Neva Specht

Neva J. Specht [Spake] currently serves as the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Policies and Development and Professor of History at Appalachian State University. In her position, she works on leadership development with department chairs, aspiring leaders, and deans; works as the liaison with the faculty senate; and serves as a point person for faculty personnel issues. Prior to her current position, she served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as Senior Associate Dean, Associate Dean, and Assistant Chair in the Department of History. Specht received her Ph.D. in United States history and material culture studies from the University of Delaware, where she also earned her Master of Arts in History with a certificate in Museum Studies. She received her bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College. For six years, she served as the University Liaison to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and during that time, she directed two National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Landmark workshops on the Blue Ridge Parkway and conducted a number of oral histories and research projects for the National Park Service.