Three teams of faculty at Appalachian State University have been awarded grants through the Chancellor’s Innovation Scholars Program. Each team will receive up to $25,000 in funding from the Office of the Chancellor and the Division of Academic Affairs for projects aimed at improving safety during floods and addressing shortages of special education teachers in North Carolina.
The Chancellor’s Innovation Scholars Program began in 2016 to support research, partnerships, and practices that benefit society. This year’s program emphasizes interdisciplinary work and efforts that use App State’s research capabilities to build resilience while encouraging external partnerships and funding.
“This year’s Chancellor’s Innovation Scholars are advancing research that not only deepens knowledge but strengthens our state — especially rural areas that will benefit from the project’s innovative, community-driven solutions,” said App State Chancellor Heather Norris. “Their efforts will help shape a more resilient North Carolina.”
One funded project is led by Dr. William Wang, assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Planning; Dr. Tinghao Feng, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science; and Dr. Zhiyuan (Jean) Yao, assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Planning. The team received $23,500 for a three-year study using artificial intelligence (AI) combined with community input to improve mapping of flood impacts in vulnerable regions.
Dr. Wang explained, “Traditional risk assessments often miss crucial local details, such as specific topographic variations and infrastructure conditions, leading to incomplete vulnerability analyses. By integrating advanced machine learning techniques for spatial flood mapping, algorithms for socioeconomic assessments and temporal forecasting, this project will produce a dynamic, high-resolution index tailored specifically to North Carolina.”
The project includes data collection with stakeholder engagement and aims to create digital platforms and educational workshops for emergency managers and policymakers.
Another team led by Dr. Dennis Guignet from the Department of Economics—alongside Dr. Maggie Sugg from Geography and Planning and Jennifer Schroeder Tyson from Public Health—will examine potential health risks posed by contaminants entering private wells during floods. Their grant supports undergraduate researchers who will analyze data on well water quality related to extreme weather events.
A third initiative focuses on expanding pathways into special education teaching careers by partnering with early colleges and teacher cadet programs in rural areas. Led by Dr. Aftynne Cheek from Child Development, Literacy and Special Education—with colleagues Dr. Kelly Clark and Dr. Debra Prykanowski—the group received $19,478 for their work.
“Research tells us that there is a critical shortage of highly qualified special education teachers,” Cheek and her colleagues explained. “Specifically in North Carolina, there are almost 4,000 teacher vacancies across the state, many of which are in special education. One way we hope to address these teacher shortages in this area is to prepare more qualified individuals to enter the special education teaching profession.”
Cheek’s team plans needs assessments, interviews with stakeholders, revisions to curriculum programs, recruitment pathway improvements for future teachers—and hopes their findings can help secure additional funding for broader regional impact.
Appalachian State University is part of the University of North Carolina System with over 21,000 students enrolled across its Boone campus as well as Hickory locations and online programs (https://www.appstate.edu).
