08/18/2026
đ« Alumna Spotlight
Holly Trotter Appleton, our Director of Communications, has worked at the college for over 24 years and earned national awards for her writing and marketing campaigns, but her Cleveland State story began as an undecided 18-year-old student.
After graduating from McMinn County High School, Appleton didnât know what she wanted to major in, but she knew Cleveland State would be a good place to start.
âCleveland State gave me the opportunity to explore my options without having to have my entire future figured out at 18,â Appleton said. âI liked the idea of being able to write, work with people, and be creative, and I eventually found that communications was a great fit.â
Appleton began working at the college as a student. She was required to work six hours a week in the Student Relations Office for her academic service scholarship. She led campus tours, made student IDs, and helped with the activities and events on campus.
After two years, Appleton transferred to Tennessee Tech University where she earned a bachelorâs degree and masterâs degree in communications.
After graduating, she worked in the recruiting office at TTU for two years when a position opened at Cleveland State.
âCleveland State was not only close to home- it felt like home,â Appleton said. âI loved my time at Tennessee Tech, but coming back to the place where I started my educational journey just felt right. When the opportunity came to return, it was an easy decision. There was something special about coming back to the college that had given me my start.â
Appleton began her career at Cleveland State in 2002 as the Public Information / Recruitment Officer. Over the years, she has served the college in several roles including Enrollment Management Coordinator, Public Relations Coordinator, Community Relations Specialist, and Communications Project Manager. In 2021, she was promoted to Director of Communications.
âBeing an alumna gives me a perspective that I think is valuable in my role,â Appleton said. âI remember what it felt like to be a student here, and I know firsthand that Cleveland State can be the place where you begin to figure out what comes next. Working in the Marketing and Communications Department, Iâm not just promoting a college; Iâm promoting a place that has had a tremendous impact on my own life and my family. I want people to understand what makes Cleveland State special because Iâve experienced it myself.â
Appletonâs father was part of the first college class in 1967. Her husband, Todd, and her son are graduates, and both of her daughters are enrolled now. One will graduate soon, and the other is taking dual enrollment classes. The family has commemorative bricks in the plaza by the Adkisson Administration Building.
âSo much of my life is connected to Cleveland State,â Appleton said. âWhen I walk across campus, I literally see my familyâs history here. But beyond that, itâs also the people. Iâve had incredible mentors throughout my career- Susan Webb-Curtis, Jim Cigliano, Sherry Miller, Michael Stokes, and Tony Bartolo are just a few of the people who have shaped me and influenced the person I am professionally. And then there are the friendships. Some of my best friends are my CSCC people. Some have moved on to other places, but we still keep in touch. Those relationships are one of the things that make Cleveland State feel like home.â
Over the years, Appleton has chaired college committees, been advisor to student ambassadors and taught business writing as an adjunct faculty member. In 2025, she was the recipient of the Distinguished Staff Award, an honor recognizing her dedication, leadership, and contributions to the college.
For todayâs students, she offers advice from her journey- donât feel pressured to have everything figured out. âI came to Cleveland State not knowing what I wanted to major in, and I certainly couldnât have imagined where that decision would eventually take me,â she said. âGive yourself permission to explore, try different things, and change your mind. I changed my major six times, and thatâs okay!â
She continued, âIâm proud of the career Iâve been able to build here and the opportunity Iâve had to grow alongside the college. Iâm proud of the work weâve done to tell Cleveland Stateâs story and showcase the incredible things our students, faculty, and staff are doing.â
