65th Boyles Lecture: March 22, 2024 (Tentative)
The 65th lecture in the Boyles Distinguished Lecture Series is tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 22, 2024. More information is forthcoming. Please contact Kim Bock, bockkw@appstate.edu, with questions.
Recent Events
The 64th event in the Boyles Distinguished Lecture Series featured Mr. Jamie Harris, Chief Financial Officer at RXO. His talk, Lessons in Leadership: Baseball to Business, was held in the Schaefer Center on Friday, April 20, 2023. Mr. Harris is a current member of App State’s Board of Trustees and an alumnus of the Walker College of Business.
View video and photos from Mr. Harris' and other lectures on our past speakers page.
History of the Boyles Series
About Harlan Boyles
The college's Distinguished Lecture Series began in the Spring of 1988. In October 1991 the Series was dedicated to Treasurer Boyles in honor of his service to the State of North Carolina. An endowment fund was established at that time, with the assistance of U.S. Senator James T. Broyhill (1927 – 2023), to permanently endow the series in Boyles' name.
Harlan E. Boyles (1929 – 2003) devoted his 49-year career to the citizens of the State of North Carolina. A native of Lincoln County, Boyles was elected to six four-year terms as State Treasurer and served under nine governors. His name was associated throughout the state and the nation with fiscal integrity, hard work and honesty.
Harlan Boyles was dedicated to education, and through his involvement with Appalachian State University and the Walker College of Business, he was able to share his experience, advice and wise counsel with hundreds of students and future business leaders. For eleven years, he came to campus to preside over the bi-annual Harlan E. Boyles Distinguished Lecture Series.
Not only did his association with the Walker College make a difference in many on-campus endeavors, but it also had a tremendous effect on the college’s fund-raising efforts. He was honored with three separate endowments in the college -- for the lecture series, student scholarships, and faculty support. These endowments will provide an impact on the college for years to come.
Boyles lectures were held each semester through 2016, and beginning in 2017, the lecture became an annual event.