Walker College of Business

Under the leadership of Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock (2004-14), Appalachian became a destination of choice for high-achieving, intellectually curious students wanting to be engaged in the community. In addition to small classes and challenging academics, Appalachian became known for its undergraduate research, internationalized curriculum, service-learning and sustainability, both in academic programs and campus practices. The university grew significantly in the areas of healthcare and the nexus of energy, the environment and economics.

Dr. Lyle Schoenfeldt serves as acting dean of the Walker College of Business. Dr. Schoenfeldt joined Appalachian's faculty in the Department of Management in 1996 and was well known for a standard textbook on human resources.

In May 2003, President Molly Broad appointed Dr. Harvey R. Durham as acting chancellor after 24 years of service as the university’s chief academic officer and 14 years prior as professor, department chair and associate vice chancellor. Dr. Durham served as acting chancellor for the school year 2003-04.

• In 2003, the college began offering a BSBA in International Business. In the late 2010s, the college would create a global orientation as an integral component of all business students' academic experience. 
• In 2008, the Walker College would host its first annual Global Opportunities Conference, envisoned and coordinated by student Sarah Green.
• In 2017, the college would name Dr.

• In 2000, the Elbert V. Bowden Student Managed Investment Fund was established in the Department of Finance, Banking & Insurance to provide students with hands-on, real-world experience in managing investments.
• In 2017, a section of the Broyhill Commons would highlight accomplishments of the Broyhill Fellows, a competition subset of the Bowden Investment group. Broyhill Fellows are selected annually from members of Appalachian’s Bowden Investment Group.

• In 1998, Bank of America identified the accounting and finance programs among the top ten nationwide for recruiting,
• In 1999, the Walker College accounting students ranked 4th in the nation on overall pass rate on the CPA exams.
  

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Bank of America identified the accounting and finance programs among the top ten nationwide for recruiting,

• The William R. Holland Fellows program was established to provide students opportunities to learn about doing business in Asia in partnership with students and faculty at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.

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• In 2015, the Walker College hosts its first annual Business for Good Conference.
• In 2016, the Walker College presented the inaugural Green E award to Dr. Heather Norris, Dean of the Walker College of Business. The Green-E award recognizes individuals for outstanding accomplishments in the area of sustainable business at Appalachian.

App State's focus on international education continued with Dr. Francis T. Borkowski (1936-2025), who entered his chancellorship with a respectful vision: to create a distinctive learning environment sensitive to rapid world changes, such as technology and globalization, yet rooted in mountain values and App State's tradition of teaching, scholarship, and service.