Executive Director

The Modern Language Association of America (MLA) is seeking a visionary leader to grow the organization and solidify the MLA as a leading advocate and champion of the humanities. The next executive director will support humanities practitioners in their teaching and research and promote the indisputable value of the humanities in higher education and beyond. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a bold, thoughtful leader to shape the next chapter of the MLA during a time of unprecedented challenges and opportunities facing the humanities.

Founded in 1883, the MLA promotes research in and teaching of languages, literatures, writing, and cultural studies through its programs, publications, annual convention, and advocacy work. Membership currently includes almost 20,000 scholars and teachers in 100 countries. Through 158 forums and 57 standing committees, MLA members have opportunities to network and pursue scholarly interests in specialized disciplinary areas. The MLA Handbook , soon to be released in its tenth edition; the MLA International Bibliography ; PMLA ; and other MLA publications are considered indispensable resources for students, teachers, and scholars. The MLA Annual Convention and the association's other programs offer members valuable opportunities to share research and advance knowledge, pedagogy, and professional development in the field.

The next executive director will expand and redefine MLA's presence as an advocate for the humanities through extensive subject knowledge, resourceful creativity, and unwavering bravery to meet the challenges facing the humanities and the MLA's individual and institutional members. Critical to the organization's mission, the executive director will strive to enhance the diversity of its staff and membership while also fostering the inclusive culture needed to support professional growth of its staff, engagement of members, and public awareness of the most pressing humanities-based issues across society.

Serving as the MLA's primary operational steward, the executive director oversees the financial sustainability of the organization by ensuring that the MLA's programs and publications retain their excellence and relevance and that the MLA continues to secure grant funding and attract new and existing donors. The ideal candidate will bring deep administrative experience in academic, nonprofit, or other relevant fields, as well as a tireless energy for working with the organization's elected leadership and membership to create new avenues for advancing the MLA's work.

The MLA is open to candidates from a range of backgrounds. The executive director will bring a distinctive blend of leadership and management skills and will work with the Executive Council on matters of strategy and policy while overseeing a staff of nearly 100 who serve the membership of the MLA. The strongest candidates will possess most of the following professional qualifications, skills, and personal qualities.

Professional Qualifications

• PhD in an MLA discipline or in a closely aligned field with commitment to the humanities

• Experience in higher education-liberal arts colleges, research universities, community colleges, or continuing education-with a broad intellectual understanding of the current landscape and emerging issues for both higher education and the humanities outside academia

• Demonstrated public advocacy in the humanities

• Senior-level leadership experience in higher education, foundations, public service, or the nonprofit sector, including the management of a highly skilled staff, complex programming and budgeting, strategic planning, and building a strong organizational culture and a high level of staff morale

• Experience with publications, print and electronic, highly preferred

• Experience in member relations, development, and convention planning preferred

Evaluation of prospective candidates will begin immediately with the anticipation that the position will be filled by February 2027. Applications (including résumés and letters of interest) should be submitted in confidence to . All inquiries, nominations, and referrals should be directed to: Steve Leo, Managing Director, Holly Jackson, Managing Director, Vicki Henderson, Senior Search Associate [email protected] .