Western Washington University

02/25/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/25/2026 16:37

Associate Professor at Western’s Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies Mark Miyake elected by the American Folklore Society Executive Board as newest member

Associate Professor at Western's Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies Mark Miyake elected by the American Folklore Society Executive Board as newest member

February 25, 2026

Associate Professor at Western's Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies Mark Miyake

Associate Professor at Western's Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies Mark Miyake was elected by the American Folklore Society Executive Board to serve as a member of the board from 2026-2028.

Miyake's expertise and perspective in university and public arts and humanities, and his interdisciplinary approach and experience with humanities organizations, will help the American Folklore Society navigate current challenges in the academy and in the broader arts and humanities, particularly changes pursued by the federal government in higher education, the arts and the humanities.

"Mark Miyake's familiarity with these and other challenges, along with his strategic leadership and visioning for public arts and humanities at state and national levels, will position him to contribute wisely to ongoing board discussions about ways to support the field," said the society's Executive Director Jessica A. Turner.

Miyake leads Fairhaven's program in Audio Technology, Music and Society. As a scholar, he has conducted extensive research into discourses on race, gender, community and identity, primarily focusing on intersectional approaches to traditional Appalachian music and local punk, heavy metal and bluegrass.

Miyake has also been heavily involved in public arts and humanities work over the last several decades and currently serves as vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, the immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees of Humanities Washington, and a current and founding board member of WACultures (formerly the Center for Washington Cultural Traditions).

Miyake also serves numerous roles in a range of local and regional non-profit, higher education and government-led organizations and agencies.

"I am extraordinarily grateful for the opportunity to serve AFS during this crucial time in its history," said Miyake. "I hope to bring my experience in higher education, academic scholarship, public folklore and public humanities to collaborative conversations about the actions of AFS and the future of our field."

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