The Division of Academic Affairs at Appalachian State University is a comprehensive and collaborative unit dedicated to fostering student success, cultivating innovation, and preparing students to lead purposeful lives, upholding our university's longstanding tradition of service and leadership. Through integrated efforts across academic programs, student support services, enrollment management, and arts engagement, we provide a holistic and enriching educational journey for all students.
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Neva J. Specht, PhD is a well-known and widely respected academic leader who was appointed executive vice chancellor and provost for Appalachian State University, effective May 1, 2025.
Prior to assuming this role, Specht served as Acting Provost when Norris assumed the role of the university's Interim Chancellor in April 2024. Specht manages the university's academic enterprise, as well as all aspects of Enrollment Management, the Student Affairs departments that support students and student success, and Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources.
Units
At Appalachian, student success is built upon a challenging academic curriculum, dynamic classroom experiences, and close collaboration between faculty and students on scholarly activities. Our core academic mission emphasizes undergraduate research, global engagement, and interdisciplinary learning, all designed with measurable outcomes to track student progress. Academic Affairs leads these efforts, overseeing the university's academic framework and fostering an innovative and integrative learning environment that prepares students to lead purposeful lives as engaged global citizens.
Enrollment Management supports all incoming and current App State students by collaborating with campus partners to deliver services and resources that promote enrollment and student success. We are committed to increasing college access, reducing student debt, and addressing the evolving challenges of higher education. Our work prioritizes the distinctive needs of our student population, including first-year, transfer, graduate, military-affiliated, international, underrepresented, rural, non-traditional, and first-generation students.
Student Affairs at App State supports student success and well-being by fostering a culture of care, inclusion, and engagement. Our mission is to develop lifelong learners and dynamic leaders through meaningful experiences that challenge and support students. Grounded in our commitment to care, engage, and transform, we create a student-centered environment that encourages resilience, leadership, service, and global learning.
For over four decades, Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources at App State has been a driving force behind the High Country's cultural life. Operating the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts and Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, programs under its auspices include six gallery spaces within the Turchin Center, An Appalachian Summer, Appalachian Arts, and the APPlause! K-12 Performing Arts Series. These initiatives bring transformative arts experiences to our community, inspire learners of all ages, and build a cultural legacy for our campus and region.