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Dr. Donna Lillian (left) and Maxine Cooper McCall ’60 ’65 (right)
Dr. Harvey R. Durham sits at his desk in the 1985–86 academic year, when he served as chief academic officer at App State. Photo courtesy of Appalachian State University Historical Photographs Collection

Dr. Harvey R. Durham remembered for decades of leadership at App State
May 25, 2026

BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Harvey R. Durham, a former acting chancellor and provost at Appalachian State University, died on Friday, May 15, at the age of 88.

Faculty & Staff, University News
On Appalachian State Giving Day 2026, Mountaineers across the nation showed their App State pride and raised more than $2.8 million to support programs and initiatives across the university, breaking the previous Giving Day fundraising record by more than $1 million. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State professor Dr. Brett Taubman, left, and Fermentation Sciences Lab manager Daniel Parker have developed the sweetpotato milk Rootsii in fermentation lab facilities at App State. The locally sourced, sustainable and allergy-friendly product received $1.82 million in funding from NCInnovation, with a goal of bringing the milk from proof of concept to store shelves over the next two years. Photo by Chase Reynolds

From the field to the fridge: $1.82M NCInnovation grant supports sweetpotato startup at App State
May 15, 2026

BOONE, N.C. — Backed by a $1.82 million NCInnovation grant, Appalachian State University professor Dr.

University News, Faculty & Staff, Grants & Research
App State alumni Masa and Seleen Al Horani. Photo by Chase Reynolds
App State honored more than 4,300 Mountaineer graduates — the largest graduating class in university history — during its seven Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies, held May 7–9 in Holmes Convocation Center on the Boone campus. Pictured, App State Chancellor Heather Norris addresses the Class of 2026. Photo by Chase Reynolds
This year’s Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors at App State was the largest in university history, with a record 240 students sharing their research through poster presentations. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

Record 240 student innovators take center stage at App State’s 29th annual research and creativity showcase
May 13, 2026

BOONE, N.C. — A record number of student innovators demonstrated how their research can make a difference — in the region and beyond — at Appalachian State University’s 29th Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors.

Grants & Research, University News
App State Chancellor Heather Norris, third from right, and App State Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Neva J. Specht, third from left, with the 2026 Ronny L. Brooks Leadership Award recipients at App State’s 2026 Awards of Distinction ceremony, held April 28 on the Boone campus. Pictured with Norris and Specht, from left to right, are App State seniors Courtney Castellow and Daye Talley, Rhonda Bullock, daughter of Ronny L. Brooks, and her husband, John Bullock, and App State senior David Itson. Photo
App State students and Mountaineer Medics Owen Troxell, far left, and Emily Bjerregaard, second from left, are pictured with members of the London Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust at an ambulance station in London. Photo submitted
This year’s Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors will be the largest in App State history, with 240 students participating. Pictured, an App State student presents their research poster during last year’s event. Photo by Kyla Willoughby