Participation Type
Panel
Session Title
Appalachian-Carpathian Mountain Initiative
Session Abstract or Summary
Seeking to understand similar foodways, textiles, and landscapes outside the Appalachian border, comparative mountain studies work has connected Appalachia to Wales, China, and beyond. Recent research has proliferated in the Appalachian and Carpathian Mountains, a 1,500-kilometer range reaching across the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, and Romania. As participants in the 2017 Appalachian-Carpathian conference, Theresa Burriss, Kathryn Engle, and Kelsey Wagner will discuss their experiences in Western Ukraine and the value of regional studies in creating solutions to environmental issues. Engle will speak about her research in local food systems development and community economies as related to her work in Knox County, Kentucky. Wagner will explore connections between the Tisa and New Rivers, examining how citizen science, community organizing, and creative communication contribute to the health of our waterways. Serving as the first visiting professor under the European Union Erasmus+ Agreement between Transilvania University in Brasov, Romania, and Radford University in Radford, Virginia, Burriss provided multidisciplinary Appalachian Studies lectures to American Studies students at Transilvania University in May of 2017. Additionally, she visited the Jiu Valley coalmining region of Romania, location of the fieldtrip for the 2019 Appalachian-Carpathian Mountain Conference, for which she serves as US organizer. Burriss will share her experiences and plans for the biennial conference. Research in Ukraine and Romania continues an Appalachian legacy of cross cultural research, truly pushing ‘Appalachia Beyond Its Borders’.
Presentation #1 Title
Appalachian-Carpathian Mountain Initiative
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Kelsey Wagner will explore citizen science and creative conservation in North Carolina and Ukraine.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Kelsey Wagner is completing her M.A. in Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University while serving as a research associate for the Black Mountain College Semester project. She is currently focusing on using art and creative programming in wildlife conservation communication.
Presentation #2 Title
Appalachian-Carpathian Mountain Iniative
Presentation #2 Abstract or Summary
Theresa Burriss will discuss research in Romania, including the upcoming 2019 conference.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Theresa L. Burriss is the Chair of Appalachian Studies and Director of the Appalachian Regional & Rural Studies Center at Radford University. She lives on Gwendolyn Ridge, a 123-acre nontraditional farm and artist retreat, with her husband, Dr. James L. Werth, Jr., sons Paul and Campbell, and assorted domestic and wild animals.
Presentation #3 Title
Appalachian-Carpathian Mountain Initiative
Presentation #3 Abstract or Summary
Kathryn Engle will cover her agricultural research in Kentucky and Ukraine.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Kathryn Engle is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of Kentucky. She also teaches at Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky.
Conference Subthemes
Environmental Sustainability
Appalachian-Carpathian Mountain Initiative
Kelsey Wagner will explore citizen science and creative conservation in North Carolina and Ukraine.
