Appalachian Folklorist Honored By U-Md. Regents

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The University System of Maryland Board of Regents is honoring a Frostburg State University folklorist for bringing Appalachian traditions to the public.

Associate Professor Kara Rogers Thomas is among 17 faculty members system-wide that the board is recognizing Friday in an annual awards presentation in Baltimore.

Since arriving in Frostburg in 2004, Thomas has established an annual Appalachian Festival on campus. She also helped to create a downtown storefront space dedicated to traditional music performances and traditional arts workshops.

Working with the state arts and humanities councils, she has twice hosted a traveling Smithsonian exhibit and produced a series of dinnertime talks at the Penn Alps Restaurant in Grantsville.

Thomas also edits the Appalachian Culture section of the Appalachian Independent, an online news source she helped create.

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