E&H Appalachian Studies scholar wins Fisher teaching award

EMORY, Va. — Emory & Henry University's Appalachian Studies scholar has won the 2026 Stephen L. Fisher Award for Excellence in Teaching, named for a former E&H professor widely recognized for his contributions to an understanding of the history and culture of the Appalachian region. Theresa L. Burriss received the award March 20 in Huntington, W.Va., by the Appalachian Studies Association at its annual conference. The award was created by the association in recognition of Fisher and his success in elevating the importance of Appalachian studies and scholarship. Burriss, who has taught Appalachian studies for almost 30 years, has often drawn upon her own experiences as a native Appalachian to help students from all parts of the world reflect not only on Appalachia, but on the value of their own history to the work of human advancement. "Drawing from my own experiences as an Appalachian from Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, whose accent was made fun of by some peers at my undergraduate institution, I strive to create culturally sensitive and responsive classrooms, no matter the subject matter or academic level," Burriss said. "The journey has not always been smooth, for I have stumbled at times. Yet I know in this work, there is no finish line." Over the decades, Burriss said, she has expanded the resources in her "pedagogical backpack," including humility and self-reflection, necessary characteristics for effective communication and relationship-building no matter the classroom. "And in the process, I serve as a model for my students, inviting them to acknowledge and assess their own paradigms." Burriss, director of foundation philanthropy at E&H, works to expand the institution's relationships with regional partners in ways that enhance student connection and opportunity within Appalachia. She works at the same institution where Fisher founded the Appalachian Center for Community Service in 1992. Even before coming to E&H in 2023, Burriss was strongly influenced by Fisher's scholarship and pedagogy. His mentoring played a significant role in her engagement with students, whether she was teaching classes in social and environmental justice or in community development in Appalachia. A 2021 Fulbright scholar, Burriss taught Appalachian literature with a coal focus to third-year American Studies students at Transilvania University in Brasov, Romania. She conducted ethnographic research in the Jiu Valley, Romania's coal mining region, and collected interviews with residents in the coal communities of Petrila, Petrosani, Vulcan and Lupeni. Prior to coming to Emory & Henry, she taught courses in Appalachian studies and English literature at Radford University. A published scholar, she is regularly called upon to lead discussions on topics related to Appalachia, community engagement and literature. While at RU, she served as director of Appalachian Studies and the Appalachian Regional & Rural Studies Center, coordinator of the Ed.D. in Education Program and director of academic outreach at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon. She and her husband live in Washington County, Virginia. Burriss holds a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary studies, with a dual focus on Appalachian and women's studies, which she received in 2005 from Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She holds a master of science degree in English from Radford University and a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Emory University in Atlanta. Founded in 1836, Emory & Henry is a regional comprehensive university committed to excellence in academics, service and leadership. Consistently ranked among the best Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, Emory & Henry offers a transformative education. The university fosters a close-knit, welcoming community and provides students with opportunities to grow intellectually, professionally and personally. To learn more, visit emoryhenry.edu. Rachel Fogg is director of marketing and public relations for E&H.