BOONE, N.C. — From the highest peaks to the Amazon rainforest floor, two groups of students led by Appalachian State University professors trekked through Peru in summer 2018.
The three-week expedition distilled how many view the Appalachian Experience: As Mountaineers, we value and explore other cultures and welcome challenges to help us grow. Our research should serve others and undergo real-life practice. We learn to recognize the sometimes thin line between surviving and thriving — for ourselves and the planet. As a result, students gain a more globally informed perspective that sets the stage for lifelong learning.
Experience the journey, learn more about the students and professors who made the expedition and take in what they witnessed along the way:
March 15, 2019
A faculty-led study abroad in Peru supports NSF experiments and student learning.
March 15, 2019
Appalachian students traversed Peru with the focus of studying and implementing renewable energy solutions in remote areas of the country.
March 15, 2019
Dr. Baker Perry, professor in App State’s Department of Geography and Planning, has involvement and research interests in the tropical Andes and Appalachian Mountains. His work in studying precipitation, snow and ice, tropical glacier–climate interactions and climate change helps affected populations plan for the future.
Aug. 16, 2018
As a graduate student studying geography at Appalachian, Heather Guy did fieldwork in the remote Andes in Peru and Bolivia — far removed from her prior days spent in front of a computer screen.
March 15, 2019
Through her lens and personal narrative, Appalachian Photographer Marie Freeman focuses on one Peruvian citizen scientist’s story of the impact of climate change.
March 15, 2019
Learn about the Peruvian study abroad experience and climate change research of Appalachian State University students and faculty through nine brief videos.
Feb. 21, 2019
View photos from two Appalachian faculty-led study abroad programs in Peru that focused on climate research and sustainable energy practices.
- 3rd
Appalachian’s national ranking for number of students who participate in short-term study abroad programs
- 44
The number of countries represented by international students on Appalachian's campus in fall 2018
- 73
The percent of Appalachian study abroad participants who graduate within four years
- 41
The percent of Appalachian’s student body that enrolled in at least one Global Learning designated course in fall 2018
Source: Office of International Education and Development
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.
![The Catawba Valley has a healthcare provider shortage. App State has a program to help [faculty featured]](/_images/_posts/2026/10/healthcare-provider-shortage-600x400.jpg)
