CARA’s annual meeting this year was held at the Marco Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, September 29 through October 1. At the meeting, Professor James M. Murray, Director of the Medieval Institute at the University of Western Michigan, was appointed the next chair of CARA, taking over for Professor Robert E. Bjork, Director of the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Arizona State University.
Among other things, CARA, the Academy’s standing committee on Centers, Regional Associations, Libraries, Programs, and Committees in Medieval Studies, is a consultative body of 106 institutional members that can offer program assessments and advice on program development (no matter how large or small the program) through site visits by members of its Executive Committee. When you have questions about how to embed medieval studies into your institution or community, if you want to transform an ongoing caucus of medievalists on your campus into a formal center, or if you need an advocate when medieval studies is threatened in your institution, CARA can help. You can contact the chair directly with questions, and he will put you in touch with a CARA member or members with the most expertise in your area of concern, or you can attend the annual CARA meeting in the fall, where you will meet a number of scholars representing a range of medieval studies initiatives throughout North America and abroad.
Next fall’s meeting will be at the University of Saskatchewan, dates TBA.
