Alumni Update

AMY Regional Library Director Amber Westall Briggs received the award of 2024 N.C. Library Director of the Year.

AMY Regional Director Briggs named NC’s PLDA Library Director of the Year Feb 26, 2025

Amber Westall Briggs, director of the Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library System, recently received the prestigious N.C.

In the Media, Alumni Update, Department of Media, Career Studies, and Leadership Development, Library Science
App State candidates for National Board Certification take a break from App State National Board Support Workshops held Feb. 1 to celebrate App State being the nation’s No. 1 school for National Board Certified Teachers in 2024.

For the 9th straight year, App State alumni lead the nation in earning top teaching credential Feb 12, 2025

As a nationally recognized leader in teacher education, Appalachian State University remains the top alma mater for National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) for the ninth consecutive year.

At Appalachian, Alumni Update, Public School Partnership, Teacher Education
Rhododendron in front of App State sign

Rhododendron Society Awards: 2023 Call for Nominations Jan 23, 2023

Do you know an outstanding educator? We want to celebrate their accomplishments!

Features, Alumni Update
Dan Li

Alumni Update: Dr. Dan Li ’14 Jan 23, 2023

Dr. Dan Li, originally from China, graduated in 2014 with an M.A. in professional school counseling. She completed her Ph.D.

Features, Alumni Update, Professional School Counseling, Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education

Avery County Native Liz Silvers Promoted to Vice- President at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Jan 18, 2023

Liz Silvers, a veteran educator who was raised in the Powdermill Community of Avery County, has been promoted to Vice-President for Instruction... Alumni Update, Higher Education, In the Media

Emily Barlas

Wilmington's 40 Under 40 Class of 2022: Emily Barlas Oct 4, 2022

Emily Barlas, a graduate from Appalachian State Univeristy's Clinical Mental Health graduate program, is a part of the 2022 40 under 40. 

Clinical Mental Health Counseling, In the Media, Alumni Update
Tracey Widmann

East McDowell Middle School’s Tracey Widmann named McDowell County Principal of the Year Oct 3, 2022

Tracey Widmann, principal of East McDowell Middle School has been named the 2023 McDowell County Schools Principal of the Year, administrators... In the Media, School Administration, Alumni Update

Rhododendron Recipients

Alumni Hefner ’99 ’03 ’11, Lockee ’86 ’91, and McCall ’60 ’65 Inducted into the Reich College of Education Rhododendron Society Jun 20, 2022

Appalachian State University alumni Jennifer Hefner ’99 ’03 ’11, Barbara Lockee ’86 ’91, and Maxine McCall ’60

Features, Alumni Update
Virginia Griffith

Cuthbertson Middle teacher off to a strong start May 31, 2022

Congratulations to alumna Virginia Griffith '21 on being named Beginning Teacher of the Year for Union County Public Schools!

In the Media, Alumni Update
Helen Heafner

Uplifting future educators: Helen Beatty Heafner ’43 May 26, 2022

For Helen Beatty Heafner ’43, education was more than a career — it was her life’s passion. 

Features, Alumni Update