College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University

05/29/2026

We're pleased to welcome Dr. Denise Edwards‑Forde as our new Travel Coordinator!

With advanced degrees in business and education and more than 16 years of administrative experience, Edwards‑Forde brings a rich background in education and leadership to her new role in the CAS Dean's Office.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4vhb5yS

05/28/2026

We’re celebrating two outstanding College of Arts and Sciences graduates recognized as finalists for App State’s Student Teacher of the Year: Emerson Phillips and Ethan Venable.

Emerson — a history/social studies education graduate and former CAS Corps ambassador — and Ethan — an English education graduate now pursuing his accelerated master’s — have each demonstrated exceptional commitment to their students, their disciplines, and the teaching profession.

Join us in congratulating these remarkable new educators, and read their full stories in the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University's feature: https://bit.ly/4tO13nr

05/26/2026

Congratulations to Carla Ramsdell (Physics and Astronomy) and Marta Toran (Geological and Environmental Sciences), who were recently honored with inaugural Resilience Pathmaker Awards!

The awards — presented by Appalachian State University's Pathways to Resilience Quality Enhancement Plan — recognize students, faculty, and staff who have made significant contributions to advancing climate literacy on campus and beyond.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3RRaghy

05/21/2026

A record 240 students took part in Appalachian State University’s 29th Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors on April 22 — nearly 100 more than last year.

Students representing 10 CAS departments shared their research, and three CAS students — Chris Lucero ’24 (Geography), Quinn Keefer ’25 (Geography), and Ava Mendez (Biology) — earned awards in the poster competition.

Read Bret Yager’s story for Appalachian Today: today.appstate.edu/2026/05/07/research-celebration

📸: Kyla Willoughby

05/20/2026

Appalachian State University has released the Dean’s and Chancellor’s lists for the spring 2026 semester. A total of 804 College of Arts and Sciences students were named to the Chancellor’s List, and 1,236 were named to the Dean’s List.

Congratulations to these outstanding students!

See the lists: https://bit.ly/4jJJgJ2

05/19/2026

Ryan Kennedy ’22 ’26, administrative support associate in the Department of Psychology, received the Staff Excellence Award in Leadership for his outstanding service to students, colleagues and the community.

After stepping into his full‑time role in 2022, Kennedy went on to complete his master’s degree in student affairs administration — all while remaining a trusted, go‑to resource in the department. He also volunteered for nearly three weeks at the Disaster Relief Hub after Hurricane Helene, supporting critical campus and community response efforts.

A nominator wrote, “Ryan is so good at his job, but he is also just such a gem of a person.”

Read more: https://today.appstate.edu/2026/04/30/awards-distinction -excellence

05/18/2026

From lifelong High Country roots to international teaching experiences to careers in New York media, Ralph Lentz ’94 ’98, Liz Kunkel ’16 ’17, and Taylor Dills ’17 each followed a distinct path from App State students to App State faculty. Their stories reflect the many ways Mountaineers grow — and sometimes come home.

Read more in Kait Honeycutt’s story for The Appalachian: https://theappalachianonline.com/former-students-turned-professors-app-state-alums-reflect-on-their-return-to-the-high-country

05/15/2026

Congratulations to the newest members of the Appalachian State University Alumni Association! 💛

Whether you’re a recent graduate or a long-time Mountaineer, create an alumni profile to stay informed, get involved, and connect with the App State community: https://bit.ly/3ZDfj5D

05/14/2026

Dr. Paul Worley, chair of the Appalachian State University Dept. of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, is supporting Latin American prospects in the Colorado Rockies organization through one-on-one English instruction and cultural development.

Read the story by Renee Dechert for Purple Row: https://www.purplerow.com/colorado-rockies-news/87120/paul-worley-gives-rockies-prospects-real-world-english-practice

Colorado Rockies news and links for Monday, May 11, 2026

05/14/2026

Sisters Seleen and Masa Al Horani, originally from Jordan, graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences with Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry (certified chemist concentration) and an impressive record of accomplishments to match.

At Appalachian State University, they were departmental honors students, Best Poster Award winners at the 2025 American Chemical Society meeting, and active leaders in the American Chemical Society student club. Working with their mentor, Dr. Petia Bobadova, they co‑authored impactful research on dyes with applications from biomedical imaging to solar cells.

Masa is headed to graduate school to continue her work in chemistry, while Seleen is exploring clinical applications of chemistry. Both credit undergraduate research, community, and involvement — from the Appalachian Chemical Society to INTAPP and the CAS Corps — with shaping their academic and personal growth.

Their advice to current Mountaineers: Get involved, find your community, and believe in your ability to meet challenges with resilience.

Read the full Commencement recap: https://dcfs.appstate.edu/news/meet-graduates-masa-and-seleen-al-horani-%E2%80%9926

📸: Chase Reynolds

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