BOONE, N.C. — The Appalachian State University College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is pleased to welcome Michelle Holcombe to the Dean's Office as the Business Officer of Personnel, effective July 28, 2025.
Holcombe brings over two decades of experience in higher education to CAS. She began her career at Appalachian State in the Office of Extension and Distance Education, later transitioning to a role at Camp Broadstone. She went on to work in the Office of Housing and Residence Life at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
Holcombe returned to Appalachian State in March 2020, joining the Department of Psychology. As the Administrative Support Specialist for the university's largest department, she assisted over 40 faculty and 1,500 students and oversaw personnel, grants, contracts, and budgets.
In her new role as Business Officer of Personnel, Holcombe serves as the lead personnel officer and financial planner for CAS, ensuring accurate budgeting, forecasting, and human resource compliance across the college's 17 departments, two centers, and one residential college.
Holcombe replaces Alice Fisher, who retired in July following fifteen years of service to Appalachian State.
Please join us in welcoming Holcombe to CAS. To learn more about the members of the CAS Dean's Office and their roles, visit cas.appstate.edu/contact/college-administration.
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About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at cas.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Gibbs
August 6, 2025
BOONE, N.C.
Michelle Holcombe is the new Business Officer of Personnel in Appalachian State University's College of Arts and Sciences.
Michelle Holcombe is the new Business Officer of Personnel in Appalachian State University's College of Arts and Sciences.