FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2024

From UNC System Office of Communications

INTERIM CHANCELLOR NAMED FOR APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Heather Norris assumes the role of interim chancellor

RALEIGH, N.C. – University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans has appointed an interim chancellor for Appalachian State University.

Heather Hulburt Norris, provost and executive vice chancellor at App State, will succeed Sheri Everts, who stepped down as chancellor after 10 years. The appointment became effective April 19.

“Dr. Norris is an experienced and talented leader who is well regarded in the App State community,” Hans said. “She has served in various roles at the university, from faculty member to dean to provost, and she has excelled at all of them because of her collaborative style and her commitment to public service. I’m grateful to her for taking on the position of interim chancellor.”

Norris brings more than two decades of academic leadership to the role. She arrived at App State in 2003 as assistant professor in the Walker College of Business’ Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance. She became assistant dean for undergraduate programs in 2005 and interim dean in 2015. A national search led to her being chosen as the seventh dean at the Walker College of Business in 2016. During her time there, the college grew its fundraising by 68%, securing three endowed professorships and undergoing a major renovation.

Norris became provost and executive vice chancellor on an interim basis in 2020 and fully in 2021. She oversaw the development of the university’s 2022-27 strategic plan, as well as other strategic efforts focused on academic affairs, on research, scholarship and creative activities, and on App State’s quality enhancement plan through 2029.

“Appalachian State University has been my home for more than 20 years, and I’m passionate about the success of our students, faculty and staff,” Norris said. “During my time here, it was my privilege to work with two great chancellors: Chancellor Everts, who provided me the opportunity to serve as provost and executive vice chancellor, and Chancellor Peacock, who hired me as a faculty member when he was dean of the Walker College of Business. I value their many accomplishments and appreciate the opportunities each gave me to serve our university. I look forward to working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students and members of the communities we serve to ensure the continued success of this great institution.”

Prior to her time at App State, Norris held faculty positions at Bowling Green State University, Pennsylvania State University and West Virginia University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from James Madison University and master’s and doctoral degrees in finance from Penn State.

A chancellor search will be launched in the near future.

FWIW, she has a PHd from Penn State, an MS from Penn State and an undergraduate from James Madison U.

Here is the Chancellor search committee

Deanna Ballard, former state senator who served Senate District 45, representing Watauga County (2016-23), chair of the search advisory committee

Brandon Adcock (‘06), CEO of Wellful, Inc. and co-founder of Adaptive Health

Dr. Jacqui Bergman, Faculty Senate chair, professor, Department of Management

Philip Byers (‘85), UNC Board of Governors campus liaison

Peter Hans, UNC System president

Scott Lampe (‘94), Board of Trustees member

Kathryn Long, student body president, Honors College student majoring in communications sciences and disorders from Jackson, NC

Wendy Murphy, UNC Board of Governors chair

Mark E. Ricks (‘89), App State Board of Trustees chair

R. Thomas “Tommy” Sofield, Jr. (‘76), App State Board of Trustees vice chair

Courtney Thompson (’17), staff representative, assistant director of university events scheduling and communications

Dr. Kimberly van Noort, chancellor of the University of North Carolina Asheville

Brad Wilson (‘75), CEO Emeritus of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina

BambooRdApp wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 28, 2024 3:49 pm

Here is the Chancellor search committee

Deanna Ballard, former state senator who served Senate District 45, representing Watauga County (2016-23), chair of the search advisory committee

Brandon Adcock (‘06), CEO of Wellful, Inc. and co-founder of Adaptive Health

Dr. Jacqui Bergman, Faculty Senate chair, professor, Department of Management

Philip Byers (‘85), UNC Board of Governors campus liaison

Peter Hans, UNC System president

Scott Lampe (‘94), Board of Trustees member

Kathryn Long, student body president, Honors College student majoring in communications sciences and disorders from Jackson, NC

Wendy Murphy, UNC Board of Governors chair

Mark E. Ricks (‘89), App State Board of Trustees chair

R. Thomas “Tommy” Sofield, Jr. (‘76), App State Board of Trustees vice chair

Courtney Thompson (’17), staff representative, assistant director of university events scheduling and communications

Dr. Kimberly van Noort, chancellor of the University of North Carolina Asheville

Brad Wilson (‘75), CEO Emeritus of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina

Not a big fan of having a politician with no connection to the university chairing

Me either!

Ricks, Sofield, Lampe, Byers, Wilson….we’ll be just fine

And Adcock, whos got his name on the field hockey field

I wonder if the interim chancellor is in the running, she has done a good job so far of undoing some blunders made by Everts.

Interim leaders are rarely appointed to permanent positions. That said, I hope our search committee gives Heather Norris serious consideration for the position.

We would be hard-pressed to find a candidate who is as passionate about Appalachian State as Norris has shown to be. The level and quality of engagement and communication has been impressive. Moreover, she has already demonstrated her skills by stewarding university through choppy water.

Example: when the Israel/Hamas War demonstrations were ramping up across the US, Norris proactively invited all parties to the table to discuss the best path forward. She was genuinely committed to respecting the rights of our citizens to peacefully demonstrate while ensuring that things didn’t take a destructive turn. She was also transparent about the process in real-time communications with other stakeholders (like alumni).

This is indicative of how effective leaders operate: they don’t run from tasks that might be painful/unpleasant. They work to find the best solution for as many parties as possible. We would be blessed to have Dr. Norris as Chancellor in the coming years.

The chancellor from UNCA that is serving on the search committee served as interim before being promoted.

Bootsy wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 29, 2024 12:35 pm

Interim leaders are rarely appointed to permanent positions. That said, I hope our search committee gives Heather Norris serious consideration for the position.

We would be hard-pressed to find a candidate who is as passionate about Appalachian State as Norris has shown to be. The level and quality of engagement and communication has been impressive. Moreover, she has already demonstrated her skills by stewarding university through choppy water.

Example: when the Israel/Hamas War demonstrations were ramping up across the US, Norris proactively invited all parties to the table to discuss the best path forward. She was genuinely committed to respecting the rights of our citizens to peacefully demonstrate while ensuring that things didn’t take a destructive turn. She was also transparent about the process in real-time communications with other stakeholders (like alumni).

This is indicative of how effective leaders operate: they don’t run from tasks that might be painful/unpleasant. They work to find the best solution for as many parties as possible. We would be blessed to have Dr. Norris as Chancellor in the coming years.

Agreed!!

The committee is “ Advisory “ , one of four or so entities that will vet candidates.

The UNC BOG, which ultimately approves any recommendation, has been known for rogue members to stick their political noses into the final stages of a chancellor search.

It was so encouraging to see how quickly App opened their facilities to provide food, shelter and support to the public in need. The university continues to be in lock step with the town, county and state on all things related to hurricane relief/response.

Heather Norris and her leadership team are doing an outstanding job supporting the community in a time of desperate need. Nothing against anyone who held the position in the past, but I'm glad the current leadership team is in place.

Time to remove the interim tag and award the position to Dr. Norris. She has earned it.

Our son is a senior at App and has been home since last Friday. He said that in terms of school they are “on a pause”. Basically all academic aspects have stopped for a while. It’s hard to imagine that a “back to normal so to speak” proclamation will be made Friday. Based on what I’ve read in terms of response by the school and community it’s been very positive. This is unprecedented. I keep seeing periodic posts from people I have known for many years who live in the western part of the state. Some of these folks I’d forgotten lived out there. A good friend I grew up with is in Black Mountain and posted that they don’t expect power for a while. He said cell service is very spotty at best. A cousin posted that his family lost a mountain house that had been in his wife’s family for 90 years, a place that had been used by several generations as a retreat. I can’t imagine the feelings people are experiencing as they see these cherished places vanish.

Bootsy wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 01, 2024 8:07 pm

It was so encouraging to see how quickly App opened their facilities to provide food, shelter and support to the public in need. The university continues to be in lock step with the town, county and state on all things related to hurricane relief/response.

Heather Norris and her leadership team are doing an outstanding job supporting the community in a time of desperate need. Nothing against anyone who held the position in the past, but I'm glad the current leadership team is in place.

Time to remove the interim tag and award the position to Dr. Norris. She has earned it.

I’m very happy with her communication style.

I’d very much like to know her vision for app the long-term and how politically adapt she is at fighting the uncbog. Which frankly needs to be the number one trait for anybody who is interested in an app progressing

She is an amazing woman. However no one fights BOG and wins. You have to work with them. I think she can.

After this Hurricane in Western NC and the fact Lenior Rhyne is not doing too hot -- App State Hickory campus should blow up in a great way with enrollment.

Thanks to Rick Beasley for working behind the scenes to help make it possible and the vision of Big Bird Cheri Everts.

What’s up with Lenoir-Rhyne not doing so hot?