Walker College of Business

Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock, became the fifth Dean of the Walker College of Business. During Dr. Peacock's tenure, the Dean's Club, an annual giving society that supports key programming, students and faculty in the college was founded. Dr. Peacock later became Appalachian's sixth chancellor and, in June 2014, Raley Hall would be renamed Peacock Hall in his honor.

• Faculty and staff moved into the new college of business building, opened in 1990. The 130,000 square-foot, four-story building is in the middle of the Appalachian's campus. It was named and dedicated in honor of Thelma C. Raley in 1993. Thelma Raley realized a lifelong ambition when she completed her studies and received a Bachelor's degree in English from Appalachian in December 1992 at the age of 80. She made a substantial financial commitment to the Walker College of Business.

• Dr. Grant M. Davis became the fourth Dean of the Walker College of Business.
• In 1990, under Dr. Davis' leadership, new admissions standards were adopted requiring a minimum 2.5 GPA for entry in to the College of Business.

• The Walker College started hosting the Boyles Distinguished Lecture Series in 1988. Throughout the history of this series, the college has brought industry experience to campus, which has allowed students first-hand exposure to influential leaders of business. In 2004, the second floor lobby or Raley Hall would be dedicated to and named for the memory of Harlan E. Boyles. 

The college began offering a BSBA in Restaurant, Hotel, and Resort Management, in 1985, which was renamed to Hospitality Management in 1987.

• The first summer study abroad trip to France was conducted.

• In 1982, Dr. J. Paul Combs became the third Dean of the Walker College of Business.
• In 1983, the Walker College business majors were so popular that 43% of ASU juniors were declaring business majors and enrollment in the college rose to 3,000.
• In 1984, the Walker College of Business begins recognizing top students at honors day convocation. See the list of top business students through the years.
• The Walker College honors program was established in 1988. 

The Walker College Academic Advising Center was created.

The Master of Science in Accounting program was established.

Dr. John E. Thomas (1979-93) recruited a first-rate faculty, believing that strong, effective teaching should be supported by research and community service. With a focus on improving campus technology and blending it into teaching, Thomas also developed Appalachian’s leadership in distance learning, which expanded in the late 1990s and early 2000s to include a formal partnership with 10 regional community colleges. Under Thomas’ leadership, Appalachian developed exchange programs in a dozen countries including China, Germany and Costa Rica.