Miriam Wallace, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield, has been elected to the executive council of the Modern Language Association (MLA). Wallace will serve a four-year term, concluding in 2029.

Wallace’s election to the executive council demonstrates her significant contributions to the field and her commitment to advancing the humanities. Her leadership is expected to further the MLA’s mission. Wallace expressed her deep honor at being nominated, recalling her first MLA Convention experience. "I attended the MLA Convention in my first year of graduate school and promptly lost my voice. I’m sure it was because I was so fearful of revealing myself as an imposter to the professoriate," she shared. Wallace emphasized the MLA's core mission to combat such fears and ensure a rich range of diverse voices and leadership for the future.

Wallace hopes to deepen her understanding of advocacy work, budget management and future planning for the future of the humanities. She is eager to network with colleagues from institutions similar to UIS to share insights into the developments and challenges across higher education.

Founded in 1883, the Modern Language Association of America provides opportunities for its members to share their scholarly findings and teaching experiences with colleagues and to discuss trends in the academy. In addition to hosting an annual convention and sustaining one of the finest publishing programs in the humanities, the MLA is a leading advocate for the study and teaching of languages and literatures and serves as a clearinghouse for professional resources for teachers and scholars.