Walker College of Business

Walker College welcomes fresh faces, new expertise to faculty for 2025-26 academic year

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The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University welcomes the following faculty members for the 2025-26 academic year.

Accounting

Christine Gagnon

After recently serving as a special faculty member, Dr. Christine Gagnon returns to the App State faculty as an accounting practitioner in residence. Gagnon has more than 20 years of international executive experience, including her role as CFO of Roha Group Inc., a private equity firm that responsibly builds companies in Africa. Gagnon is a Certified Public Accountant who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting and an MBA from the University of Connecticut. She holds a Master of Legal Studies from Washington University School of Law and is pursuing her Doctorate of Business Administration at UNC Charlotte. Gagnon can be reached by email, gagnoncd@appstate.edu.

TC Diddle

Teresa “TC” Diddle ’16, CPA, also rejoins the faculty as a lecturer after recently serving as a special faculty member. Diddle has worked across industries, becoming skilled in the nuances of accounting, tax work, and human resources, with expertise in helping customers analyze financial statements to inform decision-making and increase profitability. Diddle earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Florida Atlantic University and an MBA from App State. She can be reached by email, diddletm@appstate.edu.

Josh Sigmon

Josh Sigmon joins the faculty in the Department of Accounting as a lecturer. Over the last 10 years, Sigmon’s career in both industry and public accounting has focused primarily on tax accounting. He most recently served as a senior tax associate at Humana. Sigmon brings teaching experience from CCC&TI.  Sigmon earned a bachelor’s degree from App State and his Master of Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sigmon can be reached by email, sigmonjl@appstate.edu.

Bill Strausbaugh

Bill Strausbaugh joins the faculty in the Department of Accounting as a lecturer. After graduating from Wake Forest University, Strausbaugh brings to the classroom experience in investment banking, as well as experience abroad in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan. Strausbaugh is a Walker College graduate, having earned his BSBA in Accounting and Finance from App State. He earned his Master of Science in Accountancy from Wake Forest University. Strausbaugh can be reached by email, strausbaughwp@appstate.edu.

Computer Information Systems

The Department of Computer Information Systems welcomes three assistant professors to the faculty: Pranith Abbaraju, Cecilia Wu, and Zoey Ye.

Pranith Abbaraju

Dr. Pranith Abbaraju brings to the faculty a global perspective shaped by several years of industry experience working for multinational organizations such as Amazon.com, IBM, and two startups he co-founded. Abbaraju’s research interests are in the areas of mobile app ecosystems, cybersecurity, and children’s digital safety. Originally from Hyderabad in South India, Abbaraju came to the United States to pursue his master’s degree at Texas Tech University. He earned his Ph.D. from Clemson University. Abbaraju can be reached by email, abbarajup@appstate.edu.

Cecilia Wu

Dr. Shishi “Cecilia” Wu’s teaching experience spans information systems, marketing, and operations management. Her research centers on the affordances of short video platforms and their impact on user engagement and flow experience; business analytics leveraging online unstructured data and social media policies and governance; and the role of artificial intelligence in modern recruitment and organizational decision-making. Wu has collaborated on research projects with several leading technology firms, including Chengdu Mengxiang Technology Co., Ltd., where she explored AI-driven recruitment technologies and their impact on employment efficiency and fairness. Previously, Wu worked as a business analyst and project manager in various technology companies, gaining extensive experience in data-driven decision-making, strategic operations, and corporate strategy. Wu earned a B.A. in Advertising from Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College, an M.S. in Business Administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a Ph.D. in Information Systems for Data Science from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Wu can be reached by email, wus1@appstate.edu.

Zoey Ye

Dr. Ziwei "Zoey" Ye brings to the classroom three years of industry experience as a business analyst and database engineer in both tech companies and non-profit organizations. Ye is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute, whose teaching focuses on business/data analysis, project management, and information literacy. Ye’s research interests include digital platforms, business analytics, consumer behavior, and AI applications. Ye earned a bachelor’s degree from China University of Geosciences, a master’s degree from Jilin University, and a Ph.D. in Information Technology & Supply Chain Management from Old Dominion University. Ye can be reached by email, yez1@appstate.edu.

The Department of Computer Information Systems also welcomes adjunct faculty members:

Economics

David Campoverde

Dr. Pablo "David" Campoverde Varela is an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Economics. He earned his PhD in economics from the University of Wyoming. Campoverde can be reached by email, campoverdevarelapd@appstate.edu. 

Stephen Girard joins the Department of Finance, Banking & Insurance as an adjunct faculty member. Girard can be reached by email at girardrs@appstate.edu.

Finance, Banking & Insurance

Stephen Girard joins the Department of Finance, Banking & Insurance as an adjunct faculty member. Girard can be reached by email at girardrs@appstate.edu.

Management

Jill Nicklaw

Jill Nicklaw joins the faculty as a lecturer in the Department of Management. Nicklaw brings experience from both business and education, most recently working in product and project management roles in the software industry.  Nicklaw also spent 11 years teaching adult education at Caldwell and Wilkes Community Colleges and operated Sunshine Cove Farm, a certified-organic microgreen-growing operation in Boone, NC, for seven years, growing the business to six-figure sales with high-end restaurant customers across three states. Nicklaw is a two-time App State alumna, having earned bachelor’s degrees from the university and a Master of Business Administration from the Walker College. Nicklaw can be reached by email, nicklawjw@appstate.edu.

Melanie Ward

Melanie Ward joins App State’s faculty as a lecturer in the Department of Management. With experience teaching online, hybrid, and face-to-face classes, she brings a heart-centered approach to subjects like principles of management, which she previously taught at the University of South Carolina (USC). Ward is a two-time App State alumna, having earned her bachelor’s degree and MBA from the university. Ward can be reached by email, wardmm@appstate.edu.

Ben Whitehead

Ben Whitehead returns to App State’s faculty as a practitioner in residence in the Department of Management, after previously serving as an adjunct faculty member. A general business counselor for App State’s Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), Whitehead draws on his own experiences as a veteran, business owner, and counselor to help foster success for entrepreneurs in the High Country. Whitehead is an App State alumnus, having earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, an MBA, and a Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics degree from the university. He can be reached by email, whiteheadbt@appstate.edu. 

The Department of Management also welcomes nine adjunct faculty members.

Marketing & Supply Chain Management

Judi Billups

Dr. Judith Billups joins the App State faculty as an associate professor in the Department of Marketing & Supply Chain Management. Billups will also serve as director of the university’s BSBA in Sales Marketing program. Most recently, she guided key strategic initiatives in Salisbury University’s sales program, strengthening industry partnerships and hands‑on learning opportunities. She now brings her experience developing innovative sales education to Appalachian State. Billups earned a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech, an MBA from Bethel University, and a PhD from Kennesaw State University. Billups can be reached by email, billupsmj@appstate.edu.

Natalie Martin Noah

Natalie Martin Noah joins the faculty as a Practitioner in Residence in the Department of Marketing & Supply Chain Management. Noah has spent the past 11 years with Volvo Group, where she started in the International Graduate Program and completed special projects in various countries. During her time there, she worked at both of Volvo's North American manufacturing facilities, covering logistics, sourcing, and operations. She played a critical role in deploying a connectivity platform for Volvo and Mack trucks before transitioning to her last role as a National Accounts Manager. In her last role, she managed one of Volvo's largest customers. Noah is a four-time App State alumna, having earned a BS in Mathematics Education, an MA in Higher Education, and an EdD from the Reich College of Education, as well as a Master of Business Administration from the Walker College. Noah can be reached by email, martinns@appstate.edu.

Jason Riley

Jason Riley is an associate professor of supply chain management who previously taught at Sam Houston State University. Riley's research interests include retail distribution strategies, risk and disaster recovery, and supply chain management. He has published ten peer-reviewed articles in journals such as the International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management and the International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State, an MBA from Michigan State University, and a doctorate from Clemson University. Riley can be reached by email, rileyjm4@appstate.edu.

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 their communities, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling nearly 5,000 students, including more than 4,500 undergraduates across 11 majors, the Walker College of Business has the highest full-time undergraduate enrollment in the University of North Carolina System. App State’s Walker College is accredited by AACSB International — the premier global accrediting body for business schools. Learn more at https://business.appstate.edu.

A collage of new faculty faces
Published: Mar 12, 2026 10:44am

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