RALEIGH, N.C. — University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans today announced the formation of a 13-member committee that will search for the next chancellor of Appalachian State University.

Deanna Ballard, a former state senator who represented Watauga County from 2016 to 2023, will chair the search advisory committee.

“I’m grateful to Sen. Ballard for agreeing to serve in this important role,” Hans said. “She has strong ties to the Boone community and has been one of App State’s biggest champions. I also want to thank Trustee Chair Mark Ricks for his stalwart support of his alma mater. We are fortunate to have a group of dedicated individuals who will come together to find the next leader of this great university.”

“I’m no stranger to climbing these mountains, and look forward to scaling new heights with faculty, staff, students, trustees and alumni as we consider the range of talents and skills needed in our next chancellor,” Ballard said. “I’m genuinely honored to work alongside fellow committee members, who care deeply about the future of App State.”

Under UNC System policy, the search advisory committee is composed of up to 13 voting members, including representatives of the trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni. The committee also calls for a current or former chancellor of a UNC System institution to serve, as well as members of the UNC Board of Governors and the president or his designee.

Opportunities for public input will be available during the search process, including an online survey and in-person listening sessions. Forums will be held in the fall semester.

More information about the search process will be available soon on the App State website.

The members of the committee are:

• Deanna Ballard, former state senator who served Senate District 45, representing Watauga County (2016–23), chair of the search advisory committee
• Brandon Adcock (‘06), CEO of Wellful, Inc. and co-founder of Adaptive Health
• Dr. Jacqui Bergman, Faculty Senate chair, professor, Department of Management
• Philip Byers (‘85), UNC Board of Governors campus liaison
• Peter Hans, UNC System president
• Scott Lampe (‘94), Board of Trustees member
• Kathryn Long, student body president, Honors College student majoring in communications sciences and disorders from Jackson, N.C.
• Wendy Murphy, UNC Board of Governors chair
• Mark E. Ricks (‘89), App State Board of Trustees chair
• R. Thomas “Tommy” Sofield, Jr. (‘76), App State Board of Trustees vice chair
• Courtney Thompson (’17), staff representative, assistant director of university events scheduling and communications
• Dr. Kimberly van Noort, chancellor of the University of North Carolina Asheville
• Brad Wilson (‘75), CEO Emeritus of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina

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About the University of North Carolina System

The University of North Carolina System enrolls 242,500 students at 17 institutions, including the state’s 16 public universities and the nation’s first public residential high school for academically gifted students. The UNC System is among the strongest and most diverse higher education systems in the country, with more than $1.9 billion in research expenditures and campuses that serve every region of North Carolina. Affiliate organizations include PBS North Carolina, with 12 public television stations across the state, and UNC Health, with 19 hospital campuses and an extensive healthcare network. Learn more at northcarolina.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.