About Us

The American Academy of Religion

Founded in 1909, the American Academy of Religion (AAR) is the world's largest association of scholars of religion. The AAR promotes research, publishing and teaching about religion in academia. The AAR neither endorses nor rejects any religious belief or practice.

• Purpose
• Incorporation and Funding
• Leadership
• Affiliations
• Annual Meeting

Purpose

In a world where religion plays so central a role in social, political and economic events, as well as in the lives of communities and individuals, there is a critical need for ongoing reflection upon and understanding of religious traditions, issues, questions and values. The American Academy of Religion's mission is to promote such reflection through excellence in scholarship and teaching in the field of religion.

As a learned society and professional association of teachers and research scholars, the American Academy of Religion has more than 10,000 members who teach in some 1,500 colleges, universities, seminaries and schools in North America and abroad. The Academy is dedicated to furthering knowledge of religion and religious institutions in all their forms and manifestations. This is accomplished through Academy-wide and regional conferences and meetings, publications, programs and membership services.

Within a context of free inquiry and critical examination, the Academy welcomes all disciplined reflection on religion—both from within and outside of communities of belief and practice—and seeks to enhance its broad public understanding.

Incorporation and Funding

The AAR is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with a budget around $2.9 million. Typically, about a third of the revenue comes from contributions and grants, a third from its annual meeting, a fourth from membership dues, and the remainder from royalties, books, and advertising.

In addition to $1,810,000 in grants from The Pew Charitable Trusts to create and maintain Religionsource, the AAR has also received grants of over $100,000 from the Ford Foundation, The Henry Luce Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc., and National Endowment for the Humanities. The Henry Luce Foundation was the main benefactor in the construction of the Luce Center building, which houses the AAR offices. The AAR holds half ownership in the building, which is valued at about $4.5 million, including a $500,000 endowment provided by the foundation for its continued maintenance. In 2007, the AAR received some $37,000 in contributions from about 615 individuals, mostly members, with the largest gift being $1,500.

Leadership

AAR Corporate Officers

Emilie M. Townes
AAR President
Chair, AAR Board of Directors
Professor of African American Religion and Theology
Yale University

Mark Juergensmeyer
AAR President-Elect
Professor of Global and International Studies; Sociology; and Religious Studies
University of California, Santa Barbara

Ann Taves
AAR Vice President
Professor of Religious Studies
University of California, Santa Barbara

Michel Desjardins
AAR Secretary
Professor of Religion and Culture
Wilfrid Laurier University

John R. Fitzmier
Executive Director

Chair of the AAR Committee on the Public Understanding of Religion

Sarah M. Pike
Associate Professor of Religious Studies
California State University, Chico

Affiliations

• Emory University, a prestigious research university based in Atlanta, Ga.
• American Council of Learned Societies, a federation of more than 65 national scholarly organizations that advances humanities and social sciences.
• National Humanities Alliance, a coalition of more than 80 organizations that supports federal programs in the humanities.

Annual Meeting

The gathering of thousands of scholars of religion at the AAR's Annual Meeting is the world's largest of its kind. More than 100 publishers exhibit books. Journalists often find attending a useful way to make contacts and pick up story ideas. The 2008 meeting will be held in Chicago, November 1-3. To find out about attending, click here.