51ºÚÁÏÍø

The Appalachian Studies Center at the University of North Georgia is the only center for Appalachian studies and research in Georgia. We were founded in 2004 by Dr. Alice Sampson, a professor of Middle Grades Education at 51ºÚÁÏÍø.

She led or participated in the Appalachian Teaching Project, the Georgia Pick & Bow Traditional Music School, the Center’s Ethno-Botany plan, and more than 20 other projects. 

After her retirement from 51ºÚÁÏÍø, Dr. Sampson continued to improve the lives of those in our communities by joining her husband, Joel Cordle, to found Georgia Downtowns, a firm that specialized in strategic planning for Main Street communities in Georgia.

Rosann Kent became the Director of the Appalachian Studies Center upon Dr. Sampson’s retirement, continuing the mission and values of the Center in much the same light. 

Kent led or participated in the Appalachian Teaching Project, started work with area teachers to promote education about Appalachia, created the food pantry to serve both 51ºÚÁÏÍø and the surrounding community, and wove her skill set of storytelling in all sorts of other projects for the ASC.

Kent retired in 2023 and continues to use her wisdom and skills to educate communities about Appalachian traditions and one of her favorites of these, planting by the signs.

Esther M. Morgan-Ellis is Assistant Director of the Appalachian Studies Center and Professor of Music History at the University of North Georgia. Dr. Morgan-Ellis became involved with Appalachian traditional music upon joining the university in 2013. She learned to play fiddle and banjo at the Pickin’ Porch Jam and later founded a biweekly Sacred Harp singing that also takes place at the Vickery House. She is deeply involved in the community, serving as President of the Georgia Pick & Bow Traditional Music School and Workshops Chair for the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival. Dr. Morgan-Ellis has taught fiddle at the Alabama Folk School and the John C. Campbell Folk School. She founded and directs the 51ºÚÁÏÍø String Band, which has performed at the String Band Summit and the International Bluegrass Music Association World of Bluegrass event. She and her students play for contra and square dances around the region.

Dr. Morgan-Ellis's research concerns participatory music-making in Appalachia and beyond. She contributed three chapters to the textbook Accessible Appalachia: An Open-Access Introduction to Appalachian Studies and has written several book chapters about teaching Appalachian music. Her favorite activity, however, is to pursue research in collaboration with 51ºÚÁÏÍø students. So far, this has resulted in the publication of four articles: “Appalachian After-School Music Programs as Cultural Intervention,” coauthored with Abigail Marvel and Andrew Malphurs; “Musicking in Lumpkin County, Georgia, 1909–1928,” coauthored with Abigail C. Cannon, Neva Garrett, and Grey Smith; “Compositions Shaped by Community: Writing Music in the Sacred Harp Tradition,” coauthored with Lily M. Hammond and Abigail C. Cannon; and “Negotiated Leadership in Sacred Harp Singing,” coauthored with Abigail C. Cannon, Lily M. Hammond, and Moriah Miller. Several of these projects developed in the Music of Appalachia course that she teaches every other Spring semester.