Ph.D., Early American Literature, University of Kentucky, 2002
M.A., American Literature, University of Alabama, 1993
B.A., English, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1991
Katherine E. Ledford, professor of Appalachian studies. Dr. Ledford teaches courses in Appalachian literature, mountain literature, comparative mountain studies, and higher education pedagogy. From 2009 to 2016 she served as program director of Appalachian studies, advising and mentoring both graduate and undergraduate students. Dr. Ledford co-edited Writing Appalachia: An Anthology, a comprehensive anthology of Appalachian literature published by the University Press of Kentucky in March 2020. She serves as a contributing editor for the Heath Anthology of American Literature and has published articles and reviews in ATQ, Appalachian Journal, Studies in Travel Writing, Journal of Appalachian Studies, and Mountain Research and Development, among others. Dr. Ledford co-edited Backtalk from Appalachia: Confronting Stereotypes (2000) and the media section of the Encyclopedia of Appalachia (2006). A past president of the Appalachian Studies Association (2011-2012), she is founding chair of the association’s International Connections Committee, which fosters communication between Appalachian studies scholars and mountain studies scholars around the world.
Praise for Writing Appalachia: An Anthology
"Ledford and Lloyd have found the gateway to a region of literary riches, at once beautiful and sublime, by turns abundant and despoiled, and too often misrepresented and misunderstood. Hearing the chorus of clear and powerful voices represented here will surely help lift a veil that has for so long obscured many truths about the region. At last Appalachia is revealed in its full panorama. The collective story is both triumphant and heartrending." -- Morris Grubbs, editor of Every Leaf a Mirror: A Jim Wayne Miller Reader
"[A] seminal work of outstanding literary scholarship and unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library American Literary & Criticism Studies collections in general." -- Library Bookwatch
"Every movement for change has to have a vision of where it's going and a community well-grounded in its self-definition. Literature and stories are an integral and inspirational part of that journey. Writing Appalachia is a great volume showing how one region has fought and is fighting back against being cast as 'other.'" -- Daily Yonder
Reviews of and press about Writing Appalachia: An Anthology
Appalachian Mountain Books: https://apmtbooks.com/blogs/reviews/june-2020-reviews
WV Public Broadcasting: https://www.wvpublic.org/post/celebrating-aviation-and-appalachian-literature#stream/0 & https://www.wvpublic.org/post/anthology-covers-spectrum-appalachian-literature#stream/0
Chapter 16: https://chapter16.org/28512-2/
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library's blog mention: https://jmrlblog.com/2020/08/10/then-there-was-the-shame-of-the-writer-who-doesnt-write/
The Daily Yonder: https://dailyyonder.com/review-an-anthology-of-appalachian-literature-unlaces-the-brogans-and-walks-on-new-ground/2020/08/28/
Rerun on KY Forward: https://www.kyforward.com/daily-yonder-recently-published-anthology-of-appalachian-literature-walks-on-new-ground/
Rerun on 100 Days in Appalachia: https://www.100daysinappalachia.com/2020/09/review-an-anthology-of-appalachian-literature-walks-on-new-ground/
Rerun on Hoptown Chronicle: https://hoptownchronicle.org/an-anthology-of-appalachian-literature-walks-on-new-ground/
Midwest Book Review: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/lbw/may_20.htm
KY Forward, second review: https://www.kyforward.com/constance-alexander-how-to-best-define-appalachian-writing-well-that-depends/
Inside Appalachia teaser tweet: https://twitter.com/InAppalachia/status/1311007858922844163?s=20
Southern Spaces intro excerpt (tag on on Twitter and Facebook): https://southernspaces.org/2020/writing-appalachia-excerpt/
Title: Professor
Department: Appalachian Studies
Email address: Email me
Phone: (828) 262-4087