Board

The Commission is composed of eleven (13) members and one (1) ex officio member.  Three (3) members from the City of Hickory not including ETJ residents, on an at-large basis, appointed by Hickory City Council; three (3) members of faculty and/or staff and students shall be appointed by the President of Lenoir-Rhyne University (LRU), or his/her designee, two (2) members shall be faculty and/or staff and one (1) member shall be a student; three (3) members of faculty and/or staff and students shall be appointed by the President of Appalachian State University (ASU), or his/her designee, two (2) members shall be faculty and/or staff and one (1) member shall be a student; three (3) members of faculty and/or staff and students shall be appointed by the President of Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC), or his/her designee, two (2) members shall be faculty and/or staff and one (1) member shall be a student; the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Director or his/her designee shall serve as a voting member; the Hickory Downtown Development Association’s Director shall serve as a nonvoting ex-officio member.  Members are eligible to serve two (2) year terms except that student members are eligible to serve only one (1) year terms.  The Hickory Downtown Development Association’s Director and Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Director or his/her designee are eligible to serve an unlimited number of two (2) year terms. 

This board meets on the 2nd Wednesday of odd numbered months from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at various locations.  Check the meetings and events calendar for specific details.

RESOLUTION NO. 23-27 - Amendment of the Resolution of the Hickory City Council creating the University City Commission 

Members

City appointments:

(1) At-Large Citizen not including ETJ    Dr. Taylor Newton (term expires June ’26), FY '25 -'26 Chair
(1) At-Large Citizen not including ETJ    Quoc Thinh Vo Truong (term expires June ’27)
(1) At-Large Citizen not including ETJ    Leah Botts (term expires June ’27) 

Catawba Valley Community College:

(1) Faculty and or staff CVCC     Dr. Felicia Simmons (term expires June ‘26)
(1) Faculty and or staff CVCC     Dr. Johnny Scott (term expires June ’27)
(1) Student LRU       (term expires June ‘26)

APPState Hickory:

(1) Faculty and or staff AppState Hickory     Michael McNally (term expires June ’26)
(1) Faculty and or staff AppState Hickory     Cathy Bell (term expires June ’26)
(1) Student CVCC    Austyn Reed (term expires June ’26)

Lenoir-Rhyne University:

(1) Faculty and or staff LRU       Dr. Harry Titus (term expires June ‘27), FY '25 -'26 Vice-Chair
(1) Faculty and or staff LRU       Katie Wohlman (term expires June ’26)
(1) Student LRU         (term expires June ’26)

Additional Representatives:
                                                
(1) Chamber of Commerce     Partner Recruitment & Sponsorship Manager Nathan Cooley
(1) Hickory Downtown Development Director (non-voting ex-officio)  Amy Fauquet

If you are interested in applying for this commission, please submit a Boards and Commissions Application.
For more information, please contact the UCC Staff Liaison Dana Kaminske (Communications and Marketing Manager) at 828-261-2289.