Shakespeare Association of America

The Shakespeare Association of America (SAA) is a non-profit professional organization for the advanced academic study of William Shakespeare’s plays and poems, his cultural and theatrical contexts, and the many roles these have played in world culture.

Karen Raber has been the Executive Director of the SAA since 2018. In her role, she’s transformed the SAA, not just by leading it through the COVID-19 pandemic, but by also creating a member-focused and inclusive culture within the organization. The SAA is at the cutting-edge of scholarship on Shakespeare, promoting and supporting work that is engaged with contemporary theories and that engages the study of the Early Modern with our present moment.

However, the pandemic and the divestment of universities in faculty development and scholarship support means that members of the SAA are dealing with unprecedented difficulties in their careers. The SAA is dedicated to supporting the scholarship of all members, regardless of their affiliation and career level. Thus, the SAA has expanded its travel grants, added dependent care grants, and seeks to support those who can no longer easily afford conference travel.