Meet the Appalachian Community

People’s stories are intriguing and multifaceted, and each individual contributes to the rich fabric of excellence here. So, who will you find at App State? Read on to meet the community.

App State honors campus, community champions of diversity, equity and inclusion
May 31, 2023
Four members of the campus and local community, as well as a team from Mount Airy City Schools, are the recipients of App State’s 2023 Inclusive Excellence Awards, which recognize individuals’ active, intentional and ongoing commitment to inclusive excellence.
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Dr. Seth Grooms
May 26, 2023
Each Memorial Day, App State commemorates those who died while serving in the U.S. military with a wreath laying at the Veterans Memorial on the Boone campus. Chancellor Sheri Everts selected Marine Corps veteran and assistant professor Dr. Seth Grooms to lay the wreath for this year’s observance.
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Dr. Maryam Ahmed
April 27, 2023
App State biology professor and virologist Dr. Maryam Ahmed is the university's recipient of the 2023 University of North Carolina Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award. She will receive a $12,500 cash prize as part of the award.
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Honoring women’s leadership and history at App State
March 8, 2023
This Women’s History Month, learn more about a few of the App State administrators, alumni, students, faculty, staff and campus visitors who are leading the way and inspiring others, as well as university events and initiatives focused on women’s history.
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Lumbee tribal flag now hangs in App State’s student union, honoring the Lumbee people and their history
March 3, 2023
Appalachian State University recognized and honored the nearly 60,000 members of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and their history on Feb. 27 with the unveiling of the Lumbee tribal flag in Plemmons Student Union.
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App State Office of Diversity brings monthly read-alouds to lab schools
February 21, 2023
App State’s Office of Diversity offers a monthly read-aloud program to students at the university’s two lab schools: the Academy at Middle Fork and the Academy at Elkin. Reading themes include Black history, disabilities awareness, military appreciation and more.
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Meredith Lindsey Draughn ’15
February 6, 2023
Appalachian State University alumna Meredith Lindsey Draughn ’15 is the 2023 National School Counselor of the Year — giving her the opportunity to spotlight the school counseling profession and the school counselors who support K–12 students every day.
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Tony Harris Sr. ’92
February 3, 2023
App State alumnus Tony Harris ’92 has an award-winning career in risk management and insurance — and three children who are Mountaineers.
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Dr. Sarah Evans
January 31, 2023
App State’s Dr. Sarah Evans, assistant professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, has received a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation. The award comes with a federal grant to support Evans’ research and education activities for five consecutive years.
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Noah Cornelius
January 19, 2023
App State junior Noah Cornelius, a Waxhaw native, dreams of working as a NASCAR broadcaster. With academic pursuits in the electronic media/broadcasting program, hands-on work for student outlets AppTV and WASU-FM and multiple internships in the industry, he’s racing toward that goal.
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App State archaeology project partners with Junaluska to document Black history in Boone
December 13, 2022
App State faculty and students are collaborating with the Junaluska Heritage Association on the Junaluska Community Archaeology Project to help document and preserve the material heritage of one of the oldest African American communities in Western North Carolina. Work has included the excavation of historic sites and the placement of stones over previously unmarked graves.
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Dr. Sarah Carmichael
December 2, 2022
App State geochemist Dr. Sarah Carmichael has been named to The Explorers Club 50 — a program recognizing those who push the boundaries of exploration. She will share her geomicrobiology and mass extinction research as part of The Explorers 50 Speaker Series on Dec. 14.
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App State recognizes 2022–23 Fleming Scholarship recipients
November 10, 2022
App State recognizes the 2022–23 recipients of the Fleming Scholarship, which is named in honor of Dr. Willie C. Fleming — a leader in diversity and inclusion at App State for nearly four decades.
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10 first-year App State students awarded Diversity Scholars Program Scholarship for 2022–23
November 2, 2022
For the 2022–23 academic year, 10 first-year App State students have received the Diversity Scholars Program Scholarship, which covers full in-state tuition and fees for up to four years and includes leadership workshops, service-learning, international experiences and mentorship opportunities.
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App State honors 4 Alumni Awards recipients during 2022 Alumni Weekend
September 1, 2022
App State’s Alumni Association honored four graduates with 2022 Alumni Awards — recognizing Mark Ricks ’89, June Wilson Hege ’65, John Thomas Roos ’84 and Douglas Middleton Jr. ’15 ’18 for their professional, service and philanthropic accomplishments.
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Juliet Irving
July 21, 2022
As a dancer and choreographer, an artist and a social justice advocate, App State’s Juliet Irving ’19 has a blended perspective in her work as a freelance multimedia designer.
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Mike Waters
May 27, 2022
Air Force veteran, App State staff member and Boone native Mike Waters continued the university's longstanding practice of placing a commemorative wreath at the campus Veterans Memorial, which honors members of the App State community who died while in military service.
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Jamie Parson
May 17, 2022
Jamie Parson has been named chief diversity officer at Appalachian State University, effective immediately. Parson is the second cabinet-level chief diversity officer to hold the position at App State.
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Renee Yong
May 5, 2022
App State music therapy student Renee Yong was one of five students worldwide to win a scholarship in the fall 2021 Make Your Mark International Scholarship Contest, for her song “Cold Mountain Shadow.” Post-graduation, she aims to research music therapy treatments for depression.
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App State’s Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program celebrates a decade of transforming lives
April 29, 2022
App State’s Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program (SDAP) — an inclusive college experience designed for students with intellectual disabilities — celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. It will expand to a four-year program option in fall 2023.
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Gabby Brown
April 8, 2022
Gabby Brown loves the challenge of transforming complex subjects into simple language that anyone can understand. This English–professional writing major plans to pursue a career in technical writing.
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A legacy of leadership at App State and beyond: Meet 7 National Pan-Hellenic Council alumni
February 21, 2022
Members of App State’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) fraternities and sororities have built a legacy of leadership and service — both on and off campus.
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App State honors champions of inclusive excellence, on campus and in the community
January 31, 2022
During the 2022 Chancellor’s Awards for Inclusive Excellence Luncheon, App State honored champions of inclusive excellence, including several faculty, staff and students from the university and a member of the local community.
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Karolyn Martin
January 19, 2022
In her time at App State, senior Karolyn Martin has discovered new interests, mentored and educated others and developed skills that will help her in building her career. She is a communication studies major with a marketing minor and aspires to become a lawyer.
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Nataly Jimenez
September 2, 2021
First-generation student and Wilson Scholar Nataly Jimenez, a senior majoring in sociology-criminology, deviance and law, aspires to become an immigration lawyer — a goal inspired by watching her own immigrant family encounter hardships.
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Lynn Patterson '89
April 1, 2021
Lynn Patterson ’89, university program specialist in App State's Belk Library and Information Commons, considers her relationships with students as an important part of her job. The alumna has mentored many students over her 30-year employment at the university.
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Cashae Cook '14
March 29, 2021
As a child, Cashae Cook ’14 said she was always glad to see police officers arrive at her house — because it meant she and her siblings would be safe. Now, as Appalachian Police Department’s new diversity, inclusion and community engagement officer, Cook wants to make sure the Mountaineer community also experiences positive interactions with police officers.
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DeJon Milbourne ’20
March 5, 2021
App State alumnus DeJon Milbourne ’20 shares his experience of being a Black student leader on App State’s campus. As a back-to-back president of App State’s student body, Milbourne helped advocate for diversity and inclusion initiatives, as well as wellness and prevention services and campus safety. Learn more about his journey to leadership.
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Jenny Ly
October 7, 2019
Ly said she found her passion for programming and science during her first hackathon — a collaborative event in which computer programmers develop software programs at breakneck speed.
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6 members of App State Community receive Plemmons Leadership Medallions
August 14, 2019
Six members of the Appalachian State University Community have been awarded W.H. Plemmons Leadership Medallions in recognition of their efforts to provide campus leadership for students.
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Jordan Moore
July 9, 2019
Chemistry major Jordan Moore aspires to take her talents abroad — providing medical care in developing nations.
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Travian Smith
June 6, 2019
Travian Smith is the first recipient of Appalachian’s newly established National Pan-Hellenic Council Leadership Award.
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Rachel Gallardo
December 1, 2018
Each year, Appalachian’s Top of the Rock recipient is recognized for his or her outstanding achievements and contributions to the success of others. Rachel Gallardo, the 2018 recipient, is more than deserving of the honor.
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Murilo Artese
November 30, 2018
Artese, from São Paulo, Brazil, is a member of the NouN Improv Comedy Troupe and Appalachian Student Ambassadors, as well as International Appalachian (INTAPP) and the Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader (SOUL) program.
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Malik Hargrave
May 9, 2018
Appalachian senior Malik Hargrave studies actuarial science while taking advantage of leadership opportunities on campus.
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Nicholas Gilliam '17
February 23, 2018
Accounting major Nicholas Gilliam reflects on how Appalachian set him up for success as a graduate student at University of Notre Dame.
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Jake Keller '17
February 15, 2018
Appalachian student veteran Jake Keller ’17, who will deploy overseas to Iraq in March, recognized three Hayes School of Music faculty members with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Patriot Award.
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Sarah Miner
November 2, 2017
Exercise science major Sarah Miner of Charlotte has a passion for creating equity in health care — and a career plan to make it happen.
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Ray Christian
December 6, 2016
Ray Christian, a storyteller and instructor at Appalachian State University, compartmentalizes his life of 55 years into three disparate segments: an impoverished childhood in a Richmond, Virginia, ghetto, 20 years serving his country in the U.S. Army, and the past two decades “doing nothing but going to school.”
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Susan M. Branch '99
October 6, 2016
According to Branch, a successful attorney who serves on the university’s Board of Trustees, “I took advantage of everything Appalachian had to offer.”
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