As she prepares to graduate in August after walking in May, Ava Thompson, a Sustainable Development major with a concentration in Community, Regional, and Global Development, leaves behind a legacy rooted in stewardship, leadership, and deep community care. Over the past four years, Ava has become one of the most influential student organizers in the department — someone whose presence in the garden, the classroom, and the broader High Country community has shaped countless experiences for others.
Ava serves as the Student Garden Manager for the Sustainable Development Civic Garden at the Living Learning Academic Complex, a role she has held for two years under the mentorship of Dr. Anne Fanatico. Her work in the garden is both technical and relational: she starts seeds, transplants, builds compost, conducts annual crop planning and soil testing, and harvests produce for donation. She has led initiatives to mulch and prune fruit trees, design habitats for beneficial wildlife, and create welcoming spaces where students can gather, learn, and feel at home. Her faculty describe her as a remarkably skilled grower — someone equally comfortable managing irrigation systems as she is teaching others how to care for perennial plants.
Ava Thompson at the Sustainable Development Civic Garden
But Ava's impact extends far beyond the garden beds. As President of the ASU Gardening Club, she has organized weekly workdays, hosted workshops on topics ranging from herbal tinctures to birdhouse gourds, and coordinated field trips to greenhouses, farms, and community gardens across the region. She has built bridges across campus, collaborating with the Farm Club, Greenhouse Club, ASUREI (Renew), the Honors College, and even welcoming local school groups into the garden for hands‑on learning. Her ability to gather people, create community, and make sustainable practices accessible has left a lasting imprint on the department.
Ava's academic path reflects her interdisciplinary curiosity. In addition to her major, she is completing minors in Community and Regional Planning and French, and will travel internationally this summer to fulfill her final credits. She also participated in a research mentorship through the STEPS program with Dr. Cody Miller, an experience she describes as deeply meaningful and foundational to her growth.
Reflecting on her time at App State, Ava shares that the Sustainable Development Department has given her "such important insight" and a way of seeing the world that she will carry into her career. She credits every faculty member she learned from, noting that each contributed to her education in invaluable ways. She is especially grateful to Dr. Fanatico for opening doors through the SD Garden and to Dr. Miller for his mentorship, kindness, and support.
After graduation and her study‑abroad experience, Ava plans to pursue work in sustainable planning, land use, and land management — fields where her hands‑on skills, community‑building experience, and interdisciplinary training will serve her well. She leaves App State with a strong foundation, a clear sense of purpose, and a community that has been enriched by her leadership.
Ava has welcomed countless students into the garden, helping them find belonging, confidence, and connection. As she moves into the next chapter, her influence will continue to grow — much like the spaces she has so lovingly tended.
About the Goodnight Family Department of Sustainable Development
One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Goodnight Family Department of Sustainable Development at Appalachian State University prepares students to thoughtfully analyze human development while focusing on the applied practice of pursuing transformative, community-driven development with concentrations in agroecology and sustainable agriculture; community, regional and global development; and environmental studies; a Bachelor of Arts in sustainable development with a concentration in environmental studies; and a minor in sustainable development.
About the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University's College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance.
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
Ava Thompson
Ava Thompson