Chris Joyell

• Healthy Communities Director
• MountainTrue

Chris Joyell is the Healthy Communities Director for MountainTrue, a regional environmental nonprofit serving 24 counties across Western North Carolina. He also leads the Appalachian Design Center (ADC), a program he helped establish in 2007 and later merged with MountainTrue in 2017. Through ADC, Chris mobilizes volunteer architects, engineers, landscape architects, and planners to partner with communities in creating healthier, more resilient, and more equitable places to live. His work emphasizes participatory design, climate resilience, and systems-level planning that supports rural Appalachian communities in preparing for long-term recovery and growth. Trained as an attorney, Chris holds degrees from the University of Connecticut School of Law and Yale University. He brings over 20 years of experience at the intersection of law, community development, and design—bridging technical expertise with grassroots engagement to advance projects that reflect local values and strengthen regional resilience.