Sisters Seleen Al Horani and Masa Al Horani, originally from Jordan, graduated from App State’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), each earning a Bachelor of Science in chemistry with a certified chemist concentration. Among numerous achievements at App State: They were departmental honors students, best poster award winners at the 2025 American Chemical Society meeting and student leaders in the American Chemical Society student club.

Masa is headed to graduate school to pursue further studies in chemistry, with interests in biochemistry, organic chemistry and polymer research. Seleen is trending toward clinical applications of chemistry and is examining her options upon graduation. Both graduates co-authored impactful journal articles with their mentor, Dr. Petia Bobadova, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, on research into dyes with applications ranging from biomedical imaging to solar cells.

The experience gave the Al Horani sisters a foundational understanding of research practices and real-world applications. They were inspired by the versatility of chemistry and the many doors that are opened by skills in the field.

“Dr. Bobadova is one of the best people I’ve ever met,” Seleen said. “She inspires me and she is the reason that I am really into research — because I found that I have a place in it and can actually contribute to important work.”

Masa stressed the value of undergraduate connections and being part of a larger community, saying she plans to carry that spirit of collaboration with her beyond App State.

“We all work together and everyone helps each other out at App State,” she said. “I think it’s important to be able to work with people and lift one another. That’s going to be very important to take to grad school.”

Undergraduate research opened the door to many other opportunities for involvement and friendships at App State, Seleen said. Key among them was the Appalachian Chemical Society, which the sisters joined at the same time. Serving as an ambassador for the CAS Corps grounded Seleen in the College of Arts and Sciences and helped her find ways to share her experiences with others, and International Appalachian (INTAPP), a student group working to promote study abroad, facilitated connections with international students.

“I’ve had amazing friendships form because of INTAPP, and I’ve met a lot of wonderful people from around the world I connected with on so many different levels,” Seleen said.

Their advice to continuing App State students: Get involved, find community and peer support and leverage university resources while they are readily available.

“It’s important to get involved on campus with things that interest you,” Seleen said. “Because that’s how you come to appreciate the degree you’re getting and the education you’re receiving. Without that, we wouldn’t have received a lot of the same professional, emotional or academic growth.”

By building community on campus, you find resilience and perspective, Masa said.

“Believe in yourself that you can get through the challenges and difficult courses,” she said. “Community will make it a lot more positive and a lot easier.”

Beth Neal, of Sparta, graduated as an App State Online student from the Reich College of Education, earning her Master of School Administration. She completed her degree with support from the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program — a competitive, merit-based scholarship program for educators pursuing leadership in the state’s public schools.

A longtime educator with nearly 25 years of experience, Neal is assistant principal at Sparta Elementary School, where she was quickly promoted from an instructional coach role.

“I love what I do, and it’s always been about the kids,” she said. “I’m so thankful for my mentors who encouraged me to apply to grad school so I can continue making as much of an impact on students as possible.”

Neal’s education didn’t come without hardship. Her family’s property was heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene — and just over a year later, a house fire resulted in a total loss of her home just days before Christmas.

Even through the devastation, Neal persevered to finish her degree, crediting the App State Community for helping her along the way.

“App State, my school, the community I live in and of course my family and friends — I was overwhelmed by the support I received,” Neal said. “Finishing school would have been extremely hard without such a supportive cohort of faculty and classmates.”

Neal said the flexibility of the online program was key, allowing her to continue her education while navigating those challenges.

“My professors were so flexible, not just for me, but for everybody,” she said. “They knew we were working and had lives and were always accommodating. I’m super grateful for that.”

After graduation, Neal plans to continue in her current role, with aspirations of becoming a principal in the future.

“I work with an amazing principal right now, and he’s told me I’ll be in my own school someday,” she said. “His belief in me gives me a lot of confidence.”

Neal encourages other adults to never stop pursuing their educational goals, emphasizing the Mountaineer spirit that helped her find a sense of belonging.

“I know it’s kind of cliché, but it is never too late to continue your education — even through really hard times,” she said. “App State is so personal, and you really feel a sense of family. It’s like a home away from home.”

Russom, of Boone, graduated from the Walker College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in finance and banking.

Staying close to home was always the plan for the Watauga County native — and so was giving back to the local economy. Russom has worked as an electrician since he was 16, including full time throughout college, and launched his own electrician business, Ampire Electric Co., last fall.

“Growing up here, this community means so much to me, and being able to make a local impact and build connections through my work is a really good feeling,” he said.

Russom stacked his App State classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays so he could work full time — and still made time to repair and remodel his home after it sustained damage from Hurricane Helene. He also purchased his first airplane and is working toward obtaining a private pilot license to support his business travel.

“I’ve always had a strong work ethic and like to stay busy,” he said. “I think it’s important to challenge myself and put what I learn into practice.”

A first-generation college student, Russom has supported himself since the loss of his mother at a young age — a responsibility that helped shape his drive early on.

“After having me and my sister, my mom was working to go back to school, which unfortunately was cut short,” he said. “For me, that became extra motivation — not only to be the first in my family to graduate, but to know she’s looking down on me and backing me up.”

Russom’s advice to incoming first-generation students: “Embrace it. Find something you’re passionate about and know it will put you far ahead in life. I truly believe that.”

Russom also emphasized the importance of applying for scholarships and financial aid, which he said were critical in helping him achieve his goals.

After graduation, Russom plans to continue growing his company and career in the electrical field.

“Getting my degree in finance and banking has been so beneficial and practical for me,” he said. “This experience has made me a more well-rounded person, and I’m truly thankful for my education at App State.”

Wray, of Lenoir, graduated from the Beaver College of Health Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in health care management, earning his online degree after transferring to App State from Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. The degree is one of six App State Online: Flight Path programs offered by the university, all designed to meet the needs of working adults as they earn their degrees.

Having a flexible course schedule and the ability to stay close to home were crucial for Wray, who cared for a family member while pursuing his degree. He described the Flight Path program as the best of both worlds — “I needed something that was flexible for me, that I could take online wherever I was,” he said.

From 2023 to 2024, Wray worked as operations manager at his family’s urgent care practice in Boone. There, he gained firsthand insight into patients’ challenges navigating the healthcare system — from affordability to access — sparking his interest to pursue a degree in healthcare management.

His online courses sharpened the healthcare industry knowledge he brought to the program.

“I would hear the experiences people had with the healthcare system and what they were dissatisfied with, and I would always have in the back of my mind — how could I fix that?” he said.

He continued, “At App State, I was able to see examples of businesses that are addressing industry challenges. It helped me bridge the gap — seeing the problem first and then learning the solution — which made it easier to connect what I was learning to real-world situations.”

Wray said his greatest source of inspiration was Dr. Ashley Parks, director of the online health care management program and assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management. Wray cited the practical career guidance he received from Parks — both in her courses and through her mentorship outside the classroom — as an invaluable resource.

Wray’s visits to App State’s Boone campus kept him connected to the university’s community, he said. In addition to meeting his professors face-to-face, Wray enjoyed visiting the Student Recreation Center and walking around campus.

For future Mountaineers considering App State Flight Path programs, Wray advised, “You really have to manage your time, because it goes by quickly. Slow down, enjoy it and manage your time wisely.”

After graduation, and with Parks’ help, Wray plans to secure an internship in the healthcare industry. He also aims to obtain further certifications offered through App State’s Walker College of Business, including the Lean Six Sigma professional education program, which teaches leaders to solve complex business problems.

Dr. David Dickinson, professor of economics, joined App State’s faculty in 2004 and currently holds the Walker College of Business Research Excellence Professorship. His research, which focuses on experimental, behavioral and labor economics, has brought over $1 million in National Science Foundation grant funding to App State, and he has co-authored several published papers with App State students via faculty-mentored research engagement. Dickinson is a faculty partner in App State’s Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis, a research fellow at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics in Luxembourg and a research affiliate with Chapman University's Economic Science Institute. He won the Walker College of Business Dean’s Club Research Prize in 2019 and 2023.

Dr. James Goff joined the faculty in App State’s Department of History in 1986 and has taught courses in American history, including specialty courses in American religious history, the cultural history of the American South and the history of country and gospel music. In addition to numerous academic and popular articles, he is the author of “Close Harmony: A History of Southern Gospel” and “Fields White Unto Harvest: Charles F. Parham and the Missionary Origins of Pentecostalism” and co-editor of “Portraits of a Generation: Early Pentecostal Leaders.” His 40-year tenure at the university has included serving as the I.G. Greer Distinguished Professor of History (2007–09) and chair of the history department (2014–24). Goff will retire from App State in June.

Dr. Melissa Gutschall is a professor in App State’s Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management. Her 17-year career at the university has included serving as director of the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs in nutrition and foods, as well as launching a new public health nutrition and dietetics concentration for App State’s graduate nutrition program. A registered dietitian for 25 years, Gutschall continues clinical practice with rural special needs children and has partnered on a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation collaborative grant to support the development of a Food is Medicine program that serves food insecure communities in rural Appalachia. An Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Fellow, Gutschall has served the academy’s Evidence Analysis Library and Simulation Task Force and is a member of the North Carolina Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Board. She is a recipient of several App State honors, including the inaugural Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS) Outstanding Teaching Award (2012), BCHS Research and Scholarly Endeavors Award (2016) and Williams Graduate School 100 Scholars Award (2020).

Dr. Steven J. Hageman, professor of geology, is completing his 29th year on the faculty at App State. Over his tenure, he has served the university through several leadership roles, including as a member of the University Research Council, Faculty Senate and General Education Council, and as co-founder and longtime Advisory Committee Chair of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Microscopy Facility. He is a two-time Fulbright Research Scholar and the past recipient of the CAS William C. Strickland Outstanding Junior Faculty Award, Board of Governors Appalachian State University Excellence in Teaching Award and General Education Transfer Student Champion Award. Hageman has also served as co-editor of the Journal of Paleontology and is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America. He is currently in phased retirement and will fully retire from App State in May 2028.

Dr. Marie Hoepfl, professor in the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment (STBE), joined the App State faculty in 1997. Over her nearly 30-year tenure at the university, Hoepfl has served in a variety of leadership roles, including as the inaugural chairperson of the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures Committee, a role she fulfilled for four years, and associate dean and then interim dean of the Williams School of Graduate Studies (2019–23), entering phased retirement in July 2023. She has also served as assistant and interim chair of the STBE department and as graduate program director, a position she held for 16 years. Hoepfl is the recipient of several App State honors, including the School of Graduate Studies’ Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award (2019), an Appalachian State University School/College Award for Excellence in Teaching (2017), the College of Fine and Applied Arts Outstanding Teaching Award (2015 and 2004) and induction into the Academy of Outstanding Graduate Mentors (2011). She will retire from App State in May.

Dr. Mark Lewis joined App State’s faculty in 2011 and serves as an associate professor in and chair of the Department of Management. As chair, Lewis has expanded industry engagement, driven growth in the department’s internship program, innovated to align the undergraduate curriculum more closely with evolving workforce needs and partnered with University Advancement to secure external support for key strategic initiatives. His broader work centers on strategy, design thinking and systems approaches to organizational transformation. In addition to an active stream of research and publication, Lewis collaborates with corporate partners to design and deliver training programs that develop innovators and leaders capable of driving change within their organizations. His work has appeared in MIS Quarterly Executive and MIT Supply Chain Strategy, and his case study on innovation in a long-term outsourcing relationship has been used by over 10,000 students in 29 countries.

Dr. Cathy McKinney, professor emerita of music therapy in App State’s Hayes School of Music, was the founding director of both the graduate and undergraduate music therapy programs, the latter of which has consistently had one of the highest first-time pass rates on the national exam administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. McKinney is a past recipient of the Award of Merit from the American Music Therapy Association (2003) and the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award (2009). McKinney co-edits the Journal of the Association for Music and Imagery (AMI) and has held several leadership positions in her field, including serving as past president of the Southeastern Region of the National Association for Music Therapy, the Music Therapy Association of North Carolina and AMI.