App State Chancellor Heather Norris and App State Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Neva J. Specht are pictured with Dr. Jeffrey McBride, professor in the Department of Kinesiology, left, and Dr. Martie Thompson, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Endowed Professor in Public Health in the Department of Public Health, at App State’s 2026 Awards of Distinction ceremony, held April 28 on the Boone campus. Thomspon is the recipient of year’s Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity, and McBride is the winner of the 2026 Provost’s Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. Photos by Chase Reynolds
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University faculty members Dr. Martie Thompson and Dr. Jeffrey McBride — both of whom have spent years working to strengthen the health of Western North Carolina communities — are recipients of the 2026 Chancellor’s and Provost’s Awards for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity, which recognize faculty for superior achievement in their fields.
“The consistently excellent research and scholarship of both Dr. Thompson and Dr. McBride demonstrate the impact of community-engaged inquiry and the importance of our connection to — and our partnerships with — the region we serve,” said Dr. Christine Ogilvie Hendren, vice chancellor of research and innovation at App State.
She added, “Their applied research and mentorship provide the building blocks we need to identify our collective challenges, leverage our opportunities and build health and resilience throughout the region for the long term.”
Two awardees are selected each year, one for the Chancellor’s Award and one for the Provost’s Award. Recipients may be nominated by faculty, chairs, deans or self-nominated, with submissions reviewed by a faculty committee that recommends candidates to the chancellor and provost for final selection.
Thompson and McBride, both faculty members in the Beaver College of Health Sciences, were honored at the 2026 Awards of Distinction ceremony, held April 28 on App State’s Boone campus.
Dr. Martie Thompson, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Endowed Professor in Public Health in App State’s Department of Public Health. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Chancellor’s Award
Dr. Martie Thompson
Thompson, who was honored with the Chancellor’s Award, was noted for her contributions to published findings in her field. She is the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Endowed Professor in Public Health in App State’s Department of Public Health — a role she has held since 2021. She also serves as director of community research for the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness.
“Dr. Thompson’s work reflects the power of community-engaged research to drive meaningful change and improve lives, while her dedication to mentoring students prepares future leaders to carry that work forward,” said App State Chancellor Heather Norris. “Her influence is felt in communities across our region and wherever her students go on to serve. She is truly deserving of this honor.”
Since joining App State’s faculty, Thompson has made significant contributions to public health research and secured substantial grant funding. Her recent work examines the impacts of social determinants of health — such as environmental, community or social factors — and COVID-19 pandemic factors on youth suicide risk; opioid remediation efforts in Western North Carolina; and the long-term effects of civic engagement during emerging adulthood.
Thompson’s high research output includes more than 25 collaborative publications since 2022, and over 150 in her career, many co-authored with App State students and faculty, highlighting her strong commitment to student research mentorship.
“Dr. Thompson has mentored and trained the next generation of scientific researchers to solve complex public health and social challenges,” a nominator wrote. “She is a superb colleague and collaborator, and we are so lucky to have her working with us at App State.”
In 2024, Thompson received the Beaver College of Health Sciences Outstanding Research and Scholarly Endeavors Award. She also serves on the Health Policy Research Consortium, through which she helps advance community-focused research aimed at strengthening resilience among Western North Carolina communities, particularly in the areas of health, housing and food security.
Dr. Jeffrey McBride, professor in App State’s Department of Kinesiology. Photo submitted
Provost’s Award
Dr. Jeffrey McBride
McBride, a professor in App State’s Department of Kinesiology and recipient of this year’s Provost’s Award, has been a faculty member at the university since 2003. Over his 23-year tenure, he has authored or co-authored more than 100 published manuscripts and nearly 150 conference abstracts.
“Dr. McBride’s prolific scholarship and innovative research in human performance exemplify App State’s commitment to applied, impactful science, and this work has helped advance national conversations around the connection between strength and health outcomes,” said Specht. “Equally as important is his commitment to developing students as the next generation of researchers and heath care professionals, who will carry this work forward in communities across the region and beyond.”
McBride’s current research focuses on implementing handgrip strength testing as a potential fifth vital sign for predicting mortality and morbidity in local and regional communities. While much research focuses on the benefits of cardiovascular exercise, McBride’s work continues to strengthen an important but often overlooked connection between whole-body strength and longevity, supporting an emerging body of evidence and analysis pointing to the value of strength training for longer life.
His laboratory recently published a study and presented related findings at a national conference, highlighting the importance of handgrip strength testing as a tool for identifying patients at risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders and fall-related injuries.
Through his research, McBride has also maintained an extensive role in student mentorship at App State, serving on approximately 60 thesis and dissertation committees and advising undergraduate and graduate students in securing research grants totaling more than $30,000.
One nominator wrote, “His sustained productivity, technological innovation, international visibility and profound commitment to student mentorship place him among the very best scholars of his generation.”
McBride has earned numerous accolades, including the Beaver College of Health Sciences Research Award in 2013 and the William J. Kraemer Outstanding Sport Scientist Award from the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 2012.
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The community-engaged research examines rural health and housing challenges post-Helene
About the Department of Public Health
Appalachian State University’s Department of Public Health, housed in the Beaver College of Health Sciences, is dedicated to preparing students to promote and protect the health of individuals and communities through education, research and service. With a focus on rural and underserved populations, the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs equip future public health professionals with the skills needed to address real-world health challenges in North Carolina and beyond. Learn more at https://phes.appstate.edu/public-health.
About the Department of Kinesiology
The Department of Kinesiology at Appalachian State University, housed in the Beaver College of Health Sciences, blends scientific rigor with practical experience across the undergraduate and graduate levels, offering the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and the Master of Science in Kinesiology, along with an undergraduate minor in kinesiology. The programs’ innovative curricula prepare students for dynamic careers in health, fitness, performance and sport — shaping the next generation of evidence-driven professionals. Learn more at https://phes.appstate.edu/kinesiology.
About the Beaver College of Health Sciences
Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. The college enrolls more than 3,600 students and offers 10 undergraduate degree programs, nine graduate degree programs and four certificates across seven departments: Kinesiology, Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of Boone’s Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, UNC Health Appalachian and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.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, cost-effective education. 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.
The community-engaged research examines rural health and housing challenges post-Helene
