ALC Professor Selected for Appalachian College Association Faculty Fellowship

Mrs. Natalie Holt, assistant professor of English and Theatre at Alice Lloyd College, has been awarded a $10,000 faculty fellowship from the Appalachian College Association. Holt is one of only three pre-doctoral scholars selected for the competitive award, which supports graduate research and doctoral degree completion among faculty at member institutions.

The fellowship will support Holt’s doctoral research in Composition and Applied Linguistics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. Her project focuses on developing a digital corpus from the Appalachian Oral History Project, a collaborative initiative created by a consortium of colleges and universities to preserve the history and language of Appalachia.

A digital corpus is a curated, machine-readable collection of text, audio, images, or other data designed for computational analysis in disciplines such as linguistics and digital humanities. By transforming the Appalachian Oral History Project into a searchable and analyzable resource, Holt’s work will expand access to primary source materials while preserving the linguistic and cultural heritage of the region.

At Alice Lloyd College, Holt teaches courses in English and Theatre and mentors students in research, writing, and performance. Her selection for the Appalachian College Association fellowship reflects the College’s continued commitment to faculty scholarship and to advancing research that directly impacts Appalachia.

“We are so proud of Natalie and this well-deserved recognition,” said Provost Charles Marshall. “Her work with the Appalachian Oral History Project will help ensure these stories live on for future generations. In addition to her research, she is an amazing faculty member, bringing energy and dedication to her students every day. This project will make a meaningful difference both at our institution and in the broader Appalachian community.”

Holt has also participated in several nationally competitive academic programs, including three summer seminars sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and a writing workshop sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2015, she was selected by the Kentucky branch of the English-Speaking Union for its month-long “Teaching Shakespeare Through Performance” program at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, England.

“This project offers a meaningful opportunity to preserve and better understand Appalachian language and history through innovative research,” Holt said. “I am grateful for the support of my colleagues and students at Alice Lloyd College, whose encouragement makes this work possible.”

Founded to serve Appalachia, Alice Lloyd College continues to invest in faculty that strengthens both academic inquiry and the communities it serves. Holt’s research exemplifies the College’s mission by elevating Appalachian voices and ensuring their stories remain accessible for future generations.

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