Rebecca Newman, the assistant director/well-being coordinator in App State’s veterinary technology program, is the featured guest on this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast. In the episode, Newman shares strategies on how to overcome self-care challenges in the demanding world of veterinary medicine.

In this MoneyGeek article, economics experts offer insight into rational choice theory, which holds that people make rational decisions to maximize their self-interest. Dr. Neel Das, professor in App State’s Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, explains how the theory impacts people’s daily lives when it comes to finances.

Higher education institutions across the country have been working to provide support for student veterans since the G.I. Bill was signed into law in 1944. However, new research suggests that the services are not necessarily reaching as many veterans as they could, particularly at rural community colleges. Experts, including Dr. Andrew Koricich, a professor of higher education at App State, explain ways that colleges can better reach veteran learners in rural areas.

Funding from the recent $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill has supported dam removal projects across the nation. This article in the Associated Press highlights the Shull’s Mill Dam removal project in Boone, which included the relocation of rare eastern hellbender salamanders. App State biology professor Dr. Michael Gangloff, who is coordinating the biological monitoring at the Shull’s Mill site, said the dam removal is expected to improve water quality and make the river more hospitable for salamanders.

Dr. Julie Hasson shares several tips and tools for teachers to use to reduce stress at the start of the school year. Her strategies aim to help teachers manage workload, enhance organization and promote well-being. Hasson has been an educator for over 30 years. She is currently an assistant professor and program director of school administration in App State’s Department of Media, Career Studies and Leadership Development.

Dr. Rachel Smith, a professor in App State’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, was recently the featured guest on WUNC’s Due South. Smith talks about her work as an astrophysicist at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science, where she studies star and planet formations. She also addresses questions about some of the biggest mysteries of the universe.

App State’s College of Fine and Applied Arts completed another successful year of its Frontline to Farm program to support veterans who are transitioning to farming as a livelihood. Programming this year included classroom sessions at App State and farm tours around the High Country. Participants worked with national and regional experts in topics including agricultural law, strategic communication and marketing, farm business and planning, sustainable agriculture and more. Frontline to Farm co-director Anne Fanatico, a professor in App State’s Department of Sustainable Development, said training like this is critical to local sustainability.

This article in MoneyGeek shares advice and insight, valuable tools and resources designed to help people develop a “green” approach to their finances. Dr. Susan Weidmann, an assistant professor in App State’s Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education, offers her expert voice about eco-friendly approaches to finances and savings.

Heat waves this June impacted Maine and other areas that are not accustomed to extreme high temperatures. This article in The New York Times notes that rural areas don't have the same access to cooling infrastructure as cities, which typically have shady parks, public pools and hydration stations. Dr. Maggie Sugg, an associate professor in App State’s Department of Geography and Planning, explains that many rural areas in the U.S. have homes with poor insulation, and that people with access to air-conditioning may not be able to afford to run it in high temperatures. All of these factors increase the chances of heat-related illness. Sugg has conducted extensive research on heat vulnerabilities in North and South Carolina.