We’re excited to welcome three new staff members to the Appalachian Voices team. Over the past several weeks, Amy Adams, Kara Dodson and Ann League have joined our staff, each one bringing her own unique experience, professionalism, talent and passion to our mission. The influx of their combined energy and enthusiasm has already brought a tremendous boost to the organization, with much more to come!
Amy Adams — North Carolina Campaign Coordinator
Raised on the Pamlico River in Washington, N.C., Amy has spent her career in public service for environmental protection. She earned a B.S. in biology and M.A. in environmental science education at East Carolina University, and spent three summers researching sharks in the Bahamas.
She served as an outreach specialist for the Center of Applied Aquatic Ecology before joining the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 2004. Over the next decade, Amy rose steadily in the ranks to become the regional office supervisor for DENR’s Washington region encompassing the coastal plains of North Carolina.
She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Tony and their two children, hiking, boating, camping and playing music together. Amy brings a wealth of expertise in clean water protection to the helm of Appalachian Voices’ North Carolina program.
Contact Amy at:
828-262-1500
amy [at] appvoices.org
Kara Dodson — Field Coordinator
Kara grew up in Lynchburg, Va., in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains. Following her love for cool mountain streams and a passion to help folks better their community, she attended Virginia Tech and earned her B.S. in Environmental Resource Management and Forestry. She also became a self-trained community organizer committed to protecting mountain landscapes and cultures.
During her time in Blacksburg, she joined students and town citizens on a variety of community-led campaigns ranging from shutting down the campus coal plant to preserving an old-growth forest known as Stadium Woods.
For three summers, Kara interned with the Appalachian Water Watch team at Appalachian Voices. As our Field Coordinator, Kara collaborates with volunteers and recruits new members to further our work in the Appalachian region.
Contact Kara at:
828-262-1500
kara [at] appvoices.org
Ann League — Tennessee Campaign Coordinator
Ann became involved in the campaign to end mountaintop removal coal mining when a 2,200-acre mine was permitted on Zeb Mountain near her home in Campbell County, Tenn.
The event spurred her into action, and she worked for several years with Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment as a community organizer and also served a term as vice-president of the board of directors.
Prior to joining Appalachian Voices, she worked as an independent contractor for the Tennessee Clean Water Network on the environmental risks posed by hydraulic fracturing. As the point person for our Tennessee campaign, she focuses on ending mountaintop removal and promoting clean energy in the state.
Originally from South Carolina, Ann moved to Tennessee when she was 17 and fell in love with the hills, hollers and people of the Volunteer State. she lives in Knoxville with her partner, Jeff, a pack of rescued dogs and two nervous cats.
Contact Ann at:
865-617-2451
ann [at] appvoices.org
Cat McCueAlthough not native to the region, Cat feels deeply connected to the mountains, rivers, backroads and small towns of Appalachia she has come to know over the years. She is Appalachian Voices' Senior Communications and Public Engagement Strategist.
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Looks like three great new folks, I have the pleasure of knowing Ann and Kara and Im sure Amy will be great – thanks yall for the work you are doing, we in KY are really upset about the selenium issue but our Gov Steve Beshear really is in the pocket of bg coal. He will be speaking in Pikeville on Dec 9 at a big summmit called Shaping Our Appalchian Region (SOAR) which would be a good time to talk to him about ths