BOONE—New members will be joining Appalachian State University’s Board of Trustees beginning July 1 following appointments made by the UNC Board of Governors.

They are Charlotte residents and Appalachian graduates George Baldwin and Susan M. Branch. Each has been appointed to a four-year term on the board. In addition, former trustee John Blackburn of Linville was appointed to a four-year term.

Current board member Jimmy Barnes of Raleigh was reappointed by the Board of Governors to a four-year term.

Gov. Pat McCrory will make two additional appointments to the board at a later date.

Baldwin is managing director of government relations and sustainability with Piedmont National Gas. He has a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian, an MBA from Campbell University and a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University. He has been a member of Appalachian’s Board of Visitors.

Branch is vice president and risk manager for Ciena Capital LLC in Charlotte. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a concentration in marketing from Appalachian and a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law. She has been a member of Appalachian’s Foundation Board of Directors.

Blackburn is president and general manager of Linville Resorts Inc. He served a four-year term on the board and was chairman from 2008-09 before being appointed to the UNC Board of Governors in 2009. Blackburn has a bachelor’s degree in economics and business from King College in Tennessee and an MBA from Virginia Tech.

Barnes is president of NAI Carolantic Realty Inc. He was a founding member of Appalachian’s Board of Visitors. Barnes has a degree in business administration from Appalachian.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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