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Second annual Eberly Roundtable to explore ‘Labor in Appalachia’

Eberly Roundtable

The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences invites the WVU community to its second annual Eberly Roundtable on “Labor in Appalachia” Sept. 29-30 at the Mountainlair or via Zoom.

This event brings together academic and public scholars, artists and intellectuals to engage on a topic central to WVU’s land-grant mission and national identity. 

The Eberly Roundtable will begin with a keynote lecture from Joe W. Trotter, the Giant Eagle professor of history and social justice at Carnegie Mellon University. A panel of featured speakers will discuss incarceration, invisible labor, the future of work, “John Henryism” and more. 

The Eberly Roundtable seeks to amplify Appalachia’s centrality, Appalachian voices and Appalachia’s importance in national discussions. It creates an environment to examine and discuss critical issues such as race, rurality, the changing nature of work, displacement, immigration, poverty and economic uncertainty from an Appalachian standpoint. 

"The roundtable models the importance of multidisciplinary dialogue,” Scott Davidson, a professor of philosophy at Eberly College and roundtable co-coordinator, said. “Panels bring experts together from different disciplines and backgrounds, allowing for unexpected conversations that allow everyone to leave having discovered something new." 

Register to attend, find information on speakers and download the event program.

The event is sponsored by WVU’s Office of the Provost, the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, WVU Research Office, School of Public Health, College of Creative Arts, Center for Resilient Communities, Humanities Center and Africana Studies Program, as well as West Virginia University Press.