Appalachian Outdoorosity
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Becki BattistaBecki Battista is a Professor, PhD, Growth and Motor Development, Graduate Faculty, Director, Office of Student Research at Appalachian State University. She has built her career around getting people physically active. Her love of being active started as a kid playing youth sports and continued as she lived in various places around the East Coast, west and Midwest. The love of being active led her to try numerous sports including playing field hockey and lacrosse, running, rowing, cycling, rock climbing, kayaking, swimming and horseback riding. While she has run half-marathons, marathons, competed in rowing races, and triathlons, her favorite place to be is out running on the local mountain trails. |
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Dave BlanksAn audio engineer, Dave Blanks loves to talk and listen. Before beginning his role as manager of App State’s Greg Cuddy Podcast Studio in 2014, Dave spent 10 years in radio and three years in emergency communications. He also serves as the audio guy for Appalachian Media Productions in App State’s University Communications. Born in Boone, Dave grew up in Meriwether County, Georgia, where his happy childhood was filled with fishing, hunting, hiking, Hot Pockets, Pogs, alternative rock, and The Boy Scouts of America. He returned to Boone in 2000 to attend App State, where he earned his B.S. in electronic media/broadcasting in 2005. Dave is married and has two awesome sons whom he loves dearly. His other loves include movies and books of the scary / fantasy / comedy / emotional / action variety, as well as the podcast “The Flop House,” the game Magic: The Gathering, aquariums/aquascaping, tons of music and generally cracking wise. |
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Joy JamesJoy is a Professor of Recreation Management at Appalachian State University. Joy has spent most of her career and free time getting people outdoors! She has worked as a National Park Ranger in the southwest, been a sea kayak guide on Lake Superior and worked in outdoor education teaching youth about science. She enjoys camping, hiking, biking and paddling. The top 4 hikes she has completed include: 9 miles of the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska, Carrick Creek Trail in Table Rock State Park, South Carolina, Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park and Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon National Park!
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Melissa WeddellMelissa grew up in rural Indiana, spending her childhood outside exploring where she developed a deep love for the outdoors. Her favorite activities include mountain biking, hiking, trail running, paddling, horseback riding, and traveling. These experiences shaped her career trajectory to work towards protecting shared outdoor recreation spaces through her professional career as well as volunteering with local organizations to introduce others. You can find her most weekends adventuring by bike in the backcountry of Western North Carolina.
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