As we prepare for the upcoming American Studies Association (ASA) Annual Conference in Chicago (October 22–25, 2026), we wanted to share details regarding the strong University of Michigan presence across this year's program.

Key department highlights and featured events include:

  • Department Panel – "Yes, and... No: Punctuation as Improvisational Space in the Department of American Culture" (Session 203): Friday, October 23, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Palmer House, Dearborn 1 (7th Floor). Chaired by Scott M. Larson, with panelists Melissa M. Borja, William A. Calvo-Quiros, Bethany Hughes, Charlotte Karem Albrecht, Scott Larson, and Magdalena J. Zaborowska.

  • Michigan AC 90th Anniversary Reception (Session 263): Friday, October 23, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Palmer House, Chicago Room (5th Floor). Join us to celebrate the AC 90th Anniversary and showcase AC student work.

  • Poster Session & Reception – "Improvising to Draw Them In: Promoting American Studies Courses, Offerings, and Programs" (Session 416): Saturday, October 24, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Palmer House, Chicago Room (5th Floor). Featuring Sandra Gunning alongside Scott M. Larson.

  • Awards ceremony. Opening Night Reception and Awards Ceremony with Collegeunbound: “Improvising Institutions”
    Thursday, October 226:00 PM - 8:30 PM, Palmer House. Ticketed event,
    Adams Lora Romero Award for Best First Book Winner: Umayyah Cable, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, for Mainstreaming Palestine: Cinematic Activism and Solidarity Politics in the United States
  • University of Michigan Press: Stop by Booth 24 in the Exhibit Hall on the 4th Floor.

In addition to these events, numerous UofM faculty and graduate students across campuses will present, chair, and serve as commentators throughout the conference from Thursday, October 22 through Sunday, October 25.

Please see the attached schedule for a comprehensive list of all UofM panels, paper presentations, and session details.

You can also view the full conference program attached to this email.

We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!

 

The Department of American Culture will continue celebrating its 90th anniversary this fall with a series of special events at the American Studies Association (ASA) Annual Conference in Chicago, scheduled for October 22–25, 2026.

Building on a decades-long presence at the ASA conference, the department is hosting a 90th-anniversary reception designed to bring together faculty, alums, current students, and academic colleagues. The reception offers attendees a space to reconnect, honor the department's legacy, and envision the future of their collective work.

In addition to the reception, the department will host a Special Session featuring Roland Hwang, an attorney, civil rights activist, and lecturer in Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies within the Department of American Culture. A co-founder and President of American Citizens for Justice, Hwang brings a wealth of expertise in civil rights advocacy and public service, having served on the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission and as chair of the Michigan Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Both the reception and the special session will showcase posters created specifically for the milestone by UM undergraduate and graduate students, highlighting the department's ongoing vibrant scholarship and student achievement.