OFALD Notable Alumni Archives

Data Analyst and Instructional Consultant, Office of Data Analysis and Strategy
MS, Instructional Technology, ECU, (’14)

Jed has been involved with education for over 25 years. He first began his career as a high school science teacher with Pitt County Schools. He went back to school to get his master’s degree so that he could further impact student outcomes by improving the development and delivery of instruction. He began working at the Brody School of Medicine in 2017 as a curriculum facilitator for the Office of Medical Education and was working deeply with data related to learner outcomes and LCME accreditation. He was hired as the first employee in the newly formed Office of Data Analysis and Strategy and is currently devoted to improving outcomes for Academic Affairs programs and offices through the development of data analytics and reporting innovations throughout Brody’s ecosystem.

Jed is a servant leader in the community. He has been an avid supporter of science opportunities for young people. He and his wife organized and ran the first elementary Science Olympiad tournament in the east. He also has devoted time to the area through his work in youth sports. He currently works with the Pitt-Greenville Soccer Association to improve the development of coaches of local teams. Dozens of his former students and players have graduated from Brody and are changing the region through their contributions to scientific advancement and health outcomes in eastern North Carolina. Their successes are the culmination of his career mission to help others grow and change the world.

Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Medical Director of Obstetrics at East Carolina University Health Medical Center

MS, Biology, ECU, (’92)
PhD in Microbiology and Immunology at Brody School of Medicine, (’96)
MD, ECU Brody School of Medicine, (’01)

Dr. James E. deVente is an academic obstetrician and gynecologist, tenured associate professor in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Brody School of Medicine and Medical Director of Obstetrics at East Carolina University Health Medical Center. Dr. deVente has been practicing obstetrics and gynecology, educating residents, medical students, and graduate students in eastern North Carolina for more than 20 years. He has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and has procured both intramural and extramural funding for research and/or educational efforts. His primary areas of research focus on clinical quality and safety, insulin signaling, obesity, and exercise in pregnancy. Dr. deVente serves as the OB Medical Director for ECU Health and is very involved in education and simulation across the 29 counties of eastern NC through ECU Health Perinatal Outreach. He currently is the Maternal Clinical Leader for the Perinatal Quality Collaborative of NC and serves on the NC Maternal Mortality Rate Committee. He recently received East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine’s Master Educator award and in 2020 he received the Harold C. Pollard III Award, NC OB and GYN Society. He truly has a servant’s heart. His overall professional goal and mission is to make eastern North Carolina a better place to be born.

B.S. Public Health (‘21)
MBA (’22)
Current M2 (‘26)

Michael Wright is a second-year medical student at the Brody School of Medicine. He graduated from East Carolina University’s Honors College as a Chancellor’s Fellow with a B.S. in Public Health and an MBA prior to his matriculation to Brody. As an Eastern North Carolina native, Michael takes pride in giving back to his community. This spring, Michael was the event coordinator for Brody’s Pirates vs Cancer event, where he helped raise over $20,000 and shaved his head in support of local Pediatric Cancer patients at ECU Health’s Maynard Children’s hospital. Alongside his friends, Michael helped found the Brody Coaches Association, a community outreach group partnered with Greenville Parks & Rec, aimed at creating a safe environment for children to grow through recreational sports while sparking excitement for science at an early age. As a LINC Scholar in the Health System Transformation and Leadership distinction track, Michael has received training in patient safety, quality improvement and population health, and is currently working on a QI project in ECU’s Pediatric Medicine clinic. He hopes to use his experiences and education from Brody to one day become a Physician in Eastern North Carolina.

In his free time, Michael enjoys spending time with his friends and family, grilling out and cheering on the Pirates!

PhD Candidate, Biomedical Science with a concentration in Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology

BS, Molecular Cell Biology with a minor in German, 2020

Alex Hondros is a fourth year PhD candidate at Brody School of Medicine in the Biomedical Sciences program concentrating in Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology. He graduated from East Carolina University in 2020, majoring in molecular cell biology with a minor in German. Over the course of his undergraduate studies, he was a member of the Biology Living Learning Community. His love for science became apparent during his freshmen year while participating in undergraduate research as he continued undergraduate research all four years. He is grateful to ECU’s research program for the opportunity to learn a wide variety of techniques even before beginning his doctorate. Alex has participated in several research projects focused on neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, the effects of ozone exposure on bacterial Pneumonia susceptibility, and is currently a member of the Cavanagh lab investigating new potential therapeutic targets of bacterial protection mechanisms that contribute to the appearance of antibiotic resistance.

When not in the lab, Alex spends most of his time with his lab mates from the Cavanagh lab who have become close. They are even all residents of a house turned quadplex rightfully dubbed the “Cavanagh House”. He also enjoys outdoor activities including scuba diving, receiving his certification from ECU’s scuba class.

Director, Office of Student Affairs Brody School of Medicine

MAEd, Adult Education (Certificate in Student Affairs in Higher Education), 2023

BS, Hospitality Management (minor Business Admin), 2018

Jennifer currently serves as Director at the Brody School of Medicine in the Office of Student Affairs. While working full-time, being a wife and mother, and attending school online, Jennifer was able to maintain a 4.0 GPA, citing BSOM students as her inspiration to continue her education. Prior to joining the Brody Family, Jennifer worked for ECU Transit as an undergraduate student, working as both a student bus operator and a student transit supervisor for 3 years. After graduating from ECU, Jennifer worked for the City of Greenville as a Transit Supervisor, serving in the Public Works Department with the Greenville Area Transit System. Jennifer started her career in OSA as the Program Coordinator in the office before being promoted to Director in March 2022. She has a passion for fostering a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment where all students can achieve their academic and personal goals. Her commitment to the Office of Student Affairs and the mission of the Brody School of Medicine is palpable in all aspects of her work. Jennifer has a devotion to lifelong learning and hopes to continue furthering her education as well as make a positive impact at the Brody School of Medicine.

Outside of work and the classroom, Jennifer enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family. A former intern at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL in 2016, Jennifer and her husband try to sneak down to Orlando once or twice a year to visit Mickey Mouse and his pals with their 3-year-old daughter, Charlotte!

M4, Brody School of Medicine

BS, Public Health Studies, 2020

BA, Multidisciplinary Studies in International Studies, 2020

Serena Mooney is a rising fourth year medical student at the Brody School of Medicine. She graduated from East Carolina University as an EC Scholar with a B.S. in Public Health Studies and a B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies with an International Studies concentration. Having grown up in Greenville, Serena has always loved giving back to the community that raised her. She was able to continue her service to Greenville as a North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellow, where she and her project partner redesigned a free infant and child CPR and choking rescue class for pregnant patients and their families. They also created a free virtual postpartum support group to help new moms through the fourth trimester. As a scholar in the Health System Transformation and Leadership (LINC) Distinction Track, Serena received training in patient safety, quality improvement, interprofessional team-based care, and population health. She is applying these principles to a quality improvement project in the ECU Health NICU that looks at improving communication between providers and parents through scheduled family meetings. Serena hopes to carry her passion for perinatal and women’s health as a future OB/GYN.

In her free time, Serena enjoys plant-based cooking, cross-stitching, and watching reality television!