College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University

Astronomers say we might be on the verge of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They predict a star about 3,000 lightyears from Earth in the constellation Corona Borealis that cannot normally be seen with the naked eye is about to go nova. That would make it temporarily as bright as Polaris, also known as the North Star. WFAE Morning Edition host (and Appalachian State University alumnus!) Marshall Terry spoke with the Department of Physics and Astronomy's Dr. Daniel Caton about this rare astronomical event. 💫 Listen to it here:

We are hiring an Office Manager/Program Assistant in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at App State! Come work with us! #wnc #blueridgemountains #appstateuniversity. https://lnkd.in/eRvYF2gQ

Astrophysicist Dr. Rachel Smith is head of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and a professor in the Appalachian State University Department of Physics and Astronomy. In a recent interview with North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, she discusses the mysteries of the universe with Due South's Leoneda Inge and Jeff Tiberii. 💫 Listen to it here:

Appalachian Journal vol. 51, no. 3-4 is now available! The new edition celebrates the life and career of Gurney Norman, Appalachian writer, documentarian, English professor and Kentucky Poet Laureate (2009-10). Norman is the author of Divine Rights Trip: A Folk-Tale (1972), Kinfolks: The Wilgus Stories (1977), One from Crazy Quilt: A Novel in Progress (1990), Ancient Creek: A Folk Tale (2012) and Allegiance (2019). This special edition, with Guest Editor Robert Gipe, features tributes to Norman from Gurney Fest, held at University of Kentucky in November 2023. During two days of events, people from across the region and U.S. met to acknowledge the remarkable range and influence of Norman’s life and work. Events included speakers, panel discussions, readings, music, impromptu storytelling, documentary films and short films adapted from Norman’s short stories. 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eHXPnasM

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jason White as chair of the Appalachian State University Department of History. Dr. White holds a bachelor's degree in history from James Madison University, a master's degree in Scottish history from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland) and master's and doctoral degrees in history from Brown University. Following positions as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada) and a visiting assistant professor at Wake Forest University, White joined App State's Department of History in 2012 as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 2018 and promoted to professor in 2024. White's research and teaching specialties include Europe from 1500 to 1700, British and Irish history in early and modern and modern eras, world history and economic history. He is the author of the book "Militant Protestantism and British Identity, 1603-1642" (Pickering & Chatto, 2012) with another one, titled "Between Two Worlds: The Levant Company, 1581-1660," currently in progress. In 2016, White earned the prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities summer stipend to help fund his research project on the Levant Company. Since 2019, White has served as assistant chair of the Department of History. During the 2022-23 academic year, he completed the Chancellor's Appalachian Leadership Development Program, which provides formal assistance and training to selected faculty and staff at Appalachian in their exploration and development of leadership capabilities. White succeeds Dr. Jim Goff, who will return to his faculty role in the Department of History. We sincerely thank Dr. Goff for his service to the College. 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eJw8Y-BA

Congratulations to Ralph Hise ’00, an alumnus of the Department of Mathematical Sciences and the recipient of Appalachian State University's 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award!

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jennifer Perry Cecile as chair of the Appalachian State University Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences. Dr. Cecile holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Winthrop University and master's and doctoral degrees in chemistry from Duke University. Following graduation, she joined the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences as a postdoctoral scholar. Cecile joined App State's Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences in January 2007 as an instructor. From 2008 through 2012, she served as the introductory chemistry coordinator for the department. She became an assistant professor in 2011 and was promoted to associate professor in 2017. Cecile is committed to mentoring and teaching undergraduate students. A past recipient of the Honors College Mentor of the Year, she has directed 12 undergraduate honors theses. She has served over eight years as senior personnel and co-principal investigator on National Science Foundation S-STEM and STEP programs to enhance student participation in STEM. Cecile has participated in two University of North Carolina (UNC) System projects to curate open educational resources and to develop adaptive learning homework software for general chemistry. This work initiated her Chancellor’s Innovation project with mathematics and chemistry colleagues to increase student success in first-semester Introductory Chemistry courses. Her teaching expertise ranges from introductory chemistry to physical chemistry and biochemistry. Outside of the department, Cecile serves as Chair of the Institutional Biosafety Council for App State. She participates as an NSF graduate research fellowship reviewer and she is a graduate of the UNC System's BRIDGES Academic Leadership Program. Cecile served as interim department chair of the Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences during the 2023-24 academic year. 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eJw8Y-BA

Congratulations to Richard ‘Tommy’ Guy ’07, the recipient of our 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award! Guy was honored during the Alumni Awards Gala on July 13. Guy graduated summa cum laude from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2007, having pursued a double major in mathematics and philosophy and religion. Guy was also a member of the Honors College. He is currently a principal architect and data scientist at Microsoft, where he leads efforts in big data analytics and artificial intelligence. Over the course of his academic and professional career, he has published 16 articles on a range of topics in mathematics, data science and computation genetics. He has led workshops on data science best practices for graduate students at a dozen schools in four countries, in addition to teaching a graduate course on data science and literacy at the University of Washington. Guy has established numerous scholarships for Appalachian State University students in several departments, including the Computer Science Alumni Scholarship. He has also worked with the Department of Computer Science to stage mock interviews for students and is interested in developing opportunities to facilitate networking relationships and mentorship between alumni and students. Guy currently serves as a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Advancement Council. 📷: Chase Reynolds, University Communications

We're only ONE MONTH AWAY from the beginning of the fall semester! We can't wait to welcome our new and returning Mountaineers to campus. 🍂

Last weekend, 16 students from Appalachian State University's veterinary technology program traveled to Winsome Farms in Spotsylvania, Virginia to complete Buddy's Bootcamp! The opportunity was made possible thanks to a generous gift from Jeff and Liz Mick in memory of their beloved dog Buddy. The rigorous two-day event allowed students to complete all of their required hands-on training with large and exotic species, including horses, cattle, goats, rabbits, chickens and rats. During the bootcamp, students practiced handling, restraint, blood draws and other skills necessary for their graduation from the veterinary technology program. According to Interim Director Jen Serling, these skills can be a challenge for online students to obtain due to the difficulty accessing these animals. Interim Clinical Program Director Leigha Wright shared that the students were able to come together in one place to hone their skills, develop deeper relationships with their classmates and instructors and gain the necessary experience to become credentialed veterinary technologists in the future.