In preparation for the 2019-20 academic year, Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business announces organizational, curricular and administrative changes.
Organizational and Curricular Changes
The supply chain management program transitioned from the Department of Computer Information Systems and Supply Chain Management to the Department of Marketing; the resulting departments are: the Department of Computer Information Systems and the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management.
The move is expected to benefit students, better meet the needs of industry, and allow for growth in targeted programmatic areas. “This is a reflection of global trends in both industry and business education,” said Walker College of Business Dean Heather Norris. “Our business curriculum at Appalachian continues to evolve to meet industry needs and student demands.”
Related: Supply chain management program to transition to Department of Marketing
Dr. Jim Stoddard will chair the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, and Dr. Dinesh Davé is director of the supply chain management program.
The college has added a new concentration in digital marketing, which will be offered through the Department of Marketing & Supply Chain Management. Business and non-business majors may also earn a minor in digital marketing.
Leadership Appointments
The college also announced several leadership appointments.
Dr. Sandra A. Vannoy
Dr. Sandy Vannoy, associate dean for graduate programs and research in the Walker College, will serve as interim chair of the Department of Computer Information Systems. An information systems professor, Dr. Vannoy’s research interests lie primarily in the areas of the role of information systems in competitive interaction and social computing. Dr. Vannoy has served as director of the MBA program since 2014, and, during her tenure, she has led the Walker College of Business in implementing two new programs, a master of science in applied data analytics and professional education.
Dr. Tim Forsyth
Dr. Tim Forsyth, a professor of accounting in the Walker College, will serve as acting director for Appalachian's MBA program while Dr. Vannoy is interim department chair. Dr. Forsyth is a former department chair for the Department of Accounting and a former associate dean of the college. He currently holds the Kenneth E. Peacock accounting professorship. Dr. Forsyth's research has been published in a variety of journals including the Journal of Business, Industry and Economics, the National Accounting Journal, The CPA Journal, the Financial Review, Issues in Accounting Education, the Journal of Cost Analysis and Parametrics and others.
Dr. Dave McEvoy
Dr. Dave McEvoy has been named associate dean for undergraduate programs and administration for the Walker College of Business. Dr. McEvoy joined the faculty at Appalachian in 2007 and most recently served as director of Appalachian's Experimental Economics Laboratory. His research is well-known in the fields of environmental, experimental and international economics. He is a previous Sywassink Awards for Teaching Excellence recipient and a Dean's Club professor.
Dr. Pennie Bagley
The Department of Accounting has named Dr. Pennie Bagley as its new chair. Dr. Bagley, who joined Appalachian’s faculty in 2010, is an associate professor of accounting who previously served as the college's first experiential learning faculty fellow. Dr. Bagley's research is primarily in auditing, with a particular interest in accountability, affect and audit education.
Related: Bagley named chairperson for Department of Accounting
Dr. Heather Dixon-Fowler has been named chair of the Department of Management and Dr. Rachel Shinnar has been named assistant chair for the department. During the 2018-19 academic year, both administrators served in the same respective roles, in an acting capacity.
Dr. Heather Dixon-Fowler
Since joining Appalachian’s faculty in 2009, Dr. Heather Dixon-Fowler has taught a variety of management and entrepreneurship courses. Her research interests include corporate governance, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. Previously, Dr. Dixon-Fowler served as director for the college’s Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship and developed the first undergraduate social entrepreneurship course in Walker College.
Dr. Rachel Shinnar
Dr. Rachel Shinnar joined Appalachian’s faculty in 2004, where she has taught organizational behavior, international management, contemporary issues in management and leadership, and international human resource management. Her research interests center on upward mobility for Hispanic immigrants in their respective careers and entrepreneurship education for minorities and females.
Dr. Lynn Stallworth
Dr. Lynn Stallworth has been named program director of the Master of Science in Accounting program. Dr. Stallworth, a professor in the Walker College’s Department of Accounting, joined Appalachian’s faculty in 2006. She will take over the role from Dr. Bill Pollard, who will return to teaching full-time in the department.
Mr. Bob Stec
Mr. Bob Stec, a lecturer of management, joined Appalachian’s faculty in 2015 and brings to the role more than 35 years of experience in management and company oversight. As faculty fellow, he will support business faculty members in developing experiential learning components in their curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular activities and provide programming and resources to advance experiential learning.
Related: Stec named experiential learning faculty fellow in business
“I’m grateful for the anticipated energy and service these individuals will provide as the Walker College continues to grow as a national leader in business education,” said Norris. “Delivering transformational, educational experiences to our students is our foremost priority, and today we are accomplishing this goal by evolving an emphasis on experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, social engagement and value driven innovation.”
