The 2021-22 academic year brings Appalachian State University students in the Walker College of Business new educational offerings and the opportunity to collaborate with newly appointed college leaders.
Curricular Updates
The college evolves its curriculum in response to industry needs and student demand.
Cyber Security
The Department of Computer Information Systems has launched a new concentration in cybersecurity for Fall 2021.
Students may now choose between a general computer information systems track or the cybersecurity track. Students in the new cybersecurity program will take the CIS core courses plus: Audit Analytics, Managing Security, and either Ethics and Privacy or Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures.
Graduates of the cybersecurity program can expect employment for information security analysts to grow by 32% between 2018 and 2028, which is higher than the average for all other occupations, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects.
Students interested in the cybersecurity track should make an appointment with a business academic advisor, businessadvising.appstate.edu.
Digital Marketing, Business Analytics
Cybersecurity is the latest of curricular innovations. The college also launched a concentration in digital marketing for business majors and a minor in digital marketing for business or non-business majors in Fall 2019. In Fall 2020, the college began offering a business analytics minor.
View all Appalachian business programs at business.appstate.edu/programs.
Leadership Changes
The Walker College announces several leadership appointments to begin the 2021-22 academic year.
Interim Dean Sandra Vannoy
With the appointment of former dean Heather Norris as university provost and executive vice chancellor in May 2021, Dr. Sandra Vannoy became interim dean of the Walker College.
Dr. Vannoy had served as acting dean of the college since February 2020. Prior to that, Dr. Vannoy had served as assistant, then associate, dean of graduate programs and research in the Walker College.
Related: Dr. Sandra Vannoy named acting dean of Walker College of Business
Dr. Vannoy’s senior leadership team consists of Global and Civic Engagement Associate Dean Martin Meznar, Undergraduate Curriculum & Administration Associate Dean Tracy Reed, and Graduate Programs & Research Lakshmi Iyer.
The Walker College also relies upon leadership from its six academic departments, one of which has a new leader for Fall 2021.
Mark Lewis, Department of Management Chair
Dr. Mark Lewis will serve as the Department of Management’s new chair. Dr. Lewis joined Appalachian’s faculty in 2011, and he takes over the role from Dr. Heather Dixon, who served as chair from 2018-2021.
Related: Lewis named chairperson for Department of Management
Dr. Rachel Shinnar continues as assistant chair in the department.
Effective July 1, 2021 several faculty and staff members in the Walker College will lead units within the college.
Jason Xiong, Master of Applied Data Analytics Program Acting Director
Dr. Jason Xiong, an associate professor of information systems, will serve as acting director for Appalachian’s Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics program.
Dr. Xiong joined Appalachian’s faculty in 2016 and has recently served on the admissions and Assurance of Learning committees for the MSADA program. In addition to his service and teaching experience, Dr. Xiong also brings to the role previous work experience in large IT companies in the United States and China.
He earned his Master of Science Ph.D. degrees from University of Nebraska Omaha.
Carol Kline, Hospitality & Tourism Management Program Director
Dr. Carol Kline, a professor in the Department of Management, will serve as director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program.
Dr. Kline takes over the position from long-time App State hospitality and tourism management program director, Dr. Dana Clark. Dr. Clark will continue teaching and mentoring students and liaising with industry professionals.
Dr. Kline developed App State’s first sustainable tourism course and has co-directed many study abroad programs to Ghana, Cuba, the Galapagos Islands, the French Alps and Costa Rica, among others.
Prior to joining App State’s faculty in 2014, Dr. Kline worked at East Carolina's Center for Sustainable Tourism and the Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies, taught at North Carolina Central University's Hospitality & Tourism Administration program, and worked with Cooperative Extension to provide outreach on tourism development issues to North Carolina's rural communities.
Dr. Kline is a past recipient of the Sywassink Award for Excellence in Research.
Dr. Kline earned both her master’s and Ph.D. degrees in parks, recreation and tourism management from North Carolina State University.
Bonnie Guy, Professional Selling Program Director
Dr. Bonnie Guy, a professor in the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, will serve as director of the college’s Professional Selling Program.
In this role, Dr. Guy will serve more than 200 students in the program, supervise the creation and placement of sales internships and curate professional development and company networking opportunities.
Dr. Guy earned the 2020 Sywassink Award for Excellence in Teaching and holds the John W. Guffey Jr. Professorship in Marketing.
Related: Seven earn professorships in Walker College of Business
She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and a PhD in Marketing from the University of Nebraska.
Chris Taylor, Cybersecurity Program Coordinator
Chris Taylor ’09 ’11 is spearheading the Department of Computer Information Systems’ new cybersecurity concentration.
Mr. Taylor is a professional security specialist and senior lecturer in the department.
He earned his bachelor’s degree and Master of Business Administration from App State.
Related: New cybersecurity concentration gives App State students the skills to combat hackers
David Shows, Professional Education Program Director
Dr. David Shows, an associate professor in the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, will lead the Walker College’s Professional Education Program.
In his new role, Dr. Shows will develop the college's professional education offerings, consult with faculty, recruit new clients and collaborate with the professional education advisory committee.
Inquiries about the Walker College's Professional Education Program should be directed to professional@appstate.edu or 828-262-2922.
Dr. Shows has previously held faculty positions at Auburn University at Montgomery, Spring Hill College. He earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Doctor of Business Administration with a focus on Marketing and Analysis from Louisiana Tech University.
Josh Silvey, Assessment and Accreditation Reporting Director
Dr. Josh Silvey will serve as the Walker College’s director of assessment and accreditation reporting. Dr. Silvey most recently served as associate director of business career services for the college.
In his new role, Dr. Silvey will be responsible for coordinating continuous improvement and maintenance efforts of App State’s accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.
Dr. Silvey earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Educational and Instructional Technology from the University of Wyoming and his doctorate in educational leadership from App State.
The college also welcomes 19 new faculty members and six new staff members for the Fall 2021 term.
Related: Appalachian welcomes new business professors for fall term
About the Walker College of Business
The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University delivers transformational educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact our community, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling approximately 3,000 undergraduates in 10 majors and 175 graduate students in three master's programs, the Walker College is accredited by AACSB International – the premier global accrediting body for schools of business. Learn more at https://business.appstate.edu.
Fall 2021 term brings administrative and curricular changes in App State’s Walker College of Business
Walker College Leaders