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    • How to Organize a Panel

    Proposal Submission Deadline: May 4 

    Start early

    Start developing your panel theme and looking for participants now to be able to submit your proposal well before May 4th. If you wait until a week or two before the deadline, most people who you approach will be “booked.”

    Pick a topic

    Panel topics should be specific enough to distinguish your panel from others, but broad enough to encompass multiple scholars’ research and appeal to audiences beyond your subfield. Think about the larger questions or issues that your research engages with. Ask around for ideas or look at past programs for examples of topics.

    Find presenters

    This is an opportunity to build your professional network – and to find new ways to frame and approach your own work! 

    • •   Consult your colleagues and advisors about scholars working on similar topics.

    • •   Reach out to Division Chairs or Steering Committee members for suggestions of scholars you might contact.

    • •   Be bold and contact scholars who are more senior than you whose work you admire. Not only is career diversity an eligibility requirement, panels that bring together scholars at different levels tend to be most rewarding. 

      • •   Even if that person is unable to join your panel, you will have benefitted from introducing yourself and your work; this initial connection may result in other professional opportunities down the road.

      • •   Don’t get discouraged! Few panels form organically and easily. Most are the product of initiative, communication, and effort.

    • •   Explore past programs and the consult Papers/Panels Wanted Board or the Single Paper Listing in All Academic 

    Choose a panel title and develop a panel abstract

    Give your session a clear and descriptive title (<20 words) and abstract (<250 words). Good titles and descriptions are essential for the review and scheduling processes and help other participants find your panel in the program. Make clear and coherent the topic, stakes, and potential contributions of the proposed panel. 

    Submit your proposal!

    Before submitting your proposal, review the submission requirements in the Call for Proposals to verify that your proposal meets the eligibility requirements.

    Explore the FAQs or contact marnstein@associationforjewishstudies.org. We’re here to help!