ACLS Delegates
An ACLS Delegate is selected by each of the 86 member societies for a term of up to eight years, with the society’s executive director reviewing the appointment annually. An elected, eight-member Executive Committee of the Delegates serves as the Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors on admissions of new societies and affiliates. The chair of the Executive Committee of the Delegates serves as an ex officio member of the Board of Directors. In 2025, ACLS updated the guidelines for Delegates.
Delegate Engagement
ACLS Delegates are the designated representatives of member societies, professional organizations spanning disciplines, interdisciplinary fields, and area studies across the humanities and social sciences. As recognized leaders in their fields, Delegates play a central role in connecting scholarly communities with ACLS and shaping the broader intellectual landscape.
Delegates serve as a vital bridge between their societies and ACLS, representing the perspectives and priorities of their fields while contributing to national and international academic dialogue. Through their governance responsibilities, Delegates help determine the composition of ACLS membership and, through the Executive Committee, select the recipient of the Haskins Prize, the organization’s most distinguished honor. They also play an active role in strengthening the vitality and long-term sustainability of the humanities and social sciences.
ACLS has implemented a coordinated model for Delegate engagement that integrates sustained internal dialogue with broader scholarly exchange. This model builds on Delegate Forums convened between October 2025 and April 2026 and is supported by dedicated infrastructure, including a Delegate Listserv and SharePoint site that facilitate ongoing communication, knowledge-sharing, and engagement across the federation.
As part of this work, ACLS convenes a series of public forums that bring together Delegates, scholars, and the broader academic community to engage critical issues shaping scholarly fields and to advance cross-disciplinary exchange.
In Fall 2026
ACLS will convene the Delegate-curated Critical Issues in the Humanities and Social Sciences Forum, bringing together Delegates, faculty, and scholars to engage critical issues shaping the long-term sustainability of scholarly fields.
In Spring 2027
ACLS will convene the Delegate-curated Cross-Disciplinary Conversations in the Humanities and Social Sciences Forum, bringing together Delegates, faculty, and scholars to examine public-facing humanities scholarship and explore how research engages audiences within and beyond the academy.
Across these efforts, Delegates play a central role in advancing shared understanding, strengthening connections across disciplines and institutions, and extending the reach and impact of scholarship.
