BOONE, N.C. — Early in his career, Dr. Herb Brown worked in retail management. While he realized he didn’t want to do so for the rest of his life, Brown said he did discover his favorite part about the job — training new people about business and technology.

The love of training directed Brown on a new career path, and he pursued degrees in business teacher education. As a professor in Appalachian State University’s career and technical education (CTE) degree program — specializing in business, marketing and entrepreneurship education (BMEE) and business, finance and information technology education (BFIT) — Brown prepares his students to teach a variety of business courses to middle and high school students.

Learn more about Brown and his teaching experience at Appalachian:

What excites you, motivates you or otherwise inspires you about these CTE degree fields?

The BMEE and BFIT concentrations in Appalachian’s CTE program allow individuals the opportunity to teach a broad range of subjects, such as sports and entertainment marketing, project management, hospitality and tourism, Microsoft Office certification courses and pretty much every business or computer topic therein.

Our future teachers will have the opportunity to share their knowledge with high school and middle school students and instill in them a love for these topics. Because of the huge range of courses they might teach and the changing nature of these topics, instructors will never get bored in this career path.

Why did you choose to come to Appalachian to teach?

I came to Appalachian because I knew this institution values quality teaching above all else. I enjoy my research and service as well, but teaching is my passion.

Also, I saw the potential for growth in the CTE programs and I wanted to be part of that development and growth.

What is your research specialty and how does it fit into and/or strengthen your teaching?

My research areas are diverse: educational media and instructional technology, career and technical education, and international leadership. Although these areas may look different, they complement one another and allow me to bring in many different content areas and perspectives to all the classes I teach.

What do you hope students take away from the classes you teach?

I hope students grow in their knowledge and leadership skills in my classes. They should not only learn the skills and concepts but also be able to apply them in meaningful and personal ways.

Why should a student interested in this degree choose Appalachian?

Appalachian is the only comprehensive CTE program in the state. Being able to complete the BMEE or BFIT program while connecting with other students in other CTE areas helps students understand the scope of career and technical education — opening up opportunities for them to collaborate with other programs in their teaching positions as well as move into director roles with a broad knowledge base.

The Reich College of Education at Appalachian offers seven different concentrations for its CTE degree — both on campus and online. Graduates of the CTE undergraduate degree programs may choose to enter the industry as teachers at the middle and high school levels, or as trainers or instructors at community colleges, career centers or cooperative extension agencies.

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Career and Technical Education (BS) - Business, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Education

Appalachian’s Career and Technical Education (BS) degrees prepare students to teach about technology, business, child development, design and engineering.

Learn more

Career and Technical Education (BS) - Business, Finance and Information Technology Education

Appalachian’s Career and Technical Education (BS) degrees prepare students to teach about technology, business, child development, design and engineering.

Learn more

About the Reich College of Education

Appalachian State University offers one of the largest undergraduate teacher preparation programs in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. The Reich College of Education enrolls more than 2,000 students in its bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degree programs, with offerings that span multiple fields — from teacher preparation, counseling, and therapy, to higher education, school and student affairs administration, library science, educational leadership and more. With over 10,000 alumni employed in North Carolina public schools, there is at least one Reich College graduate in every county in the state. Learn more at https://rcoe.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.