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
Process:
- Candidates must be current members of the IASA.
- Nominators submit materials to Submittable.
- No self-nominations will be accepted.
- Nominators submit the nomination form presenting the candidate and explaining the individual’s qualifications.
- Nominators submit three letters of support in addition to their own explanation of candidate qualifications housed on the nomination form.
- 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,
- Service to the IASA (type and years), highlighted in yellow.
- The number of years the candidate has been a member of the IASA, highlighted in yellow.
- 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.
IASA ANNUAL MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP AWARD FOR GRADUATE THESES
DESCRIPTION
IASA awards this annual memorial fellowship to the author of the year’s outstanding doctoral dissertation or masters thesis proposal or project in Italian American and Italian Diaspora Studies. We welcome for consideration all approaches to these fields of study. Although the dissertation or thesis may be written in English or Italian, all application materials must be in English.
ELIGIBILITY
Graduate students whose work focuses on Italian American or Italian Diaspora Studies, including but not limited to history, language, film, literature, social sciences, the arts, ethnic racial identity, etc. are eligible to apply. Applicants must be members of IASA.
Applicants with recently completed projects must include proof of defense/completion within the calendar year before the award deadline (September 7, 2024). Applicants with projects-in-progress must, instead, include proof of project/proposal approval by their department chair or advisor.
Graduate students who do not win in a given year, but continue to work on their dissertation or thesis in the following year, are welcome to apply a second time.
Graduate students applying for the annual conference travel grants are contemporaneously eligible for the Memorial Fellowship Prize.
Decisions will be based on the following:
• qualifications (academic standing and pertinent subject matter);
• quality and significance of the project (research questions and methodology, articulation of problems, concepts and approach, originality of content and research);
• evidence of steady, timely progress on the project; and
• potential impact of the project on related fields of study and Italian American and Italian Diaspora Studies in general.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
1. Application materials must be in English (the project itself may be written in English or Italian)
2. Please upload the following documents in .docx or pdf format to Submittable: https://italianamericanstudies.submittable.com/forms/primary
● Cover letter: In 150 words or less, briefly describe your dissertation or thesis project and your progress toward completion.
● Project description: In three double-spaced pages or less (standard 12-point font with 1-inch margins), describe the dissertation project or M.A. thesis that has either been recently completed or is currently in-progress. Clearly state the title and scope of your project. Clearly explain the significance of your research and how it contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the field of Italian American and/or Italian Diaspora Studies.
● Curriculum vitae: Document should include your current mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number and focus on publications, courses, professional activities, and awards. Maximum length not to exceed two pages.
● Unofficial transcripts: Proof of good standing, scanned as PDF, preferably.
● Two letters of reference: One letter should come from an academic advisor, thesis committee member, and/or dissertation director, and directly address the relevance of your project to the furthering of Italian American / Italian Diaspora Studies. Both letters must be in English.
3. Please provide recommenders with necessary information about your application, project, deadlines, etc. in a timely fashion.
4. Recommenders must upload their letters directly by themselves in .docx or .pdf format to Submittable:
For any questions about the application process, please contact the Chair of the Fellowship/Award Committee, Dr. Rosetta Giuliani Caponetto at rgc0006@auburn.edu
DEADLINE: September 7, 2024
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. The fellowship recipient will be notified via e-mail and will also be announced at the annual IASA conference. Attendance and participation in the conference are strongly encouraged. Funds will be awarded at or after the conference.
IASA ANNUAL CONFERENCE TRAVEL AWARD FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
DESCRIPTION
In an effort to defray some of the traveling costs for graduate students attending the Italian American Studies Association annual conference or symposium in Italy, the association has set aside limited funds for student travel. All application materials must be in English.
ELIGIBILITY:
Full-time graduate students at any level of study whose papers have been accepted for presentation at the Italian American Studies Association conference or symposium for the year in which funds are being requested may apply. Applicants must be members of IASA.
Graduate students must be in good standing (i.e., fully enrolled, degree-seeking, with proof of working in a timely manner on degree requirements; no academic probation, etc.). If they do not win one year, they may reapply in subsequent for subsequent conferences.
N.B. This is a separate application process from the Memorial Fellowship Award. Qualified graduate students may apply for both.
Decisions will be based on the following:
• Proof of acceptance for presentation at the upcoming IASA conference;
• Evidence of good standing and timely progress toward degree requirements;
• Previous IASA travel awards received;
• Travel distance between the home institution and conference location;
• Quantity of funding secured from other sources; and
• Quality and originality of the abstract.
Please send the following documents in .doc(x) or pdf format to the Fellowship/Award Committee Chair, Rosetta Giuliani Caponetto at rgc0006@auburn.edu.
● Cover letter: Please include home institution/primary professional affiliation, year and program of study, and dissertation title or details about your area of specialization. Then include your accepted paper title, your travel plan, full budget, requested amount for the award, and proof of financial support received from the home institution or outside sources.
● A scanned copy of your unofficial transcript as proof of your good standing.
● A forwarded e-mail with the IASA presentation acceptance from the panel organizer.
● Conference abstract.
For any questions about the application process, please contact the Fellowship/Award Committee, Dr. Rosetta Giuliani Caponetto at rgc0006@auburn.edu
DEADLINE: September 7, 2024
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Recipients of travel awards will be notified via e-mail, and the award funding will be sent in the form of a bank check by regular mail or through PayPal.
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.