, creators of the Debbie Smith Act, came to a meeting. At the meeting the Smiths talked about their program Hope Exists After Rape Trauma (HEART) and told Debbie’s story of how she was raped right outside of her own home. Then it was Daniel’s turn to step up and share her story.
“It’s the hardest secret to keep and it just eats you up inside. When you get to tell your story just once it’s a huge relief. If I’m able to help just one person through my story then that’s the most gratifying thing. That’s what every Voices for Victims member’s goal is,” Daniel said. Daniel encourages others who have been through the same thing that she has to step forward and come to some of the Voices for Victims meetings, which are typically held on Sundays at East Carolina’s campus in the Bate building.
“Knowing that if after I speak I can cause people to come up to me and tell me how brave I am and talk about what they’ve been through, if it gets just one person to step forward, then its totally worth it,” said Daniel with a broad smile on her face that exuded gratification.
At first glance Daniel is a genuinely happy and bright individual, excited to speak about the organization that she puts so much of her heart and soul into whenever she gets the chance. Twisting a lock of her long dark hair, she explains about Voices for Victims.
“We just finished three events total but we’re adding even more this year,” says Daniel. When asked about how Daniel got so involved in Voices for Victims, her tone grows more serious.
“ I got involved in September of 2009 because I was date raped here at school. I went to the victims’ advocate here on campus for help, Sue Molhan, and she told me that whenever I was ready to start my healing process, to come out for a Voices for Victims meeting. It was a very open thing,” said Daniel. Just a few months later, Daniel became an officer for the organization.
“Mollie is a very courageous young lady and because she has decided to disclose her story it has assisted other’s to come forward. It appears that Mollie telling her story is helping her heal in her own way. Everyone has to do it ‘their own way’. For Mollie, she has just recently been able to share her story with many other students and finds it cathartic. Mollie is making a difference for so many victims of crime,” Sue Molhan, also the sponsor of Voices for Victims said. Daniel uses her past to help organize events that Voices for Victims puts together to raise awareness.
Daniel’s bright eyes light up as she explains an event the organization hosted, “Earlier this year we did a ‘Take Back the Night’ march where the boys wore high heels and marched all the way from College Hill to Joyner library on campus. After their march we held a candle light vigil to represent all of the women who have been hurt because of sexual assault. It was symbolic because the boys actually walked a mile in our shoes to show their appreciation and support.”
Daniel also told of an event held just recently where Debbie and Rob Smith, creators of the Debbie Smith Act, came to a meeting. At the meeting the Smiths talked about their program Hope Exists After Rape Trauma (HEART) and told Debbie’s story of how she was raped right outside of her own home. Then it was Daniel’s turn to step up and share her story.
“It’s the hardest secret to keep and it just eats you up inside. When you get to tell your story just once it’s a huge relief. If I’m able to help just one person through my story then that’s the most gratifying thing. That’s what every Voices for Victims member’s goal is,” Daniel said. Daniel encourages others who have been through the same thing that she has to step forward and come to some of the Voices for Victims meetings, which are typically held on Sundays at East Carolina’s campus in the Bate building.
“Knowing that if after I speak I can cause people to come up to me and tell me how brave I am and talk about what they’ve been through, if it gets just one person to step forward, then its totally worth it,” said Daniel with a broad smile on her face that exuded gratification.