Tonight we will celebrate six of App State’s Mountaineer Legends, whose achievements and contributions at App State and beyond make us all proud to be Mountaineers. Pictured, clockwise from top left, are Dr. Vaughn Christian, Kathy Moran ’82, Leonard Love ’10, Anna Freeman Healy ’13, Pat Swisher ’78 and D.J. Thompson ’07. Thank you to App State Athletics for providing these images.
Message from Chancellor Heather Norris: September 4, 2026
This fall, Appalachian State University welcomes 21,308 new and returning Mountaineer students across our Boone, Hickory and App State Online campuses — including the largest online, graduate, transfer and first-generation student populations in our university’s history. Some highlights from our fall 2026 enrollment data:
- Record online student growth: Marking its seventh consecutive year of growth, App State Online achieved a university milestone with a record 3,883 enrolled students this fall. Through our strategic partnership with Project Kitty Hawk, enrollment in online Flight Path degree programs has doubled year over year and accounts for nearly a quarter of online enrollment.
- Historic transfer population: 5,553 transfer students are enrolled at App State this fall — the university’s largest transfer population to date. These students represent 29% of the undergraduate population.
- Increases in first-generation and rural students: First-generation student enrollment rose 10% over fall 2025 to a historic 7,249 students, representing nearly 38% of App State’s undergraduate student population. Additionally, 5,930 undergraduates (31% of in-state, degree-seeking undergraduate students) come from rural North Carolina counties — a 1.5% enrollment increase from last fall.
App State’s dedication to Mountaineer student success is directly reflected by positive student outcomes data. Our 2026 first- to second-year retention rate stands at 83.4%, well above the national average of 77.9%, and our four-year graduation rate is now 70% higher than the national average. You can read more about fall enrollment at App State in this news story.
Today, our Board of Trustees gathered on the Boone campus for its September meeting, during which we officially welcomed Student Body President Elizabeth Ford as student representative to the board, a seat established by North Carolina statute specifically for the Student Government Association President. We also expressed our deep gratitude to Trustee Mark Ricks as his tenure as chair comes to a close. Fortunately for us, Trustee Ricks, our 2022 Distinguished Alumnus, will continue to serve as a dedicated advocate and steadfast supporter of our university.
Yesterday, Trustees had the opportunity to tour and see firsthand the progress being made on two major capital improvement projects — the new Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility and the Mountaineer Ridge student housing development at our Appalachian 105 property — as well as view the recently opened Mildred Southern Indoor Tennis Facility, which rounds out the development of App State’s Appalachian 105 Sports Complex.
During my report to the Board, which you can read on this Messages webpage, I highlighted how App State’s student-engaged, public-impact research drives meaningful innovation, enriches the student experience and creates long-term value for our region and beyond. To see a brief glimpse of our students and faculty putting research and creativity into action, I invite you to watch our newest institutional spot.
Beyond our region, App State’s commitment to experiential learning connects our campus community with transformative opportunities across the world. Recently, students and faculty from the Department of Theatre and Dance in the College of Fine and Applied Arts completed an immersive, three-week program in Tokyo led by assistant professor Elizabeth Parks, studying Noh theatre — one of Japan’s oldest and most revered performing arts traditions. Training daily with professional Noh actors, attending live performances and exploring cultural sites across Tokyo, students gained firsthand insight into the discipline, musicality and precision of the craft before presenting a culminating recital at the Kita Ryu Theatre in the Meguro area of Tokyo. This is just one example of the more than 600 education abroad opportunities available to App State students each year.
Tonight, App State Athletics hosts its Legends Gala, an annual event established in 2017 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Mountaineer alumni and friends. Each year at this signature event, we celebrate the athletic champions of App State’s past and invest in the future of our student-athletes. This year's event will honor six Mountaineer legends, including keynote speaker and App State alumnus Leonard Love ’10 alongside fellow honorees Dr. Vaughn Christian, Anna Freeman Healy ’13, Kathy Moran ’82, Pat Swisher ’78 and D.J. Thompson ’07. Tonight promises to be a fun and inspirational evening as we celebrate their lasting legacies, which you can read more about here.
Tomorrow, Kidd Brewer Stadium will be filled with the extraordinary energy of our campus community as we kick off another season of App State Football! The Mountaineers Football team will host the University of Maine Black Bears for our home opener and Gold Out game. In the last two years, both ESPN and The Athletic named Kidd Brewer Stadium one of the top 25 college football venues in the nation. And our passionate fans are known for turning out in record numbers, setting the top five single-season average attendance marks in App State and Sun Belt Conference history from 2021 through 2025. In fact, Saturday’s game is officially sold out — marking our 16th sellout in the last 18 home games at The Rock. As we welcome the visiting Black Bears to campus, let’s be sure to show them the warm, gracious hospitality that defines our Appalachian State Community — while cheering on our student-athletes toward victory! I look forward to joining you at The Rock for what promises to be another thrilling season ahead. Go App!
Heather Norris
Chancellor
From left to right: I am deeply grateful to work alongside our Board of Trustees, whose thoughtful leadership and guidance continue to steer Appalachian State’s present and future. Today’s meeting was especially meaningful as we recognized Trustee Mark Ricks, far left, for his exceptional leadership as his tenure as chair comes to a close. Pictured with me, second from left, are Trustee Ricks, far left, Trustee and Chair-Elect Tommy Sofield, second from right, and UNC Board of Governors member C. Philip Byers, far right; Trustees toured three of our Boone campus capital improvement projects on Thursday to see firsthand the construction progress for the new Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility (pictured) and Mountaineer Ridge student housing complex, and to catch a glimpse of the newly opened Mildred Southern Indoor Tennis Facility; And an immersive, three-week study abroad program in Tokyo allowed our students and faculty from the Department of Theatre and Dance to expand their artistic perspectives by working directly with professional Noh actors — an experience that will bring new depth to their performance practice. Thank you to Chase Reynolds and Kyla Willoughby in University Communications and assistant professor Elizabeth Parks for these images.
