Appalachian State University alumni Dorothy “Dot” Case ‘69, Chris Moody ‘99, and Angela Quick ‘91 were inducted into the Rhododendron Society on June 14 at a brunch held at Hound Ears Club in Boone, North Carolina.
The brunch was attended by the award recipients and their guests; past winners; Reich College of Education (RCOE) Advancement Board members; Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, Randy Edwards; Assistant Vice Chancellor for Gift Planning and Real Estate Management, Geoff Graham; and, college leadership, including RCOE Dean Melba Spooner and Associate Dean Monica Lambert.
The RCOE established the Rhododendron Society in 1999, Appalachian’s centennial year. It is named for Appalachian’s one-time yearbook “The Rhododendron,” that captured the university’s historic moments, activities and accomplishments.
As the highest honor given by the college, the award honors alumni for their exemplary service to education and to their communities. The society recognizes RCOE graduates whose service as teachers, librarians, human service professionals or administrators has reflected great credit on themselves, the field of education and the university. Case, Moody, and Quick joined a distinguished group of 65 Rhododendron Society members.
All Rhododendron Society members present at the brunch with RCOE Dean Melba Spooner. Photo by Rebekah Saylors
Society members give back to the RCOE through an annual scholarship, which is awarded to an undergraduate and a graduate student who are outstanding in their course of study.
RCOE encourages Rhododendron Society nominations of Appalachian alumni currently working in the field of education as well as those who have retired. To learn more about the Rhododendron Society or to view nomination materials visit rcoe.appstate.edu/rhododendron-society.
About Dorothy “Dot” Case
Dorothy Case (right) with RCOE Dean Melba Spooner (left). Photo by Rebekah Saylors
Dorothy “Dot” Case is a 45+ year educator. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies education from Appalachian State University in 1969 and a master’s degree in education from Western Carolina University in 1983.
Case began her education career at Edneyville Junior High School, teaching social studies, English, and physical education during her seven year tenure. In 1977, she moved to Edneyville High School, teaching social studies to grades 9 through 12. She completed her teaching career at North Henderson High School, teaching United States History and United States Government to eleventh and twelfth graders.
During her teaching career, Case received numerous accolades. She was named Henderson County Teacher of the Year twice. In 2010, she was the Region 8 Western North Carolina Teacher of the Year. She received the Educator of Distinction from the National Society of High School Scholars. Most recently, she was named WHKP “Hometown Hero” for Service to Henderson County Community.
Case’s nominator noted, “There have been none who were more loved by students and none who instilled more excitement over history as did Dot Case.” This is evident by the fact one of her letters of support was written by a former student and another by the parent of another former student.
“What I remember most about my days as a student of Ms. Case were her expectations,” said former student and now teacher, Fran Nelson. “No one believed in me the way she did, inside and outside of the classroom. I left her classroom with an immense amount of knowledge about United States history and government, but perhaps more importantly, I left her classroom knowing more about how to be a servant leader, a good person, and a life-changer,” continued Nelson.
Even though she retired from teaching in 2016, Case is still active in education and government. In 2018, she was elected to the Henderson County Public Schools School Board.
“From her intensive work of over forty years as a classroom teacher leader to her commitment as a member of the Henderson County Board of Public Education, Dot serves as an exceptional role model to all stakeholders; she fully represents every facet of an exceptional educator,” said Henderson County Superintendent, Bo Caldwell.
About Chris Moody
Chris Moody (center) with RCOE Dean Melba Spooner (left) and Appalachian Associate Dean of Students Judy Haas (right). Photo by Rebekah Saylors
Chris Moody has worked in higher education for over 20 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wake Forest University in 1997 and his master’s degree in college student development (now the student affairs administration program) from Appalachian State University in 1999. He is currently working on his doctoral degree in higher education administration at George Washington University, writing his dissertation on the effects of legislatively-mandated concealed weapons policies on college and university students and their environments.
Currently, Moody serves as the Executive Director of American College Personnel Association (ACPA) - College Student International. In this role, he is the senior strategy and operations officer for an association of over 6,000 members from thousands of colleges and universities in the United States and over 200 countries globally. He leads the organization in addressing a range of higher education organizational, policy, and program issues, including setting priorities, providing financial and staff leadership, and designing and implementing an organizational structure that supports growth and creates an atmosphere for a great place to work.
Prior to ACPA, Moody was employed at American University in Washington, DC, in various roles of increasing responsibility, culminating in becoming the Assistant Vice President of Campus Life. His prior professional experiences also includes positions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Appalachian State University, the University of Memphis, and the Semester at Sea program.
Moody has received accolades from both his campuses and his field at large. From American University, he received the Campus Excellence Award from the GLBTA Resource Center and the Best in Business Award from the Student Government. In 2014 he received the ACPA Diamond Honoree Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the field, and in 2016 ACPA Coalitions’ Advocate Award.
One of his nomination letters noted that Moody is “a passionate and collaborative teacher, with a calming force and energy...his dedicated hard work and passion are evident in everything he does.”
Dr. Sonja Ardoin, assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling at Appalachian State University, said in her nomination letter, “As a faculty member in the program from which Chris Moody graduated, I can attest that we are extremely proud to have him as an alumnus and benefit from his praise of our student affairs master’s program.”
About Angela Quick
Angela Quick (right) with RCOE Dean Melba Spooner (left). Photo by Rebekah Saylors
As her nominator stated, Dr. Angela Quick “has been incredibly successful as a leader in education.” Quick was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow, earning her bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Appalachian State University in 1991. She earned her master’s degree in science education from the University of South Carolina in 2000 and her education specialist degree and doctorate of education degree both in education leadership and both from Cambridge College in 2004 and 2013 respectively.
Quick began her education career at Pinecrest High School, teaching honors biology. Her career includes director of magnet schools, principal, deputy chief academic officer, and senior vice president. She has led state-level projects that involve the design and creation of curriculum and instruction methodologies, comprehensive assessment systems, and accountability models for public schools. Currently, she is the Director of School Services/Senior Education Researcher for RTI International. In this role, she develops strategy for unit operations and services, including program development that focuses on school and district supports to teachers, leaders, and other educators.
Quick's research areas are science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) school design, coursework articulation, and recruitment of underrepresented populations in STEM programming. She has published articles in the area of student success, specifically in the STEM fields. Most recently, she was the principal investigator for the Department of Defense STEM Consortium.
Quick received Teacher of the Year award from Pinecrest High School and Spring Valley High School, as well as Principal of the Year from Watauga County Schools. She was also the recipient of the State Advocacy Award for Gifted Education.
One of her nomination letters noted that Quick, “demonstrated her knowledge and expertise as an outstanding educator, critical and strategic thinker, and skilled manager of personnel.” Another nomination letter praised Quick as having “dedicated her professional career to the betterment of education in our state.”
Quick has not only been a leader in career. She was a member and served as chair of the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University’s Advancement Board.
All three of her recommendation letters mentioned her Mountaineer Pride. Whether talking about the Appalachian football game or wearing her Appalachian lanyard or noting that it was her degree from Appalachian that launched her successful career, Quick is a proud graduate of Appalachian.
Rhododendron Society Newest Members
