Faculty & Staff

By Giada Copersito

2 years after Helene, local organizations fear aid is in jeopardy [faculty featured]
Oct 2, 2026

Wayne Pitts, associate professor in App State’s Department of Government and Justice Studies and former executive director of Ashe County’s Habitat for Humanity, also expressed concern about FEMA intersecting with politics.

Faculty & Staff
Dr. Ellen Key

UNCA students navigate mixed opinions on voting ahead of the midterms [faculty featured]
Oct 2, 2026

“If you want politicians to take you seriously, you need to make your voice non-ignorable. The best way to do that is by voting,” said Ellen Key, a professor of political science at Appalachian State University.

Faculty & Staff
Studio portrait of a bearded man with long brown hair and black glasses, wearing a blue-and-white checked shirt against a dark background, smiling gently.

Dr. Andy Davidson leads study on temperature, predator-prey interactions
Oct 1, 2026

BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Andy Davidson, teaching assistant professor in Appalachian State University’s Department of Biology, is the lead author of a new peer-reviewed study published in the September 2026 issue of Biology Letters.

College News, Faculty & Staff, Grants & Research
Four-panel collage with three friendly professional headshots — two women and a mustached man — beside a yellow-and-black buffalo-check pattern.

CAS Dean's Office staff recognized with shout-outs in September 2026
Oct 1, 2026

BOONE, N.C. — In September, three members of Appalachian State University's College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean's Office were recognized with staff shout-outs.

Awards & Honors, College News, Faculty & Staff
A woman in a lab coat examines a petri dish while seated at a laboratory bench with a microscope and various lab equipment.

App State undergraduates turn genomics coursework into published research
Oct 1, 2026

BOONE, N.C. — In many undergraduate laboratory courses, students conduct experiments with expected outcomes. In Dr.

College News, Faculty & Staff, Grants & Research, Students
An aerial view of the newly renovated Duncan Hall on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Wes Craig

Duncan Hall reopens at App State after $32 million transformation
Sep 30, 2026

BOONE, N.C. — A familiar landmark on Appalachian State University’s Boone campus has entered a new chapter this fall, complete with a fresh look.

University News, Faculty & Staff
From left: Dr. Maggie Sugg, Sophie Ryan, and Trevor McKenzie

App State researchers partner to strengthen Western NC resilience 2 years post-Helene
Sep 30, 2026

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University researchers continue to learn from the damage, lessons and opportunities brought about by Hurricane Helene.

University News, Faculty & Staff, Grants & Research, Outreach & Community Engagement