BOONE—A delegation from the Center for Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University traveled to Brasov, Romania, recently to present research at the Appalachians/Carpathians: Researching, Documenting, and Preserving Highland Traditions conference. Held at Transylvania University of Braşov, the conference brought together a group of international scholars to discuss sustainable development in global mountain regions.

“The conference allowed participants to share their expertise on life and culture in two very separate but similar mountain regions,” said Dr. Georgeta Moarcas, one of the conference organizers who teaches in the Faculty of Letters at Transylvania University of Braşov. “By comparing histories, literature and community development in the Appalachians and Carpathians, we hope to find common ground between our two regions as well as promote collaborative strategies for protecting and preserving highland traditions.”

The delegation from Appalachian included Dr. Katherine Ledford, Appalachian Studies program director, graduate student Anthony Sadler, who is in Ledford’s Global Appalachia class, and Tom Hansell, assistant professor in the Center for Appalachian Studies.

All three presented research at the international conference. Ledford discussed the universal nature of mountain stories; Sadler presented his work on the 1916 Asheville flood; and Hansell presented his documentary and community engagement project titled After Coal: Welsh and Appalachian Mining Communities.

“These international connections inform and inspire our work as the premier Center for Appalachian studies in the region,” Ledford said. “As we compare mountain regions, we learn more about creating a healthy future for communities in Appalachia.”

For more information, contact Katherine Ledford at [email protected] or 828-262-4087, or Tom Hansell at [email protected] or 828-262-7715.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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