Dr. Sandra Vannoy named dean of App State’s Walker College of Business

BOONE, N.C. — After a national search, Dr. Sandra Vannoy has been named dean of Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business. Her role became effective April 1.

Vannoy has been on the Walker College of Business faculty in the Department of Computer Information Systems since 1998. She became an assistant professor in 2010 upon receiving her Ph.D. in information systems from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and earned promotion to associate professor in 2015, and then to professor in 2019.

She was named assistant dean for graduate programs and research in 2014 and associate dean in 2015. During this time, she directed the college’s honors program and its Master of Business Administration program, which has been internationally recognized as among the best in the world for six consecutive years. In February 2020, she was named acting dean of the Walker College of Business, and then interim dean in 2021.

“As a faculty member and administrator, Dr. Vannoy has consistently prioritized student success,” Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Heather Norris said. “Her commitment to excellence has earned her the respect and trust of her colleagues, as well as university leadership and donors, and she will continue building upon the widely recognized success of the Walker College of Business.”

The Walker College of Business emphasizes international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. The college enrolls more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students in 10 majors and three master’s programs. Consistently named one of “The Best Business Schools” by The Princeton Review, the Walker College of Business is accredited by AACSB International — the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which is the premier global accrediting body for schools of business.

Vannoy’s research involves the role of information technology in organizational decision-making and social dynamics, and her work has been published in the journals Information Systems Research, Communications of the ACM, and Social Network Analysis and Mining, among others.

Vannoy holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration in finance and a Master of Business Administration from App State. Prior to her career in academia, she co-owned a small business specializing in software and business information systems, and she also held administrative positions in the health care and banking fields. She currently serves as chair of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

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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 our community, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling approximately 3,000 undergraduates in 10 majors and 175 graduate students in three master's programs, the Walker College is accredited by AACSB International – the premier global accrediting body for schools of business.

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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 our community, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling approximately 3,000 undergraduates in 10 majors and 175 graduate students in three master's programs, the Walker College is accredited by AACSB International – the premier global accrediting body for schools of business. Learn more at https://business.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.