Middle East Medievalists (MEM) is an international professional non-profit association of scholars interested in the study of the medieval Middle East, defined expansively to include all geographies with prominent Muslim political, religious, or social presences, at some point between the rough parameters of 500 – 1500 CE.
MEM has two primary goals. The first is to increase the representation of medieval scholarship at scholarly meetings in North America and elsewhere by co-sponsoring panels. The other main objective of MEM is to foster communication among individuals and organizations with an interest in the study of the medieval Middle East. MEM also hopes, in the future, to advance the study of the medieval Middle East by undertaking such projects as scholar exchanges, conferences, etc.
As part of its efforts to promote scholarship and facilitate communication among its members, MEM publishes Al-‘Usur al-Wusta: The Journal of Middle East Medievalists.
MEM officially came into existence on 15 November 1989 at its first annual meeting, held in Toronto. MEM conducts its business meeting annually in the autumn, normally in conjunction with the meeting of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA), which is usually held in November. The general business meeting is open to all current members of MEM and to those considering membership. The Board of Directors of MEM is elected annually at the general business meeting. MEM is incorporated in the state of Illinois; contributions to MEM are considered exempt from federal income tax by the United States Internal Revenue Service.