Skip to main content

Appalachian Today

News and events at Appalachian State University
  • Subscribe
  • For the media
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the News
  • Research & Arts
  • Awards
  • Experts
  • All News
  • Topics
  • Accolades
  • Alumni
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Athletics
  • Awards and Honors
  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Global
  • Health and Wellness
  • Publications
  • Research and Creative Works
  • Safety
  • Scholarships
  • Students
  • Sustainability
☰ Menu
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the News
  • Research & Arts
  • Awards
  • Experts
  • All News
  • Topics
  • Subscribe
  • For the media
  • Contact

‘It runs in the family’ — App State alumnus Tony Harris ’92 inspires next generation of Mountaineers

View larger image

The Harris family celebrates their Mountaineer legacy: Two members are App State alumni and two are current students at App State. Pictured in front is Tony Harris II, a first-year student at App State with a major in risk management and insurance. Behind Harris, pictured from left to right, are his sisters Lundyn Harris ’16, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from App State, and Joy Harris, a student at North Carolina A&T University; his mother, Melissa Harris; his sister Jaeda Harris, an App State sophomore majoring in biology-cellular/molecular biology; his grandmother, Wanda Sinclair; and his father, Tony Harris Sr. ’92. The family was gathered at Holmes Convocation Center to watch the John Weaver Invitational Track Meet in December 2022. Photo submitted

“I enjoy being able to help others achieve their desired goals. As a risk professional, it is by nature that I identify gaps and collaborate with others to minimize risks.”

Tony Harris Sr. ’92, associate vice president of risk, safety and security at Central Piedmont Community College

By Jan Todd
Posted Feb. 3, 2023 at 10:43 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — The Harris household in Charlotte wears a lot of black and gold. Tony Harris Sr. ’92 and his daughter Lundyn Harris ’16 are alumni of Appalachian State University — and his daughter Jaeda Harris and son Tony Harris II are current students.

“I enjoy being able to help others achieve their desired goals. As a risk professional, it is by nature that I identify gaps and collaborate with others to minimize risks.”

Tony Harris Sr. ’92, associate vice president of risk, safety and security at Central Piedmont Community College

Tony Sr. earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in risk management and insurance from App State, a Master of Science in emergency management from Eastern Kentucky University and is pursuing his Ph.D. in leadership at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

His 30-year career includes running his own insurance agency in Charlotte, directing safety and risk management operations for Cabarrus County and overseeing environmental health and safety risk management for Duke Energy Corporation. Now, he is associate vice president of risk, safety and security (chief risk officer) at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC).

View larger image

App State alumnus Tony Harris Sr. ’92 is associate vice president of risk, safety and security at Central Piedmont Community College. Photo submitted

“You’re never alone in something. You just need to be open and communicate with professors or people in charge when dealing with problems.”

App State alumnus Tony Harris Sr. ’92

Mentoring others is one of the things Tony likes most about his job. “I enjoy being able to help others achieve their desired goals. As a risk professional, it is by nature that I identify gaps and collaborate with others to minimize risks. I really like that aspect of what I do,” he shared.

“You’re never alone in something. You just need to be open and communicate with professors or people in charge when dealing with problems.”

App State alumnus Tony Harris Sr. ’92

He has received a number of awards and recognitions in his field, including:

  • CPCC’s Accountability Award in 2022 for exemplifying the institution’s values.
  • The Impact Award – Risk and Compliance Assurance from Duke Energy in 2020 for his collaboration and service.
  • The Public Risk Manager of the Year Award from the Public Risk Management Association in 2013.

Mike Whiteman, vice president of finance and administrative services at CPCC, said Tony’s intentional approach to his work “has led to processes that keep his team accountable — to make Central Piedmont the safest environment possible for students, faculty and staff.”

Tony credits his experiences and connections made at App State in laying the groundwork for his success.

Dr. Dave Wood, formerly at App State as the Joseph F. Freeman Distinguished Professor of Insurance and director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center, piqued Tony’s interest in risk management and insurance.

“I used to think of insurance as salespeople coming by to collect money,” Tony said. “Dr. Wood introduced me to underwriting, marketing, analyzing risks and other aspects of the industry.”

After a challenging semester, Tony said Wood helped him get back on track. “He was very straightforward with me and gave me guidance. I learned that you’re never alone in something. You just need to be open and communicate with professors or people in charge when dealing with problems,” Tony shared.

Life lessons outside the classroom

While at App State, Tony was a member in and served as treasurer for Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity — a role he said helped him develop his business skills. The work of the fraternity instilled in him the value of community service, he said, and helped him build a network of friends and associates that has remained strong through the years.

Being a resident assistant prepared Tony to manage tasks, resolve conflicts and lead others, he said. “I remember the initial training for the position, where we had to role-play and go through real-life scenarios. I learned how to become a really great listener — versus just jumping in and trying to solve a problem. I still use those skills in my work,” he said.

Tony was a member of the App State Gospel Choir, led by former App State Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Willie Fleming ’80 ’84, who, at the time, served as App State’s director of minority affairs — known today as intercultural student affairs.

“We traveled to a lot of different places with the choir, and having those new experiences and being mentored by a great man such as Dr. Fleming helped me become who I am today,” Tony shared.

View larger image

Tony Harris II, center, with his father, Tony Harris Sr. ’92, left, and his grandmother, Wanda Sinclair. Tony II is a first-year student at App State and is majoring in risk management and insurance — following in his father’s footsteps. He is a Fleming Scholar and a member of App State’s football program. Photo submitted

Father, coach and leader

Tony is married to Melissa Harris, and together they serve in ministry at Empowerment Church in Charlotte. While their children Lundyn, Jaeda and Tony II are all Mountaineers, their daughter Joy Harris is a senior at another University of North Carolina System campus — North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, where she is majoring in sports science and fitness management with a minor in psychology.

Outside the office, Tony Sr. volunteers as a coach for Little League and high school football and track.

Tony has maintained his ties with App State through the African American Alumni Network and Alpha Phi Alpha. He also serves on the advisory board for Walker College of Business’ Brantley Risk and Insurance Center.

He regularly attends App State football games and has brought his family to Homecoming for years. When the time came, he encouraged his children to apply to his alma mater.

“I told them App State has a good, solid reputation in academics, and the networks they could develop would help them in their careers and lives,” he said.

View larger image

Lundyn Harris ’16 holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from App State. Photo submitted

Lundyn Harris ’16

Lundyn Harris ’16 earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from App State in 2016 and is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in psychology with a clinical concentration at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham.

Last summer, Lundyn interned with the Orlando Magic NBA team, an opportunity funded through the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the NBA.

“My future goals include becoming a sports psychologist, and this was my opportunity to see what working for a professional sports team was like,” Lundyn said.

She is interning at a middle school where she counsels students and performs psychoeducational assessments. She is also conducting research with the Chambers Biomedical and Biotechnology Research Institute at NCCU. After earning her master’s degree, Lundyn plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical health psychology.

Lundyn chose App State for her undergraduate degree because of her family connection, she said. “Dad always spoke so highly of his experience there. While visiting with him and my mother, I enjoyed being around the people. The scenery and mountains were a sight to behold. When the time came for me to choose a college, I knew App State was where I wanted to be,” she shared.

While at App State, Lundyn was a Diversity Scholar and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. “Both organizations prepared me for the future in a positive way, by providing a space for me to establish lifelong friendships, give back to others through service and discuss issues that were impacting us while attending App State as a minority,” she said.

As a legacy Mountaineer, Lundyn said she was able to connect with people her father knew, while also making her own connections. “The best part of this legacy is attending Homecoming with my family — something I look forward to every year,” she said.

View larger image

Jaeda Harris is a sophomore at App State and majors in biology with a concentration in cellular/molecular biology. Photo submitted

Jaeda Harris

Jaeda Harris is an App State sophomore majoring in biology with a concentration in cellular/molecular biology. She is a member of App State’s women’s track and field team and specializes in throws. Like her father, Jaeda also serves as a resident assistant.

Jaeda chose to attend App State due to the university’s “outstanding biology program,” she said. She received an athletic scholarship, which impacted her decision as well.

When talking with her family about becoming a Mountaineer, Jaeda said, “They had different experiences, but good ones in their own ways. I realized I wanted that as well.”

As a legacy Mountaineer, Jaeda said she has plenty of people to reach out to when away from home — contacts that her sister and father shared from their time at App State. After she graduates, Jaeda plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a pediatrician.

View larger image

First-year App State student Tony Harris II is a Fleming Scholar majoring in risk management and insurance. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Tony Harris II

Tony Harris II is following in his father’s footsteps by majoring in risk management and insurance at App State. He is a 2022–23 Fleming Scholar and a member of the App State football program.

Tony said being a Mountaineer “runs in the family.” Attending App State was an easy decision for him, he added.

“When I was a kid, I went to the Homecoming game nearly every year and got to experience the environment of being a Mountaineer — the fans cheering on the football team and being passionate about it. A lot of schools don’t have the amazing fans we have. When I committed to App State, I knew the great things to expect,” he said.

Tony said he was inspired by his father to major in risk management and insurance. “There are many different things I can do with this major, and I can learn a broad range of information that will help me in everyday life,” he said.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Risk Management and Insurance (BSBA)
Risk Management and Insurance (BSBA)

Appalachian State University’s Risk Management and Insurance (BSBA) degree prepares you for a variety of professions within the greater risk and insurance field, including: general management, underwriting, claims, agency sales and operations, brokerage, surplus lines, risk management and reinsurance specialties. With so many career paths, potential work environments include office, home and field.

Learn more
App State recognizes 2022–23 Fleming Scholarship recipients
App State recognizes 2022–23 Fleming Scholarship recipients
Nov. 10, 2022

App State recognizes the 2022–23 recipients of the Fleming Scholarship, which is named in honor of Dr. Willie C. Fleming — a leader in diversity and inclusion at App State for nearly four decades.

Read the story
A legacy of leadership at App State and beyond: Meet 7 National Pan-Hellenic Council alumni
A legacy of leadership at App State and beyond: Meet 7 National Pan-Hellenic Council alumni
Feb. 21, 2022

Members of App State’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) fraternities and sororities have built a legacy of leadership and service — both on and off campus.

Read the story

About the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance

The Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance develops leaders for business, government and education by offering a Bachelor of Science in business administration in two specializations: finance and banking, and risk management and insurance. Learn more at https://finance.appstate.edu.

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 their communities, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling more than 4,000 undergraduates in 11 majors, Walker College has the highest enrollment of full-time undergraduate students in the University of North Carolina System, and more than 250 graduate students are enrolled in the college’s three master’s programs. App State’s Walker College is accredited by AACSB International — the premier global accrediting body for business schools. Learn more at https://business.appstate.edu.

About the Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology

Appalachian State University’s Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology serves more than 1,400 undergraduate majors seeking the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, as well as 90 graduate students across four graduate programs: experimental psychology (MA), industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management (MA), school psychology (MA/SSP) and clinical psychology (PsyD). Learn more at https://psych.appstate.edu.

About the Department of Biology

The Department of Biology is a community of teacher-scholars, with faculty representing the full breadth of biological specializations — from molecular genetics to landscape/ecosystem ecology. The department seeks to produce graduates with sound scientific knowledge, the skills to create new knowledge, and the excitement and appreciation of scientific discovery. Learn more at https://biology.appstate.edu.

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.

“I enjoy being able to help others achieve their desired goals. As a risk professional, it is by nature that I identify gaps and collaborate with others to minimize risks.”

Tony Harris Sr. ’92, associate vice president of risk, safety and security at Central Piedmont Community College

“You’re never alone in something. You just need to be open and communicate with professors or people in charge when dealing with problems.”

App State alumnus Tony Harris Sr. ’92

Risk Management and Insurance (BSBA)
Risk Management and Insurance (BSBA)

Appalachian State University’s Risk Management and Insurance (BSBA) degree prepares you for a variety of professions within the greater risk and insurance field, including: general management, underwriting, claims, agency sales and operations, brokerage, surplus lines, risk management and reinsurance specialties. With so many career paths, potential work environments include office, home and field.

Learn more
App State recognizes 2022–23 Fleming Scholarship recipients
App State recognizes 2022–23 Fleming Scholarship recipients
Nov. 10, 2022

App State recognizes the 2022–23 recipients of the Fleming Scholarship, which is named in honor of Dr. Willie C. Fleming — a leader in diversity and inclusion at App State for nearly four decades.

Read the story
A legacy of leadership at App State and beyond: Meet 7 National Pan-Hellenic Council alumni
A legacy of leadership at App State and beyond: Meet 7 National Pan-Hellenic Council alumni
Feb. 21, 2022

Members of App State’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) fraternities and sororities have built a legacy of leadership and service — both on and off campus.

Read the story

Share

Topics

  • Alumni
  • Diversity
  • Scholarships
  • Students

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

Share

Topics

  • Alumni
  • Diversity
  • Scholarships
  • Students

Other Recent Posts

  • Student research and creative projects spotlighted at App State’s annual showcase
    Student research and creative projects spotlighted at App State’s annual showcase
  • Will Sears appointed vice chancellor of university advancement at App State
    Will Sears appointed vice chancellor of university advancement at App State
  • N.C. Governor Josh Stein to address graduates at App State commencement
    N.C. Governor Josh Stein to address graduates at App State commencement
  • App State honors 29 students, faculty and staff with 2025 Awards of Distinction
    App State honors 29 students, faculty and staff with 2025 Awards of Distinction
  • App State to offer AI concentration in master’s programs [faculty featured]
    App State to offer AI concentration in master’s programs [faculty featured]
    WFDD
  • Campus emergency siren test to be conducted May 7
    Campus emergency siren test to be conducted May 7
  • App State students help restore national wildlife refuge as part of Alternative Service Experience
    App State students help restore national wildlife refuge as part of Alternative Service Experience
  • Dr. Neva J. Specht appointed App State executive vice chancellor and provost
    Dr. Neva J. Specht appointed App State executive vice chancellor and provost
  • $2 million grant funds scholarships, supports STEM education for over 50 App State students
    $2 million grant funds scholarships, supports STEM education for over 50 App State students
  • App State named Military Friendly School for 16th consecutive year, ranked a top 10 institution for 2025–26
    App State named Military Friendly School for 16th consecutive year, ranked a top 10 institution for 2025–26
  • Explore the future of business with new AI master’s degree tracks at App State
    Explore the future of business with new AI master’s degree tracks at App State
  • 12th annual iBackAPP Day of Giving draws over 3,100 App State supporters worldwide
    12th annual iBackAPP Day of Giving draws over 3,100 App State supporters worldwide

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the News
  • Research & Arts
  • Awards
  • Experts
  • All News
  • Topics
  • Subscribe
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact

App State

Copyright 2025 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.

University Communications
ASU Box 32153
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6156
[email protected]

Abouts

Disclaimer | EO Policy | Accessibility | Website manager: montaldipa (beltmr) .. | Website Feedback

Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Snapchat