Dr. Zachary Russell, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, center — who is pictured with student researchers Ethan Humphries, a senior physics major from Kings Mountain, and Hunter Corman ’24, an engineering physics graduate student from Morehead City — has been awarded a $2.3 million grant from NCInnovation to develop and market an AI-enhanced robotic microscope with the potential to advance North Carolina’s status as a national leader in agriculture. University Photographers Chase Reynolds and Kyla Willoughby took this photo of the team assembling 3D-printed components for rapid prototyping of microscope designs.
Message from Chancellor Heather Norris: November 21, 2025
The season of gratitude is upon us, and we have so much to be thankful for at App State! As I look back to the beginning of this year and all we have accomplished together, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and pride that I am a Mountaineer alongside our outstanding faculty, staff, students and alumni.
I am thankful for our faculty, who provide instruction, mentorship and support to our students, along with research opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels that have the potential to change industries and communities with breakthrough discoveries and innovations. One of many examples is Dr. Zach Russell, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, who, along with a student cohort, developed an AI-enhanced robotic microscope to streamline parasite identification — supporting our state’s farmers and strengthening food production systems worldwide. This research has earned Zach’s team a $2.3 million grant from NCInnovation, and through this grant, the team continues to progress toward making this technology available to local farmers, which will cut down on the turnaround times for analyses — from days to minutes, without having to send tests off to labs for review.
The impacts of this research will expand beyond agriculture to manufacturing, software engineering and AI research. Creative and innovative professors such as Zach help App State students gain meaningful applied research experience, developing solutions with far-reaching scientific and financial significance. Additionally, the openness to innovation — and the resilience and tenacity they have developed while focusing on solution-oriented research — will bolster their success as they enter the job market.
I’m thankful for our students, who remind me each and every day why I chose to pursue a career in higher education. As they earn their degrees, serve their communities, explore different interests and discover new ways to exemplify what it means to be a Mountaineer, they inspire one another, their faculty and so many others, including me, with their approach to learning, growing and innovating. And, during yesterday’s Board of Governors meeting, I was reminded of how resilient our students are: Mackenzie Thompson, a health sciences major, was recognized at the meeting for her perseverance and success in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, earning her computed tomography (CT) license and continuing to work full time as a CT imaging technologist at UNC Health Lenoir while completing her App State degree. Mackenzie is on track to graduate next May, earning her Bachelor of Science in health sciences.
I am also thankful for our staff, who support our students and faculty, ensuring that our physical and institutional infrastructure operate smoothly and meet the needs of our university community. Our university runs because of the dedication and passion of our staff, who provide critical support services and resources for our entire university community — from clearing snow; keeping our buildings clean and attractive; ensuring our food is nutritious and plentiful; preserving and maintaining our academic resources; providing physical or mental health care, as well as residential support, academic advising, administrative services, and scholarship and research support; supporting our alumni and community members; maintaining a safe and secure physical and virtual environment; keeping our children cared for, our offices comfortable, our lights and water on, our communications functional and our bills paid; to performing so many other essential functions. I’m so very thankful and proud to belong to a community that cares for one another. You don’t have to look far to find a helping hand at App State — if you or a friend needs one, here’s where you can start.
I’m thankful for the larger community that makes up what we call the Appalachian Family, the App Nation, or any number of terms of Mountaineer endearment — all those who love App State!
I’m thankful for our private supporters, our governance boards, our local and state government and civic leaders, our UNC System leaders and the many people who make up the large and complex infrastructure that supports our university and public higher education system in North Carolina. We are fortunate to live in a state that cares so much about education and provides such significant financial support.
I’m thankful that our university is able to serve as a resource for our community — through education, the arts, athletics, volunteerism and service — and that doing so is germane to who we are as an institution.
For 45 years, our Staff Senate has organized their Appalachian Kindness In Donations and Service (AppKIDS) initiative, which provides new winter clothing, hygiene items, school supplies, summer camps, high school graduation regalia, mental health services and so much more to Watauga County schoolchildren in need. Today, we will host 100 local K–12 students on our Boone campus for lunch and fun explorations and exhibitions, including science and math demonstrations, activities on the football field at Kidd Brewer Stadium, the chance to sit in an App State Police car, a New River Light and Power bucket truck, visits with Yosef, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and campus tours for the high school students. We’ll also send each student home with a new book to read. This is always such a fun annual event, and I enjoy learning from and with these students. In true App State fashion, we even have alumni of the program who are now volunteers.
The festive celebrations will continue with the Hayes School of Music Scholarship Concert tonight, an annual tradition that has helped usher in the holiday season — while also raising scholarship funds for Hayes School of Music students — for 33 years. This concert is a favorite of mine every year, and I am looking forward to the performances by our talented students and faculty.
Our Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Wrestling teams are off to a solid start in their respective arenas. Women’s Basketball has won three of their first four home games, and Men’s Basketball hosts UNC Charlotte tonight in the Holmes Center, getting us ready for an exciting weekend.
With two home Mountaineer football games left in the season, we’re also looking forward to giving Marshall University a warm Mountaineer welcome to Kidd Brewer Stadium for a great Black Saturday fan experience tomorrow. This is our Heroes Day game — when we honor our brave military members, first responders, veterans and health care workers for their dedication to keeping our country and communities safe. Thanksgiving weekend, we will host Arkansas State for our Senior Day game, and I look forward to recognizing our seniors who will be playing in their final home game. As we celebrate these deserving recognitions, please also help show our guests how Mountaineers can display respect — and set an example that makes us all proud.
As our students prepare for the end of the semester, some took a study break to share their moments of appreciation and gratitude. This short video gave me the opportunity to focus my attention on the reason we come to work every day — our students. I hope you will enjoy it as well!
As we head into a short week, with no classes Wednesday and the university closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday, I wish everyone a safe and restful break. Please know that I am thankful for every member of the Appalachian State University Community and your support for one another.
Heather Norris
Chancellor
From left to right: The talented students in the Hayes School of Music will perform with a festive flare tonight during the 33rd annual Holiday Scholarship Concert. This photo is from last year’s concert, which was such a treat, and I’m looking forward to tonight’s performance! Members of our Women's Basketball team signed autographs for fans after their win against Wofford on Nov. 16. I’m looking forward to spending this afternoon with students from Watauga County during AppKIDS Day, an annual tradition for 45 years, thanks to our Staff Senate. We’re excited to welcome these students back to campus after having to cancel last year’s event due to Hurricane Helene. Thanks to Chase Reynolds in University Communications and Banks Fana, a sophomore marketing major, for these photos!
