Our History

Dr. Blanford B. Dougherty (B.B.) and his brother Dauphin Disco Dougherty (D.D.) founded Watauga Academy in 1899 with the dream of helping children in North Carolina’s “lost provinces” discover educational opportunity to match the splendor of the mountains in which they lived. This tiny academy quickly evolved into a school preparing quality teachers to serve North Carolina.

Timeline

1903	Watauga Academy became Appalachian Training School (ATS)
1922	Jennie Todd, Supervisor of Women, begins O.L. Brown, Supervisor of Men, begins
1929	J.D. Rankin, Supervisor of Men, begins
1941	Rhododendron was dedicated to Jennie Todd, Supervisor of Women Myrtle Brandon begins as the Dean of Women, formerly called the Supervisor of Women
1945	Myrtle Brandon, Dean of Women, becomes Mrs. Myrtle B. Wilson
1946	Helen Burch becomes Dean of Women
1949	Nurse Mary Shook starts as the only Health Services staff
1950	Graduate Students arrived on campus (unsure in which areas)
1953	Leo Pritchett becomes Dean of Men
1956	Dr. William Plemmons becomes the 2^nd President of Appalachian State Teacher's College Barbara Stephenson becomes Dean of Women
1957	Maxie G. Edmisten becomes Interim Dean of Women
1959	"Interim" is removed from Maxie G. Edmisten's title as Dean of Women
1961	The Rhododendron is dedicated to Maxie G. Edmisten, Dean of Women John Kirk becomes Dean of Men
1962	Robert Brettenstein becomes Dean of Men
1965	Herman R. Egggers becomes first Dean of Student Affairs O. Kenneth (OK) Webb, Jr. becomes Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Ronny L. Brooks becomes Dean of Men
1966	O. Kenneth Web, Jr. becomes Dean of Student Affairs Steve Gabriel becomes the Student Financial Aid Officer Jack Groce becomes the Director of Recreation
1967	Appalachian State Teachers College becomes Appalachian State University Dr. Lawrence Heavrin, a full-time physician, is added to the College Infirmary staff Steve Gabriel becomes the Director of Financial Aid
1968	Peggy S. Whitaker becomes the Assistant Dean of Women Dr. William "Buck" Derrick becomes Staff Physician for four months
1969	Dr. Herbert Wey becomes president of Appalachian State University (Sep. 1) O. Kenneth Webb, Jr. becomes the Dean of General College and Student Affiars Lee McCaskey becomes the Director of Student Activities Dr. Lawrence Heavrin resigns as campus physician on January 1^st to work in private practice Dr. Henry Burton, psychiatrist, becomes head of the Health Center A new Psychological Services branch is formed by clinical psychologist Roger L. Steenland
1971	J. Braxton Harris becomes Dean of Student Affairs Barbara Daye becomes Associate Dean of Students O. Kenneth Webb, Jr. retains the Dean of the General College title Evan Ashby becomes the Director of Medical Staff Bob Feid becomes the Assistant Director of Student Activities
1972	Lee McCaskey becomes the Director of Student Development Bob Feid becomes the Assistant Director of Student Development Ralph Holt joins Student Health Services
1973	J. Braxton Harris becomes the first Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
1974	Bob Dunnigan is the Director of Living/Learning Programs Jack Mulgrew is the Director of Counseling & Psychological Services Ron Whittaker is the Director of the Student Union Roger Whitener is the Director of Cultural Affairs Leland Cooper is the Director of International Student Programs
1976	Bob Feid is the Associate Director of Complementary Education Dr. Willam "Buck" Derrick joins the Health Services staff permanently
1977	Lee McCaskey is the Director of Complementary Education, which oversees Residential Life Dino DiBernardi starts at Appalachian as a Greek Advisor and Assistant Director of Housing and Resident Programming Rick Geis is the Director of Campus and Resident Programming
1978	J. Braxton Harris resigns at the end of the year as Vice Chancellor of Student Affaris to return to teaching Appalachian State University Student Legal Services was established as part of Complementary Education
1979	Barbara Daye serves as Acting Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Rick Geis is the Director of Residential Programs Archie Ervin is the Director of Minority Affairs (he served as the first full-time staff member to work with minority students) Bob Dunnigan and Bob Feid are the Associate Directors of Complementary Education Chancellor Herbert Wey retires
1980	Barbara Day serves as the Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dino DiBernardi serves as Director of Campus Programs Glenn Osborne is the Assistant Director of Campus Programs
1981	Dave McIntire becomes Appalachian's newest Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Barbara Daye serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Bob Feid serves as the Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
1982	Bob Feid becomes the Director of Administrative Operations for Student Affairs David Ball is hired as Director of Career Planning & Placement
1983	Bobby Dunnigan is Director of Residence Life H'Appy's opened as the very first on-campus social center
1985	Sally Atkins is the Director of Counseling & Psychological Services Jon Hageseth is the Assistant Director of Counseling & Psychological Services
1986	Barbara Daye becomes Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development
1987	Dr. Pat Geiger is hired to work in the College Infirmary; she is the only female physician in Boone The Quinn Recreation Center opened in September as the first student recreation center constructed on a North Carolina campus - students waited in line from Rivers Street to the front doors at the top of Stadium Drive to gain entrance on opening day
1989	David McIntire resigns as Vice Chancellor for Student Development and is temporarily replaced by Barbara Daye in July Bob Feid is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Development
1990	Gregory Blimling becomes Vice Chancellor for Student Development Additions were made to the Student Union Students proposed an activity center
1991	Dr. William "Buck" Derrick becomes the Director of the Mary S. Shook Student Health Service Dave Robertson is the Director of Student Programs
1997	Barbara Daye is Dean of Students/Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development
2001	Dr. William "Buck" Derrick retires Dr. Patricia Geiger becomes Director of the Mary S. Shook Student Health Service
2002	Susie Greene becomes Dean of Students/Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development
2004	Cindy Wallace becomes Vice Chancellor for Student Development, replacing Gregory Blimling
2005	Dino DiBernardi is named Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development
2010	James J. Brown III (JJ) is named Dean of Students/Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development
2016	Dino DiBernardi retires Cindy Wallace retires Leroy Wright is hired as the new Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development, replacing Dino DiBernardi Leroy Wright is appointed Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Development in June, replacing Cindy Wallace
2017	James J. Brown III (JJ) becomes Vice Chancellor for Student Development Student Development becomes Student Affairs, effective August 1

Student Affairs

Our History

Timeline