on campus Faculty and Staff Kudos Eric Frauman, assistant professor in the Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science, is a founding member of the advisory council for the Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership. Vicky Grube, an assistant professor of art, has been named the Higher Education Art Educator of the Year for 2008-09 by the North Carolina Art Education Association. Leigh Ann Henion, an instructor in the Department of English, received a bronze prize in the 2007-08 Society of American Travel Writers Foundation’s Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition. Donovan Leonard, assistant professor of physics, received the Outstanding Young Investigator Award from the Appalachian Regional Microscopy Society. Valerie Midgett, First Year Seminar and Theatre and Dance, was awarded the North Carolina Arts Council Artist’s Fellowship for Choreography which recognizes a history and body of work over time. Lisa N. Mitchell, a lecturer in the Department of Art, was one of 11 teachers from across the nation to receive the Kappa Delta Pi Teacher of Honor designation in 2008. Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock, received the Golden Eagle Award for Leadership from AdvantageWest, the economic development commission for the 23 western counties of Western North Carolina. Janice Pope, interim chair of the Department of Communication, was elected to the board of directors for the Bridges Academic Leadership for Women Program in Chapel Hill. Clyde Robbins, director of design and construction, received the President’s Council Award from the North Carolina chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Travis Rountree, a part-time instructor in the Department of English, received the N.C. Housing Officers’ inaugural Faculty Partnership Award for enhancing the out-of-classroom experience.
Board of Trustees installs three new officers for 2009-11 Appalachian’s Board of Trustees has elected new officers for 2009-11. John M. Blackburn of Linville is the new chairman, Jeannine Underdown Collins of Boone is vice chair, and Hughlene B. Frank of Greensboro is secretary. Their two-year terms of office began in January.
Employee works 40 years at Appalachian Watauga County native Wanda Dages was 19 years old and fresh out of a twoyear business school when she became secretary for Appalachian’s Department of Music in 1968. Dages, now administrative assistant to the dean, celebrated her 40th anniversary with the Wanda Dages was honored university last Defor 40 years of service to cember. Her tenure the university at a staff represents the lon- breakfast last fall. gest service record of anyone currently working at Appalachian. Dages witnessed the Department of Music grow from a handful of faculty members and about 80 students into the Mariam Cannon Hayes School of Music with more than 80 faculty members and 500 students. She also helped five department chairs and two deans adapt to their new surroundings. “I have been blessed with great people to work with, my co-workers especially,” said Dages. “And the students have been a joy. After they graduate, some come back to visit. It’s wonderful to see what they’ve done and to be remembered like that.” According to Dean William G. Harbinson, Dages sets the tone in the dean’s office. “She is patient and kind, and we all rely heavily upon her to manage the office and ensure things run smoothly,” Harbinson said. “To put things in perspective, Wanda was the secretary when I came here as a freshman.”
New administrative posts Mary Faye Englebert has been named director of the Office of Extension and Distance Education. She previously was associate director of distance education at UNC Charlotte. Englebert will oversee recruitment for and delivery of undergraduate and graduate degree programs at off-campus sites in the region. Appalachian currently offers more than three dozen bachelor and master degree programs at community college sites in 10 counties, with nearly 1,500 students enrolled in Appalachian’s off-campus programs. Maria Provost is the new executive director of advising and orientation. She had been the director of academic support systems for the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters at Florida Atlantic University. Carl Lanier is the new executive director of Appalachian Family Innovations (AFI), a research center and service branch of Appalachian’s Institute for Health and Human Services. A long-time veteran of child and family services, Lanier had worked for AFI for 16 years. Maranda Maxey is the new director of the Office of Disability Services. She previously had been assistant director and has served as the interim director since May 2008.
NUMBERS
2,000
trays are available in Appalachian’s new dining hall, Rivers Steet Café and Sanford Commons, which opened in January on the former site of Broome-Kirk Gymnasium.
4,742
square feet of windows give the dining facility a fresh, airy feel.
84
years ago Welborn Cafeteria’s east wing opened. The east and west wings soon will be demolished for green space and Phase II of the new dining facility.
Appalachian Today Spring 2009
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