College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University

09/10/2026

📣 Event Postponed — New Date!

Night Under the Stars at App State’s Dark Sky Observatory has been postponed to Saturday, Sept. 26, from 8–10 p.m.

Enjoy guided stargazing, chat with astronomers and students, and mingle with fellow astronomy enthusiasts over hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

Tickets are back on sale through Wednesday, Sept. 23! Cost: $150 (includes a $90 donation supporting the Dark Sky Observatory)

Purchase tickets: https://tinyurl.com/DSONightUnderStars

09/10/2026

Meet Jose Barajas-Arias, a senior applied physics major with a mathematics minor from Pittsboro and one of our newest members of the CAS Corps!

Jose is involved in the Humane Society Club, PandA Club, and Team Sunergy. His academic interests center on thermodynamics, and he credits Dr. Leah Sherman with helping him explore the department’s opportunities and connect with mentors who have shaped his path.

Garwood Hall is Jose’s go‑to spot on campus — a place he knows well and where he spends much of his time studying and working with others in the Appalachian State University Department of Physics and Astronomy. He also enjoys soccer, bowling, and volunteering at the Watauga Humane Society.

Read more about Jose: https://cas.appstate.edu/news/meet-cas-corps-member-jose-barajas-arias

09/09/2026

Applications for the Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Fund are open!

SAFE Fund awards provide supplementary support for CAS students and faculty pursuing research, creative work, teaching activities, and professional development.

Past awards (ranging from $100–$2,000) have supported student travel to present at conferences, faculty publication costs, guest speakers for classes and workshops, research supplies and participant incentives, and travel to archives or other research sites.

Fall 2026 applications close Monday, Oct. 5, at 5 p.m.

Details: cas.appstate.edu/students/student-and-faculty-excellence-safe-fund

09/08/2026

Meet Shaun Appleman, a junior majoring in philosophy and religious studies from Charlotte and one of our newest members of the CAS Corps!

Shaun is president of Ethics Bowl and active in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Club. His academic interests were shaped by Modern Philosophy (PHL 3200), a course that pushed him to rethink interpretation, contradiction, and how we understand the world. He also credits faculty mentorship in App State Philosophy & Religion with helping him find a strong sense of community and direction in his studies.

Outside the classroom, Shaun spends his time biking sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking Grandfather Mountain, and settling in at his favorite spot on campus — the second floor of the library. He’s also known to end long study days with Monopoly games among friends.

Read more about Shaun: https://cas.appstate.edu/news/meet-cas-corps-member-shaun-appleman

09/04/2026

Join us for Night Under the Stars at App State’s Dark Sky Observatory on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 8–10 p.m. 🌟

Enjoy guided stargazing, chat with astronomers and students, and mingle with fellow astronomy enthusiasts over hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

Tickets: $150 (includes a $90 donation supporting the Dark Sky Observatory)

We've extended the deadline to purchase tickets! Purchase by Wednesday, Sept. 9: https://tinyurl.com/DSONightUnderStars

09/03/2026

A new NSF MRI award will upgrade the Transmission Electron Microscope in Appalachian State University’s William C. and Ruth Ann Dewel Microscopy Facility — a collaborative effort between the departments of Biology and Geological and Environmental Sciences that expands high‑resolution imaging access for undergraduate and graduate researchers.

Read more: https://cas.appstate.edu/news/app-state-researchers-secure-nsf-mri-award-microscope-upgrades

09/02/2026

App State’s Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies and the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust invite current and pre‑service K–12 teachers to a free professional development workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Reich College of Education.

🕣 8:30 AM–3 PM: Educator Workshop (pre‑registration required)
🕒 3–4 PM: Survivor Testimony with Renee Fink (open to the public)

The workshop will introduce educators to curriculum resources developed for the Gizella Abramson Holocaust Education Act and provide training on how to teach foundational lessons about the Holocaust.

In the concluding session, Holocaust survivor Renee Fink will share her story — from her childhood in hiding with a Dutch resistance family to rebuilding her life after the war. Today, Fink shares her journey to illuminate the enduring relevance of the Holocaust and to inspire others to stand up, speak out, and choose moral courage in the face of injustice.

Learn more and register: https://calendar.appstate.edu/event/foundations-for-teaching-the-holocaust

09/01/2026

This semester's Veterinary Technology Speaker Series kicks off tomorrow with "Rescue Animals 101: Adoption, Strays, & Community Partnerships" at 10 a.m. via Zoom!

This session — free and open to all — covers top tips for acclimating newly adopted pets, including the 3‑3‑3 rule; Good Samaritan guidance for community members who find stray animals; and how humane societies collaborate with agencies and organizations to support animal welfare. Hansen Dendinger, a graduate of the Veterinary Technology program, will share her experiences working at the Watauga Humane Society. She will also discuss how her skills have grown as she became a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT).

For details and Zoom link, visit rri.appstate.edu/vet-tech/speaker-series.

08/28/2026

From hydrogeologists and criminologists to statisticians and linguists — meet the newest faces in the College of Arts and Sciences!

This semester, we’re thrilled to welcome over 40 new full-time faculty members to Appalachian State University.

Get to know 34 of our newest educators and researchers, including several App State alumni returning home to teach the next generation of Mountaineers: https://bit.ly/45U7JXP

08/27/2026

Calling all Appalachian Geological and Environmental Sciences alumni! 📢

The department is seeking feedback from alumni to help evaluate the role of field studies in its curriculum and prepare current students for the workforce.

Please take ~10 minutes to complete the survey by visiting tinyurl.com/GES-Alum-Survey.

GES alumni: Help us train the next generation of geoscientists by sharing your experience!

We're gathering information from alumni about their professional careers and experiences. Your feedback will directly shape our field-based curriculum and help us better prepare future geoscientists.

Please take ~10 minutes to complete our survey by visiting tinyurl.com/GES-Alum-Survey.

Questions? Contact Dr. Brandon Lutz at [email protected].