American Academy of Religion

The opportunity to present papers, meet senior scholars, discover the scholars in my age cohort, forge both friendships and project partners, serve on committees, and become AAR's first Black woman president was made possible by my membership.

AAR has been a wonderful venue to present my research and learn from the work of other specialists in my field and beyond. Every annual conference provides a cornucopia of panels to attend and opportunities to network with colleagues who keep me connected with the latest trends in my field.

AAR has enabled me to keep up with friends and colleagues, even as we’ve moved to different institutions across the country. The support that comes from these opportunities to catch up with old friends and to meet new ones has been immensely generative for me over the years.