The Walker College of Business welcomes 10 faculty and staff members to Appalachian State University for the Spring 2024 semester.
Department of Accounting
Rick Smith
Rick Smith will serve as a special faculty member in the Department of Accounting. Smith, who will teach on the Hickory campus, holds an MBA in Accounting from Lenoir-Rhyne University. You can reach Smith by email, smithrw1@appstate.edu.
Department of Computer Information Systems
The Department of Computer Information Systems welcomes two new tenure track faculty members: Assistant Professors Lijun Chen and Yuxiao Luo, and two special faculty members: Mark Shellman and Jimmy Carver.
Lijun Chen
Lijun Chen will serve as an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Information Systems. Dr. Chen received her Ph.D. in Analytics, Information, and Operations Management at the University of Kansas. Her research interests include consumer privacy, consumer behavior, e-commerce, and human-computer interaction. She also has a strong teaching interest in data analysis, prediction, and courses related to FinTech. Dr. Chen can be reached by email, chenl5@appstate.edu.
Rain Luo
Rain Luo will also serve as an assistant professor in the department. Dr. Luo holds research interests in algorithmic nudging, cybersecurity, and sharing economy. He holds a PhD in Business with a concentration in Information Systems from the Graduate Center (City University of New York). You can reach Dr. Luo by email, luoy@appstate.edu.
Mark Shellman
Mark Shellman joins the faculty at App State with experience in programming languages, database design and development, data science, and cybersecurity. Dr. Shellman brings to the university 38 years' experience from the community college system, including 30 years as an information technology chair. Dr. Shellman is an App State alumnus, have earned his Ed.D. in Higher Education. He also holds a master's degree in Computer Education from Barry University and a BS in Computer Science from North Carolina State University. Dr. Shellman can be reached by email, shellmanwm@appstate.edu.
Jimmy Warren
Jimmy Warren joins the department as special faculty. Dr. Warren holds an Ed.D. from App State. He can be reached by email, warrencj3@appstate.edu.
Department of Finance, Banking & Insurance
Gary Meggs
J. Gary Meggs will serve as special faculty in the Department of Finance, Banking & Insurance. Meggs is past director of risk management for the Southern Company, one of the largest U.S. investor-owned electric and gas utility holding companies. He earned his undergraduate degree and dual master’s degrees in business administration and insurance from Georgia State University. Meggs also holds the CPCU and ARM professional designations. He can be reached by email, meggsjg@appstate.edu.
Department of Management
Richard Read
Richard Read will serve as a special faculty member in the Department of Management. Dr. Read started his career working for Kimberly-Clark Corporation in human resource management and eventually worked for Neenah, Inc. as vice president of human resources. After completing his doctoral degree, Dr. Read taught part-time in the Department of Management at the University of North Georgia. He recently completed an 18-month service assignment as a university level teacher and educational administrator in Micronesia, based on Guam. Dr. Read holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Georgia State University, a Master in Business Administration from Duke University, and Bachelor of Arts in German Area Studies from the University of Florida. He can be reached by email, readrf@appstate.edu.
Department of Marketing & Supply Chain Management
Miranda Gregg
Miranda Gregg recently joined the Department of Marketing & Supply Chain Management as an administrative assistant. Gregg can be reached by email, greggmd@appstate.edu.
Business Career Services
Amanda Merritt
Amanda Merritt recently came to App State as an assistant director of student programs in the office of Business Career Services. Merritt previously served as director of admissions for Lees-McRae College. Merritt is an App State alumna, having earned her bachelor's in hospitality administration. She also earned a master's in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University. Merritt can be reached by email, merrittak@appstate.edu.
Dean's Office
Holli Keener
Holli Keener recently came to App State as a development specialist. Keener is a two-time Walker College alumna, having earned her bachelor's degree in management and MBA in human resources from App State. She most recently worked in human resources at Exela Pharma Sciences. Keener can be reached by email, keenerha@appstate.edu.
The 10 new employees join the existing faculty and staff of approximately 150.
About the Walker College
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 3,986 undergraduates in 10 majors, as well as 235 graduate students in three master's programs, the Walker College's full time undergraduate enrollment is the highest in the UNC System. Appalachian is consistently named one of "The Best Business Schools" by The Princeton Review and is accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the premier global accrediting body for schools of business.
Walker College welcomes faculty, staff to App State
Collage of new faculty, staff