Sharon Paynter

East Carolina University

Biographical Abstracts

Dr. Sharon Paynter is a nationally recognized leader in community-engaged scholarship whose work is grounded in the belief that universities achieve their greatest impact when they partner with communities to address real-world challenges. As senior vice provost for research and innovation at East Carolina University, she leads efforts that integrate research, innovation, economic development, and community engagement to advance the public good.

Paynter earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Science in legal administration from the University of Denver, and a Ph.D. in public administration from North Carolina State University. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in public policy at Brown University, experiences that shaped her interdisciplinary approach to research, public service, and community engagement.

A scholar, administrator, and advocate for engaged research, Paynter has dedicated her career to building bridges between universities and the communities they serve. Her work has been recognized nationally through organizations including the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the Engagement Scholarship Consortium, reflecting her commitment to advancing community-engaged scholarship as a catalyst for innovation, economic opportunity, and positive social change.

Areas of Expertise

• State and local government
• Organizational theory
• Performance management
• Nonprofit management
• Community-university partnership