Appalachian Studies Association (ASA)

Appalachian Studies Association (ASA) The Association is run primarily by volunteers who make up the governing committees of the Association.

Fostering quality of life and appreciation for Appalachia and promoting and engaging action since 1977, the ASA is a non-profit organization located at Marshall University in Huntington, WV. The Appalachian Studies Association (ASA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1977 by a group of scholars, teachers, and regional activists who believed that shared community has been and will continue to be important to those writing, researching, and teaching about Appalachia. One of the main ways ASA fulfills its mission is through hosting an annual Appalachian Studies Conference at different locations each year. Additionally, the Appalachian Studies Association publishes a semi-annual newsletter (Appalink) which keeps members up-to-date on Conference information and other ASA events, as well as the Journal of Appalachian Studies which contains scholarly articles, book reviews, and bibliographies. Anyone wishing to contribute to the Appalachian community, acquaint themselves with Appalachia, or just to learn more about the area is welcome to join!

09/10/2026
Do you know about the Municipal Equality Index (MEI) that measures support for the LGBTQ+ community? Join a Zoom on Octo...
09/08/2026

Do you know about the Municipal Equality Index (MEI) that measures support for the LGBTQ+ community? Join a Zoom on October 7 to learn about the MEI and Morgantown’s support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Meet the conference team planning ASA’s 50th anniversary conference!https://www.appalachianstudies.org/conference-group5...
08/17/2026

Meet the conference team planning ASA’s 50th anniversary conference!
https://www.appalachianstudies.org/conference-group
50th Annual Appalachian Studies Association Conference: Where Do We Go from Here?
Bucknell University and Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
March 4-7, 2027

Guided by Starlight: Story Constellations of Q***r Women's Resistance in Southern Appalachia by Leia K. Cain in the new ...
08/17/2026

Guided by Starlight: Story Constellations of Q***r Women's Resistance in Southern Appalachia by Leia K. Cain in the new special issue of Journal of Appalachian Studies is published by the University of Illinois Press with support from Marshall University and Marshall University College of Education and Professional Development. examines how Q***r women in Appalachia navigate a unique intersection of regional, gender, and sexuality-based identities, yet their stories of resilience and resistance are often overlooked in discussions of place and identity. This study centers on q***r women who choose to remain in Appalachia for their university education rather than migrating to areas with more affirming cultural climates. Understanding why they stay—and how they resist societal pressures to leave—sheds light on the powerful ties between identity, geography, and resistance in a region often stereotyped as hostile to q***r individuals. Using a “story constellation” approach informed by critical feminist lenses, this research explores the lived experiences of nine q***r women attending universities located throughout Southern Appalachia. Participants shared stories of times they felt their identities affirmed, celebrated, and resisted on their college campuses, providing multidimensional views of how identity, place, and culture intersect for each woman. Their stories reveal how q***r women in Southern Appalachia resist traditional gender roles and navigate cultural expectations while remaining deeply connected to their regional identities. For these women, the decision to stay in Southern Appalachia is not simply a matter of geographical convenience but a deliberate act of resistance, identity formation, and community building.
All 2026 ASA members receive a digital subscription to the spring and fall issues of JAS in 2026!
If you don’t have your 2026 membership renew here:
https://www.appalachianstudies.org/membership

We are so proud to be part of Marshall University College of Education and Professional Development looking forward to a...
08/17/2026

We are so proud to be part of Marshall University College of Education and Professional Development looking forward to a new semester!

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