BOONE—Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris has been named dean of Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business after a national search. She begins her duties July 1, 2016.
Norris has been acting dean of the college since July 2014. She joined the Walker College of Business faculty in the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance in the fall of 2003. She was named assistant dean for undergraduate programs in 2005, associate dean for undergraduate programs and administration in 2008 and senior associate dean in 2012.
Prior to joining Appalachian, Norris served on the faculty at Bowling Green State University, The Pennsylvania State University and West Virginia University.
“In the 13 years Heather Norris has served the Walker College of Business, and especially in her time as interim dean, she has earned the respect of her colleagues. Heather brings unique skills and knowledge to the position, and I look forward to continuing to work with her in her role as dean of the Walker College of Business,” said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Darrell Kruger.
In assuming the position of dean, Norris will continue leading a college of approximately 2,600 undergraduate and 150 graduate students. The Walker College of Business was included in Princeton Review’s 2016 edition of Best Business Schools.
Norris holds a Ph.D. in finance from The Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree in finance from The Pennsylvania State University, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from James Madison University. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi. Her teaching and research interests involve corporate finance and investments, with a particular emphasis on corporate restructuring. She has been published in the Journal of Portfolio Management, Financial Management, Managerial and Decision Economics and the Journal of Applied Business Research. Her work on corporate restructuring has been cited in The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Business Week and Dow Jones Online News.
Norris currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and the Children’s Hope Alliance, where she is a member of the board’s finance committee, foundation board and investments committee. Norris is also a member of Appalachian’s Academic Leadership Development Advisory Board and recently completed an intensive leadership development program, Mastering Leadership Dynamics, through the BB&T Leadership Institute.
The search committee was chaired by Tony Calamai, College of Arts and Sciences. Members of the search committee were Jacqui Bergman, Management; Unal Boya, Marketing; Harry Davis, Finance, Banking and Insurance; Scott Hunsinger, Computer Information Systems; Tammy Kowalczyk, Accounting; Dave McEvoy, Economics; Terry Rawls, Distance Education; Richard Sparks, Business Advisory Council; and Ruth Cook, Administrative Support.
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About the Walker College of Business
The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University delivers transformational educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact their communities, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling nearly 5,000 students, including more than 4,500 undergraduates across 11 majors, the Walker College of Business has the highest full-time undergraduate enrollment in the University of North Carolina System. App State’s Walker College is accredited by AACSB International — the premier global accrediting body for business schools. Learn more about App State’s Walker College of Business at https://business.appstate.edu.
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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