The Middle East Center would like to congratulate Professor Roger Allen, Chair of the Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations department, on being elected the President of the Middle East Studies Association. Professor Allen was elected at the 2008 MESA Conference in Washington, D.C., and will assume his role beginning in November 2009 and ending at the 2010 conference in San Diego, CA. This position has been held by such esteemed scholars as Barbara Stowasser, Philip S. Khoury and John Esposito. It is a very prestigious honor that brings us at the Middle East Center and the Penn community a special source of pride.