Center for Appalachian Studies

The Center for Appalachian Studies is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism in our research, programming, community work, scholarship and curriculum.

We recognize that our university and our region are located on the ancestral lands of the Cherokee, Catawba, Yuchi, Moneton and other Indigenous groups, and aim to support movements and organizations working towards Indigenous sovereignty.

We denounce white supremacy in our communities and in academia, and acknowledge the ways in which it privileges some, including faculty at our university, while it disadvantages others. We stand in solidarity with organizations working to dismantle white supremacy, including Black at App, Black in Boone and Black Lives Matter. We stand against discrimination against LatinX, Asian American, LGBTQIA and other marginalized groups.

We strive to carry on the work of regional activists and scholars like Myles Horton, Helen Matthews Lewis, William Turner, Wilma Dunaway, Edward Cabbell and others who have worked to combat racism, discrimination and the erasure of Indigenous, African American, and other people of color in the region.

We recognize that this is hard and important work which takes commitment and diligence. For our region to thrive, we must remain vigilant in our efforts towards diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism. We pursue transparency as we work towards these initiatives as faculty, as community members, and as Appalachians.