New River Conservancy (NRC) is pleased to announce Gayle Manchin, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, (ARC) as the Keynote Speaker for 2026 New River Symposium, April 9-11, at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. New River Symposium is a biannual event hosted by NRC that celebrates the social, economic, and scientific value of the New River, bringing together the river’s diverse constituents and providing a forum for partnership, research, and policy development. The theme for this years’ symposium is “Resilience in the watershed,” and will feature Ecological Communities, Cultural Endurance and Recreation Economy as the main tracts. Ms Manchin will open the plenary session on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Gayle Conelly Manchin was sworn in as the Appalachian Regional Commission’s thirteenth federal co-chair on May 6, 2021, becoming the first ARC Federal Co-Chair from West Virginia. Manchin works directly with ARC’s 13-member governors– one of whom is appointed annually as States’ Co-Chair– their state alternates and program managers, and a network of local development districts. Together they collaborate to strengthen economic development in Appalachia.
“Collaboration is key to ensuring a prosperous future for Appalachia,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “Through their New River Water Trail project, ARC ARISE grantee New River Conservancy is setting an example of the ways we can expand Appalachia’s tourism economy. I look forward to addressing the attendees of the New River Symposium as we continue partnering across state borders to expand the region’s outdoor recreation industry.”
Manchin believes in the power of partnerships and advocates for collaboration across Appalachia’s 13 states. As ARC Federal Co-Chair, her top priorities are to support the creation of greater economic opportunities in the Appalachian Region, increase broadband access and critical infrastructure in all Appalachian communities, and work to restore hope and purpose to lives upended by the opioid crisis, all through a cross-regional, multi-state approach. Manchin has served as West Virginia’s First Lady, West Virginia’s secretary of education and the arts, and on the West Virginia board of education.
NRC Executive Director, Andrew Downs, says, “We are honored to have Ms. Manchin as our Keynote speaker this year. Appalachia is such a dynamic region and ARC , under her leadership, has shown a deep commitment to the region’s character through the support of innovative and inspiring projects that incubate regional growth in a way that is both authentic and impactful. The New River Conservancy’s work on the New River Paddle Trail is a fantastic example of this type of commitment, which has been made possible through a partnership with ARC”
New River Symposium 2026 runs April 9 – April 11 at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. For more information, schedule and tickets for the 2024 New River Symposium, visit https://newriverconservancy.org/symposium2026/ or contact symposium@newrriverconservancy.org
