Executive Director

Executive Director
Modern Language Association of America
New York, New York

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.

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.

For additional information on the MLA, position, and qualifications, please visit 

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
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This position is based in New York City, with a hybrid work environment. Salary for this position is between $250,000 and $300,000, commensurate with experience.

The Modern Language Association is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse pool of candidates for this search.