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App State senior Devin Axtell, a biology major from Baldwin, Florida, prepares a meal for the student group participating in the spring 2025 Restoration and Exploration at the Coast Alternative Service Experience at Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina. Axtell was one of two peer leaders on the trip. Photo by Kyla Willoughby

App State students help restore national wildlife refuge as part of Alternative Service Experience
Apr 30, 2025

BOONE, N.C. — Each spring break, college students from across the nation head to the beaches to enjoy a week off from school — but for many Appalachian State University students, that annual trip to the coast serves a much bigger purpose.

University News, Outreach & Community Engagement, Students
Top Left: Dr. Beradino DiBernardi and JP Neri. Top Right: Nicole Tran. Bottom Left: Natalee Jamerson. Bottom Right: Jesus Sisniega-Serrano.

CAS students receive 2024-25 Black and Gold Leadership Awards
Apr 25, 2025

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University's Club Council and Campus Activities, the governing and advocacy body for student clubs and organizations, have announced the recipients of their 2024-25 student awards.

Awards & Honors, Students, University News
Dr. Neva J. Specht has been named executive vice chancellor and provost of Appalachian State University, effective May 1.

Dr. Neva J. Specht appointed App State executive vice chancellor and provost
Apr 25, 2025

BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Neva J. Specht has been appointed executive vice chancellor and provost of Appalachian State University, announced Chancellor Heather Norris on Thursday, April 24. The appointment is effective May 1.

Faculty & Staff, University News
Top: App State senior Lex Foote, a Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) Scholar in math from Linville, demonstrates an equation on the whiteboard. Bottom: From left to right: Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, Dr. Andrew Heckert, Dr. Mohammad Ali Javidian, Dr. Carol Babyak and Dr. Roshani Silwal. Photos by Chase Reynolds

$2 million grant funds scholarships, supports STEM education for over 50 App State students
Apr 25, 2025

BOONE, N.C. — A nearly $2 million grant awarded to Appalachian State University by the National Science Foundation (NSF) will help put educational goals within reach for more than 50 Mountaineer students pursuing degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

University News, Grants & Research
Students from App State’s College of Arts and Sciences share why they support the university on iBackAPP Day. Photos by Lauren Gibbs
Alana Baird, Dr. Clare Scott Chialvo, Dr. Jamie Levine, and Dr. Katie Mawhinney

4 CAS faculty selected to receive UNC Board of Governors Awards
Apr 3, 2025

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has selected four faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) to receive 2025 Appalachian State University School/College Awards: Alana Baird, Dr. Clare Scott Chialvo, Dr. Jamie Levine, and Dr. Katie Mawhinney.

Awards & Honors, University News, Faculty & Staff
App State alumnus Tommy Guy ’07 shares remarks at the 2024 Appalachian Scholarship Celebration as the featured donor speaker. Guy is a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences — holding degrees in religion and philosophy and mathematics — and has established multiple scholarships within the college. Photo by Chase Reynolds

From philosophy to AI: App State alumnus Tommy Guy ’07 champions interdisciplinary learning
Mar 19, 2025

BOONE, N.C. — Learning to approach problems from an interdisciplinary perspective has long been one of the defining characteristics of an Appalachian State University education.

University News, Support
Dr. Ashley Adams is an assistant professor in App State’s Department of Biology. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris

Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris named chancellor of Appalachian State University
Feb 27, 2025

BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris has been named chancellor of Appalachian State University, effective March 1.

University News
App State students are pictured in a fermentation sciences lab on the Boone campus, working under the direction of Dr. Folarin Oguntoyinbo, associate professor and research mentor in the Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences. Photo by Chase Reynolds

App State earns R2 designation for high research activity and doctorate production
Feb 16, 2025

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University has received a Research Activity Designation of Research 2 from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education — the nation’s leading framework for categorizing U.S. higher education institutions.

Grants & Research, University News