Dr. Susan Pearce
Dr. Susan Pearce is a sociologist of culture, social movements, human rights, gender, immigration, and race.
She became interested in Princeville because she researches activist movements to contest race and gender injustices, and the importance of historical heritage to activists. Princeville’s unique heritage and current struggles remain hidden in state and national public imaginations.
Dr. Pearce earned her doctorate in Sociology from the New School for Social Research in New York City, and has served on the sociology faculties of Gettysburg College, University of Gdańsk and Central European University in Poland, and West Virginia University before joining East Carolina University in 2008.
She co-authored the monograph, Immigration and Women: Understanding the American Experience with Elizabeth J. Clifford and Reena Tandon, and co-edited the book, Istanbul: Living with Difference in a Global City with Nora Fisher-Onar and Fuat Keyman.
Dr. Lynn Harris
Dr. Lynn Harris has a background in nautical archaeology, terrestrial archaeology, submerged cultural resource management and maritime history. Areas of fieldwork experience and research interest include the American South, Africa, and the Caribbean. Her particular interest is the African diaspora and labor history. She teaches courses in underwater archaeology methods, maritime material culture, watercraft recording, and European maritime history with an inter-disciplinary Atlantic World perspective. Teaching assignments have included offering summer abroad study programs in Africa. Harris has also directed and co-directed underwater archaeology field schools for graduate students in a variety of locations. She has published on vernacular watercraft, colonial period shipwrecks, public outreach, maritime heritage tourism, and international collaboration in underwater archaeology initiatives. Most recently, she authored and co-authored articles and reviews in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology, Nautical Research Journal, Historical Archaeology, Journal of Anthropological Research, International Journal of Heritage Studies, Nautilus: A Maritime Journal of Literature, History, and Culture and Northern Mariner. Her manuscript titled Patroons and Periaguas: Watercraft and Enslaved Watermen of the Lowcountry will be published by University of South Carolina Press. Harris currently serves as faculty in the Program in Maritime Studies, Atlantic World Program, Coastal Resources Management Program, and on the board of the international professional organization Advisory Council for Underwater Archaeology. Currently, she serves as the internship co-ordinator for the Queen Anne Revenge state project in North Carolina and welcomes graduate students who are interested in underwater archaeology, interdisciplinary research and applied history projects.
Marquetta Dickens
Marquetta Dickens was born in Princeville, NC. She was a 4 year starter at North Carolina State University, under Coach Kay Yow, where she then went on to play professionally in Rybnik Poland and Pova De Vazim Portugal. Marquetta then began to embark on her collegiate coaching career, making stops at North Carolina Central, Monmouth University, Philadelphia Community College, and now is the Assistant AD and Head Women’s Basketball Coach at College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown NJ. She is also a National Certified Counseling and plans to soon become a Sports Psychologist. Outside of Athletics, Marquetta shares a deep connection to her Eastern North Carolina homeland and has co-founded two non profit organizations (Fighters for Freedom Hill, FREEDOM) that are dedicated to bring awareness and preserving the history of Princeville North Carolina. Through grassroots efforts, each non profit intends to assist citizens improve their day to day living while elevating the towns’s economic status.
Kendrick Ransome
Kendrick Ransome is a native of Pinetops, North Carolina. He is a graduate of Southwest Edgecombe High School (Class of 2011) and is currently enrolled in the NC Farm School where he will be graduating in the summer of 2019. Kendrick is a young entrepreneur in multiple industries. He is the owner and farmer of Golden Organic Farm (Pinetops NC) where he is conscious about growing natural and organic produce to increase the overall health of rural communities everywhere. He is also farm manager at Conetoe Family Life Center working along side of Reverend Richard Joyner. (Reverend Joyner was featured as CNN’s Hero due to the amazing work he has done throughout the community by growing and harvesting natural produce to eliminate chronic diseases which are heavily populated in black communities.)
Ransome is also the CEO of Gold Blooded Bully Camp & Co-founder of American Bully Buddy nonprofit organization. Here, he breeds American Bullies for emotional support and therapeutic services to patients who suffer from mental illnesses. Moreover, he is Co-founder of FREEDOM, a nonprofit organization that focuses on sustaining economic and human development in rural communities. Ransome enjoys being a community activist with Fighters For Freedom Hill as preserving the history of Princeville is exceedingly important to him. His grandparents were completely washed out by the floods multiple times yet remain residents of Princeville. This has fueled his passion for historical preservation and activism.
Jermaine McNair
Jermaine T. McNair is a community organizer and Founding Director of the nonprofit, NC CIVIL, which focuses on outreach, partnership development, and community-centered programming in under served areas of Greenville, NC.
A graduate of East Carolina University, his work spans across many sectors, including education, small business and workforce development, health, arts and culture, youth development, criminal justice, small business and local politics.
Along with being a proud active father of a 17 year old daughter, he currently serves on several boards and commissions, including the Pitt County United Way Board of Trustees, Uptown Greenville Board of Trustees, the Greenville-Pitt Association of Realtors, & the North Carolina Governor’s State Reentry Council, and has received several awards and recognition for service and leadership, including the City of Greenville’s 2016 Best-Irons Humanitarian Award, WITN’s Southern Star Award, and the 2019 East Carolina University 40 Under 40 Leadership Award.
Mackenzie Mirre
Mackenzie Mirre is a second-year student in the maritime studies program. She received her BA in Anthropology with minors in history and religion from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. During undergraduate, Mackenzie volunteered at Camp Nelson Heritage National Monument, as a terrestrial archaeologist. Mackenzie’s thesis analyzes the use of North Carolina’s inland waterways by enslaved populations.
Ryan Miranda
Ryan is a graduate student in the Maritime Studies program. He is originally from Farmington, Connecticut. Ryan received his B.A. in Anthropology from Washington College in Chestertown, MD. Ryan’s interests include Naval weaponry and maritime histories of the ancient world, Vikings and the US and Royal navy. His thesis will examine artifacts related to USS Constitution to analyze the ship’s history and the people that created its crew. Outside of archaeology, Ryan enjoys reading, music, playing sports, and being on the water as a rower and under the water as a diver. Ryan is certified as an AAUS Scientific Diver.
Joel Cook
Joel is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina and graduated from Fayetteville State University with a double major in History and Intelligence Studies. His thesis will discuss the construction, history, and future preservation of the Bowling Farm Wreck, a 17th or 18th century colonial trading vessel. Joel is also heavily involved in research regarding the Transatlantic Slave Trade and has worked with the US National Park Service’s Submerged Resources Center as an intern on fieldwork for the Slave Wrecks Project. Joel’s hobbies include hiking, playing video games, and working as a volunteer football coach. He is also a living historian with the Sons and Daughters of Ham and Hannibal Guards re-enactor groups.