Walker College of Business

In 1995, Mr. G.A. Sywassink, Chairman and CEO of Standard Holding Corporation, funded an annual Day of Excellence to recognize faculty for their outstanding teaching, research and service. A long-time supporter of Appalachian, Mr. Sywassink is a former member and chair of the Business Advisory Council for the Walker College. He is past chair of Appalachian's Board of Trustees and a past member of the UNC System Board of Governors.

• Dr. Sandra Vannoy began serving as Acting Dean of the Walker College in February 2020, while Dr. Heather Norris served as Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor. After a national search, Dr. Vannoy was named permanent dean of the college in April 2022. 
• Previously serving as associate dean for graduate programs and research, Dr. Vannoy was instrumental in implementing a Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics program in 2016, and under her leadership, the college launched a fully online MBA program in Fall 2020.

• In 2017, the Walker College had launched a Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics program with Dr. Lakshmi Iyer at the program's helm.
• In 2019, the Walker College added a Business Analytics Minor to the programs offered, providing students with skills in collecting and managing data, designing experiments, programming, detecting patterns in data.

Walker College student scholarships topped $500,000 annually. The need remains great, with only approximately 10% of business students receiving scholarship awards annually. 

• In 2015, the Walker College added a minor in Human Resources to its programs offered.
• In 2016, the Walker College added a Hospitality and Tourism Management minor to the programs offered.
• In 2016, the Marketing Department expanded program offering to include Sales and Professional Selling.

At the time Dr. Sheri Everts joined Appalachian in July 2014, enrollment had topped 17,800 and the university was attracting international attention with its entry in the Solar Decathlon Europe 2014 competition in Versailles, France, and students’ exhibition of designs in the Milan Furniture Fair. Appalachian was also preparing to host its third annual Appalachian Energy Summit, at which leaders from North Carolina’s public and private universities convene to share best practices.

• Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris became the seventh dean of the Walker College of Business. Dr. Norris would later be named interim provost and executive vice chancellor in February 2020.
• The Walker College added Sustainable Business, Human Resource Management, Advanced Entrepreneurship, and Entrepreneurship Studies Minors to the programs offered.

• In 2011, a $1M lead gift from BB&T supported the creation of the Student Leadership Center in the Walker College of Business.
• By 2012, a student services center on the second floor of Peacock Hall was named for college supporter and 1986 accounting alumnus Marshall Croom. Croom served as a leader on the college's advisory council (2001-present). The Marshall Croom Student Services Center began housing the college's Business Career Services in the BB&T Student Leadership Center and the business academic advising center in 2016.

The Walker College launched a fully online BSBA degree program through the University’s Distance Education services in 201. The program would earn a high ranking from US News & World Report for Best Online Bachelor's in Business Programs in 2021.

• In 2006, a Center for Entrepreneurship begins operation with director Bryan Toney to provide opportunities for students. Fundraising provided ongoing support to develop more co-curricular student programs like the annual Carole Moore McLeod Entrepreneur Summit (which had begun in 2003), the Pitch Your Idea in 90 Seconds Contest (initally sponsored by Mission House Creative) and the Young Entrepreneurs Symposium sponsored by Backyard Burgers.