Dr. Lee Barnes '90 is the president and director of M.M. Fowler Inc. Before that he was a sales development representative for Shell Oil Company. Dr. Barnes is a past member of Appalachian State University's Board of Trustees, a thirteen-member body that promotes the development of the institution within the functions prescribed by the UNC Board of Governors and advises the Chancellor concerning the management and development of the university.
Dr. Barnes’ philanthropy to the university began as a student when he contributed $100 to the “buy a brick” campaign in support of construction of Raley (now Peacock) Hall, home to the business college. Barnes continued to contribute to the university, expanding his support of the business college and contributing to Appalachian athletics.
In 2008, Dr. Barnes, along with his wife Christy, established the Duane D. Daggett Endowed Professorship in the Walker College of Business, the university’s only professorship established by an alumnus in honor of a faculty member. The professorship is awarded to an outstanding faculty member in the Walker College of Business Department of Management.
In 2012, Dr. Barnes founded the Lee Barnes Scholars Program at Appalachian, to support students who have financial need and whose high school record demonstrates significant accomplishment and high academic achievement.
In 2016, recognizing his passion for research and his long standing support of the college and university, the Walker College named the newly renovated Lee Barnes, PhD Graduate Programs and Research Suite in Peacock Hall in honor of Dr. Barnes.