Walker College of Business

Sam Trexler

Owner & Pilot, Precision Aviation, LLC

Sam Trexler is a '15 international business alumnus from Appalachian State University  and commercial pilot who is passionate about using aviation as a tool in the developing world to benefit people groups who are often isolated by geography, ethnicity, and extreme poverty. The Walker College of Business International Programs recognized him with the “Rugged Backpacker Award” in 2015 for his semester in Kenya interning with a missionary aviation organization that serves the East African region.  Sam currently serves as a corporate pilot and flight instructor in the greater Charlotte area, while also working towards obtaining his aircraft mechanic’s license – a necessary step towards one day living and working abroad in that capacity full-time. He and his wife are active in organizing and leading international outreach trips with their church.

Special Guests

Travis Critcher

Director of International Field Support, Samaritan's Purse

Travis Critcher currently serves as Director of International Field Support for Samaritan’s Purse and leads a team responsible for the international business services that support Operation Christmas Child, a project that impacts more than eleven million children annually in 110 countries. During his twenty years of consistent leadership with Operation Christmas Child, Travis has traveled to 50 countries, negotiated multi-million dollar international contracts, lead creative development teams to produce new products, pioneered new technologies to streamline complex international operations, produced multi-national, multi-lingual training conferences.

Dr. Heather Dixon-Fowler

Assistant Chair and Assistant Professor, Management Department at Appalachian State University

 Dr. Heather Dixon-Fowler is an Assistant Professor in the Management Department at Appalachian State University. She teaches a variety of entrepreneurship courses and supervises the entrepreneurship summer internships. She developed the first undergraduate Social Entrepreneurship course in the College of Business and has co-developed and led entrepreneurship Study-Abroad Programs in Vietnam, Panama, Spain and Malawi. She served as Director for the Center for Entrepreneurship for two years. She earned a PhD in Business Administration with an emphasis in corporate strategy from the University of Arkansas where she also worked as part of the founding team at the Applied Sustainability Center. She is particularly interested in bridging relationships between representatives from corporations, NGOs and the academic community. Her research on corporate social and environmental responsibility has been published in academic journals and has been recognized by Forbes and Business Week. Heather lives in Boone with her husband, two children, dogs, and horse.

Dr. Randy Edwards

Vice Chancellor of University Advancement

As vice chancellor for university advancement, Randy Edwards oversees development operations, the Appalachian State University Foundation, Inc. and alumni affairs.  An Appalachian alumnus, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting at Appalachian in 1977 and 1978, respectively.  In 1988, he received a Ph.D. in business administration, majoring in accounting, from the University of Tennessee. Edwards joined the faculty of Appalachian’s Walker College of Business in 1981.  He was chair of the Department of Accounting for 13 years and dean of the Walker College of Business for nine years.  Prior to his current position as vice chancellor for university advancement, Edwards served as vice chancellor and chief of staff in the Office of the Chancellor for two years.

Dr. Darrell Kruger

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

Dr. Darrell P. Kruger began his tenure as provost and executive vice chancellor at Appalachian State University in July 2015. Dr. Kruger came to Appalachian from the University of New Orleans, where he was dean of the College of Education and Human Development. Dr. Kruger holds a doctorate in geography from Louisiana State University. In addition to the University of New Orleans, he has held administrative and faculty posts at Illinois State University and been on the faculty at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and Louisiana State University.

Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa

Associate Vice Chancellor of International Education and Development and Director of International Research and Development

With more than 20 years of experience in International Education and Development, Jesse is responsible for providing leadership in advocating for, supporting and pursuing the university's goals for international education and development.  In this regard, his most important priorities include:  collaborating with faculty to further internationalize the curriculum; advocating for programs of study that prepare students to be globally competent; identifying opportunities for faculty to acquire international education experiences; serving the large and diverse population of international students and visiting scholars; and expanding the boundaries of Appalachian’s community engagement beyond the U.S. borders. 

Originally from Tanzania, Jesse has traveled extensively in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Europe.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Economics with a Political Science minor; a Master’s degree in International Development Management, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration.  He finds fulfillment in making a difference in the lives of people, especially in developing countries.

Dr. Martin Meznar

Associate Dean for Global and Civic Engagement at the Walker College of Business

Dr. Meznar was born and raised in Brazil. He holds a Ph.D. in International Business from the University of South Carolina. Much of his research centers on public affairs management in multinational corporations and on corporate social issues management. Prior to joining Appalachian State he taught at Arizona State University and before that at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia. His research has been published in a variety of academic journals, including the Academy of Management Journal, Human Relations, Business & Society, Journal of International Management, Journal of Public Affairs and Latin American Business Review. He has led numerous student academic programs abroad, including three programs to Cuba in partnership with the University of Havana.

Dr. Heather Norris

Dean of the Walker College of Business

Heather joined the Walker College of Business faculty in the fall of 2003 in the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance. She was named assistant dean for undergraduate programs in 2005, associate dean for undergraduate programs and administration in 2008 and senior associate dean in 2012.  She was named acting dean of the college in July 2014 and became dean in July of 2016. Prior to her time at Appalachian, Norris served on the faculty at Bowling Green State University, the Pennsylvania State University and West Virginia University. Heather earned her PhD at Pennsylvania State University.

Patrick K. Setzer

Executive Director of Alumni Affairs

A 28-year veteran in higher education administration, Patrick Setzer (’90, ’98) has dedicated his career to helping build, promote, and seek support for the Appalachian State University brand. A two-time graduate of Appalachian, Patrick earned his B.S. degree in Communication/Public Relations in 1990 and his M.A. degree in Higher Education-Administration in 1998. Patrick was named Appalachian’s fifth Alumni Director in 2010. As Executive Director of Alumni Affairs, he oversees all alumni relations programs: alumni events and activities, alumni volunteer and leadership endeavors, alumni awards and alumni travel tour programs. He serves as a member of the senior leadership team in the Division of University Advancement.

Musical Guests

Eya!!! Afrolachian Drum and Dance Troupe performs traditional music and dance from a variety of countries across the African continent, the Caribbean, and the Arabic world. Additionally, Eya! presents contemporary musical works in a Pan-Global style, deriving and most often combining world influences.