Audrey Gurkin

My family and I had been visiting the High Country for years before making it our full-time home in 2008—there’s truly no better place to raise a child. I currently serve as the Director of Marketing and Communications for UNC Health Appalachian, where I lead strategic communications, community relations, and brand initiatives across the region. Before joining UNC Health, I served as Director of Marketing, Communication, and Engagement at Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences, where I helped advance the college’s mission and strengthen community partnerships.

A proud two-time graduate of the UNC system, I hold a Master’s in Digital Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor’s in Communication, Advertising from Appalachian State University—forever a Mountaineer! I’m passionate about connecting people, sharing stories that matter, and helping build a stronger, healthier High Country community.