Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock
Chancellor
Appalachian State University
Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock became Appalachian State University’s sixth chancellor in July 2004. During his tenure, Appalachian has experienced significant growth in several areas, and the quality of the university’s academic programs has continued to advance, directing extensive national attention to Appalachian. The University has become a destination of choice among the State’s brightest and best high school graduates. The university has become a destination of choice among the brightest and best high school graduates, with freshman SAT scores averaging 1163 and grade point averages at 3.87.
Since Chancellor Peacock assumed office, Appalachian has raised more than $53 million in private funding. Appalachian ACCESS, a new University scholarship program offering North Carolina’s low-income students living at or below the poverty level a four-year university education debt-free, was first awarded to members of freshman class in 2007. Additionally, under Chancellor Peacock’s leadership, more than $195 million in capital improvements and new construction has been completed with another $124 million worth of construction projects currently in progress.
Prior to his appointment as chancellor, Peacock served at Appalachian as interim provost and executive vice chancellor. He joined the faculty in Appalachian’s Walker College of Business in 1983, was appointed assistant dean of the business school in 1987, associate dean in 1989, and served as dean of the college from 1992-2003.
Previously, he taught at the McIntyre School of Commerce at the University of Virginia and worked for the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse & Co. in their Winston-Salem and Charlotte offices.
Chancellor Peacock received his undergraduate degree in accounting at Mars Hill College and his master’s and doctorate degrees in accounting at Louisiana State University. In September 2006, he received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from Mars Hill College.
Chancellor Peacock is a native of Rocky Mount. He and his wife, Rosanne, have two grown sons.
Chancellor Peacock serves on the NCAA Division I Presidential Advisory Group, Appalachian Regional Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors, Homes for Children Board of Directors, Leadership North Carolina Board of Directors, and he chairs the North Carolina Campus Compact Executive Board. He has been named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. He also is the recipient of the Golden Eagle Award for Leadership from AdvantageWest and the L. Richardson Preyer Alumni Award from Leadership North Carolina.
In addition, the Peacocks are involved in a variety of civic/community programs and activities.
