Community Resilience Forum—What We’ve Learned Two Years Post-Helene
The 2026 Climate Resilience Forum will focus on the intersections of climate and public health, including mental health. Panelists will discuss the growing body of research on the varied health related impacts of climate change and climate disasters as well as what will need to occur to create more resilient and equitable health outcomes for our region. The extensive involvement of our panelists in this realm (bios below) their experiences through the aftermath of Helene make each an important voice for this forum:
- Dr. Maggie Sugg (Geography and Planning) will discuss her research in this field, she and colleagues have recently initiated the Appalachian Disaster Resilience Network, which will build on her work in climate disaster health disparities.
- Dr. Adam Hege (Public Health) will discuss his research as it relates to public health challenges and concerns in western NC. Specifically, he will talk about the work that teams from App State, Western Carolina University, UNC-Asheville, WNC Health Network, and East Tennessee State University are engaged in as a part of the Dogwood Health Trust funded Health Policy Research Consortium.
- Jennifer Tyson (Public Health) will share what’s happening in the Appalachian Public Health Innovation Lab that advances community-driven solutions to public health challenges in rural areas by fostering collaboration and resilience.
SPEAKER BIOS
Dr. Maggie Sugg is a Professor in App State’s Department of Geography and Planning with expertise in medical geography, environmental health, public health and spatial statistics. A Western North Carolina native, Maggie holds a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and is the recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award. Her research sits at the intersection of climate, health, and community resilience, focusing on how extreme weather events shape health outcomes in rural Appalachian communities. Her work provides insights into the etiology of environmental health diseases, highlighting both overburdened populations and the environmental conditions that lead to adverse health outcomes, and spans 109 peer-reviewed publications. Maggie is co-principal investigator of the NSF-funded Appalachian Disaster Resilience Network (ADRN).
Dr. Adam Hege is a Professor in App State’s Department of Public Health and serves as the Beaver College of Health Science’s Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development. Adam completed a Ph.D. in Public Health Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2015 and a Master of Public Administration degree from Appalachian State University in 2011. His research interests center on health disparities and the underlying social and environmental determinants of health. Specifically, his work has included examining disparities among rural populations in the surrounding Appalachia communities of western NC, with a focus on food insecurity, adverse childhood experiences, access to care, and other factors related to quality of life. Adam has published more than 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals and his work has been externally funded by the Center for Disease Control, AmeriCorps, Dogwood Health Trust, NC Collaboratory for Science and Policy and NC Department of Health and Human Services.
Jennifer Tyson is a Research Assistant Professor in App State’s Department of Public Health. She earned a Master’s of Public Health degree from the Universitt of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2015 and her research interests include Public Health Practice, Maternal and Child Health, Public Health Preparedness, Emergency Management and Social Epidemiology. Jennifer serves as Director and Principal Investigator for the Appalachian Public Health Innovation Lab.