CCCC’s Shull tapped for prestigious fellowship
Jan 30, 2008

SANFORD – The Institute for Emerging Issues at North Carolina State University has appointed Central Carolina Community College instructor Johnny Shull to its GlaxoSmithKline Faculty Fellowship Program for 2008. Shull is lead instructor in the Department of Business and Economics at the college’s Harnett County Campus.

The prestigious fellowship program awards only six faculty fellowships each year, four for faculty from North Carolina universities and four-year colleges and two for faculty at the state’s 58 community colleges.

“I’m very excited to be selected,” said Shull. “I look forward to being part of the Institute for Emerging Issues.”

The IEI is a public policy “think and do” tank focused on tackling big issues that affect North Carolina’s future growth and prosperity. The GlaxoSmithKline Faculty Fellows Program provides support for faculty in higher education to bring their expertise in their fields to public policy.

Through forums, papers and reports, they educate leaders in business, government, nonprofits, and education so that informed decision-making can take place. During 2007-08, IEI is addressing energy policy issues and their impact on the state.

“I’m from the Austrian school of economics: free markets, rugged individualism,” Shull said. “I look at economics from that point. I believe people looking for profit in North Carolina are very interested in alternative energies if they can make a profit. North Carolina can be a leader in economic development. It’s very exciting to work on.”

Shull received his Master of Business Administration from the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business at Campbell University in 2003. He has taught at CCCC since 2005. He has presented papers on government regulation of small business, technology use by faculty of the UNC System and North Carolina Community College System, and the building of a new hospital in Harnett County.

His government experience includes, among other positions, mayor of the town of Coats, director and president of the Coats Area Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of the Harnett County Local Government Association. He started and operated SurrealNET, Inc., an Internet service provider, selling it in 2005.

To be considered for selection, faculty had to submit an application setting out their experience as educators, presentations made, awards received, and other work experience and letters of recommendation.

Other 2008 recipients are: Annette Dammer, an English/communications instructor at Fayetteville Technical Community College; Michael Cobb, assistant professor of political science, N.C. State University; Martin Doyle, associate professor of geography, UNC Chapel Hill; Keith Debbage, professor of geography, UNC Greensboro; and Leah Greden Mathews, associate professor of economics, UNC Asheville.

“On our college campuses there are extraordinary minds and tremendous energy eager to respond to our state’s pressing needs,” said Anita Brown-Graham, director, IEI. “We look forward to working with this talented group of faculty over the next year as IEI continues to serve the state of North Carolina.”

Faculty Fellows support a variety of IEI projects and initiatives throughout the year. Their work can be followed through the IEI Web site at http://www.emergingissues.org