Abby Hassler
Communications Associate
Abby is a digital storyteller who grew up in East Tennessee and joined the communications team in December 2024. Before coming to Appalachian Voices, she spent ten years in strategic communications, academia and journalism. Recent roles include the Director of Creative Strategy of a strategic communications firm focused on clean energy, clean tech and economic development, and Executive Producer of a podcast about clean energy news in Tennessee.
Abby earned a master’s degree in rhetoric, writing and linguistics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where her research focused on identity, power and motivation of adult language learners in a mid-sized southern city. She also holds two bachelor’s degrees in journalism and TESOL.
When she’s not working, Abby enjoys hiking, kayaking, reading, cooking, writing, taking photos, teaching English at Centro Hispano de East TN, and spending time with her husband, cat and dog.