Ben Bolling is a writer and communications coordinator for Appalachian Voices. He grew up in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where he developed a lifelong love for the Appalachian region and its communities. He earned his B.A. in English and drama at the University of Virginia and an M.A. and Ph.D. in English literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Recognized for his accomplishments in research, graphic design and community education, Ben’s writing on environmental justice is the heart of his work. He lives in North Carolina where he tends bees, writes fiction and raises beagles with his husband.