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.

This feature from Spectrum News 1 follows a patient diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease as she receives an assessment through App State’s Aging Well support program. The program, with interprofessional clinics on the Boone and Hickory campuses, is a collaborative effort with community partners to support healthy aging for adults throughout the High Country. Clinic Program Manager Lizzie Muscarello and Clinic Director Bryan Belcher speak about the available technology for aging assessments, as well as the many opportunities the program offers, from free health screenings to support groups.

Beckie Spears, principal of Wilkesboro Elementary School, was named the 2024 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year. She has been principal of Wilkesboro Elementary School since 2019, and has been in education in various roles for nearly 30 years. Spears has a bachelor’s degree in English from Meredith College and a master’s degree in school administration from App State, where she graduated in 2016.

In this feature in TIME magazine, health experts explain why people should focus on foods in addition to proteins before and after workouts. Dr. David Nieman, professor in App State’s Department of Biology, notes that carbohydrates matter just as much as protein when working out, as well as fruits, nuts, dark greens and other plants. Nieman is director of the Human Performance Lab at App State’s North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis.

Dr. Melanie Honeycutt of Burke County Public Schools was named the 2024 North Carolina Technology Director of the Year. She has been an educator for 32 years and has served as Burke County Public Schools’ chief information officer since 2013. Honeycutt is a two-time alumna of App State, where she earned a master’s degree in library science in 1999 and a doctorate in educational leadership in 2013.

Dr. Maggie Sugg, associate professor in App State’s Department of Geography and Planning, is the featured guest in this episode of the Environmental Health Chat podcast from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. In the episode, Sugg talks about how climate disasters affect mental health in youth, as well as some strategies to promote mental health resilience in young people and communities affected by natural disasters.