Sheri Everts

Born and raised in Nebraska, Everts attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse.{{Cite web|last=Hubbard|first=Jule|title=Everts: Listening a key leadership skill|url=https://www.journalpatriot.com/news/everts-listening-a-key-leadership-skill/article_7fb32106-7e94-11e6-88cf-4301f4699845.html|access-date=2020-09-02|website=journalpatriot|date=19 September 2016 |language=en}} She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1980. She worked as a high school English teacher in Nebraska and Kansas for several years, later returning to UNL to complete a Master of Arts in literacy education and Doctor of Education.

In 1994, Everts joined the University of Nebraska Omaha as an assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education. She was made assistant vice-chancellor for academic and student affairs in 2000, associate vice-president in 2003, and interim senior vice-chancellor in 2006.[https://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/cehs-news/9272/54232 Chancellor Sheri Everts Will Visit Education and Human Sciences March 6-8], University of Nebraska Lincoln. Retrieved March 1, 2019. Everts left UNO in 2008 to become provost and vice-president for academic affairs at Illinois State University.[http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/education/isu-s-everts-named-chancellor-at-appalachian-state/article_3c03214d-5301-5bb1-ad22-3ad4d373447c.html ISU's Everts named chancellor at Appalachian State], The Pantagraph, March 19, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2017. She served as interim president from May to August 2013, following the resignation of Alvin Bowman.[https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2013/05/provost-everts-to-serve-as-interim-president-until-august/ Provost Everts to serve as interim president until August], Illinois State University, May 10, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2017. In March 2014, Everts was announced as the new chancellor of Appalachian State University.[http://www.news.appstate.edu/2014/03/19/chancellor-elect-sheri-noren-everts/ Sheri N. Everts Named Chancellor of Appalachian State University] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403115623/http://www.news.appstate.edu/2014/03/19/chancellor-elect-sheri-noren-everts/ |date=2014-04-03 }}, ASU University News, March 19, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2017. She took office in July 2014, and was formally installed April 2015 [http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article18770049.html Appalachian State installs new chancellor, Sheri Everts], Charlotte Observer, April 17, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2017. as the university's first female chancellor.[https://journalnow.com/news/state/noren-everts-appointed-first-female-chancellor-at-appalachian-state/article_914d3b77-8379-501e-a0d7-ee04161a15c9.html/ Noren Everts appointed first female chancellor at Appalachian State], Winston-Salem Journal, Mar 19, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2021.

Under Everts' leadership, enrollment at Appalachian State University grew to more than 21,000 students, which included the most diverse student body to date in fall 2023, with 19% of the total population being racially and/or ethnically underrepresented students. The university has increased its underrepresented students by 77% and first-year underrepresented students by 117% since 2014, the beginning of Everts' tenure. For the university's 2022-23 undergraduate population, about one-third are first-generation students and nearly one-third are students from rural populations.{{Cite web |last=Communications |first=Jessica Stump App State |date=2023-09-12 |title=App State announces 21,253 enrollment, largest in school history |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/news/asu_news/app-state-announces-21-253-enrollment-largest-in-school-history/article_d3cc636e-518d-11ee-b9ae-9f2c984bb38f.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Watauga Democrat |language=en}}

In November 2021, Everts announced the establishment of the App State Hickory Campus,{{Cite web |last=Whisenant |first=David |date=2021-11-22 |title=Appalachian State buys former Corning building in Hickory for new campus |url=https://www.wbtv.com/2021/11/22/appalachian-state-buys-former-corning-building-hickory-new-campus/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=www.wbtv.com |language=en}} which opened to students on Aug. 21, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Coates |first=Anna Oakes and J. Todd |date=2023-08-22 |title=App State opens Hickory campus |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/app-state-opens-hickory-campus/article_d334b408-409c-11ee-84ff-4f747bcbfba7.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Watauga Democrat |language=en}} Until Nov. 19, 2021, when the university purchased the former Corning Optical Communications building, Hickory was the largest metropolitan area in North Carolina that did not have a major, public university campus.{{Cite web |last=Everts |first=Sheri |date=2022-01-01 |title=App State chancellor on plans for new Hickory campus |url=https://hickoryrecord.com/news/local/app-state-chancellor-on-plans-for-new-hickory-campus/article_7ed4f24e-6270-11ec-ad97-2bef18350fce.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Hickory Daily Record |language=en}}

Everts also opened Appalachian State University's Academy at Middle Fork in Walkertown, North Carolina, in 2018, which serves approximately 300 K-5 students with research-based practices.{{Cite web |last=kayla.lasure@wataugademocrat.com |first=Kayla Lasure |date=2018-09-27 |title=ASU starts Middle Fork lab school in Winston-Salem |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/mountaintimes/news/asu-starts-middle-fork-lab-school-in-winston-salem/article_5880ce08-9811-5275-8d9f-1f17674360a8.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Watauga Democrat |language=en}} The university opened its second lab school, the App State Academy at Elkin, in 2022, which serves approximately 100 students in second through fourth grades,{{Cite web |last=Communications |first=Anna Oakes App State |date=2022-09-09 |title=App State opens Academy at Elkin, its second lab school |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/blowingrocket/news/app-state-opens-academy-at-elkin-its-second-lab-school/article_8c806814-2e4f-11ed-801e-b728e3b4bb42.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Watauga Democrat |language=en}} and is the only UNC System institution to operate two laboratory school programs.{{Cite web |title=UNC System Laboratory Schools – UNC System |url=https://www.northcarolina.edu/unc-laboratory-schools/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=www.northcarolina.edu}}

Since joining Appalachian State University in 2014, Everts increased faculty salaries,{{Cite web |last=Staff Report |first=Staff Report |date=2021-11-16 |title=App State chancellor announces salary increases contingent on state budget being signed into law |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/news/asu_news/app-state-chancellor-announces-salary-increases-contingent-on-state-budget-being-signed-into-law/article_1556f0f5-97cb-511a-a980-2670e8387e47.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Watauga Democrat |language=en}} with merit-based salary increases provided in 2019 through a reallocation of state funds{{Cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Moss |last2=Canal |first2=Hayley |date=2019-09-11 |title=Everts announces merit-based faculty salary raises |url=https://theappalachianonline.com/everts-announces-merit-based-faculty-salary-raises/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=The Appalachian}} and across-the-board salary increase for full-time faculty and staff in the 2021–22 and 2022-23 fiscal years.{{Cite web |author=Staff Report |date=2021-11-22 |title=App State chancellor announces salary increases |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/blowingrocket/news/app-state-chancellor-announces-salary-increases/article_1436cb82-328c-5301-8e44-5935f352e3ad.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Watauga Democrat |language=en}}

Through the university's Appalachian Energy Summit, UNC System campuses had, by 2023, avoided $1.75 billion in utility costs.{{Cite web |last=patrick.mccormack@mountaintimes.com |first=Patrick McCormack |date=2023-06-13 |title=App State Energy Summit 2023 highlights successes, work still to be done |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/news/asu_news/app-state-energy-summit-2023-highlights-successes-work-still-to-be-done/article_0e64ad1e-0969-11ee-bdd2-530703e868d7.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Watauga Democrat |language=en}} In early 2022, the university's percentage of electricity supplied from renewable energy sources increased from 2% to 18%, an advancement made possible through hydroelectric and solar power purchases, and purchased electricity for the Levine Hall of Health Sciences, the university's largest building on its Boone campus, was converted to 100% solar.{{Cite web |author=Staff Report |date=2022-01-25 |title=Renewables to make up 18% of App State's purchased electricity in 2022 |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/news/asu_news/renewables-to-make-up-18-of-app-state-s-purchased-electricity-in-2022/article_d2235066-1dae-557a-bb1f-47641ab08255.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Watauga Democrat |language=en}}

In 2020, Everts established the Chancellor's Awards for Inclusive Excellence. The inaugural award honorees included university students, faculty and staff, as well as a local community member.{{Cite web |author=Staff Report |date=2020-01-24 |title=App State presents inaugural awards for inclusive excellence |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/community/app-state-presents-inaugural-awards-for-inclusive-excellence/article_ed053582-b7d1-58cc-a2db-0c3f3f9ac517.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Watauga Democrat |language=en}}

Everts' two-year term as president of the NCSS Division I Sun Belt Conference, in which 17 of App State's 17 varsity sports teams compete, began July 1, 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-13 |title=Sun Belt Announces Incoming Executive Committee |url=https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2023/6/13/general-sun-belt-announces-incoming-executive-committee.aspx |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=sunbeltsports.org |language=en}} For the preceding two years, she served as vice president of the conference.

On April 15, 2024, Everts announced her resignation as Chancellor of App State effective April 19 citing personal health challenges.{{cite web |title=App State Chancellor Sheri Everts steps down after a decade of leadership |url=https://today.appstate.edu/2024/04/15/everts |website=Appalachian Today |access-date=15 April 2024}}

On June 8, 2015, Everts removed Vice Chancellor for Student Development (later renamed Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs) Cindy Wallace from her role after 12 years to "initiate a leadership change." Several students and community members voiced concern about the abrupt nature of Wallace's removal and a perceived pattern of Everts removing University leaders with little notice.{{Cite web |last=Oakes |first=Anna |date=2016-06-08 |title=Wallace out as ASU vice chancellor for student development |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/news/wallace-out-as-asu-vice-chancellor-for-student-development/article_a10bc1cd-4125-5a6d-b894-f8d993396825.html |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Watauga Democrat |language=en}}

On August 17, 2020, the Appalachian State Faculty Senate voted no confidence in Everts' leadership primarily due to concerns about teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |last1=Killian |first1=Joe |last2=August 17 |first2=NC Newsline |title=App State faculty votes "no confidence" in Chancellor Sheri Everts |url=http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2020/08/17/app-state-faculty-votes-no-confidence-in-chancellor-sheri-everts/ |website=NC Newsline}}{{cite web |last1=Lasure |first1=Kayla |title=Faculty Senate votes 'no confidence' in Everts' leadership |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/news/faculty-senate-votes-no-confidence-in-everts-leadership/article_3e9768bc-cc7b-50ac-9b76-9c073bc4e44b.html |website=Watauga Democrat |date=18 August 2020 |language=en}} Appalachian State was one of the largest UNC System schools to hold in-person classes throughout 2020, with 30 percent in-person classes, 30 percent hybrid classes and 40 percent remote/online classes.{{Cite web |last=Oakes |first=Anna |date=2022-08-25 |title=App State one of largest UNC system universities still holding in-person classes |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/covid19/app-state-one-of-largest-unc-system-universities-still-holding-in-person-classes/article_55a0ad46-fb4d-5bc7-a97b-59e9acf59c47.html |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=Watauga Democrat |language=en}}

In Spring of 2024, Everts faced mounting criticism surrounding her renaming of Pride Week to Spring Week, as well as discussions around firing and demoting of LGBT+ professors and faculty. This was exacerbated by a poorly received university response and the removal of the University's free-expression tunnels. {{cite web |last1=Guzman |first1=Jenna |title=Pride Week renamed to Spring Fest, results in frustration |url=https://theappalachianonline.com/pride-week-renamed-to-spring-fest-results-in-frustration/ |website=theappalachianonline.com |date=3 April 2024 |publisher=The Appalachian Online |access-date=April 15, 2024}} Towards the end of Everts' tenure, several protests surfaced around the treatment of LGBT+ students and faculty as well as issues with the renovation of Wey Hall which houses the University's art department.{{cite web |title=Students at Appalachian State Rally to Demand Accountability From Chancellor Everts Following Recent Changes in Policy Affecting LGBTQ+ and Art Students |url=https://www.hcpress.com/app-state/students-at-appalachian-stste-rally-to-demand-accountability-from-chancellor-everts-following-recent-changes-in-policy-affecting-lgbtq-and-art-students.html |website=High Country Press |date=4 April 2024 |access-date=April 5, 2024 |ref=App State News}}

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