Academic Freedom Initiative Public Affairs Associate, MESA

Academic Freedom Initiative Public Affairs Associate, MESA

The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) is seeking a part-time Washington-DC-based contractor — with the title Public Affairs Associate (the “Associate”) — reporting to the executive director of the Middle East Studies Association, which is headquartered at Georgetown University.

This position primarily supports the MESA Task Force on Civil and Human Rights (the “MESA Task Force”), specifically the Academic Freedom Initiative (the “Initiative”), which is supported by a two-year grant from the Mellon Foundation. The Associate will be expected to support and collaborate intensively with the Research Coordinator for the Initiative (the “Coordinator”). This is an hourly (up to 20 hours per week) contractor position. The expected duration of this position is for the duration of the grant.

The MESA Academic Freedom Initiative seeks data collection, organization, and analysis regarding campus climate and academic freedom issues since October 7, 2023.

MESA is a non-profit association that fosters the study of the Middle East and North Africa, promotes high standards of scholarship and teaching, and encourages public understanding of the region and its peoples through programs, publications and services that enhance education, further intellectual exchange, recognize professional distinction, and defend academic freedom in accordance with its status as a 501(c)(3) scientific, educational, literary, and charitable organization.

Academic Freedom Initiative Public Affairs Associate Anticipated Duties

Throughout both years, the Coordinator may direct the day-to-day work of the part-time associate position. The Associate may also assist in other relevant tasks to this project, as assigned and directed by the project leads.

The work of this half-time contractor position is currently anticipated to take two distinct stages, over the two years of the project.

First Year: Data Collection

While the Mellon-funded Coordinator collects data, the Associate will build out the digital infrastructure to establish and then maintain a public database.

The Associate will also create and maintain a digital platform to publish short reports and interim analyses.

The Associate may also be asked to assist with other tasks related to the Initiative as needed.

Second Year: Dissemination

Once the data has been compiled, the Coordinator and the MESA Task Force would seek to disseminate the information in several ways, with the support of this position, including reports and publications.

The Coordinator—supported by the part-time Associate and in conjunction with the MESA Task Force—would also work with college and university administrators to share and contextualize the data, in order to inform campus policies and their enforcement.

Academic Freedom Initiative Associate Requirements

• Degree in a relevant field
• Aptitude for working within a small, professional team
• Strong organizational and administrative skills
• Expertise with relevant software and website tools

This contractor position pays between $28-$30 an hour, for 18-20 hours per week, not to exceed 1000 hours per year.

MESA’s DC headquarters is located at 3700 O St. NW Suite 241, Washington DC 20057 (Georgetown University, Center for Contemporary Arab Studies).

The candidate may be hybrid or remote in the Washington-DC area, and should be available to start in November 2024.