App State alumnus Robert Burns ’90 joined the Walton Family Foundation in Arkansas a couple of years ago as director of its Home Region Program. He is now leading the implementation of the foundation’s 2025 Strategy. The five-year commitment will address social and environmental concerns to expand access to opportunities in education and youth engagement, economic asset building for individuals and families, and high-impact coalition building in the region.

Dr. Patricia Johann, professor in App State’s Department of Computer Science, offers an expert voice on how a master’s degree in computer science will better prepare students for the rapidly growing field and its many job opportunities. Johann explains why now is the time to think about getting a master’s degree in computer science, the best ways to prepare for the master’s program, the types of jobs that students are landing after graduation and more.

National Geographic Chief Executive Officer Jill Tiefenthaler spoke at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts as part of the 2023 Appalachian Energy Summit. The presentation highlighted the many endeavors of National Geographic explorers around the world, including Dr. Baker Perry, professor in App State’s Department of Geography and Planning. Perry spoke at the event about his experience installing weather stations at high elevations, including on Mount Everest.

Dr. Yalcin Acikgoz, associate professor in App State’s Department of Psychology, offers expert advice to young adults who are looking for jobs or internships this summer. Based on data provided by WalletHub, Acikgoz explores the types of jobs that will best equip young adults with the skills and experiences they need to secure a full time career after graduation, explains the most common mistakes young adults make when taking a summer job, evaluates the best cities for summer jobs and makes predictions about employment in summer 2023.

Leaders from school districts, universities and community colleges across North Carolina gathered in Chapel Hill on May 17 for a meeting with members of the North Carolina Educator Pipeline Collaborative. Representatives from App State, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute and Caldwell County Schools — including App State alumnus and Caldwell County Schools Superintendent Don Phipps ’92 ’97 — shared their action plan for teacher recruitment and retention in Caldwell County.

This feature in Wired Magazine follows the journey of App State alumna Jamie Beard in her mission to make geothermal a leading renewable energy source. The article takes a personal look into Beard’s life as an environmental advocate and how she balances her passion for work as the mother of a son with a rare metabolic disorder known as Hunter syndrome. Beard graduated from App State in 2002 with a degree in industrial technology and a focus on alternative energy.

Students from Two Rivers Community School and Kinderwood School in Boone, participated in the annual National History Day competition in March. The competition has students in grades 6 to 12 conduct extensive historical research on a selected theme, then present their findings to a panel of judges. Andrea Burns, associate professor in App State’s Department of History, made a push for Watauga County students to compete in the event for the first time, offering research assistance to participating students.

With the recent collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank on March 10, concerns still remain over the stability of the global financial system. In this article, two finance scholars, Brian Blank of Mississippi State and Brandy Hadley of App State, help readers better understand what U.S. regulators did to remedy the situation, the impact of their decisions and what problems still remain.

App State alumnus Danny Combs ’03, a senior airman in the United States Air Force Reserve, is the founder of Teaching the Autism Community Trades (TACT) based in Colorado. Combs created this nonprofit organization after his son was diagnosed with autism. In this interview with Colorado Public Radio, Combs explains the importance of the TACT mission to help young adults on the spectrum gain skills and find employment in trade fields such as carpentry, auto-repair, landscaping and more.