The Williams School of Graduate Studies recently hosted the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition that challenges graduate students to present their theses and findings in just three minutes. Pictured are the top three winners of the competition, along with their faculty mentors and Williams School of Graduate Studies Dean Ashley Colquitt, far left, and Acting Provost Neva J. Specht, far right. From left to right: People’s Choice Award winner Steven Vogel; second-place winner Sean Doherty with his faculty mentor, Dr. Herman van Werkhoven, associate professor in the Department of Public Health and Exercise Science (third from left); and first-place winner Jonathan Culpepper ’23 with his faculty mentor, Dr. Sharareh Shirzad, assistant professor in the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment (second from right). Not pictured is Dr. Tiberiu Ungureanu, faculty mentor to Vogel and assistant professor in the Department of Management. Thank you to Kyla Willoughby in University Communications for this photo.
Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
This week, the UNC System Board of Governors met in Raleigh. This group of North Carolina leaders is responsible, under North Carolina law, for the planning, development and overall governance of the UNC System institutions. During the meetings, which took place Wednesday and Thursday, discussions included a variety of topics: student housing needs, health care initiatives and the importance of research across the UNC System, an update to proposed modifications to the performance funding model, and capital projects and tuition and fee rates for the coming year. Notably, App State was recognized for our early efforts to grow our nursing program, which will help address rural health care needs, as well as for the program’s excellent graduation and first-time national licensure exam pass rates. Specific actions related to our university included:
- The board voted, for the ninth consecutive year, not to raise undergraduate tuition rates for in-state students of UNC System institutions and to keep student fee increases low, with a statutory cap of 3% for total mandatory fees. App State fees will increase by just $51 (1.6%) annually to support health services, non-athletics student activities and education technology. We are a highly efficient institution that works to keep our attendance costs low. The cost to attend App State remains among the lowest of our peer institutions and our students continue to graduate with some of the lowest student loan debt loads in the nation.
Systemwide, the percentage of graduates who carry student loan debt has, in the last five years, decreased from 61% to 50%. UNC System President Peter Hans spoke powerfully about the importance of keeping “a life-changing education within easy reach of North Carolina’s families.” President Hans noted that “disciplined control of tuition costs in recent years has helped rebuild trust” in our state’s public educational institutions, and he joined Board of Governors Chair Murphy and the full board in thanking our legislators for the funding support that is supporting this goal, noting that state funding for the UNC System has increased 32%, a rate twice that of the rate of inflation, during his tenure as president. - The board approved the demolition of the Legends student lounge. Legends holds special and long-standing memories for many of our current students, alumni and staff, but after being condemned for use, it suffered significant damage during Hurricane Helene, when a sinkhole opened underneath the building. Our Student Affairs team continues to utilize existing space and is committed to honoring the building’s legacy for alumni and building new memories for current and future students.
- The board also approved increased spending authorizations for ongoing capital projects to ensure they will stay on track despite the impacts of Hurricane Helene and inflationary increases.
- The board voted to appoint me to the Board of Directors for Project Kitty Hawk — a nonprofit ed-tech startup funded by the General Assembly that partners with UNC System institutions to provide online student support services tailored to nontraditional learners and to align education and workforce development systems. Our university officially began a partnership with PKH in April of 2024, and we have already seen enrollment growth and have bolstered our nationwide recognition for excellence in online program offerings. I am honored to become a member of this board and look forward to helping make a strong partnership even stronger.
In addition to these action items, Appalachian State University was recognized, along with UNC Asheville and Western Carolina University, for our record enrollment for the spring semester. We thank our legislature, the UNC System, and our incredibly generous donors for providing funds to support our students’ and employees’ most urgent needs and their immediate steps toward recovery. Our first-year student retention rate from the fall to spring semester is at a five-year high of 94.4%. This is particularly significant because it demonstrates that the substantial efforts our faculty and staff put into ensuring our students could succeed through an incredibly challenging semester were successful. It’s also a key predictor of first- to second-year retention rates, which, at App State, remain among the highest in the UNC System, and are another important indicator of student success. And, while the data are important, we know these numbers represent individual stories of students who faced immense challenges and continue to triumph over adversity. From the smallest actions to significant engagements, you are truly changing lives for the better, and I thank you.
Last Friday, 13 App State graduate students came together to showcase their research in a competition testing their academic, research and communication skills. In just three minutes, each of these students shared a synopsis of their research goals, methods and results, representing a variety of disciplines ranging from cellular and molecular biology and exercise science to organizational psychology and supply chain management, and I applaud all of our competitors for taking on this challenge and completing it!
Congratulations to Jonathan Culpepper, of Chapel Hill, for earning the top prize and advancing to the Council of Southern Graduate Schools 3MT Competition. Jonathan earned his undergraduate degree in building sciences from App State in 2023 and is pursuing a master’s degree in technology with a concentration in sustainable building design and construction. His research project explores how a type of locally produced biochar (a nearly pure organic carbon substance) and fly ash (a fine powder formed from the mineral matter in coal) can be used to improve strength, durability and other properties of hydraulic cement mortar, a commonly used construction material. Jonathan was supported by his faculty mentor, Dr. Sharareh Shirzad, assistant professor in the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment.
The second-place winner was Sean Doherty, of Jacksonville, Florida, who is earning a Master of Science in exercise science focusing on research in biomechanics. He was mentored by Dr. Herman van Werkhoven, associate professor in the Department of Public Health and Exercise Science. Sean’s research explores the use of open-source video technology for studying a runner’s fatigue over the course of a run.
The People’s Choice Award went to Steven Vogel, of Durham. Steven is a second-year graduate student in the industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management program, whose research explores stereotypes in the workplace and their effects on overall business performance. His faculty mentor is Dr. Tiberiu Ungureanu, assistant professor in the Department of Management.
The work of our students and their faculty mentors is incredibly impressive, with meaningful and productive outcomes that will improve lives. Thank you to the students who are taking on these extraordinary academic endeavors. Thanks also to Dr. Ashley Colquitt, dean of the Williams School of Graduate Studies, Dr. Christine Ogilvie Hendren, vice provost of research and innovation, the faculty judges and the many faculty and staff who managed the logistics of the competition. And a huge thanks to the faculty who mentor our incredible graduate students. The significance of your influence on our students and your support for their academic endeavors cannot be overstated.
This week the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards announced that, for the ninth consecutive year, Appalachian State University leads the nation for having the most graduates who have earned this rigorous certification. Earning this certification takes one to three years of documenting and demonstrating dedication to teaching excellence. Reich College of Education faculty remain engaged with our graduates working in the classroom, continuing to mentor and guide our alumni with professional development opportunities, especially in their early careers. Achieving National Board Certified Teacher certification speaks to the collective dedication, drive and professionalism of our alumni, faculty and staff, and we admire and celebrate your passion — congratulations!
Congratulations and gratitude are also in order for four Appalachian Police Department officers who earned awards of distinction for their bravery.
- Sgt. Petey Hausley earned an Award for Valor from the UNC System, as well as the App State Police Medal of Valor, for exceptional action taken through outstanding bravery, decisiveness and swift action to protect others, irrespective of his own safety.
- Officer Tylor Greene earned an App State Police Lifesaving Award — for the second time — for assisting a cardiac arrest victim with CPR and basic life support measures.
- Lt. Kevin Wilson and Officer Cameron Masin also each earned App State Police Lifesaving Awards for their role in assisting an individual who was experiencing a mental health crisis, placing themselves directly in harm's way during the incident to protect the individual.
We are so fortunate to have caring, compassionate and highly skilled police protecting our university community. Thank you for your selfless dedication to keeping our campuses and our students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors safe every day.
As we close out the first month of the new year, we have much to celebrate. I encourage each of us to take a moment to reflect upon our accomplishments. From the smallest to the greatest, each holds significance and is worth appreciation.
Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor
Pictured from left to right: National Board Certified Teacher and two-time App State alumna Karen Walker ’94 ’98, standing in foreground, assists new teachers at a workshop in December 2024 in Wilkes County; the sinkhole outside Legends, slated for demolition, caused by flooding during Hurricane Helene; and the 2024 App State Police awards of distinction recipients: Officer Cameron Masin — Lifesaving Award, Lt. Kevin Wilson — Lifesaving Award, Sgt. Petey Hausley — Medal of Valor, and Officer Tylor Greene — Lifesaving Award. Thank you to Reich College of Education Director of Partnerships and Engagement Dr. Betsy Rosenbalm ’01 ’05 ’08 and to University Communications Photographer Chase Reynolds for capturing these photos.
