On August 24, 2022, the Office of General Counsel staff, alongside The Honorable Ted McEntire, The Honorable Becca Eggers-Gryder, Senator Deanna Ballard, Clerk of Court Charles Haynes, Sheriff Len Hagaman, Deputy Preston Russell, as well as staff from the Clerk of Court Office, Mediation and Restorative Justice Center, Watauga County Courthouse and other distinguished community members welcomed Chief Justice Paul Newby to Watauga County.

Chief Justice Newby and his wife Macon have embarked on a journey to visit all 100 counties in North Carolina. The Watauga County Courthouse stop marked the 85th county they have visited.  During his visit, Chief Justice Newby expressed his sincere thanks to all the staff that has kept the court system running while working through a global pandemic and along with his wife Macon, honored Courthouse staff who have worked 20 years or more with thank you cards and handed out lapel pins to all staff.

In an effort to strengthen relationships and build the knowledge base of campus-wide events, activities, and operations, the Office of General Counsel has begun having “lunch and learn” style connection opportunities throughout campus.  On July 27, 2022, the OGC had its inaugural lunch and learn at the  Beaver College of Health Sciences at Leon Levine Hall.  The college offers nine undergraduate degree programs and seven graduate degree programs, which are organized in six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work and serves over 3,700 students. The OGC staff met with Beaver College of Health Sciences Dean Dr. Marie Huff, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Denise Levy, and Dr. Gary McCullough, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Education who provided an update on upcoming program offerings, including the new master’s degree program in Occupational Therapy beginning in the fall of 2024 and potential affiliations for student internships.  We were given a tour of the beautiful, 203,0000 square foot building voted one of the “Best New Structures” in 2019 by Business North Carolina and certified “Silver LEED” by the U.S. Green Building Council.  It has 33 classrooms and 27 labs, including nursing simulation labs and exercise science assessment and treatment rooms, and an altitude chamber. Many thanks to Jenny Cancro and Lindsay Ford who assisted with the luncheon. If you are interested in scheduling a lunch and learn with the Office of General Counsel, please contact paralegal Lane Moody at moodyls@appstate.edu