BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University’s 2026 Research and Creative Activity at Appalachian event (RECAPP) celebrated a growing research enterprise at App State that links numerous disciplines, partnerships and initiatives for community impact — work that is inspiring a new generation of problem-solvers. The event, held Sept. 18 at App State’s Broyhill Music Center on the Boone campus, featured keynote speaker Dr. Martie Thompson and presentations and posters spanning a wide range of topics.

“Our faculty are the foundation and engine of the university’s research enterprise,” said Dr. Christine Ogilvie Hendren, App State’s vice chancellor of research and innovation. “Their commitment to student engagement, creative inquiry and meaningful partnerships anchor App State as a driver of important progress in our region and beyond. RECAPP is a special event that allows us to celebrate this impact with our campus and our community.”

A record number of project proposals were submitted this year, reflecting an invigorated atmosphere around research and creative innovation at the university. They include:

• “The Short-Term and Long-Term Impacts of the Pandemic on Rural High School Students’ Academic Outcomes,” by Dr. Jui-Teng Li, associate director of research and evaluation in the Office of Rural Promise, aims to understand which Western North Carolina students were impacted the most by the COVID-19 pandemic and provide schools with guidance on effectively supporting these students.
• “Development of a Human Model for In‑Water Dermal Chemical Absorption,” by Dr. Caroline Smith, professor in the Department of Kinesiology, highlights research to inform evidence-based guidelines for diving in contaminated waters. Smith, who is an investigator on the project led by Dr. Zachary Schlader of Indiana University Bloomington, discussed a human in-water model to assess how contaminants are absorbed through the skin, replicating the conditions of surface water in U.S. harbors.
• “Admissions,” an 18-minute short narrative film by Dr. Kelly Davis, associate professor in the Department of Communication, whose story begins with a student meeting a professor to discuss graduate school and quickly plunges into the world of espionage, disinformation and the dangerous potential of lies.
• “Fishing for data: exploring the role of ice-contact lakes in accelerating global glacier change,” by Dr. William Armstrong, associate professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, describes a collaborative National Science Foundation-funded research project combining fieldwork, satellite data and computer modeling to investigate how the rapid expansion in size and number of Alaskan lakes formed by glacial retreat could exacerbate future ice loss on their upstream glaciers, with implications for downstream water resources, ecosystem and sea level rise.

Keynote speaker addresses opioid recovery

Headlining the research celebration was keynote speaker Dr. Martie Thompson, recipient of the 2026 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. Thompson discussed her work surrounding opioid addiction, with insights taken from interviews with those who struggle with addiction, often to multiple substances at the same time. More broadly, her recent work examines the impacts of social determinants of health — such as 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 is the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Endowed Professor in Public Health in App State’s Department of Public Health and director of community research for the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness. Her research output includes more than 150 publications, many co-authored with App State students and faculty, highlighting her strong commitment to student research mentorship.

RECAPP is designed and hosted by the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI), which supports the research, creative and scholarly endeavors of App State faculty, staff and students by expanding access to, and increasing competitive capacity for, research and funding opportunities. Visit ORI’s Research and Creative Activity at Appalachian Event page to view the schedule for this year’s event, as well as information on past RECAPP events.

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App State honors faculty research to improve lives and longevity across the region

Drs. Martie Thompson and Jeffrey McBride receive 2026 Chancellor’s and Provost’s Awards

April 30, 2026

App State faculty members Dr. Martie Thompson and Dr. Jeffrey McBride have been honored with 2026 Chancellor’s and Provost’s Awards for their focus on community-and student-involved research that aims to strengthen health and resilience in Western North Carolina. Thompson received the Chancellor’s Award, and McBride is the Provost’s Award winner.

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About the Office of Research and Innovation

Appalachian State University’s Office of Research and Innovation supports the scholarly and creative activities of App State faculty, staff, and students by expanding access to and facilitating the management of research opportunities. The office consists of three units: Grants Resources and Services, Sponsored Programs, and Research Protections. Learn more about App State's Office of Research and Innovation at https://research.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.