MESA Book Awards

About this program

The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) offers annual awards recognizing outstanding scholarship, mentoring, service, teaching, and graduate student research in Middle East studies, including the Albert Hourani, Nikki Keddie, Fatema Mernissi and Roger Owen book prizes, Malcolm H. Kerr Dissertation Awards (one each in humanities and social sciences), mentoring and service awards, a Graduate Student Paper Prize, and an Undergraduate Education Award. Each prize targets specific contributions: the book awards honor exceptional monographs in defined thematic areas (general Middle East studies; religion, revolution, and society; gender, sexuality, and women’s lived experience; and political economy), the Kerr awards recognize outstanding doctoral dissertations, and other awards recognize retiring faculty mentors, service to the profession, graduate student research, or innovations in undergraduate teaching. Eligibility and submission requirements vary by award—some require published books, others completed dissertations or student papers—so nominators and applicants should consult MESA’s official award guidelines for specific criteria, deadlines, and nomination procedures.