The Middle Eastern Studies Association is a nonprofit organization, that promotes development of the Middle Eastern studies field. MESA will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 14 - Sunday, November 17 in New Orleans, LA. The events will allow for colleagues to share and engage in interdisciplinary Middle Eastern studies.

On Thursday, Deen Sharp will present at a panel concerning the role of corporations in regional development. The panel will feature Kristen Alff, Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia, Stephanie Wright, Associate Lecturer at Australian National University, and Ibrahim El Houdaiby, PhD candidate and researcher at Columbia University. The discussion will revolve around the history and influence of the corporations in the region.

On Sunday, the discussion will explore the expansion of urban areas in the Middle East. The panel will feature Sarah El-Kazaz, Assistant Professor of Politics at Oberlin College, and Huma Gupta, a PhD candidate at the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture. The focus will be on decisions to direct efforts towards urban expansion as a strategy for strengthening the economy.