April 29, 2019
The Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) seeks a new full-time Executive Director (ED) to serve as the chief administrative officer of the Association beginning in late summer 2019. MESA is a non-profit international association open to all persons interested in the study of the region. With a membership of approximately 2500, MESA is the largest professional association in its field.
As the Association’s primary administrator and most consistent face, the Executive Director is expected to work with the Officers, the Board of Directors, and a Secretariat staff of approximately four or five toward developing and implementing a vision for MESA in a changing, 21st-century Middle East Studies environment. In addition to maintaining internal processes effectively and carrying out projects that enhance the mission of the Association, the ED should work with the President and Board in formulating and shaping the policies and priorities of the Association.
The Executive Director has ultimate responsibility for the records, general correspondence, and accounts of the Association, and oversees the maintenance of membership and subscriber lists, the election of the officers and other members of the Association’s Board of Directors, the collection of dues and subscriptions, and the arrangements for the annual conferences. In addition, the ED maintains relations with other scholarly associations as appropriate; supports the Association’s efforts in Development and Strategic Initiatives; provides support to the Committees and Working Groups of the Association and to other MESA initiatives; advises on policies, programs, and procedures; and performs such other duties as may be specified in the Constitution or Bylaws or be assigned by the Board of Directors. The ED must be familiar with the range and complexity of tasks performed by individual members of the Secretariat staff, so as effectively to supervise and coordinate these efforts.
For primary consideration, all application materials should be sent to Mark Lowder (mark@mesana.org) by 5 p.m. E.D.T. on 10 May 2019. Review of applications by the search committee of the Association will be ongoing, with interviews to be conducted in late May 2019.