Italian American Studies Association AATI International Conference, July 2–5, 2026
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Submit to Italian American Studies Association AATI International Conference, July 2–5, 2026

Call for Papers: Italian American Studies Association
AATI International Conference–Rome, Italy
University of Arkansas Rome Center, Palazzo Taverna
July 2–5, 2026

The American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI) will host its forthcoming International Conference in Rome, Italy, at the University of Arkansas Rome Center, in the historic Palazzo Taverna, from Thursday, July 2 to Sunday, July 5, 2026. AATI has generously guaranteed the Italian American Studies Association four sessions at this prestigious international gathering.

We invite submissions from scholars, writers, and artists working in Italian American and Italian Diaspora Studies. This is a rare opportunity to share work that situates Italian American and Italian Diaspora experiences within the dynamic context of Rome—Caput Mundi, a city that reflects both continuity and transformation from antiquity to the present.

While proposals on all aspects of Italian American and Italian Diaspora Studies are welcome, we especially encourage submissions that:

· Highlight contemporary developments in Italian American and Italian Diaspora identities, cultures, and communities worldwide

· Explore intersections of migration, transnationalism, memory, and identity in global contexts

· Engage with Rome and the Lazio region as as sites of diaspora, heritage, history, and cultural production

· Consider connections between literature, cinema, theatre, media, the arts, history, politics, and pedagogy in shaping diaspora narratives

· Showcase creative writing (fiction, poetry, memoir, hybrid forms) that engages with Italian American and Italian Diaspora experiences

Session Formats

· Panel: 3-4 participants with 15-20-minute presentations, followed by Q&A

· Roundtable: 5-6 participants with informal 5-10-minute presentations

· Creative Session: 3-4 participants with 15-20-minute readings, followed by Q&A

In addition to fully formed sessions (panel, roundtable, or creative), members may also submit an individual abstract, which the program committee will work to group into a session.

Submission Guidelines (per AATI requirements):

· Abstract: 250 words

· Clearly state 1-3 conceptual goals (for pedagogical proposals, 1-3 audience “takeaways”)

· Bio: 75-100 words, including email and affiliation

Deadline for submissions: Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Submit to Italian American Studies Association Distinguished Service Award

Process:

  1. Candidates must be current members of the IASA.
  2. Nominators submit materials to Submittable.
  3. No self-nominations will be accepted.
  4. Nominators submit the nomination form presenting the candidate and explaining the individual’s qualifications.
  5. Nominators submit three letters of support in addition to their own explanation of candidate qualifications housed on the nomination form.
  6. Nominators submit a current curriculum vitae of the nominee, to be obtained directly from the nominee with the nominee’s consent. While containing the typical information, the CV should also clearly indicate the following,
    1. Service to the IASA (type and years), highlighted in yellow.
    2. The number of years the candidate has been a member of the IASA, highlighted in yellow.
    3. Participation in or presence at IASA conferences, highlighted in yellow.


Timeline:

• Applications may be submitted year-round to Submittable.

• Nominations are received by the president.

• Judges (three board and two at large members) will review all nominations in September and will make a selection at that time.

• Award will be announced/presented at the annual October conference. 

 

Criteria:

• Successful nominees will have made a real and substantial contribution to the Italian American Studies Association or the greater Italian American community through publishing, activism, committee work, recruiting, fundraising, public relations or other such significant activity.

• Current officers and board members are eligible to be candidates for the award.

• Past winners are not eligible for nominations for three years following the year in which they won.

• Annual winners will receive a plaque from the IASA, conference registration paid for that year, and will be interviewed by Diasporic Italy.

 

Submit to Student Membership

Benvenuto. Thank you for your interest in joining the Italian American Studies Association. There has never been a more important time to join IASA. Your IASA membership will benefit your career as well as your profession. Benefits of membership include access to the IASA members' database (visible to all registered members only) and access to free PDF versions of AIHA proceedings on our website.

We are pleased to offer the student membership dues rate. Please complete the student verification form (https://www.italianamericanstudies.net/cpages/membership) in order for your registration to be processed. Please note, that your registration is not complete until this form is received by IASA (ryancm@indiana.edu) and confirmation of your student status is emailed back to you. You can fill out the form and upload it here in submittable, so that the process for your student membership can begin. 

Again, thank you for your interest and devotion to the interdisciplinary study of the culture, history, literature, sociology, demography, folklore, and politics of Italians in America.