Megan Hayes has a background in cultural tourism and event marketing, PR and management. She manages the University Communications team, the university’s content management strategy and social media presence. She is certified in crisis communications and media crisis interview and response training. She is managing editor of the university magazine and host of the SoundAffect podcast.

Dave Blanks has a background in radio production and emergency operations. He manages the podcast studio, and provides voice talent and audio engineering for podcast and video production. He also supports emergency communications and advises on social media.

Linda Coutant, Ed.D., has a background as a reporter, writer, television producer and editor. She is a member of the emergency communications team, and is certified in search engine optimization and crisis communications. Current duties focus on content development and project management, including maintaining a Faculty Speakers Bureau database, writing and editing feature stories for the university website, writing and editing news releases and supervising writing interns. More on LinkedIn

Wes Craig has a background in technical support and customer service. He manages the university event calendar, provides technical support for the university's online communication toolbox and online marketing center, supports the communications liaison team, and develops single-use web pages.

Jim Fleri has a background in advertising, merchandising, graphic and web design. He creates custom graphics for print and web production, including presentations, brochures, fact sheets and branded merchandise. His recent projects include developing icons for university use in web, mobile and print applications.

Garrett Ford has a background in television, audio and video production. He produces video content for major university initiatives, including the university’s institutional ads, recruitment ads for the graduate school, distance education and individual colleges, and campaigns for student development. He also supports emergency communications and advises on social media.

Marie Freeman has a background in news media photography, including for the Associated Press, and professional studio photography. She documents major university events and initiatives, liaises with photographers in the news media, manages the photography in the university’s online communications toolbox, and advises on social media.

Chris Grulke has a background in economics and admissions in higher education settings. He advises on digital advertising, project management, data-driven marketing strategy, and is certified in Google Analytics and Adwords. Chris holds an Advanced Social Media Strategy certification from Syracuse University and heads up AppState's Social Media Team.

Roslyn Howard has a background in organizational graphic design, graphic identity and CRM development. Her recent projects include designing the Campaign for Appalachian graphic identity and large format designs, including for the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, and design and implementation of the digital viewbook. She also manages the university's online communication toolbox and online marketing center.

Alex Jansen has a background in marketing and communications, including a stint writing content and copy at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He writes various communications materials for Appalachian, including news releases, student profiles, web features and remarks.

Sarah McBryde has a background in graphic design for print media and media buying. She advises on social media and is responsible for developing the graphic identity and collateral materials for student, faculty and staff recruitment, as well as general university promotional materials, including the university magazine.

Pete Montaldi has a background in website development and design, information architecture and marketing technology. He is a member of the emergency communications team, manages top tier university web pages, and advises on information architecture and website navigation. Recent projects include implementation of the university homepage and related web pages.

Stephanie Naoum has a background as a deputy clerk of court and administrative and university advancement support. She manages department operations and budgets, oversees circulation of the university magazine, is a member of the critical/crisis communications team and supports marketing, public relations and the news writing team, advises on social media, and is assistant to the Director of University Communications.

Chase Reynolds has a background in commercial photography. He assists the university photographer in documenting university events and building the university's photographic library, and advises on social media.

Jessica Stump has a background in editing, proofreading, creative writing, technical/professional writing, as well as English literature and language studies. She edits various internal and external communications materials, including news releases, stories for the university magazine, web features, honors and awards, newsletters, transcripts, events and grants. She is knowledgeable of the Associated Press Stylebook, The Chicago Manual of Style and the MLA Style Manual.

Troy Tuttle has a background in photography and customer experience. He provides creative direction for the university, serves as creative director for the university magazine, provides executive direction for the university podcast studio productions, leads the media production and graphics teams, provides support for emergency communications and advises on social media.

After 10 years with Condé Nast, including her role as executive editor for GQ, Elisabeth Wall served as principal and creative director of a marketing communications firm. She is managing editor for Appalachian Magazine and has edited for a number of trade and educational publications, including North Carolina A&T State University and University of North Carolina Wilmington. Elisabeth supervises UComm's writing team, is a contributing writer and collaborates on messaging for Appalachian’s chancellor.

Alex Waterworth has a background in graphic design and web design. He is responsible for interaction design, is a member of the emergency communications team, and advises on social media. His recent projects include redesigning the university homepage and related pages, and design and implementation of the digital magazine.

Derek Wycoff has a background in graphic design and web design. His current projects include campus map design, email blast design and work on program area web pages. He also advises on social media.