Walker College of Business

BSBA, Management

Retired

Lexington, NC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
Fresh out of High School, I entered Appalachian in the Fall of 1976. My first college class was Introduction to Business, in the first year that John A Walker Hall opened (If my memory is correct). I remember not being intimidated by the very large entry level class, but suddenly felt I belonged to an entirely new community. It was a great feeling and one that I still hold onto today.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work…
I believe the experience prepared me for a successful business career that I just recently retired from. My business education was very broad based and as it turned out I was with the same business organization for 37 years, where I also had the opportunity to have a broad base of responsibilities over my career and I believe I was successfully prepared for after my Walker College education.

BSBA, Marketing

Portland, Oregon

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
I thought I wanted to major in Engineering and transfer after a few years. I was introduced to the idea of a Business Major by joining Phi Beta Lambda who met Monday evenings at Walker Hall. Several years later I was the NC Phi Beta Lambda President and graduated with a Marketing Degree. It all started with my time Monday nights at Walker Hall and eventually the College of Business. 

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
My experience taught me to think “outside the box” and the ability to work, share, and collaborate with classmates. 

BSBA

North Carolina

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
Dr. Harry M Davis finance class and the life lessons we learned.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
The skills I learned have helped me throughout all of my different careers. 

MBA - Management

Alpharetta, GA

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
I remember that the professors at Appalachian were so accessible. It felt that everything they did was student-centric. Having graduated from a different undergraduate institution, the professors in the Appalachian MBA program distinguished themselves by being so helpful and always willing to discuss business topics or offer career advice. Specifically, I remember discussing accounting careers with Dr. Peacock. His advice proved to be quite beneficial to my career.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
My experience at Appalachian was extremely beneficial. The MBA program challenged me and also prepared me to be flexible, inquisitive and to keep striving in my career.

BSBA, Information Systems

Conover, NC 

Bonus: I've traveled extensively all over the world during my career.

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
Working on a deck of punch cards for a project and carrying them over to the IBM 4341 mainframe to be run in the computer. 

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
It set me on a course of lifelong learning and growth in my career. When I graduated in 1983 my current employer-- Cisco Systems hadn't been invented yet.

Psychology, I/O Psychology / HRM

Boone, NC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
I have a very vivid memory of sitting in Dr. Hugh Hindman's Labor Relations class as he described employment at-will and his theory on it's impact on the employment relationship. He said, I'm hoping one day a student will take me up on the offer to turn this into a thesis. At that moment, I knew that student was going to be me. It turned into my Master's thesis, a publication, and several conference presentations. Hugh turned into a mentor and a family friend and was an advocate for my husband who was hired into the program in 2010. To be honest, I am tearing up as I consider the impact that one statement has had on my life and it's direction. I am now also faculty in the Walker College of Business.

BSBA, Management

7092 Placida Road, LEC33

Cape Haze, FL

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
My plan to be a French teacher is what brought me to Appalachian State University. Taking advantage of meeting with my guidance counselor led me to step into the Walker College of Business. Having a “mind for business,” I followed his recommendation and registered for my first business class. From the moment I walked into the building, the dynamics were energizing, and I changed my course of studies to Business Administration, concentrating on Management. While changing my course of action, it added a year and a half with summer sessions too. As everyone knows, summers in Boone are some of the best days of the year. Who could not love staying in the mountains of North Carolina? I was able to take a class in a month, have fun, and work to pay the bills. Being the second oldest of six children, I worked before I began my college career at ASU. Working on campus was great, but eventually, you meet people and are ready to venture elsewhere. After trying out waitressing and bartending, I knew the restaurant business would never be in my future. So, I put on a business-looking outfit, and I went in search of a job that was better suited for me. That day, I was lucky to meet the Vice President of Carolina Business Machines (CBM), and I began working in their Hallmark Haus on Main Street. To this day, I am dear friends with Anna Bare-Miller while working with the exceptional people of CBM, it was exciting to help them expand into the new mall, opening the Hallmark Haus II. During my time at Hallmark Haus II, I had the opportunity to merge my college education and my work experience. Collaborating with my store manager and CBM management, I set up an internship with the Walker College of Business. Becoming the Assistant Store Manager and working 40 hours per week, I received real-life management experience. Getting paid and receiving 3-credit hours from the Walker College of Business was a win-win situation. Since graduating from ASU, I have used every aspect of my college education from the Walker College of Business. One of my professors shared something that never left my mind, and I have shared it with other coworkers or friends, struggling to manage. “The success of a manager is seen in the success of the people they manage.” Managers are teachers, and I loved the teaching aspect of my different jobs. From working in multiple positions at Penske Truck Leasing to working alongside surgical oncologists in administration and research, and on to my position as Bookkeeper/Office Manager with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, my college education gave me the confidence to succeed, no matter the role. Time management is an excellent skill to have when you’re juggling life in general. Add parenting and travel sports to the mix, and it’s overwhelming. With a son in travel sports, it was essential to have the time management expertise to enjoy the ride multiple nights per week and almost every weekend for years. I credit part of that skill to my education in the Walker College of Business. My walks across Appalachian State University into the Walker College of Business are some of the best memories. My best wishes to all who take advantage of becoming a Mountaineer for life.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
Walking into the building for the first time and feeling the energy. Along with managerial skills, the confidence I gained from my experience at Walker College of Business is what I attribute to my success in my different business roles.

Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
Peacock Hall! I still remember my first meeting at Walker College back in 2016 when I was a PhD student. Great memories, great friends, and great colleagues! I am thankful that I received a lot of support from my great colleagues and friends in the Walker College. I will share two pics. One is my first selfie when I got my pin for WCOB. And the second pic was the office picture I took when I first moved in 2016.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
I would not be able to achieve my academic excellence without support from my colleagues and friends at Walker College.

BSBA, Insurance

Charlotte, NC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
The COB was housed in Smith-Wright Hall. The college was formed/changed from just Business Ed major primarily for teachers to College of Business and Bill Muse was named Dean. Fortunately, they retained the tenured faculty including Dr. Orus Sutton, Kathryn Tully, and Dr. Jane Riner. I had been the recipient of a partial scholarship from the IIANC if I declared to go into an insurance career upon graduation. Ironically, while I was there I was offered a major in Insurance so I felt compelled to do it. I took a job with Travelers Insurance when I graduated and then moved over to become an independent agent 6 years later. I retired January 1, 2021 from the agency. I loved the central location of the Smith-Wright building next to the library and Plemmons Student Center, the small classes, and most of the professors. The classes were tough and back then grade inflation had NOT 'set-in' yet, believe me. The winters at APP were cold, windy, and snowy in the 1969-1973 era. Boone was still a 'hardscrabble' mountain town but the locals displayed much love for the university and the students. Congrats to the WCOB for its dedication to the students and the practical education that it continues to offer for students! My insurance major led to a job the first day after graduation and a 48 year career in the busine

BSBA, Management

Norway

My favorite Walker College memory is... 
spending time with my advisor going over all the different options I had! I know that might sound strange, but thinking about sitting in Ms. Church-Pipes office and seeing all the great opportunities I could choose from makes me incredibly grateful for how much she cared for her students and how many doors the Walker College of Business could open for me!

My experience in the Walker College prepared me...
for my life and work I was able to spend a semester abroad in Austria where I met my husband. After graduating, I moved to Norway to be with him and was able to get a job as an IT project manager thanks to my degree!

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management

Financial Crimes Investigations, Wells Fargo 

Charlotte, NC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
Walker Hall was at the edge of the campus and provided plenty of walking exercise. Still remember the seven core courses all business majors had to pass; Accounting I and II, Data Processing, Statistics, Business Law, MicroEconomics and MacroEconomics.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
Walker College of Business provided me with a firm foundation to enter my career.

BSBA, Accounting

MBA

MSA

CFO, Appalachian State University’s Office of Academic Affairs

Boone, NC 

My favorite Walker College memory is… 

I will list 3 favorites, and they are all related to faculty members. First, Charlie Speer was my Principles of Accounting instructor back in 1983. I had taken bookkeeping in high school, so Principles I was the easiest 4-hour A I ever received. I then had Mr. Speer for Intermediate Accounting, and I learned so very much from him. He was an excellent instructor and strongly influenced my later success in the Accounting program. I also had the honor of being a student assistant for him my junior year.
My second favorite memory is that of Dr. Ray Larson. As I described in my Masters graduation speech in 2017, Dr. Larson changed my life forever. He was the kindest and most positive person I had ever met. I had him for the CPA Review course back in 1986 in which he taught us to think positively. At that time, the exam was 4 parts taken over a period of 2 days, not one part at a time as it is today. He asked us to obtain at least 3 index cards and write on them "I will pass the CPA exam in May". Then we were to place one in the car, one on the bathroom mirror and one to carry on our person at all times. Of course, I studied hard, but I went into the exam believing I could pass all 4 parts in one sitting. The exam was tough, but Dr. Larson had prepared me very well for it. When I received my results in August of 1986, I had passed the CPA exam in one sitting. I have forever been so very grateful to Dr. Larson for his impact on my life. He truly was a saint!
My third favorite memory was being part of Beta Alpha Psi, whose faculty sponsor was Dr. Ken Peacock. He was also my tax professor, and actually made tax enjoyable. Any professor who can make tax enjoyable has a gift! My best memory of Dr. Peacock occurred during my junior year when he and I did a "roast" of sorts at the Beta Alpha Psi banquet. We performed some silly songs like "The Old Grey Speer" and "Hand Me Down My Walking Cane (for Dr. Jones)" with Dr. Peacock playing piano and me singing. It was so much fun!!! Dr. Peacock is also the one who was instrumental in nominating me to be on the Appalachian State University Foundation Board. He remains a friend and I treasure that friendship!

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work…
My experience in WCOB is why I have been successful in my 2 careers (healthcare accounting and higher ed.) I learned the technical skills and also the interpersonal skills as a result of the faculty caring about the students. This was true both in my undergrad as well as grad programs. From the time I left in 1986, there was a draw for me to return to Boone, which I did in 2016 to enter the MBA and MSA programs. That was one of the best decisions I have made because now I am a permanent resident. It is great to be home!

BSBA, Management and Information Systems

Chapel Hill, NC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
Having to take statistics in the Math Department instead of business statistics because the faculty in the School of Business were on strike (or at least not teaching) during the summer of 1982. Myself and several other business students had to have the course to graduate and they allowed us to take a 3000 level statistical methods course in the Math Department that would count. This sticks with me because my average was well below failing but I got an 'A' in the class because the Professor instituted a huge curve due to all the struggling business students in the class. After my BSBA from ASU and three subsequent graduate degrees, it is the only course in which I performed miserably, but walked out of the classroom with a 4.0.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
After retiring from the Marine Corps, I now teach business courses at a community college which is my ideal 2nd career.

BSBA, Health Care Management

Executive Director of the OrthoCarolina Research Institute

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
I remember dreading one of the required business law classes. Ironically, that class turned out to be my favorite class in the entire program. My professor was a dynamic speaker with lots of real world examples. I looked forward to each class and was sad when it was over. I still use a few of his examples regularly as I am mentoring new staff.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work…
When you are in your early twenties you don't know what you want to do with your life. You can only choose a direction and hope you actually find a job in your degree of study. The majority of the things I was learning were just concepts with no real meaning to me at the time. I believe my degree provided a foundation so that when I started looking at financial statements, developing marketing strategies, hiring employees and presenting to groups I was prepared. It all came together very quickly for me and began to make "real world" sense. I am grateful for my time at ASU and the springboard it provided me to elevate to where I am today.

BSBA, Finance and Banking

Decatur, Georgia

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
Football games, business classes on the third floor of Smith- Wright Hall, lots of friends and great professors, and seeing a notice on the bulletin board of the Placement Office Senior year which stated "YOU CAN BE A BANK EXAMINER". The notice directed me to take the PACE Exam for federal employment leading to my career as a Federal Bank Examiner for 33 years. 

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
It prepared me well for my career in Bank Supervision and helped me score high on the PACE examination to allow me to obtain a federal government job upon graduation. I moved all over the country and worked in cities from San Francisco to Miami. It allowed me to see most of the USA. I worked through the Savings and Loan crisis as well as the oil crisis. My degree from ASU provided the framework for a long and rewarding career in bank supervision. 

BSBA, Marketing, CIS

Denver, Colorado

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
My favorite Walker College memory is travelling to Brazil to study business, society, and sustainability with Dr. Meznar. It opened my eyes on how cultural norms and a country's geography can change the business landscape dramatically from what we are used to.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
Walker College exposed me to people and experiences that prepared me for success in my current role. Their emphasis on ethical practices and sustainability have led me to a job that I feel good about working in. Study abroad and internship requirements have made me a well rounded individual. Walker College's coursework and values have prepared me for both personal and professional success.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Montgomery, Alabama (this is where I retired at with Fruit of the Loom. This is also where the nonprofit is located that I work with - Family Sunshine Center)

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
The life-long Friends, from Walker College, that I made serve as my favorite memory. Several of us connected early on during our first year there, and opted to live as a group at App South. We scheduled our classes together, as much as we could. We studied together. We ate together. We acted silly together. We grew together as young adults, so excited about ASU and the future that awaited us. We have stayed in touch, and been there for each other. We have mourned the passing of some of our friendship group - together. Besides a world class education, Walker College gifted me, gifted us, with TOGETHERness. I was the first person in my family to graduate from college, so I carried a great responsibility to make the most of my education. I was fortunate and blessed to work in the world of Human Resources. 

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
I was Human Resources Director/Manager for two world-class organizations (Fruit of the Loom, Inc. and Hunter Douglas, Inc.). Based on these two companies, I was able to live and work in seven states. Not only live in the seven states, but live in multiple cities within those states, based on locations based within those states. My education served me well and helped me to excel in my area of work. My philosophy always was this, "I am only successful if my employees are successful". If they excel, so do I. If they fall, so do I. Again - TOGETHERness. I was viewed as the 'go-to' guy for ideas and programs to engage the workforce. My locations normally had the lowest Employee Turnover rates based on my 'one-on-one' interactions and the creative programs that I put into place. I retired from Fruit of the Loom in 2017, after 35 years of memorable HR work. But, in 2019, I went bask to work for a nonprofit that caters to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. As a 'people person', I must stay involved and make a difference.

BSBA, Computer Information Systems

MidWest Division Client Relationship Manager, Merrill 

Charlotte, NC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
WCOB is my Sept 11, 2001 memory. I walked through the double doors of the building on that fateful morning and immediately saw my dear friend, Doug Blumenthal, with a concerned look on his face. He shared the horrific news with me and we sat in that moment of disbelief, uncertainty, and anguish together. Some professors opened their doors to allow students in to watch the news as it unfolded and others simply told their students to go home. What I remember most is the feeling of connectivity and support within the halls of WCOB. We were in this together. Our futures were not dimmed. We were still prepared to make an impact on the world even though it might look a little different than what we had imagined pre- 9/11.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
My experience in WCOB prepared me for the real world beyond any expectations I could have ever imagined. I was fortunate enough to take Entrepreneurship and Real Estate courses as part of my course load and while these weren’t my first plan for my first career out of college, they prepared me for a successful career in Real Estate. When the real estate bubble burst I leaned on my business management courses to help me secure my second career in Finance which is where I remain after 12 years.

BSBA, International Business

Winston Salem, NC

Bonus: I just moved back after leaving after undergrad.

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
I always knew I would end up in business school and I thought I was going to get a degree in Management of Information Systems, but with so many of my early business core classes I learned what I loved and what I didn't. IT systems, while essential for business, was not my thing, same for accounting. I ended up with a degree in International Business because I took a course over the summer in Mexico, little did I know that trip would also be the summer my parents told me they were separating. I will be forever grateful to the Appalachian professors on that trip as well as their peers at ITSEM-Cuernavaca, who helped me set myself up to return to campus in the fall, so I could let my parents sort out their separation and have some distance between us. That summer and subsequent fall set up my international business degree, and a career path I could have only dreamed of.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
I think I was always passionate about the environment and social causes, but at Walker College I started to really understand how they could play a role in business decisions. I also developed my ethical core while there at school. More importantly, where I would go to grad school to get my MBA was shaped by a professor at Appalachian. He told me my options if I wanted to continue my studies in International Business were either Moore at South Carolina or Thunderbird in Arizona. I am a happy 11-year alumna of Thunderbird.

BSBA, Accounting

Fiscal Officer, Keen Mountain Correctional Center

Oakwood, Va.

My favorite Walker College memory is… 

Two great memories, both involving the same pair:
1) Sitting in Jim Jones' 8am governmental accounting class. The door slowly opens and Ken Peacock walks in carrying a goat. He places the goat on the table at the front of the classroom and the goat props its front feet on the lectern and looks out over the class as if it is going to speak. Ken doesn't miss a beat and says, "Look Jones, these kids like the new goat better than the old goat."
2) Again in the 8am governmental accounting class when we hear a noise outside the door. Suddenly, the door bursts open and in hops Ken Peacock dressed as the Easter Bunny and throwing candy to all the students in the class. The look on Jim's face was priceless.

My experience in Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
I met a lot of great people and got a great education. I was ready for whatever came my way because of the education I received in the Walker COB.

BSBA

Retired

Charleston,SC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
I received my minor in music and in 1971 started working on my business major with macroeconomics when it was offered. I went on to get my major in business and am proud to be part of the first Walker College classes. I went on to get a masters in business from The American College later in my career but always appreciated my roots at Appalachian.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
Set me on a very successful business career ending as a VP at a fortune 100 company.

BSBA, Healthcare Management

Corpus Christi, TX 

Bonus: (My husband is also an App State grad and in the Navy which brought us to Texas).

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
I loved to study in the student lounge on the second floor in between my classes in the COB. A hidden gem for studying somewhere other than the library. 

My experience in Walker College prepared me for my life and work…
My healthcare management internship introduced me to the niche world of healthcare marketing. I landed a job in a hospital marketing department and have now been in the healthcare marketing field for almost 10 years.

BSBA, Marketing and Management

Charlotte, NC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 

It was 1978. I was an incoming freshman into Watauga College in East Dorm. My sister has preceded me (4) years earlier, I would then be followed by (2) more sisters (I have 6) to be then followed by my niece. Everyone started in Watauga. After arriving, I found a job as a Freshman at Walker College in the Business Department under the ASU Work Study Program. I reported to the Executive Secretary Marilyn Sue. She was lovely. While there I began to engage with multiple Professors including Dr. Richard Shaeffer, John Geary & the legendary Pat Patton. My Sophomore year I became an RA in East and worked Security at night so my Work-study program ended but I had my eyes on Walker College.. My Junior year, I was asked to stay in East and be an RA for a 2nd year. With a room to myself, a kitchenette, a private bathroom and a co-ed dorm, I could not go wrong. I zeroed in on a BS in both Marketing and Management. I joined Pi Sigma Epsilon & became an officer within that organization. My Senior year, I moved right above Boone Drug Store in an efficiency, exactly 2 blocks from Walker...my new home away from home. I was grinding my way through Statistics with Mrs Gaynor, a lovely woman. Pushed my way through Accounting and managed through Business Law & built a lifelong relationship with Dr. Shaeffer. In fact I just spoke to him in May 2021. He owns the beautiful company called Dewoolfson Linens near Banner Elk. I loved the Marketing Classes with Pat Patton. He made us laugh and kept us moving on project to project in small groups. During the senior year, I arranged to have a number of professionals come to Boone to speak to the Pi Sigma Epsilon members. We hosted a dinner at Mikoto Japanese restaurant on Thursday night and had 10 speakers the next day including the legendary Ty Boyd from Charlotte NC. Ty just passed away in 2020 but not before he put his stamp on the students of Walker College. God Bless Ty. In all, it was a lot of work. Graduated with a double major and a 3.3GPA. I came back to Walker in 2008 and 2009 years & spoke to the Seniors on Alumni Day about: Sales career & negotiating the sale, Credit Scores, and Interviewing techniques. I really loved it and I received some very nice recognition including two personal notes from Jennifer Henley. I even made the cover of the Appalachian News Paper.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
Upon graduation, I knew I was locked and loaded for my career in Sales. Moving to Birmingham, Greensboro, Memphis, Houston and back to Charlotte, the life in Sales has been excellent. Now I am in Global Sales & I love that aspect of the business. People ask me today "When are you going to retire?" and I just smile and say "I'm just getting started". In fact I just won again the top award at Konica Minolta as the #1 rep in the US. Life is great. Thank you Walker College!!! Thank you App State.

BSBA, Management Information Systems

Greensboro, NC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
Interacting with various professors and getting lost in Peacock Hall.

My experience in Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
Great professors and former Walker Alumni Network is how I landed my first job.

BSBA, Risk Management and Finance

North Carolina

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
Dr. Featherston's classes and his stories about Wall Street days and nights. Also, Dr. Dave Woods was a big influence for me.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
Clients are impressed with my degree. I am in the insurance world and am proud of my degree from App State!

BSBA, Accounting

Raleigh, NC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
My favorite memory was taking Individual 1040 tax as a summer class in 2017, because it helped lead me to the field of accounting that I am passionate about. While the class itself was difficult and required a lot of study and dedication, it was ultimately the class that likely shaped the rest of my career.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work…
I was fortunate enough to participate in the internship recruitment program that the Accounting program holds. The networking skills I learned through that long and intimidating process have directly linked to the social skills needed today to succeed in business. Without that program, I would have not had the opportunity to intern at a CPA firm (Bernard Robinson and Company) and later accept a full time position. Also, being a part of Beta Alpha Psi gave me the necessary insight for transitioning from student to professional, as well as providing opportunities to learn about the field. The Walker College of Business is truly a remarkable place which encourages its students to excel, succeed, and inspire.

Real Estate & Urban Analysis

Graham, NC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
Jack Underdown as a professor. My plan in entering Walker College was to be able to expand the family real estate investment business. In taking real estate classes with Jack Underdown, he influenced my interest in the real estate appraisal business. He prepared his students for the business due to him continuing to work in that industry. His real life experience and friendship with his students, made his teaching more productive. He remained a friend, mentor and colleague until his passing in 2011. The close knit community of family, of Walker College and Appalachian as a whole, is something to be revelled and I am proud to be an alumnus.

BSBA, Accounting

Northern Illinois

Bonus: I hope to return to the Carolinas in the near future.

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
The social gathering we would have on the first day of a semester. It was always fun to meet other students and drink some sweet tea. 

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
My accounting degree prepared me for my career, but the social aspect has helped me to network effectively.

BSBA, Risk Management and Insurance

Charlotte, NC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
WCOB helped me find a job and ace the interview process.

BSBA, Information Systems, Economics

Director of Information Security, Cisco

Raleigh, NC

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
Walking to class in 1985 during the coldest winter in the history of Appalachian. Remember the snow drifts on either side of the sidewalk being taller than I was. Great memory!

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
The Information Sciences program and Economics double major paved the way for a very successful IT and Information Security career. 

BSBA, Marketing

Boone

My favorite Walker College memory is… 
Dr. Bowden was my introduction to Economics — a course I thought would be hard and boring. With Dr. Bowden's outrageous sense of humor, his practical and relatable illustrations, and his knack for cutting through difficult terminology to make concepts easy to understand, I became a fan. I've kept my textbook (written by Dr. Bowden) for almost 40 years, and still remember some of the examples he used in class. "Good enough is best," is one principle that I quote often and apply to daily life — a reminder to stop spinning my wheels when I've reached the point of "good enough."

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
Principles of marketing have served me well in whatever job I've had, from advertising to running a coffee shop to writing feature articles. At Walker College, I developed analytical skills, communication skills, confidence and a thirst for learning.

Alex Angeli '16, '17

BSBA, Management/Marketing

MBA

Ashburn, Virginia

My favorite Walker College memory is...
My year in the MBA program. I returned to the mountains and did the full time one year program. I had never slept less, worked more, made less, been more in debt; yet been happier in my life. You leave Boone and realize just how special our mountains are, our community, and our university.

My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
Through the technical knowledge and skills to make an immediate impact in my workplace. Beyond that, the WCOB shaped my attitude and perspective to make a lasting impact in my career. It's lasting because when you're an App State grad you understand the importance of people; of impacting and improving not just the business, but the people and the environment around you. It's going into work and never having a bad day, not because you don't face challenges, but because you welcome them.