Jennie Williams directs West Virginia Folklife, a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council.

A member of the Appalachian Studies Association and the American Folklore Society, Jennie is committed to collaboration, research, and public folklife programs that platform and support traditional artists across West Virginia and Appalachia. By recognizing and celebrating traditional arts and knowledge, we can more deeply appreciate the histories, insights, and experiences of our neighbors and communities.

Jennie earned her doctorate from Indiana University (IU) in 2025. Her dissertation, “Three Folding Chairs and a Guitar: Stories of Music Participation, Aging, and Community in Southern Indiana,” centered interviews and photos from the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, she studied American Studies at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and completed her master’s degree in folklore and ethnomusicology with a concentration in public practice at IU.

In January 2022, Jennie moved to West Virginia to begin her current role at the West Virginia Humanities Council. Her experience working with folklife programs spans non-profit organizations, universities, and state and federal agencies, including such programs as Traditional Arts Indiana, Maryland Traditions, and Smithsonian Folkways. Her expertise has led her to serve on project advisory committees and grant review panels for the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, the National Endowment for the Arts, Mid Atlantic Arts, and the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History.

Jennie is a writer, musician, songwriter, and artist (fiber arts, zines, sketching and doodling). She is available to give workshops and guest lectures about West Virginia Folklife and oral history interviewing ethics and best practices.

CONTACT Dr. Jennie S. Williams at 304.346.8500 or email williams@wvhumanities.org.

FOLLOW West Virginia Folklife on Instagram and Facebook @ wvfolklife