Appalachian Studies Faculty
Dr. Michael E. Joslin (1989)
Professor of English
B.A., Ph.D., University of South Carolina at Columbia
joslin@lmc.edu
Web Page
Michael Joslin joined the Lees-McRae College faculty in 1989. He has also taught at the University of South Carolina, Jacksonville University, and East Tennessee State University. He received his Ph.D. in English from the University of South Carolina in 1977, after attending the United States Military Academy at West Point and receiving his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina. He served in the Army, receiving the Army Commendation Medal. Dr. Joslin teaches in the Communications Arts Program, the Art and Design Program, the English Program, and the Appalachian Studies Program. He is program coordinator of the English major and serves as the director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia.
Dr. Joslin has published five books on Appalachia: Mountain People, Places and Ways; More Mountain People, Places, and Ways; Appalachian Bounty; Our Living Heritage, and Highland Handcrafters. The Overmountain Press will publish his latest book, Mountain Spring in fall 2011. He has published over a thousand articles with his essays and photographs in newspapers and magazines, and has exhibited his photographs numerous times. A member of the Appalachian Studies Association, he researches and writes about literature and Appalachian life and history. He photographs nature and Appalachian people, place, and ways. Living with his wife, Pam, in Buladean, North Carolina, Dr. Joslin works his draft horses, hikes the woods, gardens, and enjoys mountain life.
Dr. Allen Speer (1977)
Distinguished Professor of Humanities
B.S., M.A., Appalachian State University
Ed. D., University of North Carolina at Greensboro
A.P. Speer, Distinguished Professor of Humanities, has taught at Lees-McRae College for thirty-four years. During that time he co-sponsored the honor society, received awards for teaching four times, edited a twelve volume collection of writings on Appalachian history, literature, and culture, wrote a three part history of a western N.C. family, which has won a total of eight awards, and performed in professional summer stock productions. His readers theatre presentations with his wife Janet have received regional and national acclaim. Dr. Speer lives in Banner Elk with his wife Janet Barton Speer and his dog Freckles. The Speers—Freckles too---love to watch independent films, travel, and visit quirky art house venues.
Dr. Stewart Skeate (1985)
Professor of Biological Sciences
B.S., Rutgers University
M.A., California State University
Ph.D., University of Florida at Gainesville
Ms. Kathy Olson (2008)
Instructor of Rhetoric
B.S., University of Tennessee at Knoxville
M.A., East Tennessee State University
olsonk@lmc.edu