Letter objecting to recent dismissal of Iranian university professors
Letter to Iranian authorities objecting to the recent dismissals of Iranian university professors.
Mission Statement
The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) is a non-profit association that fosters the study of the Middle East, promotes high standards of scholarship and teaching, and encourages public understanding of the region and its peoples through programs, publications and services that enhance education, further intellectual exchange, recognize professional distinction, and defend academic freedom in accordance with its status as a 501(c)(3) scientific, educational, literary, and charitable organization.
Annual Meeting
The Middle East Studies Association’s 56th annual meeting will be held in Denver, Colorado from December 1-4, 2022 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.
To register or for further information on registration, please see here.
Advocacy
The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) advocates on behalf of its members on issues that are central to its mission.
This includes statements and letters from MESA's Board of Directors, MESA's Committee on Academic Freedom, the Task Force on Civil and Human Rights, and the MESA Global Academy.
Become a Member
Be a part of a community of scholars who are passionate about the pursuit of academic knowledge on the MENA region. Help MESA defend academic freedoms. Share your research at the annual meeting. Access the best, cutting-edge scholarship in person at the conference or online in our journals.
Join or renew today!
Member Announcements
Referendum and 2022 Nominating Committee Election
At the 2021 Members Meeting, a BDS resolution was advanced to be put to a referendum vote by the full membership in early 2022. All 2022 individual voting-eligible MESA Members (fellows and students) are asked to cast their votes on the proposed resolution, and in the 2022 Nominating Committee Election. Please see your email for details on how to cast your ballot by noon EST March 22, 2022. If you did not receive an email about the vote, this means that your membership is not current and must be renewed. Check your membership status and renew by logging into myMESA.
2021 Award Recipients Announced
MESA awarded 20 individuals for excellence in scholarship, mentoring, and service, and to faculty, students, and alumni of Boğaziçi University for defending academic freedom.
MESA Strategic Plan
MESA has adopted a strategic plan for 2021-2025. To view the plan or for more information, please see here.
Recent Issues of IJMES and RoMES available
To access, select the Publications tab in your myMESA account then click the publication image. 
Security Alerts for Researchers and Students
There are two active security alerts issued by MESA’s Board of Directors for those embarking on research in Egypt and UAE.
Who is Afraid of Democracy? New Wave of Transformations in the Middle East and North Africa
Middle East Studies Program University of Wisconsin
The Middle East Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin invites participants to attend hybrid conference on the New Wave of Transformations in the Middle East and North Africa. The conference is scheduled for March 25-26, 2022.
AMEA Bi-annual Book Award 2022
The Association for Middle East Anthropology
The Association for Middle East Anthropology announces bi-annual book award. All submissions must be received by May 15th, 2022.
Apply to the Summer Language Institute at UMD!
University of Maryland Summer Language Institute in Arabic & Persian
The Summer Language Institute in Arabic and Persian at the University of Maryland is now accepting applications for 9-week intensive language-learning program.
Letter protesting the reimprisonment of Prof. Fariba Adelkhah
Letter to Iranian authorities protesting the reimprisonment of Prof. Fariba Adelkhah.
Assistant Director for Research
Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis University
The Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis University seeks Assistant Director for Research. The application deadline is April 1.
Anwar Al Attar: Syrian Romance and Nature Poet
The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University invites participants to attend virtual event on Anwar Al Attar, a Syrian romance and nature poet. The event is scheduled for March 31, 2022 at 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM EST.
APTLI (Summer Intensive Language Institute)
University of Wisconsin, Madison
The University of Wisconsin - Madison announces the Arabic, Persian, and Turkish Language Institute (APTLI), an intensive, eight-week summer language program. The priority application deadline is April 1, 2022.
Statement on Discriminatory Treatment meted out to Africans, including Scholars and Students, fleeing the war in Ukraine
MESA has endorsed a statement from the African Studies Association condemning the discriminatory treatment of Africans fleeing Ukraine as a violation of international law. MESA joins the ASA and others in calling on Ukrainian and authorities in neighboring countries to treat all those fleeing the conflict equally, with dignity, and without discrimination based on race or status.
Call for Proposals: The Global Qur’an
The Global Qur’an
The Global Qur’an announces call for proposals on the translation and interpretation of the Qur’an or on the social, cultural, pedagogical, aesthetic, and devotional place of the Qur’an in Muslim societies worldwide.
Call for Papers: Reckoning with God: Divine-Human Relations after the Arab Spring
Orient-Institut Beirut
The Orient-Institut Beirut announces call for papers for workshop on Divine-Human Relations after the Arab Spring. The proposal deadline is March 20th, 2022.
Queer Trans/Nationalisms | Love & Rage in Times of Atrocity: Zeyn Joukhadar and Randa Jarrar in conversation with Mejdulene B. Shomali
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame invites participants to attend virtual event on Queer Trans/Nationalisms, with Zeyn Joukhadar and Randa Jarrar, moderated by Mejdulene B. Shomali. The event is scheduled for Friday, March 25, 2022 at 12pm EST.
Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Iranian Studies
University of Oklahoma, Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies
The University of Oklahoma’s Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies seeks two-year Farzaneh Family Post-Doctoral Fellow in Iranian Studies. The application deadline is April 10.
Part-Time Position in Arabic
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The Department of Languages and Culture Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte seeks Part-time Lecturer in Arabic beginning August 2022. Screening of applications will begin March 15, 2022.
Persian Language Lecturer
University of California Los Angeles
The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at UCLA seeks Lecturer in Persian language.
Response by Ana Mari Cauce to February 28 Letter
The University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce responds to February 28, 2022 CAF letter regarding the treatment of Professor Liora Halperin.
Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor of Arabic
University of Notre Dame
The Program in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies in the Department of Classics at the University of Notre Dame seeks Teaching Professor in Arabic to begin August 23, 2022. Application review will begin March 20, 2022.
Letter to the President of the University of Washington
Letter to the President of the University of Washington protesting the treatment of Professor Liora Halperin.
Response by Israeli Ministry of Justice to February 8 Letter
The Israeli Ministry of Justice Public Inquiries Unit responds to February 8, 2022 CAF letter regarding Mr. Ismail Barghouthi and Mr. Mohammed Khatib.
New Doctoral Studies Program at Doha Institute
Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
The Doha Institute for Graduate Studies (DI) in Doha, Qatar announces launch of doctoral studies program for fall 2022.
Director for the Palestine Land Studies Center
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut (AUB) seeks Director of the Palestinian Land Studies Center. The application deadline is April 4, 2022.
Statement on Bomb Threats against HBCUs
MESA joins 37 other associations in endorsing a statement by the American Historical Association historicizing and condemning the numerous bomb threats, received by at least 17 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in early 2022, as crimes against Black institutions of higher education and as threats to the Black community.
Call for Papers: Islamic Seas and Shores - Connecting the Medieval Maritime World
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago announces call for papers on Islamic Seas and Shores - Connecting the Medieval Maritime World. The abstract submission deadline is March 15, 2022.
Norma Jean Calderwood Associate Curator of Islamic and Later Indian Art
Harvard Art Museums
The Harvard Art Museums seek an emerging or established curator of Islamic and/or South Asian art.
Arabic Lecturer
Binghamton University
The Department of Middle Eastern and Ancient Mediterranean Studies at Binghamton University (SUNY) seeks Lecturer in Arabic. Application review will begin April 1, 2022.
PERMES is a database of programs in Middle East studies, experts on the region, and other valuable resources.