top of page

Meet ASA's Steering Committee

TAR rainbow.jpg

Travis Rountree,
President

Dr. Travis A. Rountree is an assistant professor in the English Department at Western Carolina University. He earned his PhD from the University of Louisville, his MA in English from 

EnriquezHeadshot[5877]_edited.png

Sophia Enriquez,
Vice President

Sophia M. Enríquez (she/her/ella) works at the intersections of Latinx, Appalachian, and Southern music, migration, and regional culture. She is the Andrew W. Mellon

CAS-maggie-ashley.jpeg

Maggie Ashley,
Conference Chairperson

Maggie Ashley was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL, but has come to call Sylva, NC home for the past four years. She is a graduate of Flagler College, with degrees in English and Theatre Arts. 

image0.jpeg

Ricardo Nazario y Colón,
Past President

Dr. Ricardo Nazario-Colón is an accomplished Higher Education Administrator with over twenty years of experience in various industries, including the U.S. Military, Colleges & 

Harper_Elizabeth_2016.jpg

Liz Harper,
Program Chairperson

Liz Harper is the Special and Digital Collections Librarian and an Associate Professor at Western Carolina University. Prior to coming to WCU in 2014, she was Curator of Collections at 

thumbnail_Sylvia.763F.jpg

Sylvia Shurbutt,
Secretary

A Ph.D. graduate from the University of Georgia in Linguistics and Nineteenth-Century British Literature, Dr. Sylvia Bailey Shurbutt is today Director of the Center for Appalachian 

Eliot April 2023.jpg

Eliot Parker,
At-large

Eliot Parker teaches writing at the University of Mississippi. A native of Charleston, West Virginia, he earned his B.A. in Journalism from Marshall University, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from 

thumbnail_Aguest_Website.jpg

M. Aaron Guest,
Treasurer

Aaron Guest, Ph.D., MPH, MSW, is a socio-environmental gerontologist with training in public health and social work and an Assistant Professor within the Center for Innovation in 

IMG_0028.jpg

Garrett Blaize,
Y'ALL SC

Garrett Blaize is a 24-year-old community organizer and administrator from the Appalachian Mountains. As the staff lead for grantmaking and philanthropic partnerships

Headshot.jpg

Tiffany Arnold,
Past Program Chairperson

Dr. Tiffany Arnold is an assistant professor of instruction in the Ohio University College of Health Sciences and Professions, Department of Social and Public Health. She coordinates 

Jed_headshot_SP23.jpg

Jed DeBruin,
Archivist/Historian/Special Collections Chair

Originally from Athens County in southeastern Appalachian Ohio, Jed DeBruin (he/him) is a PhD candidate and graduate instructor in the Department of 

sikes.png

Scott Sikes,
At-large

Scott Sikes is the director of the Appalachian Center for Civic Life at Emory & Henry College where he also chairs the Interdisciplinary Program in Civic Innovation and directs the Bonner  

Mary Thomas,
Ex-Officio Executive Director

Maxwell Cloe,
Y'ALL SC

Turner Headshot.jpg

Stephen Turner,
Scholarship Chairperson

Stephen Turner is a Ph.D. candidate pursuing a Literature and Cultural Studies doctorate at the University of Memphis. He is currently wrapping up his dissertation which explores the utilization of 

Rebecca R. Scott,
Journal Editor

Carson Benn,
Membership Chairperson

Cicero Fain,
Liaison Officer

Justin Ray Dutton,
Diversity and Inclusion Chairperson

Justin-Ray is a neurodiverse Appalachian who has been involved with ASA and the Diversity & Inclusion Committee since 2016. 

Ted Olsen,
Education Chairperson

Katherine Ledford,
International Connections Committee

Ann E. Bryant,
Ex-officio Office Manager

Ann E. Bryant is office manager for Appalachian Studies Association and assistant-managing editor for the Journal of Appalachian Studies. She began her career as an intern at the West Virginia

TRM_9439-1 (1).jpg

Darryl L. Parker,
Silent Auction Co-Chair

Darryl Parker, known as Dee is a native of Kentucky. Dee believes in the concept of when you reach one, you teach one and lead by example. 

​

Amanda Laughing.png

Amanda Page,
Silent Auction Co-Chair

Amanda Page is a Columbus-based writer from southern Ohio whose journalism and essays appear in regional and national publications. She is the Founding Director of 

Nardella.jpg

Beth Nardella,
Awards Chair

Dr. Beth Nardella is an Associate Professor in the School of Medicine at West Virginia University. She has been teaching discipline-specific

Jordan Lovejoy.jpeg

Jordan Lovejoy,
Appalink Editor

Jordan Lovejoy is an American Council of Learned Societies Emerging Voices Fellow, Southern Futures Assistant Director, and Visiting Assistant Professor of American

bottom of page