Topic: Faculty and Staff

Displaying 127 - 144 of 1523

Appalachian State University Chancellor Search Advisory Committee announced
Committee will begin work to identify candidates to lead App State
June 28, 2024
UNC System President Peter Hans announced the formation of a 13-member committee that will search for the next chancellor of Appalachian State University. The committee will be led by Deanna Ballard, a former state senator who represented Watauga County from 2016 to 2023.
Eco-Friendly Guide to Finances and Saving [faculty featured]
MoneyGeek
June 25, 2024
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.
Scuba-diving scientists capture rare underwater footage of prehistoric-looking hellbenders in North Carolina [faculty featured]
BBC Wildlife Magazine
June 25, 2024
Work is set to begin to remove Shull’s Mill Dam on the Watauga River in July in order to restore a healthy river ecosystem. The project will involve the relocation of eastern hellbenders, a species of special concern in North Carolina, who live in the river near the dam. Dr. Mike Gangloff, professor in App State’s Department of Biology, speaks to the importance of hellbenders, including how they can increase water and habitat quality in rivers. Gangloff is the aquatic lead researcher for the Shull’s Mill Dam removal.
Rural America Lags Cities in Helping People Beat the Heat [faculty featured]
The New York Times
June 20, 2024
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.
Dr. Cynthia Liutkus-Pierce featured in documentary about ancient footprints in Tanzania
June 14, 2024
Research led by App State professor and National Geographic Explorer Dr. Cynthia Liutkus-Pierce is the focus of a new documentary titled “Footsteps: A Journey to the Engare Sero Footprints.” The film follows a pilgrimage to the site of early human footprints in northern Tanzania.
Kaaren Hayes’s leadership leaves behind lasting impact on hundreds of families
Watauga Democrat
June 6, 2024
This feature in the Watauga Democrat highlights the career of Kaaren Hayes, who recently retired after 36 years with App State’s Parent to Parent Family Support Network. Parent to Parent provides free support to families who have a premature baby or a child with a disability, or to families who are grieving the death of a child. Hayes was with Parent to Parent since its inception in 1988, and she became program director in 1998. Hayes graduated from App State in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in child development.
Appalachian Today: Episode 5
June 5, 2024
On this episode of Appalachian Today, University Communications’ Dave Blanks provides a quick rundown of some of the latest news stories available at today.appstate.edu. Story topics include: App State’s 2024 Memorial Day commemoration, during which Mountaineer alumna and Army Reserve veteran Caitlin Langley laid an honorary wreath at the Boone campus’s Veterans Memorial; the May 9 unveiling of the Chancellor John E. Thomas sculpture, located outside John E. Thomas Hall on App State's Boone campus; Gracie Bullington ’23 honored as the 2023–24 App State Student Teacher of the Year; App State student-athletes achieving a cumulative GPA above 3.0 for the 12th straight year; and App State football season tickets selling out for three years in a row.

Find more App State podcasts and subscribe at podcasts.appstate.edu.
App State’s new cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program begins this fall
Program available at Boone and Hickory campuses
May 31, 2024
This fall, Appalachian State University will begin offering a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity — the only such program offered by a University of North Carolina System institution in Western North Carolina.
Army Reserve veteran and App State alumna Caitlin Langley lays wreath for university’s Memorial Day commemoration
May 24, 2024
App State held its annual Memorial Day commemoration May 24, honoring those who died while serving in the U.S. military. For this year’s observance, Army Reserve veteran and App State alumna Caitlin Langley laid an honorary wreath at the Veterans Memorial on the Boone campus.
App State unveils new sculpture of former Chancellor John E. Thomas
May 20, 2024
App State unveiled a new sculpture of former Chancellor John E. Thomas on May 9. The sculpture sits outside the main entrance of John E. Thomas Hall on the Boone campus. Special guests at the event included Thomas’ family and C. Philip Byers of the UNC System Board of Governors.
Is Non-Alcoholic Beer a Good Sports Drink? [faculty featured]
GQ
May 19, 2024
Health experts and athletes explore the benefits of non-alcoholic beer as a post-workout recovery drink in this GQ magazine feature. Dr. Laurel Wentz, associate professor in App State’s Nutrition and Foods Program, explains that non-alcoholic beer provides hydration effects similar to water, but also has the benefit of carbs, which the body needs to help recover after workouts. Wentz explains how pairing non-alcoholic beer with a high-protein snack can achieve similar results to sports drinks.
What to Eat Before and After Your Workout [faculty featured]
TIME
May 17, 2024
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.
Over 4,000 App State grads set to innovate, embrace new challenges and better their communities
May 16, 2024
Thousands of graduates, each with their own unique stories, crossed the stage at Appalachian State University’s Spring 2024 Commencement ceremonies on May 10 and 11, equipped with degrees that empower them to better their lives, North Carolina communities and the world beyond.
NCInnovation Approves $5 Million to Support Eight University Research Projects [faculty featured]
NCInnovation
May 16, 2024
NCInnovation approved $5.2 million in funding for eight research projects at seven North Carolina public universities. One of the projects to receive funding is App State’s beehive improvement and monitoring system, developed by Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, professor and chair in the Department of Computer Science. The Beemon system presents a unique and innovative tool for decreasing honeybee die-off and increasing hive production by allowing beekeepers to monitor hives with efficient and accurate data.
Faculty at App State and Ghanaian university explore sustainable solutions for rural communities
Collaboration between the rural-serving institutions focuses on teaching and research, encourages cultural exchanges
May 13, 2024
App State’s partnership with the University for Development Studies in Ghana continues to connect underserved students and communities in the Appalachian and Northern Ghana regions. The partnership focuses on teaching and research collaborations and encourages cultural exchanges.
Dr. Melanie Honeycutt named 2024 NC Technology Director of the Year [alumni featured]
NC Department of Public Instruction
May 6, 2024
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.
Are cold plunges and saunas safe for kids? What parents need to know about the benefits and risks [faculty featured]
Fortune Well
May 4, 2024
In this article in Fortune Well, health experts dive into the science behind trending hot and cold therapies, like saunas and cold plunges, and whether or not they are safe for children. Caroline Smith, associate professor in App State’s Department of Public Health and Exercise Science, helps explain the benefits of these types of therapies and how to manage the risks. Smith is director of App State’s Thermal and Microvascular Physiology Laboratory.
Climate Disasters and Mental Health in Youth [faculty featured]
Environmental Health Chat
May 2, 2024
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.