At App State, curiosity leads the way. Join a community that inspires and supports you — so you can elevate your future and graduate with the confidence and skills to succeed, no matter where life takes you.
App State has earned a Research 2 designation through the Carnegie Classification system for high research activity and doctorate production. App State’s research expenditures in fiscal year 2023 were more than $8.4 million and, in 2022–23, the university awarded 20 doctoral degrees.
Six national publications — including U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes magazine — have recognized App State among the best schools in the nation, and the Southeast, for 2025–26. The publications lauded the university for its academics, innovation and value, among other aspects.
In fall 2026, App State will launch a new Doctor of Nursing Practice program, designed to educate family practice nurse practitioners and respond to health care provider shortages, especially in rural areas. The program has been approved by the UNC System Board of Governors.
On Feb. 27, 2025, the UNC Board of Governors elected Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris as the next leader of Appalachian State University. Norris has served as interim chancellor since April 2024. Her career has been characterized by her strong, collaborative leadership and service to both App State and the greater community, and she brings more than two decades of academic leadership, vision and expertise to her role as chancellor.
Sustainability and resilience are guiding principles at App State and institutionally interwoven into our strategic plan, academic mission, engagement locally and globally and day-to-day best practices. We are recognized as a national leader for our endeavors.
We're enhancing the App State Experience with a stronger physical infrastructure and five-year goals that further empower human potential. Get the full picture by visiting the App State's Future website, which details our growth and change.
Join a diverse and dynamic community that elevates your dreams and champions your capacity for real impact with life-changing opportunities for research and exploration.
It’s hard to fathom that in one of the richest countries on earth, there are still pockets of America with no hospitals and virtually no qualified physicians. Yet that’s the reality poignantly captured in “The Only Doctor”, a profile from Reel South and PBS of Dr. Karen Kinsell, who operates the lone medical clinic in impoverished, rural Clay County, Georgia. For a portrait of America’s health care inequities so powerful it’s now taught in medical schools as inspiration to young doctors to work in underserved communities.
Because of the tremendous needs for implementation of climate mitigation and climate adaptation strategies, there are more opportunities than ever before in the history of humanity to do meaningful work—work that matters to your community and to the world. Drew Wilkinson, who will be joining us by Zoom, provides consulting services for employee engagement through the Climate Leadership Collective, helping organizations make sustainability part of everybody’s job.
Join us for a day of grit, reinvention, and purpose-driven success stories that will challenge your thinking and energize your next move. This year’s lineup features Natalie Johnson, Paul Storm, and Gaurav “G” Patel, entrepreneurs and leaders who know firsthand what it means to face setbacks, rethink everything, and come back stronger. Their stories span industries and continents, but all center on the power of staying grounded, thinking boldly, and leading with clarity and conviction.
Jay Arzu, a graduate of Marist College, began his Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design in Fall 2021. Jay is the Co-Founder of the Collective Form, a walkable urbanism and community engagement platform, where he handles Strategic Initiatives, Equity Management, and Community Engagement.
The current cast members of the Emmy-nominated TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” are proud to present their new improv tour: WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY? — 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions. Cast members Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, and Joel Murray will leave you gasping with the very witty scenes they invent before your eyes. Audience participation is key to the show so bring your suggestions and you might be asked to join the cast onstage.
Please join us for our monthly Day of Service as we continue our longer-term cleanup efforts around the High Country and other work. Get to know the High Country by stepping out into the Boone community and donating a few hours of your time at a local non-profit. Lunch and transportation will be provided.
International Education Week (IEW) at App State is an annual celebration of the global engagement that happens throughout the year through our clubs, courses, and conversations. Students, staff, faculty, and community members are encouraged to participate in programming throughout the week. IEW on the national level is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education and part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.
FADE is a popular semi-annual concert featuring Appalachian faculty and students showcasing their talents in choreography and performance. The 2025 edition includes original choreography by Dance Studies faculty members Laurie Atkins, Taryn Griggs, Sherone Price and Sam Stone with student choreographers creating new works for each program; they will be announced at a later date with as many as eight different pieces being performed every night.
The Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) is a competition in which graduate students explain their research or scholarly/creative projects in jargon-free language to a general “lay” audience in three minutes with the help of only one static PowerPoint slide. It was started at the University of Queensland (Australia) and has since been adopted at universities worldwide. The first-place winner in App State's local competition will represent the University at the regional competition held at the annual Conference of Southern Graduate Schools.
Commencement is the ultimate celebration of one of the most significant accomplishments of our students' lifetimes. We are proud to honor your achievement.
Are you looking to gain experience through an internship? Come to the Internship Expo and meet large, small, non-profit, for-profit, government, local, statewide, and national organizations seeking interns. All majors and all class years are welcome.
The Internship and Job Fair is our largest and most comprehensive career event. Serving students and alumni of all majors and skills, the event is host to many organizations across all industry sectors that are ready to network with students and introduce them to hundreds of valuable internship and job opportunities.