About MESA

Description

The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) is a private, non-profit, non-political learned society that brings together scholars, educators and those interested in the study of the region from all over the world. From its inception in 1966 with 50 founding members, MESA has increased its membership to more than 2,700 and now serves as an umbrella organization for more than sixty institutional members and thirty-nine affiliated organizations. The association is a constituent society of the American Council of Learned Societies, the National Council of Area Studies Associations, and a member of the National Humanities Alliance.

As part of its goal to advance learning, facilitate communication and promote cooperation, MESA sponsors an annual meeting that is a leading international forum for scholarship, intellectual exchange and pedagogical innovation. It is responsible for the International Journal of Middle East Studies, the premiere journal on the region, the MESA Review of Middle East Studies and a biannual newsletter. An awards program recognizes scholarly achievement, service to the profession and exemplary student mentoring. MESA is governed by an eight-member Board of Directors elected by the membership.

Mission Statement

The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) is a non-political 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.

Honorary Fellows

MESA’s Honorary Fellows are outstanding internationally recognized scholars who have made major contributions to Middle East studies. Honorary Fellows are nominated by MESA’s Board of Directors and conferred by a vote of members at the annual business meeting. MESA can have no more than 10 Honorary Fellows at any given time.

Current

Suraiya Faroqhi
Halil Inalcik
Nikki R. Keddie
Afaf Lutfi Al-Sayyid Marsot
E. Roger Owen
Abdul-Karim Rafeq
Josef van Ess
Farhat Ziadeh

 

 

 

 

 

Previous

Sir Hamilton Gibb (1970-1971)
Philip K. Hitti (1970-1978)
S.D. Goitein (1971-1985)
Aziz Atiya (1971-1991)
Claude Cahen (1981-1992)
Albert Hourani (1981-1993)
Majid Khadduri (1981-2007)
W. Montgomery Watt (1985-2006)
Charles Issawi (1988-2002)
Ann K.S. Lambton (1988-2008) Maxime Rodinson (1988-2004)
Annemarie Schimmel (1989-2003)
Jacques Berque (1994-1995)
André Raymond (1994-2011)
Muhsin S. Mahdi (1995-2007)
Edward Said (1999-2003)
Oleg Grabar (2002-2011)
Elizabeth Fernea (2003-2008)
Kamal Salibi (2007-2011)

Editors

Staff

Mark J. Lowder Assistant Director mlowder@email.arizona.edu 520 626-6290	Sara L. Palmer Membership Manager palmers@email.arizona.edu 520 626-4753
Rose Veneklasen Administrative Assistant trvene@email.arizona.edu 520-621-5850