BOONE, N.C.—Dr. Neva J. Specht has been named dean of Appalachian State University’s College of Arts and Sciences after a national search. She begins her duties May 1.
Specht, a professor of history, has served as interim dean since May 2016. Prior to that, she served in the role of senior associate dean beginning in 2013 and as associate dean from 2010-13.
“Neva brings unique skills and knowledge to the position and she came highly recommended by the search committee to fill the permanent position. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Specht into this new role,” said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Darrell Kruger.
In assuming the position of dean, Specht will continue leading a college of approximately 5,850 students in 16 academic departments that span the humanities, social sciences, and the mathematical and natural sciences. The college also has three stand-alone programs, two centers and one residential college.
Specht has taught in Appalachian’s Department of History since 1996 as a public historian, leading courses on museum education, public programming, living history and material culture, as well as the history of pirates and the Blue Ridge Parkway. She served as assistant department chair from 2007-09. Her research has focused on community formation among the Society of Friends [Quakers] in trans-Appalachia in the years following the American Revolution.
From 2007-13, she served as Appalachian’s first liaison to the Blue Ridge Parkway. In that role, she developed an internship program for students and directed two National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks in History and Culture grants for high school teachers that focused on the Blue Ridge Parkway as a teaching tool. She also completed a historic furnishing report for the Blowing Rock home of Moses and Bertha Cone for the National Park Service (NPS), and conducted a number of oral histories for the NPS.
Locally, she has served on the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum’s Board, Blue Ridge Parkway 75, and currently sits on the Town of Boone’s Cultural Resource Advisory Board. She also is a former board chair of the North Carolina Humanities Council.
Specht received her Ph.D. in United States history and material culture studies from the University of Delaware, where she also earned her Master of Arts in United States history with a certificate in museum studies. She received her bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College, with a double major in history and American studies.
The search committee was co-chaired by Ece Karatan from the Department of Biology and Heather Norris, dean of the Walker College of Business. Members of the search committee and their respective departments were Phil Ardoin, Government and Justice Studies; Ruth Cook, College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office; Kurt Michael, Psychology; Patrick Rardin, Philosophy and Religion; Tracie Salinas, Mathematical Sciences; William Schumann, Appalachian Studies; Kathleen Schroeder, Geography and Planning; Rahman Tashakkori, Computer Science; and Tammy Wahpeconiah, English.
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About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.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, affordable education for all. 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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