Appalachian Today

App State honored as 2025 Large Business of the Year by Boone Area Chamber of Commerce

The award recognizes App State’s leadership and impact in the High Country

Jan. 22, 2026

App State has been named Watauga County’s 2025 Large Business of the Year by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes the university for a milestone year that included the installation of Chancellor Heather Norris, its designation as a Research 2 institution and its continued contributions to the local economy.

Planning for good: Dr. Elizabeth Shay on teaching as public service
A Q&A with App State’s 2026 UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award winner
March 13, 2026
Dr. Elizabeth Shay is App State’s winner of the 2026 UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award. The annual award is given to one outstanding faculty member at each UNC System school. Six additional App State faculty have been recognized by the board with campus-based awards.
$500K Golden LEAF Foundation funding equips nursing simulation lab at App State Hickory
March 3, 2026
A $500,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation will equip a nursing simulation and clinical learning lab at App State’s Hickory campus. The new space will support App State’s nursing program — including the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, launching this fall — and serve as a hub for interprofessional health care education.
App State's Dr. JP Jameson honored for advancing rural mental health care across Western NC
Jameson receives UNC System’s 2025 James E. Holshouser Jr. Award for Excellence in Public Service
Feb. 27, 2026
Dr. John Paul “JP” Jameson, App State professor of psychology, has received the 2025 Gov. James E. Holshouser Jr. Award for Excellence in Public Service from the UNC System Board of Governors. The award recognizes Jameson's work to improve access to quality mental health care services for rural communities across Western North Carolina.
Protecting those who protect us: App State studies the cooling limits of new firefighter gear
Dr. Caroline Smith is App State’s lead for this collaborative research with NC State
Feb. 24, 2026
App State research led by Dr. Caroline Smith, in collaboration with NC State, aims to advance firefighter safety by testing whether new moisture barriers in personal protective gear prevent overheating — a key factor in reducing firefighters’ risk of heat stroke and cardiac events. The work is supported by a $1.5 million FEMA grant.
App State honored as a Top Producer of Fulbright scholars, students for 2025–26
Feb. 20, 2026
App State has been named a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright students and scholars for 2025–26, with three faculty and three alumni receiving a Fulbright to study, teach and/or research abroad. The university is the only master’s institution nationwide to receive the honor this year.
From 800 picture books to one: App State’s Jewel Davis leads Caldecott Medal selection
Davis teaches library courses and mentors K–12 educators throughout the region
Feb. 18, 2026
App State professor Jewel Davis read over 800 picture books to lead the selection of this year’s Caldecott Medal winner — an opportunity to elevate stories that spark a love of reading in a new generation. At App State, Davis brings her expertise directly to students, guiding future educators, librarians and storytellers.

High-quality academics, innovation and value secure App State’s spot among America’s top schools for 2025–26

US News names App State a top 5 regional university for innovation, undergraduate teaching and veterans support

Sept. 29, 2025

Six national publications — including U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes magazine — have recognized App State among the best schools in the nation, and the Southeast, for 2025–26. The publications lauded the university for its academics, innovation and value, among other aspects.

Events

Mar
18
Tim Earley
Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
6 p.m.
Tim Earley is the author of five collections of poems, including “Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery” (Horse Less Press, 2014), winner of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award, and “Linthead Stomp” (Horse Less Press, 2016). He lives in Asheville, North Carolina, and teaches online courses in creative writing, Appalachian literature, British literature, and fantasy literature for the University of Mississippi.
Mar
19
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21
Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour 2026
March 19 - 21, 2026
Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Hot on the heels of the Festival that is held every fall in beautiful Banff, Alberta, the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour hits the road. With stops planned in over 600 communities and more than 40 countries across the globe, the Banff World Tour celebrates amazing achievements in outdoor storytelling and filmmaking worldwide.
Mar
19
Storytelling with a Climate Lens with Anna Jane Joyner, Founder and VP of Story Consulting at Good Energy Stories
Pathways to Resilience
Thursday, March 19, 2026
11 a.m.
Climate change is happening now, all around us, not elsewhere or in the future. Climate intersects with every issue we care about, every topic under the sun. Including climate in your story doesn’t mean being didactic, boring, or forced. It doesn’t have to mean conjuring shame or doom. In fact, climate change is a generative lens through which to imagine any aspect of a story.
Mar
19
Dr. Lindsay Rae Smith Privette: “Bodies on the Brink: The Surgeon’s Dilemma and the Vicksburg Campaign”
Civil War Speaker Series
Thursday, March 19, 2026
6 - 7:30 p.m.
This presentation will explore the role that surgeons played in the Vicksburg campaign, a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, MS. Dr. Privette is associate professor of history at Anderson University in Anderson, SC. Born and raised in Vicksburg, MS, she developed her interest in Civil War history at Vicksburg National Military Park, where she later went on to work.
Mar
26
Appalachian State Giving Day
Office of Annual Giving
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Mountaineers across the globe have “backed App” for 13 years, and our supporters have grown more united in giving. We are excited to share that we’ve renamed iBackAPP to Appalachian State Giving Day. This change reflects a deeper alignment with our university’s identity and the values that drive our philanthropic supporters — connection, pride and impact. Giving Day is a call to action that invites all Mountaineers to support students, faculty, programs and the future of App State.
Mar
26
Young the Giant with Special Guest Matt Hansen
App State Athletics
Thursday, March 26, 2026
6 - 11 p.m.
Known for chart-topping hits and electrifying performances, Young the Giant brings their signature indie-rock sound to Boone for one night only. Joining them is special guest Matt Hansen, kicking off the night with an incredible set you won’t want to miss.