Emory and Henry Appalachian Studies scholar Theresa L. Burriss was named the 2026 recipient of the Appalachian Studies Association Stephen L. Fisher Award for Excellence in Teaching. Burriss, from Southwest Virginia and Northeastern Tennessee, points to her experiences growing up in Appalachia as the inspiration behind her teaching.
As flooding continues to increase and worsen across the coalfields of Southwest Virginia, communities are modeling resilience in their response. Two examples highlighted here include Pennington Gap in Lee County and Clinchco in Dickenson County.
Spring is here, and for many Appalachians, this signals the perfect time for foraging. Tim Carmichael highlights some of the most popular and abundant plants and fungi, including morels, chicken-of-the-woods and paw-paws. Warning: Do not forage or consume foods without consulting an expert or scientific evidence to confirm your identification. An AI search is not sufficient evidence for identification.
Otterly delightful! Bays Mountain to open new otter habitat
Ground is broken on the renewed otter exhibit at Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport, Tennessee, which will be equipped to hold three river otters. The expanded facility is expected to open in 18 months.
North Carolina photographer explores the impacts of Hurricane Helene
In a BFA senior show on display at UNC-Asheville, photographer Natalie Akins highlights the effects of climate change on Appalachia through the lens of Hurricane Helene damage in Western North Carolina.
Fight continues to restore unlawfully terminated funding
In March, attorneys gave arguments in front of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Appalachian Voices et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, seeking to restore the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program that was helping revitalize Virginia coalfield communities.
Stop Congress from restricting solar access for rural Americans
Learn about the Rural Energy for America Program and the new Farm Bill that would add severe restrictions on farmers can spend REAP funds for energy saving projects like solar, and tell Congress to not restrict these funds for rural Americans and rural businesses.
