TUSCALOOSA — Dr. Tricia McElroy, associate professor in the University of Alabama Department of English, is the new executive director of the nation’s largest and most prominent professional organization devoted to the study of Shakespeare.
With her appointment, the Shakespeare Association of America will move its headquarters to the Capstone. As executive director, McElroy will manage the day-to-day operations of the SAA and coordinate all aspects of its annual conference.
“This appointment is deeply gratifying for me, as it requires my expertise as both a scholar and an administrator,” McElroy said.
Her first professional experience as a graduate student was an assistantship with the SAA, helping coordinate the national conference that year.
The SAA annual meeting hosts about 1,000 attendees each year for panel discussions and seminars on Shakespeare’s life and culture.
Opportunities for UA students
Hosting the home offices of the SAA increases UA’s visibility in early modern studies disciplines and offers UA students networking opportunities. McElroy is also working with the department of English to offer undergraduate internship opportunities with the SAA.
Moving the association headquarters to UA required significant institutional support and a recognition of its value to UA students. The SAA has only been in residence at a handful of institutions since its founding in 1972.
“Our graduate students in the Strode program will have the extraordinary opportunity to participate in the SAA annual meeting as well as assist with its organization,” she said. “They will meet with the most prominent researchers in the fields of Shakespeare and Renaissance studies and gain organizational skills that can be transferred beyond the academy.”
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