Sharon Paynter

Sharon Paynter serves as the Chief Innovation and Engagement Officer at East Carolina University, where responsibilities include teaching organizational theory, public management, nonprofit management, productivity analysis, program evaluation, and research methods within the Political Science Department and MPA Program. Paynter has held various roles at East Carolina University since August 2009, including Acting Chief Research and Engagement Officer and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Economic & Community Engagement. Previous experience includes serving as a Public Policy Fellow at Brown University, a doctoral candidate at North Carolina State University, and an Admissions Coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In the nonprofit sector, Paynter was the Executive Director at ACTS of Vance County, overseeing grantwriting and financial management. Educational qualifications include a PhD in Public Administration and an MPA from North Carolina State University, as well as a BS in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.