The American Studies Association’s committees advance the interdisciplinary scholarship and community engagement that define the association.
Committee members are formally appointed by the Executive Committee and play an integral role in ASA’s governance. They develop initiatives, advocate for members, sponsor awards, sometimes hold receptions and organize other events at the annual conference, and help implement ASA’s programs and priorities throughout the year. At the annual meeting, committees hold business meetings that are open to all members, offering a chance to learn more about ongoing work, connect with committee leadership, and explore opportunities to participate.
How to Serve on a Committee
Committee members are nominated by the current committee members and formally appointed by the Executive Committee.
Like caucuses, committees convene open business meetings at the annual meeting, and all members are encouraged to attend, learn about committee initiatives, and talk with leadership about joining.
Throughout the year, ASA also puts out calls for those interested in the possibility of joining specific caucuses and committees.
We encourage members to keep your eyes open throughout the year to express interest in committees, to reach out directly to committee leaders, and to attend committee-sponsored scholarly sessions, professional development sessions, and business meetings at the conference. These are open to all members.
Shared Guidelines for Committees
Each committee has an ex officio member from the National Council who helps to keep the Executive Committee informed of issues raised by the committee and its constituencies in the general membership.
Committees do not issue statements or resolutions or otherwise speak on behalf of the association outside of the ASA.
Currently, committees are allowed to sponsor two scholarly sessions and two professional development sessions at the annual conference. Committees are strongly encouraged to create and submit professional development sessions. Both scholarly sessions and professional development sessions must accord with the requirements for these sessions and committee chairs are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the program submission requirements each year as these may change. All committee-sponsored sessions are proposed through the regular submission process and evaluated by the Program Committee for acceptance to the conference program along with all other proposals received by the submission deadline each year.
ASA Committees
Co-Chairs: Glenn Hendler, Fordham University (2028) and Jamin Rowan, Brigham Young University (2028)
Members: Jess Goldberg, New Mexico Highlands University (2029); Peter Cajka, University of Notre Dame (2029); Heidi Ardizzone, St. Louis University (2029); Robert Caldwell, University at Buffalo (2030); Ulrich Adelt, University of Wyoming (2030); Melinda Knight, Montclair State University (2030)
The Committee on Departments, Programs and Centers has a total of ten members and keeps the Council and the association’s membership informed of the current interests, needs, and professional concerns of American Studies and related departments, programs, and centers. The committee represents the full range of institution types from community colleges to Research I institutions, from the United States and internationally. Each year at the annual conference, the committee sponsors several sessions addressing issues faced by programs, departments, and centers, such as recruiting majors, working within and beyond academic structures, administering interdisciplinary units, and others. The Committee also hosts networking and support activities for chairs and directors. In addition, the Committee undertakes projects such as surveying departments, programs, and centers to keep an updated list of where American Studies is practiced and providing resources to help in unit assessment and external review.
The Committee on Graduate Education is a standing committee of the American Studies Association. The Committee keeps the Council and the association’s membership informed of current issues affecting graduate education in American studies, Ethnic studies, and other interdisciplinary graduate-level instruction.
The Committee on Graduate Education is composed of six members holding appointments in American Studies, Ethnic Studies, or our other interdisciplinary departments or programs that offer graduate degrees, and at least half of the members of the committee shall be current or former Directors of Graduate Studies at their respective institutions.
Co-Chairs: Jasmine Mitchell (2026) & Zifeng Liu (2026)
Members: Chih-ming (Andy) Wang, Academia Sinica (2026); Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello, Salem State University (2027); Jesse Olsavsky, Duke Kunshan University (2028); Tanya Saunders, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (2028); Etsuko Taketani, University of Tsukuba (2028); Rodney Taveira, University of Sydney (2028); Hilary Emmett, University of East Anglia (2029)
The International Committee keeps the Executive Committee and National Council informed about issues affecting international scholars and students in the profession, helps to bring international scholars to the ASA and the annual conference, and helps ASA build relationships and collaborative partnerships with international ASAs and scholars working in American Studies and adjacent fields.
The International Committee is composed of ten members of the association, one of whom is the international representative to the National Council. The nine non-Council members are appointed by the Executive Committee. An effort is made to seek representation from a wide range of international geographies, including the Global South. Each of these nine members serves three-year, non-renewable, staggered terms. The chair of the International Committee is named from the committee’s membership and appointed by the Executive Committee.
Co-Chairs: Bayley Marquez, University of Maryland (2028) and Sasha Panaram, Fordham University (2028)
Members: Marina Magloire, Emory University (2029), Michael Turcios, Northwestern University (2029), Anna Almore, University of Michigan (2029)
The Race, Indigeneity, and Scholar Support Committee awards the annual Richard Yarborough Mentoring Award and hosts a reception at the annual conference. The Committee is composed of six association members named appointed by the Executive Committee. Members serve staggered terms. The chair of the Committee is be named from the committee’s membership.
Chair: Hannah Haynes, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (New England ASA, 2028)
Members: Ulrich Adelt, University of Wyoming (Rocky Mountain ASA, 2026), Brett Mizelle, CSU Long Beach (California ASA, 2027), Tom Sarmiento, University of Kansas (Mid-America ASA, 2027), Kel Karpinski, CUNY NYC College of Technology (NY/Eastern, 2028), Erich Nunn, Auburn University (Southeast ASA, 2028)
The Committee on Regional Chapters provides mutual support and advice for regional chapter leaders; acts as a liaison between the association and the regional chapters; identifies ways that ASA might support/advance the work of the chapters; and fosters collaboration on initiatives and action with the ASA. The Committee on Regional Chapters is composed of one member from each of the active regional chapters, appointed by the Executive Committee. These members serve three-year, non-renewable staggered terms. They must be members in good standing of their respective chapters, as well as of the ASA. The chair of the Committee on Regional Chapters is selected from the committee’s membership and appointed by the Executive Committee.
Co-Chairs: Amanda Tovar, University of Texas at Austin (2027) and Dalena Ngo, Yale University (2028)
The Students’ Committee keeps the Executive Committee and National Council informed about the needs of student members of the ASA, identifies ways that the ASA might support students, and facilitates community and connection among student members.
The Students’ Committee sponsors conference sessions and events related to professional development and organizes social events to encourage connections amongst student members and among students and more senior members of the association.
Co-Chairs: Patricia Ventura, Spelman College (2026) and Anna Mae Duane, University of Connecticut (2026)
The JAAS-ASA Committee advances and coordinates scholarly exchange between the Japanese Association for American Studies (JAAS) and the ASA.