Last Updated on April 27, 2025 3:28 pm
Friday, April 25, 2025
As students prepare for final exams, summer plans and upcoming graduation, the energy on both the Boone and Hickory campuses is high. The last day of classes for the spring semester is this coming Wednesday, and graduating seniors are only two weeks away from Commencement.
This is the time of year that is full of celebrations and transitions.
- Yesterday, we held our annual Awards of Distinction ceremony, during which we recognized the winners of the university’s most distinguished and prestigious awards to students, faculty and staff — who were joined by their friends and colleagues for their special celebration.
Throughout the program, we heard stories that reflect the wide range of contributions across our App State Community — from transformative teaching and groundbreaking research to dedicated service and student achievement. It was a wonderful opportunity to recognize faculty, staff and students whose work and commitment make a lasting impact on our university and beyond.
You can learn more about them and the awards on this website, and watch for a news release coming out featuring the recipients next week. Please join me in congratulating this amazing group of individuals! You make me proud to be a part of this wonderful university community. - Last week and this week, we held Staff Appreciation events on the Boone and Hickory campuses. These are such fun events and a terrific opportunity to recognize the incredible work of our staff, who ensure the university’s operational success and maintain a beautiful and welcoming environment for our university community and visitors. Thank you for your unwavering service to our institution.
- This week I also attended the Student Government Association transition dinner, during which outgoing Student Body President Kathryn Long and Vice President Amarah Din — who will both graduate next month — turned their responsibilities over to incoming President Nicole Tran, a senior political science major from Charlotte, and Vice President Courtney Castellow, a senior majoring in public relations from Winterville. I have greatly appreciated working with Kathryn and Amarah, during a year filled with unforeseen and immense challenges, and I look forward to working with Nicole and Courtney in the coming year.
- This afternoon, I’ll join members of the Chancellor’s Appalachian Leadership Development Program as they celebrate the completion of this yearlong professional development opportunity. During the last year, they have developed a support network of fellow administrators, fostered skills in conducting crucial conversations and explored a breadth of topics — gaining insight into the organizational structures, financing, operations, strategic planning, and legal issues of App State and the UNC System. Congratulations to this latest ALDP class on this next step in your exploration of leadership pathways.
This week we also held our annual budget presentations for faculty and staff. In 2016, App State began holding annual budget briefings for faculty and staff, to ensure our university’s budgeting process is transparent and accessible, and I’m pleased we are continuing that practice. This year, we heard from:
- Interim Chief Financial Officer John Adams, who shared a broad overview of App State’s budget and resource allocation process;
- The deans in Academic Affairs, about the accomplishments, goals and strategic priorities of our academic colleges and schools;
- Chief Information Officer Keith Werner, about key, institution-wide priorities related to technology use, including artificial intelligence, to help inform us as we navigate an ever-changing digital landscape; and
- Interim Vice Provost of Programs and Planning Mark Bradbury, about the online Flight Path programs we have underway with Project Kitty Hawk.
This process also opens opportunities for all of us to hold informed discussions — today and throughout the year. I’d like to thank everyone who developed and shared presentations, and everyone who joined us in person and via livestream. We appreciate that you are taking the time to become more invested in — and informed about — the university’s budgeting and strategic resource allocation process. For faculty and staff who may have missed these presentations, you can log in to view them on the Budget Briefings and Strategic Initiatives page of the Finance and Operations website.
Yesterday, I shared with faculty, staff and students that I have appointed Dr. Neva J. Specht to the role of Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, effective May 1. Neva has held the position of Acting Provost since April of 2024.
In this role, Neva will continue her responsibilities as provost, advancing the academic mission of the university in collaboration with faculty, chairs and deans, and, as I shared in my message to campus on March 21, she will also oversee all aspects of Enrollment Management, the Student Affairs departments that support students and student success, and Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources. This combined division will allow all student success efforts, which have been housed across the three divisions of Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, to provide continuity of support for our students. From the first interactions as prospective students, to academic programs and advising, clubs and organizations, health and well-being, commencement and career services and support, students will be supported within a single division, under Neva’s leadership.
In the last month, I have met with all of the academic deans, members of the Chancellor’s and Provost’s Councils, Council of Chairs leadership, Faculty Senate leadership, senior leaders in Student Affairs, and members of the Provost’s Office staff. In each of these meetings, I have heard broad-based support for Neva. Her colleagues describe her as an honest, entrepreneurial, solution-oriented and visionary thinker who understands the challenges before us and the metrics we use every day to measure our success. I couldn’t agree more.
Neva is currently working on building a team that will allow her to develop a strong, collaborative division, one that cultivates a supportive university community and is focused on advancing student success and faculty and staff excellence — two key elements of our university’s strategic plan. This will include conducting a national search to hire a Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.
Please join me in congratulating Neva, as we look forward to continuing the great work ahead!
You can read a press release sharing the full announcement here.
As I said at the outset of my interim chancellor role, bolstering relationships and trust are — and will remain — high priority for my leadership team and me. We are committed to continuous improvement, collaboration, meaningful communication and good-faith relationships. In the last few days, I’ve met with leaders from the Town of Boone and the City of Hickory, and yesterday, I met with leaders and representatives from the Faculty Senate Advisory Committee. I appreciate the opportunity to continue building these and other important partnerships as I move forward in leading this institution.
Heading into the final days of the semester, I wish our students well as they prepare for upcoming final exams — you are close to the finish line!
Heather Norris
Chancellor
