Charles Kenneth Sullivan

Charles Kenneth Sullivan's Appalachian roots go back 200 years and he spent a career endeavoring to educate others about West Virginia’s place and importance in Appalachia and the country.

Sullivan retired as director of the West Virginia Humanities Council and before that was editor of “Goldenseal,” the quarterly magazine of West Virginia traditional culture. Sullivan was also the editor and principal creator of “The West Virginia Encyclopedia” in its print and online versions.

In addition to that work, he has edited or authored several other books, numerous articles and book reviews. Sullivan served on the editorial board and was a contributor to the 2006 “Encyclopedia of Appalachia” and currently serves on the editorial board of “West Virginia History Journal.”  He received the 2017 Vandalia Award from the state of West Virginia and the 2005 Folklife Award from Fairmont State University.

Sullivan serves on the West Virginia Faculty Merit Foundation to select the state’s Professor of the Year and is one of two West Virginians to have been an officer and board member of the National Federation of State Humanities Council.