• Testimonials

    I can't overstate the importance of WLA to my career. I felt so welcomed as a graduate student that WLA has become my intellectual home.
    Nancy Cook, 2007
    Taylor Award recipient 1988, repeat EC Member, WLA President 2011, and Treasurer since 2014

Officers

Western Literature Association Officers

2020-2021
NameTitleUniversity
Audrey GoodmanCo–PresidentGeorgia State University
Lisa TatonettiCo–PresidentKansas State University
Jennifer LadinoCo–President ElectUniversity of Idaho
Amanda ZinkCo–President ElectIdaho State University
Kerry FineCo–Past President Arizona State University
Rebecca LushCo–Past President California State University San Marcos
Nicolas WitschiExec. SecretaryWestern Michigan University
Nancy CookTreasurerUniversity of Montana, Missoula
Amy HamiltonEditor, WAL Northern Michigan University
Jennifer Dawes2020Midwestern State University
Jenny Kerber2020Wilfrid Laurier University
Kyoko Matsunaga2020Kobe City University of Foreign Studies
Joshua Smith 2020Biola University
Jillian Bennion2020Grad student rep, Duquesne University
Krista Comer2021Rice University
Kalenda Eaton2021University of Oklahoma
Melody Graulich2021Utah State University (emerita)
Alex Young2021Arizona State University
Surabhi Balachander2021Grad student rep, University of Michigan
April Anson2022San Diego State University
Travis Franks2022Boston University
Cathryn Halverson2022Minot State University
Mike Lemon2022Texas Tech University



  • Western Literature Association (WLA)

    Founded in 1965, the Western Literature Association (WLA) is a non-profit, scholarly association that promotes the study of the diverse literature and cultures of the North American West, past and present.

  • Western American Literature (WAL)

    (The Journal)

    Published by the Western Literature Association, Western American Literature is the leading journal in western American literary studies.

  • Black Lives Matter

    The Western Literature Association (WLA) is in solidarity with Black communities, after the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, and the ongoing pattern of systemic racism and injustice that targets black and brown bodies. ...http://www.westernlit.org/black-lives-matter/