Appalachian State University is set to host its 2026 Research and Creative Activity at Appalachian event (RECAPP) on Friday, September 18, at the Broyhill Music Center on the Boone campus. The event, which is free and open to the public, will celebrate the university's expanding research enterprise and its impact on the community, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Martie Thompson and a wide array of faculty presentations and posters.
The 2026 RECAPP event reflects a significant growth in research and creative innovation at App State, with a record number of project proposals submitted this year. Dr. Christine Ogilvie Hendren, App State's vice chancellor of research and innovation, emphasized the role of faculty, stating, “Our faculty are the foundation and engine of the university's research enterprise.” She added that their dedication to student engagement, creative inquiry, and meaningful partnerships establishes App State as a catalyst for important progress within the region and beyond, with RECAPP serving as an opportunity to acknowledge this impact with the campus and community.
Headlining the celebration is Dr. Martie Thompson, who received the 2026 Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. Dr. Thompson's recent work includes investigations into the effects of social determinants of health and COVID-19 pandemic factors on youth suicide risk. Her research also examines opioid remediation efforts in Western North Carolina and the long-term impacts of civic engagement during emerging adulthood. Dr. Thompson serves as the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Endowed Professor in Public Health in App State's Department of Public Health and directs community research for the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness. Her extensive research output includes more than 150 publications, many co-authored with App State students and faculty members.
The projects presented at RECAPP span numerous disciplines and highlight diverse areas of inquiry. Dr. Jui-Teng Li, associate director of research and evaluation in the Office of Rural Promise, will present work on “The Short-Term and Long-Term Impacts of the Pandemic on Rural High School Students' Academic Outcomes.” This project aims to identify Western North Carolina students most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and offer guidance to schools on effective support strategies.
Other notable projects include Dr. Caroline Smith, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology, presenting on the “Development of a Human Model for In-Water Dermal Chemical Absorption.” This research seeks to inform evidence-based guidelines for diving in contaminated waters. Dr. Kelly Davis, an associate professor in the Department of Communication, will showcase “Admissions,” an 18-minute short narrative film. Additionally, Dr. William Armstrong, an associate professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, will describe his National Science Foundation-funded research titled “Fishing for data: exploring the role of ice-contact lakes in accelerating global glacier change,” which investigates how rapidly expanding Alaskan lakes, formed by glacial retreat, could worsen future ice loss on upstream glaciers.
The RECAPP event is designed and hosted by App State's Office of Research and Innovation, which actively supports the research, creative, and scholarly endeavors of the university’s faculty, staff, and students. The event is scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. and will feature research presentations, keynote speakers, and light refreshments, all free and open to the public.
