Living Like You Mean It

By Elisabeth Wall

We hear it over and over, in hundreds of iterations from visitors and members of the Appalachian Community:

“Your campus is different.”
“Everyone is so polite.”
“There’s just a feeling here.”
“My professor really cares.”

Is it merely good manners? Mountaineer resiliency? Our extraordinary location? Or, is it that Appalachian State University attracts certain types of individuals, and then nurtures their natural inclinations to be authentic and fully engaged – from demonstrating their commitment to sustainable living and social justice, to others who simply are intentional about the options life serves up every day: which products to buy, friends to choose or ethical path to follow?

Here, we profile faculty, staff, students and alumni who live intentionally, who are living like they mean it.

Teens and mental health

A school-based intervention program developed by Appalachian’s Dr. Kurt Michael lowers rural teens’ suicide attempts and boosts their well-being

Appalachian’s Aeschleman Distinguished Professor of Psychology shows his passion for teens’ mental health through the ASC school-based treatment program he founded in 2006.

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Accounting major earns U.S. citizenship, gives back to Ethiopia

Senior Maheder Yohannes emigrated from Ethiopia at age 10. Now a U.S. citizen, the first-generation college student is helping underprivileged children in her native country stay in school.

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Appalachian education student aspires to teach lessons in individuality

Representing people who may not conform to the mainstream is important to Judson MacDonald, the 2016-17 Outstanding Student Teacher of the Year at Appalachian State University.

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Drs. Zach and Alisha Farris address conservation and health crises in Madagascar

Research by Drs. Zach and Alisha Farris is sustaining ecosytems, improving animal and human health and providing learning opportunities. They are ‘living like they mean it.’

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Appalachian alum builds boys’ confidence, character and strength through Xcel2Fitness after-school program

Appalachian alum creates after-school program for young boys.

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Mary Sheryl Horine makes her ‘playground’ a healthier, happier place to play

Back at home, Appalachian staff member Mary Sheryl Horine engages in changing lives and lifestyles.

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Thwarting Human Traffickers

Appalachian graduates’ non-profit has facilitated rescue of more than 800 slaves.

Appalachian graduates’ non-profit has facilitated rescue of more than 800 slaves.

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Appalachian professors practice what they teach, operate their home at net positive energy use with solar panels

Drs. Jim and Jennifer Westerman, both professors at Appalachian State University, made a decision that has saved the equivalent of 276 trees and avoided 10,624 pounds of CO2 emissions so far this calendar year: having 50 solar panels installed on their 1972 home.

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