News and Spotlights from the Center for Appalachian Studies

“After Coal” profiles inspiring individuals who are building a new future in the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and South Wales. This hour long documentary invites viewers to the front lines of the transition away from fossil fuels. The stories of …

In Spring 2021, the Center for Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University hosted the Cornbread & Tortillas Virtual Residency, a weeklong celebration of art, music, dance, and storytelling that brought Appalachian and Latino traditions together in dialogue and performance. Cornbread …

Edited by Jessica Stump BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University is bringing a cultural blend of Appalachian and Latino music, dance and theater to campus and the local community through a three-day, virtual Cornbread and Tortillas residency, April 20–22.

By Ellen Gwin Burnette BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Conrad E. “Ozzie” Ostwalt has been named interim director of Appalachian State University’s Center for Appalachian Studies and the Appalachian studies academic program, both housed in the College of Arts and Sciences …

By Anna Muckenfuss The latest Appalachian Journal features reviews and articles that focus on opioids in Appalachia, along with poetry by two recent Poet Laureates—George Ella Lyon of Kentucky and Joseph Bathanti of N.C., and poems by Phillip Howerton, R.T. …

Edited by Jessica Stump BOONE, N.C. — Living folk traditions practiced by the people of diverse cultures in Western North Carolina will be preserved for generations to come thanks to the documentary work of Appalachian State University graduate student Chelsey …

The new edition of Appalachian Journal, vol. 46. 1-2, features articles on foodways in Appalachia, the literature of Ron Rash, LGBTQ topics and a lively discussion of a new book on the field of Appalachian Studies, along with other book …

In March 2019, Appalachian State University’s Center for Appalachian Studies hosted the International Mountain Studies Symposium, bringing together scholars, students, and community members for two days of exploration and exchange on the past, present, and future of mountain regions worldwide. …

At the International Mountain Studies Symposium on March 12, 2019, Appalachian State University welcomed Dr. Alton C. Byers, Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), to share new insights on the impacts of climate change …

In spring 2018, Appalachian State University hosted a semester-long exploration of Black Mountain College (BMC), the experimental school that operated from 1933 to 1957 in North Carolina’s Swannanoa Valley. Known for its pioneering role in progressive, interdisciplinary education, BMC’s influence …

By Linda Coutant As dean, Dr. Neva Specht leads the College of Arts and Sciences’ approximately 5,850 students and 16 academic departments that span the humanities, social sciences, and the mathematical and natural sciences. The college also includes two stand-alone academic …

By Elizabeth Wall Laura Brookshire ’16 worked on farms and with local farmers, built community outreach programs and fostered good nutritional practices in a county school system during several intern experiences. Laura Brookshire ’16 credits internships and work with AmeriCorps …