Home > Governance > About Committees

About Committees

Committee Listings

As a membership organization, the Modern Language Association depends on the dedication and commitment of its members to ensure the vitality of association programs. Each year, hundreds of members serve on the association's standing and ad hoc committees.

A standing committee is established by the MLA Executive Council or by the constitution to oversee an ongoing activity of the association. This category currently includes publications committees, governance committees, prize selection committees, the MLA convention program committee, and committees that address professional or scholarly issues. Most of these committees report annually to the council and the Delegate Assembly.

Ad hoc committees (sometimes called commissions or task forces), established by the council to oversee particular projects or investigate particular areas of professional or scholarly concern, exist for limited periods of time, usually two or three years, and normally issue final reports, which may include recommendations for the council's and the Delegate Assembly's consideration. Recent examples are the Committee on Professional Employment, the Ad Hoc Committee on the Future of Scholarly Publishing, and the Ad Hoc Committee on the Professionalization of PhDs.

A list of the association's committees, their functions, their staff liaisons, and the names and terms of appointment of their members can be viewed by clicking here.

Suggesting Members for Committee Appointments

Members who would like to suggest themselves or other members for appointment to particular committees or commissions should write to Carol Zuses, coordinator of governance, with the following information: name of the member suggested, affiliation, department, rank, field(s) of specialization, a short listing of professional activities and of books and major articles published, and a brief statement of the person's qualifications. The council makes appointments each February, with terms generally beginning on 1 July. Members should consult the list of association committees to determine expected vacancies. Suggestions for appointments are brought to the council and kept on file for future reference.

Reaching MLA Committees and Committee Members

Members who wish to communicate with committee members may write to them directly at the addresses listed in the membership directory. Members may also write to a committee in care of the committee's staff liaison, whose name is listed in the roster of committees.