The Middle East Section (MES) of the American Anthropological Association convenes anthropologists with an interest in the peoples, cultures and histories of the Middle East. Our membership is noteworthy for its disciplinary diversity: socio-cultural anthropologists, linguistic anthropologists, physical anthropologists and archaeologists, as well as practicing anthropologists from these subdisciplines, all participate actively in the section, and our membership thrives on the participation of members from the United States, the Middle East, and from other parts of the world. The activities of the MES, while ongoing, peak at the annual conference of the American Anthropological Association, where the MES sponsors sessions and panels proposed by its membership. The MES also awards an annual student paper prize.

The membership of the MES and anthropology as a whole are uniquely poised to contribute to establishing and promoting public understanding and policy frameworks that accommodate the historical experience and sociocultural diversity of the peoples of the Middle East.

The MES is led by an elected Board of Directors (listed below) who work and serve within the parameters described in the Middle East Section bylaws.

Board of Directors

Dr. William Beeman
University of Minnesota
wbeeman@umn.edu
President (2007-2008)

Dr. Gregory Starrett, President-Elect
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
gsstarre@uncc.edu
President-Elect (2007-2008)

Dr. Jenny White
Boston University
jbwhite@bu.edu
Past President (2004-2006)

Dr. Daniel Varisco
Hofstra University
Daneil.m.varisco@hofstra.edu
Past President (2002-2004)
Editor CyberOrien

Dr. Laurie King-Irani
Catholic University
zinjabeel@mac.com
Secretary

Dr. W. Flagg Miller
University of California at Davis
fmiller@ucdavis.edu
Treasurer

Dr. Anne Meneley
Trent University (Ontario)
ameneley@trentu.edu
Board Member 2007-2010
Awards Chair, 2007-2008

Dr. Jessica Winegar
Temple University
winegar@temple.edu
Board Member (2005-2008)
Program Chair 2007-2008

Dr. Frances Trix
Indiana University
ftrix@indiana.edu
Board Member (2006-2009)

Dr. Lynn Swartz Dodd
University of Southern California
swartz@usc.edu
Board Member, Archaeology Seat (2006-2009)
Nominations Chair, 2007-2008

Dr. Emilio Spadola
Colgate University
espadola@colgate.edu
Student Representative to the Board (2007-2008)
Editor, Anthropology Newsletter Column