It has been my privilege to get to know and work with Student Body President Kathryn Long and Student Body Vice President Amarah Din this academic year. App State alumna Kyla Willoughby, who graduated last May with a degree in commercial photograpy and now works in University Communications, took this photo during yesterday’s event, capturing a memory I will remember fondly for years to come.
Message from Chancellor Heather Norris
I’m both proud and humbled that yesterday, I was elected Chancellor of Appalachian State University by the UNC System Board of Governors, after being nominated for the position by UNC System President Peter Hans, and tomorrow, my position will no longer be interim. You can watch the remarks that Search Advisory Chair Sen. Deanna Ballard, Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tommy Sofield and I shared immediately upon the vote of the Board of Governors.
I’m proud to represent this incredible university and I’m humbled by its 125-year legacy. I’m also excited and energized to take on the work before us.
Yesterday afternoon, I recorded a short video message sharing a vision I hope we can accomplish together. You can view it by clicking the image below:
I want to take this moment to say thank you:
- To my family — especially my husband, Rob, my daughter, Emma, and my Dad, David Hulburt, who share with me a strong sense of faith and purpose to serve others;
- To UNC System President Peter Hans, Board of Governors Chair Wendy Murphy and the full Board of Governors. Please know I am so grateful for your trust in me. I recognize the responsibility you have placed in me, and I will work every day to be the leader this great institution and our communities deserve;
- To our government leaders, from the High Country and Catawba Valley, to Raleigh, to Washington, D.C., who recognize the importance of App State to our region and who recognize the potential App State has to bolster the economic prosperity and vibrancy of the communities across our region;
- To App State Board of Trustees Chair Mark Ricks, Vice Chair Sofield and the Board of Trustees, who have supported me — and my leadership team — allowing us to focus our efforts on serving our students, faculty and staff and communities during our time of this transition;
- To the members of my leadership team, who have provided incredible support and counsel during the last 10 months, and who helped ensure our institution was literally a beacon in the storm when Hurricane Helene devastated our area in September;
- To the community leaders in the High Country and the Catawba Valley, who are helping shape the vision for App State’s future;
- To the more than 150,000 App State alumni who are living, working and contributing in communities across the state, nation and world with Mountaineer pride;
- To our faculty, who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of knowledge and advancing purposeful research and creative endeavors, while teaching and mentoring our students; and our staff, whose contributions each day and at every level ensure a positive, meaningful community in which our students can succeed;
- And of course, to our students. You represent our future, and we remain dedicated to ensuring the experiences you have and the degrees you earn here will hold a lifetime of value for you.
It is my great honor to continue to serve, building upon the excellence that was established by our founders 125 years ago.
Heather Norris
Chancellor
Thank you to the members of the Student Government Association for your support at yesterday’s event, and thank you to App State alumnus Chase Reynolds, a 2017 commercial photography graduate, for capturing this moment.
