The University of Kentucky Appalachian Center and Appalachian Studies Program invite all undergraduate and graduate students from and/or interested in the Appalachian region of Kentucky to a “Gathering on the Porch” this week on campus.

Drop in and “sit a spell” to meet others and learn more about Appalachian studies and research opportunities and activities available through the Appalachian Center.

The outdoor event will take place rain or shine, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 624 Maxwelton Court. Yard games and refreshments will be provided. Students should bring a mask (in case some conversations need to be moved indoors).

Among those invited are students from the Appalachian Studies minor and certificate programs, interns from the AppalachiaCorps program, Robinson Scholars, members of the Graduate Appalachian Research Community and all students from the Appalachian region.

Students can also meet the new director of the Appalachian Center, Kathryn Engle, Ph.D., who has been associate director of the center and the Appalachian Studies Program since 2018 and became director of the center in July 2021. Joining her on the leadership team is Ann Kingsolver, Ph.D., who has just been named the new director of the Appalachian Studies Program (Kingsolver directed both the Appalachian Center and Appalachian Studies Program 2011-2015).

The event will offer students opportunities to meet other students and learn about exciting opportunities available through the Appalachian Center and Appalachian Studies Program, which serve students, staff and faculty in every college across the university and community partners across the 54 Appalachian counties of Kentucky.

For more information, visit https://appalachiancenter.as.uky.edu/gathering-porch.

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