Program Administration

Dr. Katherine (Katie) O'Connor
Associate Dean & Director of the EC Scholars Program
252.328.6373
oconnork@ecu.edu



Dr. Katherine (Katie) O’Connor is an associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education and joined the Honors College at East Carolina University during the summer of 2010. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Before arriving at East Carolina University in 2003, Katie taught in the North Carolina public schools for nine years.   Additionally, Katie serves on the Academically/Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Team for the College of Education.  She helps to facilitate a summer learning experience for 100 Pitt County gifted students each summer, and co-directs the Annual ECU Gifted Education Conference with Drs. Fogarty and Housand.

Katie is one of the founding editorial team members of East Carolina University’s nationally peer-reviewed online journal, The Journal of Curriculum and Instruction (JoCI) which is currently read in 161 countries and territories. The Journal of Curriculum and Instruction (JoCI) received the 2009 American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE) Edward C. Pomeroy Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teacher Education.

Katie was awarded the 2009-2010 UNC Board of Governors Distinguished Professors Teaching Award and the 2009-2010 ECU Scholar-Teacher Award at East Carolina University.  Katie has over 20 publications and 40 presentations at regional and national conferences.  Additionally, Katie spends time advocating for increased gifted education services and increased social studies instructional time for students.   Katie lives in Winterville with her husband, Colin, and two incredible daughters, Delaney (9) and Brogan (5).

EC Scholars is supported and housed within the Honors College at ECU.  For a more complete list of the administration of the Honors College, please visit the Honors College website.