The 29^TH MGSA SYMPOSIUM

MGSA Symposium 2026

Dear Members and Supporters of the MGSA,

The Program in Modern Greek Studies in the Department of Classics & Mediterranean Studies, at the University of Illinois Chicago will host the 29th Symposium of the Modern Greek Studies Association this coming October 15-18th, 2026. Since its first symposium at Princeton in 1968, the MGSA has grown to become the academic home of leading scholars in Modern Greek Studies. Its members have worked tirelessly to raise its academic profile and make it a prominent, global association, indeed, the premier organization for modern Hellenism. 

For some years now, the MGSA has supported the work of so many truly stellar graduate student presenters at its symposia.  At the last symposium at Princeton University, each student presenter was supported by an MGSA travel grant of $500.  These modest travel grants have become critical given today’s shrinking university support and rising inflation for graduate student research and travel.  In recent symposia, the MGSA and its host institutions have also supported underemployed junior academics and adjunct faculty. I am writing to you to see if you might consider contributing to the travel grants for early career, established scholars and graduate students. Both scholars coming from outside the United States (and especially from Greece) and graduate students (in general) have limited resources and the costs associated with attending the conference here might make it beyond their reach. Support within the Greek university system has been devastated in recent years and this has had the effect of limiting access to travel support. Many younger scholars beginning their studies during the pandemic are only now freely traveling to present their academic research, and some will be coming to the United States for the first time. All members of the Executive Board and the Symposium organizing committee are ready to work tirelessly up until the symposium to find the means to assist our colleagues in Greece and elsewhere, but we are now asking you to help supplement their fundraising campaign.

Currently, both the MGSA and our host, the Program in Modern Greek Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago, have each committed $10,000 to supporting our worthy young colleagues, the future of Modern Greek Studies. We hope to raise more funds to help scholars making the trip to Princeton! Over 200 applications have been submitted to the Program Committee by scholars and graduate students to present their research at the Symposium, and it will be disappointing to see many of these individuals unable to participate because of financial issues. Please consider donating to help these deserving scholars. [Your donation is tax-deductible and you will be receiving a letter acknowledging this.]   

I hope that you might join us in making it a success. 

Sincerely,

The Officers and Executive Director of the MGSA