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Everts Wraps Up First Week as Chancellor; Interim Chief of Staff and Dean of College of Business Announced

by Madison V. Fisler

July 3, 2014. Tomorrow will wrap up Dr. Sheri N. Everts’s first official week as Appalachian State University’s seventh chancellor.

On Tuesday, July 1, Everts took the reigns of Appalachian State University as the first female chancellor, following in the footsteps of the more than decade-long tenure of Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock, who served the university as Chancellor, Associate Dean, Assistant Dean and faculty member for more than three decades.

Photo courtesy of Appalachian State University
Photo courtesy of Appalachian State University

On July 1, Chancellor Sheri N. Everts shared a video message with students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and leadership boards at Appalachian State University. That video can be viewed here. 

Evert’s chief of staff has been named as Randy Edwards, whose previous position at the university was Dean of the Walker College of Business. In the meantime, Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris has been named interim dean of the Walker College of Business in place of Edwards, according to a press release. Both Edwards and Norris began their duties in their new respective positions July 1. 

Sheri N. Everts was announced as the new chancellor of Appalachian State University during a special meeting of the UNC Board of Governors on March 19. 

In recommending Everts to the Board of Governors, UNC President Tom Ross said:  “Sheri Noren Everts brings to the task two decades of academic and leadership experience at highly respected public universities.  At each step along the way, she has proven herself to be an energetic and effective leader who encourages creative problem-solving, promotes collaboration and inclusiveness, and demonstrates a passionate commitment to academic excellence and student success.  She has also earned a reputation for great integrity, sound judgment, and a strong commitment to community engagement, outreach, and partnership.”

Everts began her higher education career in 1994 as an assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Nebraska Omaha.  Rising through the academic and administrative ranks at UNO, she was named Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs in 2000, promoted to Associate Vice President in 2003, and named Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs in 2006. 

She served in that interim capacity until June 30, 2008, when she left Nebraska to become Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Illinois State University.