App State Chancellor Heather Norris at the welcome event celebrating her appointment as chancellor of Appalachian State University, held Feb. 27 in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility. She is pictured interacting with members of App State’s Mountaineers cheerleading team, who were in attendance to help celebrate her. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris named chancellor of Appalachian State University
Norris assumes role with more than 2 decades of academic leadership, vision and expertise
“It is my honor to continue to advance the mission of our university, which I dearly love. For over 20 years now, I have had the distinct pleasure of serving this great university and the surrounding communities in a multitude of roles, including in my most recent role as interim chancellor.”
App State Chancellor Heather Norris
“This is an exciting time for App State. Having just achieved Research 2 status, we’re well-positioned to lead innovation in research and creative endeavors for the western part of the state, driving economic development that will help with hurricane recovery and improving economic well-being and quality of life for our region for decades to come. We have the perfect person at the helm to move us forward.”
App State Board of Trustees Chair Mark E. Ricks
By University Communications
Posted Feb. 27, 2025 at 11 a.m.
BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris has been named chancellor of Appalachian State University, effective March 1. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans made the announcement upon election by the Board of Governors of the 17-campus University of North Carolina System on Feb. 27.
“It is my honor to continue to advance the mission of our university, which I dearly love. For over 20 years now, I have had the distinct pleasure of serving this great university and the surrounding communities in a multitude of roles, including in my most recent role as interim chancellor.”
App State Chancellor Heather Norris
“Dr. Norris has been a widely respected leader and scholar in the Appalachian community for more than two decades, and her service as interim chancellor since last April has been exemplary,” Hans said. “Dr. Norris has risen steadily through the ranks of academic and campus leadership, showing a deep capacity for aligning institutional incentives to student success in a way that has strengthened her university and benefitted a generation of Mountaineer graduates.
“Everyone who has worked with Dr. Norris praises her ability to take on complex problems without losing sight of the university’s core mission of service,” Hans said.
Appalachian State University welcomed its newest chancellor — Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris — on Feb. 27, following the announcement of her appointment by the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors. At the welcome event celebrating her appointment, held in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility, Chancellor Norris was greeted by guests with cheers and applause, and she took a moment to give a fist bump to App State Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs J.J. Brown, second from left in the foreground. Members of the Chancellor’s Cabinet in attendance included (pictured from left to right in the foreground): Acting Provost Neva J. Specht, Vice Chancellor Brown, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin, Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management Troy Johnson, Interim Vice Chancellor of University Advancement Will Sears and Interim Chief Financial Officer John Adams. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State Chancellor Heather Norris at the welcome event celebrating her appointment as chancellor of Appalachian State University, held Feb. 27 in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility. She is pictured interacting with members of App State’s Mountaineers cheerleading team, who were in attendance to help celebrate her. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris delivers remarks at the welcome event celebrating her appointment as the newest chancellor of Appalachian State University, held Feb. 27 in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility. App State mascot Yosef, as well as members of the Mountaineer cheerleading team and the Hayes School of Music's Marching Mountaineers, look on in the background. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Former North Carolina Sen. Deanna Ballard, who served as chair of App State’s 13-member Chancellor Search Advisory Committee, speaks at the welcome event honoring Appalachian State University’s newest chancellor — Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris. The event was held Feb. 27 in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility. Chancellor Norris was elected to the position by the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors after a national search. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris gives a Mountaineer smile after delivering remarks at the welcome event celebrating her appointment as App State’s newest chancellor, held Feb. 27 in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Pictured at left in the foreground is App State Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tommy Sofield ’76 at the welcome event honoring App State’s newest chancellor — Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. The welcome event was held Feb. 27 in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris, center, is joined by her daughter, Emma, and her husband, Robert, a 1987 alumnus of App State and retired App State staff member, at the welcome event celebrating her appointment as App State’s newest chancellor. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. The welcome event was held Feb. 27 in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tommy Sofield ’76 brings congratulatory remarks to App State’s newest chancellor — Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris — on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Chancellor Norris was elected to the position by the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors on Feb. 27, after having served 10 months in the interim role. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris, center, with App State student body president Kathryn Long, third from right in the front row, student body vice president Amarah Din, fourth from left in the front row, and other members of App State’s Student Government Association at the welcome event celebrating Norris’ appointment as App State’s newest chancellor, held Feb. 27 in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility. Margaret McCoy, executive director of university events at App State, is pictured at left in the background. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Pictured in the foreground are App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris, right, and Dr. Rita Joyner, practitioner-in-residence in App State’s Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment. A meet and greet for Norris, App State’s newest chancellor, was held Feb. 27 in Plemmons Student Union on the Boone campus. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Chase Reynolds
App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris, center, Walker College of Business Dean Sandra Vanny, left, and Reich College of Education Dean Melba Spooner pose for a photo at the meet and greet event for Norris, App State’s newest chancellor. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ chancellor appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. The meet and greet was held Feb. 27 in Plemmons Student Union on the Boone campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds
App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris, center, is pictured with Dr. Neel Das, professor in the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management and director of App State’s Master of Business Administration program, right, and Dr. Anindita Das, senior lecturer in App State’s First Year Seminar program, at a meet and greet for Norris, App State’s newest chancellor, held Feb. 27 in Plemmons Student Union on the Boone campus. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Chase Reynolds
J.P. Neri, center, a senior history major from Raleigh and the 2023–24 student body president at App State, chats with Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs J.J. Brown, far right, at a meet and greet event held for Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris, App State’s newest chancellor, on Feb. 27 in Plemmons Student Union on the Boone campus. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris, right, snaps a photo with Pam Walker, director of App State’s Campus Store, at a meet and greet for Norris, App State’s newest chancellor, held Feb. 27 in Plemmons Student Union on the Boone campus. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris, right, speaks with Kay Borkowski, a retired App State faculty member and the wife of former App State Chancellor Francis Thomas Borkowski, who passed away in January. They are pictured at a meet and greet event for Norris that was held Feb. 27 on the Boone campus, following Norris’ appointment as chancellor by the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors. Photo by Chase Reynolds
App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris, center, with former App State head football coach Jerry Moore, right, and his wife, and Margaret Moore, at the Feb. 28 meet and greet event held for Norris, App State’s newest chancellor, in the atrium at App State’s Hickory campus. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ chancellor appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Chase Reynolds
App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris, right, with Dr. Mark Poarch, president of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI), at the Feb. 28 meet and greet event held for Norris, App State’s newest chancellor, in the atrium at App State’s Hickory campus. CCC&TI is one of 27 partner community colleges in App State’s Aspire Appalachian program, which provides a streamlined path for students to complete their bachelor’s degrees at App State. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ chancellor appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Pictured in the foreground, App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris, far left, with App State alumnus David Mofford ’09, third from left, his husband, Zac Giffin, second from right, and Dr. Amy Wood, director of corporate and community relations in App State’s Division of University Advancement, second from left, at the Feb. 28 meet and greet event held for Norris, App State’s newest chancellor, in the atrium at App State’s Hickory campus. The university’s Hickory campus Food Hub was dedicated in honor of Mofford and Giffin on Feb. 28. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ chancellor appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Chase Reynolds
City of Lenoir Mayor Joseph L. Gibbons, right in the foreground, speaks with Margaret Moore, wife of former App State head football coach Jerry Moore, at the Feb. 28 meet and greet event held for Norris, App State’s newest chancellor, in the atrium at App State’s Hickory campus. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ chancellor appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Chase Reynolds
App State Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management Troy Johnson, second from right, and Anthony Starr, executive director at Western Piedmont Council of Governments, far left, are pictured at the Feb. 28 meet and greet event held for Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris, App State’s newest chancellor, in the atrium at App State’s Hickory campus. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ chancellor appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Pictured in the foreground, App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris, third from left, speaks with Lizzie Muscarello, interprofessional clinic program manager in the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness at App State’s Beaver College of Health Sciences, second from left, Karen Laws, information desk and lobby manager at the Hickory campus, second from right, and Emily Cunningham, academic advisor in the College Advising and Support Services Hub at App State’s College of Arts and Sciences, far right, at the Feb. 28 meet and greet event held for Norris, App State’s newest chancellor, in the atrium at App State’s Hickory campus. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ chancellor appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Pictured in the foreground, App State Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris, left, speaks with Dr. Michael Madritch, dean of App State’s College of Arts and Sciences, at the Feb. 28 meet and greet event held for Norris, App State’s newest chancellor, in the atrium at App State’s Hickory campus. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans announced Norris’ chancellor appointment as part of the UNC System Board of Governors’ Feb. 27 meeting, upon her election by the board. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Additionally, Hans praised Norris for her “steady, healing presence” in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene last fall and her work to bring the university and community together in a shared commitment to the region.
UNC Board of Governors Chair Wendy Murphy, who served on the Chancellor Search Advisory Committee, said Norris’ experience and her financial expertise would be an advantage for the university.
“Dr. Norris has held successful leadership roles at the university for years,” Murphy said. “She is a bridge builder and a great champion for students, and I look forward to seeing App State continue to thrive under her watch.”
“This is an exciting time for App State,” Ricks said. “Having just achieved Research 2 status, we’re well-positioned to lead innovation in research and creative endeavors for the western part of the state, driving economic development that will help with hurricane recovery and improving economic well-being and quality of life for our region for decades to come. We have the perfect person at the helm to move us forward.”
Ricks thanked Hans and Murphy “for their leadership and for choosing the best candidate we could hope for as our university’s next chancellor.”
“This is an exciting time for App State. Having just achieved Research 2 status, we’re well-positioned to lead innovation in research and creative endeavors for the western part of the state, driving economic development that will help with hurricane recovery and improving economic well-being and quality of life for our region for decades to come. We have the perfect person at the helm to move us forward.”
App State Board of Trustees Chair Mark E. Ricks
Pictured in May 2024, App State Chancellor Heather Norris applauds the newest graduates of the university during the Spring 2024 Commencement, held May 10 and 11 in Holmes Convocation Center on the Boone campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“Our diverse and highly qualified candidate pool was exceptional; however, Dr. Norris’ deep-rooted connection to the institution, her ability to foster stability on and off campus during critical times and her sincere dedication to our community distinguished her. I am optimistic about the positive energy and fresh ideas she will bring as she fully assumes her role.”
North Carolina Sen. Deanna Ballard, chair of App State’s Chancellor’s Search Advisory Committee
Norris’ career has been characterized by her strong, collaborative leadership and service to both App State and the greater community, and she brings more than two decades of academic leadership, vision and expertise to her role as chancellor.
“It is my honor to continue to advance the mission of our university, which I dearly love,” Norris said. “For over 20 years now, I have had the distinct pleasure of serving this great university and the surrounding communities in a multitude of roles, including in my most recent role as interim chancellor.”
Norris has extensive personal and professional connections to the university’s surrounding communities in the Boone and Hickory areas.
“In addition to my passion for academic excellence and student success, I have a deep appreciation for App State’s mountain heritage and its role in the High Country and Catawba Valley regions,” she said. “I have lived for most of my life in rural Appalachia, and rural Western North Carolina has been my home for over 20 years. I have built my life here, and generations of my family live here.”
“Our diverse and highly qualified candidate pool was exceptional; however, Dr. Norris’ deep-rooted connection to the institution, her ability to foster stability on and off campus during critical times and her sincere dedication to our community distinguished her. I am optimistic about the positive energy and fresh ideas she will bring as she fully assumes her role.”
North Carolina Sen. Deanna Ballard, chair of App State’s Chancellor’s Search Advisory Committee
App State Chancellor Heather Norris, right in foreground, visits the App State Mountaineers softball team. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Norris pledged to continue the work she and her leadership team have undertaken to improve the university’s relationships with its surrounding communities in the Boone and Hickory areas.
“From my first days as interim chancellor, I recognized the need for App State to bolster relationships, and, in some cases, to rebuild, repair and restore trust with our constituent groups,” Norris said. “In partnership with our Board of Trustees and my leadership team, I earnestly set about that work, which we pledge to continue, recognizing that building and maintaining relationships requires ongoing commitment.”
More than 40 applicants applied for the position. The search process began in August 2024 and was paused for several weeks as the university and region were forced to respond to and begin recovery efforts from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
The search included a series of listening sessions and sought input from students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the greater community, who shared their thoughts and opinions about what qualities App State’s next chancellor should have.
Pictured in September 2024, App State Chancellor Heather Norris, center, and Hank Foreman, App State vice chancellor of external affairs and strategic initiatives and chief of staff, listen to Watauga County Director of Emergency Management Will Holt, far right, during a visit to Watauga County's Emergency Operations Center on Sept. 30. Photo by Chase Reynolds
App State Chancellor Heather Norris, second from right in the foreground, speaks with members of App State’s Council of Chairs at the council’s holiday reception, held in December 2024. The council consists of all academic department chairpersons, the dean or associate dean of libraries, the assistant or associate dean of music, the director of Appalachian studies and, on an ex-officio and non-voting basis, the chair of Faculty Senate.
Finalists for the position, whose names will remain confidential, participated in campus visits and were able to meet with representatives from the student body, staff, faculty, administration, leadership boards, alumni and community members. Sen. Deanna Ballard, who served as chair of the 13-member Chancellor Search Advisory Committee, thanked everyone who participated in the process, from the open listening sessions to the final interviews, for their engagement and commitment to the integrity of the search, and also expressed her thanks to the committee.
“Our diverse and highly qualified candidate pool was exceptional; however, Dr. Norris’ deep-rooted connection to the institution, her ability to foster stability on and off campus during critical times and her sincere dedication to our community distinguished her,” said Ballard. “I am optimistic about the positive energy and fresh ideas she will bring as she fully assumes her role.”
Norris thanked Hans, Murphy, the Board of Governors, the App State Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni. She also recognized her leadership team, which has supported her in her leadership of the university since the resignation of Dr. Sheri Everts from the position in April 2024. In particular, said Norris, her leadership team “helped ensure our institution was literally a beacon in the storm when Hurricane Helene devastated our area in September.”
App State Chancellor Heather Norris, second from right, speaks with students during her tour of the Boone campus on Oct. 16, 2024. App State’s Boone campus sustained significant impacts from the flooding and storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene — one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the institution — which hit the Boone area on Sept. 27, 2024. Photo by Chase Reynolds
App State — ensuring access and educational excellence
With a national reputation for opening access to educational excellence, App State, now in its 125th year, enrolls more than 21,500 students at its Boone and Hickory campuses and online. The university recently earned a Research 2 designation for high research activity and doctorate production through the Carnegie Classification system, the nation’s leading framework for categorizing U.S. higher education institutions. App State is one of only five North Carolina public and private universities and colleges with an R2 designation. In fiscal year 2024, App State set a university record for research funding, securing more than $25 million in awards for faculty and staff projects. Over the last five years, App State’s funded research has increased by nearly 75%. The university’s new R2 designation opens the door for additional opportunities for students to conduct groundbreaking research and advance creative endeavors side-by-side with faculty and staff.
With a strong national reputation for academic excellence, App State also enjoys a dedicated and enthusiastic national fan base for the more than 400 student-athletes who compete in 17 NCAA Division I varsity sports. App State’s championship football team has enjoyed unprecedented success at the highest level of Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision) with seven bowl wins in its first 10 years at the FBS level and four Sun Belt Conference championships. App State student-athletes in all sports pursue daily comprehensive excellence in academics, competition and community involvement. Fall 2024 marked the 25th straight semester with a cumulative GPA above 3.0 among student-athletes.
App State hosts vibrant arts and humanities programming year-round to enrich the cultural and intellectual climate of its campus communities and the region. App State’s Boone campus is home to 14 exhibition and performance venues, including the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts — a state-of-the-art, 1,660-seat venue that is home to a multitude of campus and community events, as well as visiting artists from across the region, nation and world — and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, which features six galleries with changing exhibitions of contemporary artworks by regional, national and international artists. An Appalachian Summer is the university’s monthlong annual celebration of the performing and visual arts, with a mix of music, dance, theater, visual arts and film programming held in venues across the Boone campus. Over its 40 seasons, An Appalachian Summer, which began as a chamber music series, has evolved into one of the nation’s most highly celebrated arts events, respected for both the breadth and quality of its artistic programming.
Pictured during the Welcome Lunch for the 2024 North Carolina School of Banking program, held July 22–26, 2024, at App State’s Boone campus, are, from left to right in foreground, North Carolina School of Banking (NCSB) Dean and App State professor Dr. Harry Davis; App State Chancellor Heather Norris; Jon Kilberg, senior manager at Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Virginia, and an NCSB Instructor; Dr. Justin Cox, assistant professor in App State’s Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance and an NCSB instructor; and App State alumnus Steven Overcash ’09, senior vice president at Encore Bank in Winston-Salem, who is an NCSB first-year student. Photo by Chase Reynolds
About Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris
“As a faculty member, administrator and individual, I value academic freedom and freedom of expression, as well as honesty and integrity,” said Norris. “At heart, I am a servant leader. I understand that our best efforts involve working collaboratively together, and I actively seek out and listen to advice from our many constituent groups.”
Norris arrived at App State in 2003 as assistant professor in the Walker College of Business’ Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance. She became assistant dean for undergraduate programs in 2005 and interim dean in 2015. A national search led to her being chosen as the seventh dean of the Walker College of Business in 2016. During her time as dean of the Walker College of Business, the college grew its fundraising by nearly 70%, securing three endowed professorships and undergoing a major remodeling.
She became provost and executive vice chancellor on an interim basis in 2020 and fully in 2021. As provost, she remained active in the creation of new endowed professorships and redeveloped an existing vice provost role to become vice provost for research and innovation, to focus more strategically on universitywide innovation opportunities that show strong potential for local and regional economic impact.
On April 19, 2024, Hans announced her appointment as interim chancellor, succeeding Everts. As provost and executive vice chancellor, she oversaw the development of the university’s 2022–27 strategic plan, as well as other strategic efforts focused on academic affairs, on research, scholarship and creative activities, and on App State’s Quality Enhancement Plan through 2029.
Pictured in May 2024, App State Chancellor Heather Norris interacts with App State staff members during the university’s annual Staff Appreciation Event, held May 17 in the Holmes Convocation Center. This annual event recognizes App State staff, who are fundamental to the university’s operational success. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Coordinated efforts with the community to respond to and recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene — one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the institution.
Formed a partnership with Project Kitty Hawk, a nonprofit affiliate of the UNC System, to offer five streamlined App State Online degree programs in 2024–25, all designed for nontraditional learners — part of a statewide effort to expand higher education access to millions of working adults in North Carolina. In January 2025, the UNC System Board of Governors voted to appoint Chancellor Norris to the Project Kitty Hawk Board of Directors.
Expanded the Aspire Appalachian program to include partnerships with 27 North Carolina community colleges, providing a seamless pathway for transfer students across the state to complete their four-year degrees at App State.
Launched a comprehensive Civic Literacy Initiative aimed at fostering a nonpartisan, civically engaged and informed university community. Launched in fall 2024, the program includes a strong focus on helping students develop skills to effectively build constructive dialogue around difficult topics and discuss challenging societal issues.
Established a cross-divisional Chancellor’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force to create guidance and recommendations for AI use across the university while also enhancing protective measures for institutional security and individual privacy.
Worked on a capital projects review and six-year capital plan — a collaborative effort between campus leadership, App State’s Board of Trustees and members of the UNC System Office and Board of Governors. This plan for capital improvements and repairs ensures the built environment at App State is designed to both support and advance the university’s core missions of teaching, scholarship and service.
On April 29, App State and Project Kitty Hawk (PKH) signed an agreement that will help remove barriers to educational access and increase career readiness and advancement, particularly for adult learners in North Carolina. App State has launched five online degree programs supported by the project in the 2024–25 academic year. Pictured, from left to right, are PKH Chief Operating Officer David Eby, App State Chancellor Heather Norris and UNC System Executive Vice President and PKH Interim President and CEO Andrew Kelly. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Beyond her professional endeavors, Norris has many years of service as a volunteer on boards of directors for organizations in the region, including for Children’s Hope Alliance and the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior to her time at App State, she held faculty positions at Bowling Green State University, Pennsylvania State University and West Virginia University.
“I was first drawn to App State as a finance faculty member in 2003 because of the university’s stated mission of academic excellence and student success, which aligned perfectly with my passion to support students, both inside and outside the classroom,” said Norris. “I am proud that providing access to high-quality education and support for student success remain our focus today. It is my great honor to continue to serve, building upon the excellence that was established by our founders 125 years ago.”
Norris holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from James Madison University and master’s and doctoral degrees in finance from Penn State. Norris and her husband, Robert, a 1987 alumnus of App State and retired App State staff member, have one daughter, Emma. Her father, David Hulburt, also lives locally, and Norris thanked her family for their strong support.
Read below for UNC System President Peter Hans’ Feb. 27 statement nominating Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris to be App State’s next chancellor.
Appalachian State is one of the best-loved universities in the country. Mountaineers are proud of their campus, proud of their history and fiercely proud of what a once-small mountain academy has grown to become. And well they should be. It has been exciting to see Appalachian State grow into a powerhouse for the region and the state.
And it has been a joy to contemplate its next era alongside many thoughtful, hopeful, committed supporters of the place over these last few months. Appalachian needs a leader who can welcome the earnest enthusiasm that so many people feel for this campus; someone who can embrace a growing community with an open and generous spirit; someone with the experience and hard-earned expertise to strengthen this vital engine of economic growth and upward opportunity. I am happy to say that after a comprehensive and encouraging search, we have found that leader.
Today, it’s my honor to nominate someone who knows this university top to bottom; someone who loves the mountains and cherishes App State’s service to the region; someone with the patience and steady temperament to build relationships and unite the Appalachian community behind an ambitious vision for one of the country’s most inviting public universities. It’s my honor to nominate Dr. Heather Norris as the next chancellor of Appalachian State University.
Dr. Norris has been a widely respected leader and scholar in the Appalachian community for more than two decades, and her service as interim chancellor since last April has been exemplary. Since coming to App State as a professor of finance in 2003, Dr. Norris has risen steadily through the ranks of academic and campus leadership, showing a deep capacity for aligning institutional incentives to student success in a way that has strengthened her university and benefitted a generation of Mountaineer graduates. Everyone who has worked with Dr. Norris praises her ability to take on complex problems without losing sight of the university’s core mission of service.
Her breadth of experience across Appalachian State’s academic programs, operational needs and external relationships gives Dr. Norris the capacity to hit the ground running as chancellor, to channel the momentum and enthusiasm of the Mountaineers as the campus and the wider region continue to expand and confront the challenges of responsible growth.
I also believe you learn a great deal about a person’s heart and their commitment during a crisis. And Interim Chancellor Norris has been a steady, healing presence through the very difficult months following Hurricane Helene. Just seeing the news coverage of this university in the weeks after the disaster, you got a clear sense of a community coming together, leaning into the mission of serving the wider region, and drawing strength from a shared ordeal. That’s evidence of real leadership, and I am personally grateful for the grace and goodwill that Dr. Norris and her team have cultivated since last fall. Every time I’ve visited Boone since the storm struck, I’ve heard about Dr. Norris’ reassuring approach to working with the community and welcoming involvement from across campus. That confident and healing approach to leadership is exactly what this moment demands, and it’s been wonderful to witness during these last few months. We need App State to be open to all and serve all.
Dr. Norris also brings a wealth of finance and operations experience to a role that will demand a great deal of both. Appalachian State is an enormous enterprise and growing larger still. The university is a keystone for the entire region, supporting one of every 14 jobs in the five surrounding counties and serving as the cultural and economic anchor for one of the fastest-growing areas in North Carolina. Responsibly managing the challenges of growth and investment is one of the most important tasks for App State’s next leader, and it gives me a great deal of confidence to know we have a finance expert, former business school dean and proven campus leader at the helm.
Dr. Norris has shown a profound appreciation for App State’s role in our state; its service to the mountain region; and its unique place within the UNC System. It’s hard to believe when you visit Appalachian’s beautiful and bustling campus today, but this university began as a small teaching academy to help reach students in the “lost provinces” of the mountain west, a way to bring quality education to what was an isolated and almost entirely rural corner of our state. It’s that and so much more today.
That sense of mission remains in the DNA of App State, and it shines through in the work that Dr. Norris has championed as a faculty member, the business school dean, provost and interim chancellor. In every role, her commitment to delivering value for students has been clear, and it has already made a difference at Appalachian. She not only embraced the work of assessing outcomes and value for students but has pushed to make that a core metric for program review. She knows this institution exists to educate the nurses, teachers, business owners and civic leaders that we need to thrive, and she has been creative and open-minded in finding innovative ways to cultivate talent and serve the needs of this region. Amid shifting demographics and a fast-changing economy, Dr. Norris has embraced online education to support high-demand fields, championed the university’s working adult-focused campus in Hickory, pushed relentlessly for improvements in retention and graduation, and will soon launch an overdue capital campaign.
And she has shown a genuine excitement about tapping the energy of Appalachian alumni, near and far, to help drive the next era of achievement for the Mountaineers. This is a university that inspires intense devotion from those lucky enough to have studied here, and all of those who relish an afternoon game at The Rock or a show at the Schaefer Center. Welcoming the enthusiasm that people have for Appalachian and finding ways to put that passion to good use on behalf of students and the wider region will be crucial for shaping the university’s next era.
With a sense of unity and shared purpose, I believe Appalachian State can be among the strongest, best-performing public universities in the nation, a place celebrated for balancing academic rigor with the kind energizing, uplifting college experience unique to the mountains. Heather Norris has already proven that she’s the right person to bring the App State community together, and to deepen this university’s 125-year-old legacy. I am eager for the good work and changes ahead.
My sincere thanks to the members of the search advisory committee, who succeeded in making this an exciting and optimistic moment for Appalachian State. I am especially grateful to Deanna Ballard for chairing our efforts and demonstrating her devotion to serving North Carolina. I believe all of us came away from this process with a newfound appreciation for just how beloved and admired Appalachian State is across North Carolina and across higher education nationally. Our public universities are doing an excellent job at both attracting talent and cultivating our own, and it’s gratifying to see how our steady commitment to higher education is making a difference in the trajectory of our institutions.
Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris, who has served as interim chancellor at Appalachian State University since April of 2024, was elected the university’s next chancellor today by the UNC Board of Governors on Feb. 27. UNC System President Peter Hans recommended Norris to lead the university, which enrolls more than 21,000 students and has campuses in Boone and Hickory. Norris will begin as chancellor on March 1.
Watch the livestream of remarks given Feb. 27 by App State Chancellor Heather Norris, Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tommy Sofield and Chancellor Search Advisory Committee Chair Deanna Ballard.
Provost and executive vice chancellor Heather Norris assumes the role of interim chancellor
April 19, 2024
University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans has named Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris as the interim chancellor for Appalachian State University. She succeeds Sheri Everts, who stepped down as chancellor after 10 years. The appointment became effective April 19.
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.
“It is my honor to continue to advance the mission of our university, which I dearly love. For over 20 years now, I have had the distinct pleasure of serving this great university and the surrounding communities in a multitude of roles, including in my most recent role as interim chancellor.”
App State Chancellor Heather Norris
“This is an exciting time for App State. Having just achieved Research 2 status, we’re well-positioned to lead innovation in research and creative endeavors for the western part of the state, driving economic development that will help with hurricane recovery and improving economic well-being and quality of life for our region for decades to come. We have the perfect person at the helm to move us forward.”
App State Board of Trustees Chair Mark E. Ricks
“Our diverse and highly qualified candidate pool was exceptional; however, Dr. Norris’ deep-rooted connection to the institution, her ability to foster stability on and off campus during critical times and her sincere dedication to our community distinguished her. I am optimistic about the positive energy and fresh ideas she will bring as she fully assumes her role.”
North Carolina Sen. Deanna Ballard, chair of App State’s Chancellor’s Search Advisory Committee
Remarks from UNC System President Peter Hans
Read below for UNC System President Peter Hans’ Feb. 27 statement nominating Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris to be App State’s next chancellor.
Appalachian State is one of the best-loved universities in the country. Mountaineers are proud of their campus, proud of their history and fiercely proud of what a once-small mountain academy has grown to become. And well they should be. It has been exciting to see Appalachian State grow into a powerhouse for the region and the state.
And it has been a joy to contemplate its next era alongside many thoughtful, hopeful, committed supporters of the place over these last few months. Appalachian needs a leader who can welcome the earnest enthusiasm that so many people feel for this campus; someone who can embrace a growing community with an open and generous spirit; someone with the experience and hard-earned expertise to strengthen this vital engine of economic growth and upward opportunity. I am happy to say that after a comprehensive and encouraging search, we have found that leader.
Today, it’s my honor to nominate someone who knows this university top to bottom; someone who loves the mountains and cherishes App State’s service to the region; someone with the patience and steady temperament to build relationships and unite the Appalachian community behind an ambitious vision for one of the country’s most inviting public universities. It’s my honor to nominate Dr. Heather Norris as the next chancellor of Appalachian State University.
Dr. Norris has been a widely respected leader and scholar in the Appalachian community for more than two decades, and her service as interim chancellor since last April has been exemplary. Since coming to App State as a professor of finance in 2003, Dr. Norris has risen steadily through the ranks of academic and campus leadership, showing a deep capacity for aligning institutional incentives to student success in a way that has strengthened her university and benefitted a generation of Mountaineer graduates. Everyone who has worked with Dr. Norris praises her ability to take on complex problems without losing sight of the university’s core mission of service.
Her breadth of experience across Appalachian State’s academic programs, operational needs and external relationships gives Dr. Norris the capacity to hit the ground running as chancellor, to channel the momentum and enthusiasm of the Mountaineers as the campus and the wider region continue to expand and confront the challenges of responsible growth.
I also believe you learn a great deal about a person’s heart and their commitment during a crisis. And Interim Chancellor Norris has been a steady, healing presence through the very difficult months following Hurricane Helene. Just seeing the news coverage of this university in the weeks after the disaster, you got a clear sense of a community coming together, leaning into the mission of serving the wider region, and drawing strength from a shared ordeal. That’s evidence of real leadership, and I am personally grateful for the grace and goodwill that Dr. Norris and her team have cultivated since last fall. Every time I’ve visited Boone since the storm struck, I’ve heard about Dr. Norris’ reassuring approach to working with the community and welcoming involvement from across campus. That confident and healing approach to leadership is exactly what this moment demands, and it’s been wonderful to witness during these last few months. We need App State to be open to all and serve all.
Dr. Norris also brings a wealth of finance and operations experience to a role that will demand a great deal of both. Appalachian State is an enormous enterprise and growing larger still. The university is a keystone for the entire region, supporting one of every 14 jobs in the five surrounding counties and serving as the cultural and economic anchor for one of the fastest-growing areas in North Carolina. Responsibly managing the challenges of growth and investment is one of the most important tasks for App State’s next leader, and it gives me a great deal of confidence to know we have a finance expert, former business school dean and proven campus leader at the helm.
Dr. Norris has shown a profound appreciation for App State’s role in our state; its service to the mountain region; and its unique place within the UNC System. It’s hard to believe when you visit Appalachian’s beautiful and bustling campus today, but this university began as a small teaching academy to help reach students in the “lost provinces” of the mountain west, a way to bring quality education to what was an isolated and almost entirely rural corner of our state. It’s that and so much more today.
That sense of mission remains in the DNA of App State, and it shines through in the work that Dr. Norris has championed as a faculty member, the business school dean, provost and interim chancellor. In every role, her commitment to delivering value for students has been clear, and it has already made a difference at Appalachian. She not only embraced the work of assessing outcomes and value for students but has pushed to make that a core metric for program review. She knows this institution exists to educate the nurses, teachers, business owners and civic leaders that we need to thrive, and she has been creative and open-minded in finding innovative ways to cultivate talent and serve the needs of this region. Amid shifting demographics and a fast-changing economy, Dr. Norris has embraced online education to support high-demand fields, championed the university’s working adult-focused campus in Hickory, pushed relentlessly for improvements in retention and graduation, and will soon launch an overdue capital campaign.
And she has shown a genuine excitement about tapping the energy of Appalachian alumni, near and far, to help drive the next era of achievement for the Mountaineers. This is a university that inspires intense devotion from those lucky enough to have studied here, and all of those who relish an afternoon game at The Rock or a show at the Schaefer Center. Welcoming the enthusiasm that people have for Appalachian and finding ways to put that passion to good use on behalf of students and the wider region will be crucial for shaping the university’s next era.
With a sense of unity and shared purpose, I believe Appalachian State can be among the strongest, best-performing public universities in the nation, a place celebrated for balancing academic rigor with the kind energizing, uplifting college experience unique to the mountains. Heather Norris has already proven that she’s the right person to bring the App State community together, and to deepen this university’s 125-year-old legacy. I am eager for the good work and changes ahead.
My sincere thanks to the members of the search advisory committee, who succeeded in making this an exciting and optimistic moment for Appalachian State. I am especially grateful to Deanna Ballard for chairing our efforts and demonstrating her devotion to serving North Carolina. I believe all of us came away from this process with a newfound appreciation for just how beloved and admired Appalachian State is across North Carolina and across higher education nationally. Our public universities are doing an excellent job at both attracting talent and cultivating our own, and it’s gratifying to see how our steady commitment to higher education is making a difference in the trajectory of our institutions.
Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris, who has served as interim chancellor at Appalachian State University since April of 2024, was elected the university’s next chancellor today by the UNC Board of Governors on Feb. 27. UNC System President Peter Hans recommended Norris to lead the university, which enrolls more than 21,000 students and has campuses in Boone and Hickory. Norris will begin as chancellor on March 1.
Watch the livestream of remarks given Feb. 27 by App State Chancellor Heather Norris, Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tommy Sofield and Chancellor Search Advisory Committee Chair Deanna Ballard.
Provost and executive vice chancellor Heather Norris assumes the role of interim chancellor
April 19, 2024
University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans has named Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris as the interim chancellor for Appalachian State University. She succeeds Sheri Everts, who stepped down as chancellor after 10 years. The appointment became effective April 19.
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:
Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
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:
Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.