In the News

Displaying 1 - 18 of 722

NC universities ranked by free-speech advocacy group [faculty and staff featured]
Carolina Public Press
Sept. 24, 2026
Jamie Parson, senior vice provost for App State Hickory, and Jeff Cathey, App State’s vice provost for student affairs, discuss the university’s top 10 ranking for campus free speech by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Parson and Cathey are App State’s Free Speech Responsible Officers, a position established at each UNC System university.
Nepal’s Hydropower Industry Was Booming. Now 900 Workers Are Missing. [faculty featured]
The New York Times
Aug. 28, 2026
Dr. Dinesh Paudel, a professor in App State’s Department of Sustainable Development who has studied development in Nepal, provides context on the more than 900 employees from hydropower projects who went missing after the deadly flood on Aug. 26.
NCInnovation Joins Statewide Partnership Launching the Western North Carolina Futures Factory [faculty featured]
NCInnovation
July 28, 2026
Dr. Christine Ogilvie Hendren, vice chancellor of research and innovation at App State, describes the university’s role in the Western North Carolina Futures Factory initiative to strengthen the state’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem. Hendren says the initiative will support local communities and strengthen economic resilience in the region.
The Thinking About Kids and Heat Has Flipped [faculty featured]
The Atlantic
July 11, 2026
Dr. Caroline Smith, professor in App State’s Department of Kinesiology, discusses research that challenges the long-held belief that children are more vulnerable to heat than adults. She explains that children have less electrolytes in their sweat, allowing it to evaporate more easily and cool the body more efficiently.
Buttery, sweet and orange: This milk alternative has deep North Carolina roots [faculty featured]
The News & Observer
July 7, 2026
Dr. Brett Taubman, professor in App State’s Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, discusses his Rootsii project to turn surplus North Carolina sweetpotatoes into plant-based milk products. The research is backed by a $1.82 million grant.
Can ‘body doubling’ really help you focus? Psychologists say maybe. [faculty featured]
WDC TV News
June 24, 2026
Dr. Will Canu, professor in App State’s Department of Psychology, explores “body doubling” — a focus technique where friends, colleagues or classmates work alongside one another to stay on task or power through difficult work. Canu is a licensed psychologist whose research includes attention-deficit disorders.
North Carolina has rattlesnakes. See how to ID the one you’d most likely spot [faculty featured]
The Charlotte Observer
June 24, 2026
Dr. Matt Estep, professor in App State’s Department of Biology, shares insights on North Carolina rattlesnakes and his recent research on the diversity of timber rattlesnakes across the state, as well as the significant role they play in the ecosystem.
Best Online Supply Chain Management Bachelor Degrees
Forbes
June 18, 2026
The business magazine named App State among its list of top 10 programs for best online bachelor's degrees in supply chain management, recognizing the university's program as the “best for transfer students.” The rankings include 39 accredited institutions and are based on factors such as reputation, affordability and return on investment.
NC’s outdoor recreation economy heats up, plus tips on exploring outside and staying safe this summer [faculty featured]
WFAE
June 17, 2026
Dr. Ash Morgan, professor in App State's Department of Economics, joined a panel of experts to discuss the economic impact of North Carolina's outdoor recreation industry, along with advice for exploring the outdoors safely and responsibly. Morgan directs App State's Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis, and his research interests include environmental economics and natural resource economics.
The deadly 1996 plane downing at the heart of Raúl Castro's indictment [faculty featured]
ABC News (Australia)
May 20, 2026
Dr. Joseph Gonzalez, associate professor in App State’s Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, discusses the U.S. indictment of former Cuban president Raúl Castro on murder charges tied to the 1996 downing of two civilian planes. An expert on Cuba–U.S. relations, he explains why the United States is acting now, three decades after the alleged offenses.
Oral history project from 1977 connects App State, Core Sound [faculty and alumni featured]
Coastal Review
May 14, 2026
A 1977 App State oral history trip to Carteret County has been rediscovered through archival and digitization work led by App State alumnus Shannon Adams ’93 and oral historian Mark Coltrain. The materials are being preserved and made accessible at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center, reconnecting App State’s research with coastal North Carolina history.
Helene exposed cracks in western NC’s health care safety net [faculty featured]
NC Health News
April 15, 2026
NC Health News highlights research from App State’s Dr. Maggie Sugg, associate professor in the Department of Geography and Planning, analyzing emergency department use in Western NC following Hurricane Helene. Sugg and her partners focused on 19 hard-hit western counties, drawing data from nearly 130 emergency departments statewide.
2025 saw relatively fewer natural disasters. Will you get a break on home insurance? [faculty featured]
NPR
March 11, 2026
Dr. David Marlett, professor in App State’s Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance, discusses rising insurance costs over the past several years and whether homeowners could see rates stabilize or decrease following lower disaster costs in 2025. Marlett notes that in a highly competitive market, insurers may lower premiums to gain market share.
From pictures to published: Zach Farris’ study on activity patterns of wild animals [faculty featured]
The Appalachian
March 6, 2026
Dr. Zach Farris, associate professor in App State’s Department of Kinesiology, recently published research in Science Advances on the daily activity patterns of wild mammals. The global study involved four lead researchers collaborating with more than 200 scientists across 38 countries, analyzing camera trap data to better understand when mammals are active in their natural habitats.
We designed an AI tutor that helps college students reason rather than give them answers [faculty featured]
The Conversation
March 5, 2026
Dr. Shishir Shakya, assistant professor in App State’s Department of Economics, writes about his AI chatbot “Macro Buddy,” designed to help students as a tutor or study partner rather than an answer generator. His collaborative research found that students who used Macro Buddy alongside peer discussion earned higher exam scores than those who studied alone.
The Search for Vertical Grasslands [alumni featured]
Blue Ridge Outdoors
March 4, 2026
The adventure magazine features App State alumna Laura Boggess ’13, a climber-scientist who explores “vertical grasslands” to discover unique plant communities with the potential to boost ecological health in the Southeast. Boggess has studied cliff science since her time as a graduate student at App State, where she earned her master’s degree in biology in 2013.
How NCInnovation Is Rethinking Economic Development in North Carolina [faculty featured]
Business North Carolina
Feb. 19, 2026
In this episode of “On the Ground,” Business North Carolina visits App State to explore how NCInnovation is turning university research into real-world solutions. The episode features interviews with Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Christine Hendren, Dr. Zach Russell and Dr. Gavin Colquitt of App State, along with NCInnovation staff and board member and former state Sen. Deanna Ballard. NCInnovation funding is supporting the commercial development of an AI-powered agricultural microscope developed by Russell and an interactive digital tool for children with developmental delays, led by Colquitt.
A Rural Wisconsin Community Charts a Path for Intergenerational Care [faculty featured]
The Daily Yonder
Jan. 19, 2026
Dr. Jill Juris, professor and chair of App State’s Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education, shares insights from BRIDGE2Health, an intergenerational mentoring program linking high school students with older adults. Early data show it boosts social connections and life skills, benefiting participants of all ages.