Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Heather Norris, a professor in the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance, received the first Honorary Sywassink Award for Excellence for her academic leadership during “the toughest time in recent history,” according to Sywassink.

Norris, who joined the WCOB faculty at Appalachian in 2003, was named assistant dean for undergraduate programs in 2005, associate dean for undergraduate programs and administration in 2008, senior associate dean in 2012 and, after a national search, dean in 2016. Norris was appointed interim provost and executive vice chancellor in February.

In honoring Norris, Sywassink said, “There is one among us who has excelled not only at teaching, research and service, but also embodies the spirit of Walker and the spirit of Appalachian.”

Norris’ 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 holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from James Madison University and master’s and doctorate degrees in finance from Penn State University.

Dr. Bonnie Guy, a professor in the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, received the Sywassink Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Guy joined the marketing faculty at Appalachian in 1987. From 2002–05, she engaged in self-employment and business start-up coaching before returning to Appalachian. She specializes in teaching sales and holds the John W. Guffey Jr. Professorship at Appalachian.

As founder and director of the professional selling program at Appalachian, Guy “spends a considerable amount of time outside of the classroom to coach and prepare her students for role-plays, mentor events and national sales competitions,” according to a nominator. “She has built interest in the marketing sales concentration as well as increased the career placement rate for her students.”

One of Guy’s former students wrote, “I cannot thank you enough for the sales preparation you provided me with while I was in your class. Through my training in medical sales, I have been a true witness to the many parallels between a career in sales and your instruction.” Another stated, “Your Professional Selling class was seriously a game changer for my sales career — I’ve become top sales performer in my company program! It honestly all comes so naturally after taking your course.”

Guy earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and an MBA from Middle Tennessee State University, as well as a Ph.D. in marketing from the University of Nebraska.

Dr. Brandy Hadley ’09 ’11, an assistant professor in the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance, was honored for her research contributions.

Since joining Appalachian’s faculty in 2017, “Dr. Hadley has established herself as one of the top faculty members in the Walker College of Business,” a nominator wrote.

Hadley’s research focuses on corporate finance, corporate governance and executive compensation. She published a wealth of research in a relatively short period of time, including 11 refereed journal articles in publications such as the Journal of Corporate Finance, Managerial Finance and the Journal of Applied Financial Research. Hadley has presented papers at 30 regional, national and international field conferences and has won two Best Paper Awards.

“Dr. Hadley’s research record is even more impressive when you consider that she is also an outstanding teacher and is very active in service,” a nominator wrote.

Hadley has served regularly as a mentor and thesis adviser to Walker College students enrolled in the university’s Honors College, and she co-led a pilot program in financial literacy for female students, which was recognized as a Chancellor’s Innovation Scholars project in 2019.

Hadley is a two-time alumna of Appalachian, having earned her bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA. She earned her Ph.D. in finance from the University of Tennessee.

Dr. Lakshmi Iyer, a professor in the Walker College’s Department of Computer Information Systems (CIS), was recognized for her service contributions.

Iyer joined the faculty at Appalachian in 2017 and holds the L.M. Baker Jr. Partners in Excellence Professorship at Appalachian.

Iyer’s achievements reflect a continuing commitment to Appalachian students. She serves as director of the Master of Science in applied data analytics program, leading all aspects of the program, including strategic planning, curriculum and operations. She also serves as adviser to the Executive Impact Club — WCOB’s graduate student organization — and its subset, the analytics competition team.

In the CIS department, Iyer chairs the post‐tenure review committee and is a member of the curriculum and marketing committees. She also is active in service to her profession, including her role as vice president of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for the Association of Information Systems and as chair of the SIG for Decision Support and Analytics — two engagements that bring global visibility for Appalachian.

She founded and directs Appalachian’s Innovate for Good initiative, which engages diverse youth in STEM‐related, experiential activities to increase awareness about technology education and career paths. Her leadership of Aspire IT and Technovation for Good serves middle school-aged and high school-aged youth, respectively, in the region.

“Dr. Iyer is passionate about serving young people,” a nominator wrote. “In the few years she has spearheaded Aspire IT, the program has served more than 125 students, many from rural North Carolina counties.”

Farther from home, Iyer serves as board secretary for the nonprofit EDGE (Education for Girls Empowerment), helping fundraising efforts to provide for the education and empowerment of girls in the rural village of Nuapali in Odisha, India.

Iyer holds a master’s degree from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

Non-tenure Track Award recipient Kevin Huff is a lecturer in the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance and director of the college’s Employee Benefits Program.

Huff is an attorney, a certified public accountant and a certified financial planner. As such, he brings a multidisciplinary approach to the classroom.

“Kevin is one of the most passionate instructors I’ve met,” a nominator wrote. “He takes a lot of time to develop his material to be attractive and engaging to students, spending hours preparing and reading the latest in finance and employee benefits to make sure he is bringing the most relevant topics to class.”

Prior to joining WCOB in 2018, Huff worked with organizations engaged in the practice of tax law and ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) law, health care, employee benefit plan administration and investment management. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

Huff earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mississippi College and his Juris Doctor from the Mississippi College School of Law.

Huff shares the honor with Jan Woods.

Non-tenure track faculty award winner Jan Woods ’90 ’00 is a senior lecturer in the Department of Accounting.

Woods joined Appalachian’s faculty in 2001 and teaches Principles of Accounting, Introduction to Business and Cost Accounting.

According to a nominator, Woods has a special ability to connect with her students. “Her enthusiasm for teaching and for the students’ welfare is contagious and truly admirable,” the nominator wrote.

A student shared that “Jan Woods is by far one of the most valuable professors I have had while at Appalachian. I took this class out of personal interest and was so appreciative of her organization and preparedness for each lecture. Jan goes above and beyond in her work to make connections to the world around us, prepare resources for class, provide consistency in expectations, and also make you laugh.”

Woods is a previous Sywassink awardee, having also earned the non-tenure track excellence award in 2008. She is a certified public accountant (CPA) and a member of the North Carolina Association of CPAs. Woods is a two-time alumna of Appalachian, having earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting.

Samantha Fuentes, administrative support specialist in the Department of Computer Information Systems, has earned the Outstanding Staff Award. This award recognizes those who exhibit dedication in service, innovation and workplace morale.

Fuentes joined Appalachian’s staff in 2007 and the Walker College’s staff in 2016. Fuentes serves as a transfer faculty mentor at the university level and, at the college level, has served as a program leader for the honors program, club adviser for the Appalachian Supply Chain Club, learning leader for Appalachian and the Community Together teams and study abroad program leader.

“Her responsiveness, engaged participation and a positive attitude, energy and generous spirit set Samantha apart from her peers,” one of her nominators wrote.

Prior to her current role, Fuentes served as default prevention coordinator for the university and was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as one of the “top 25” among her peers.

The Spirit of Walker Awards were introduced in 2018 to honor those who exhibit the values of the college through their work to fulfill its mission and vision. The college’s values include integrity, quality, meaning, global, diversity, innovation, collegiality, responsiveness and sustainability.

Dr. Tracy Reed, an associate professor in the Department of Accounting, received the Spirit of Walker Award for faculty. Linda Meznar, business manager and executive assistant to the dean, received the Spirit of Walker Award for staff.

Reed joined the faculty at Appalachian in 2009 and teaches auditing, systems and financial accounting. She serves as faculty adviser for the Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an international accounting honors organization, and is a member of the American Accounting Association.

Reed is “always willing to help, most often without even having to ask her to help,” a nominator wrote. “I believe her service to students comes from her heart; she truly wants them to succeed, both in the short-term and the long-term, and sees this as her calling. She exemplifies the best of Appalachian State University.”

Reed holds the Honorable Harlan E. Boyles Professorship at Appalachian.

Reed earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting information systems from Eastern Michigan University and a Ph.D. in accounting from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Meznar is the business manager and executive assistant to the dean for the Walker College, a role she began in 2019.

“I am impressed by Linda’s devotion to the college and that she made personal sacrifices to take on the extra responsibilities required given the demands of the job,” a nominator wrote.

Meznar previously served as program specialist for Appalachian’s Brantley Risk and Insurance Center, where she worked closely with the board of advisers and managed foundation funds.

Meznar is an alumna of Bryan College, having earned her bachelor’s in business administration.