The annual Middle East Studies Association (MESA) meeting was held November 19-22, 2005 in Washington, DC. The meeting, which takes place every November, is an opportunity for Middle East scholars to interact, participate in lectures and discussions, and present ideas to publishers. A book exhibit was also held in which publishers were able to showcase recently published books about the Middle East. The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) sponsored a table at the book exhibit to advertise fellowship opportunities and many of their Middle East affiliated overseas research centers hosted lectures and discussions. CAORC’s Middle East centers are located in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Yemen. The mission of CAORC is to foster international scholarly exchange, primarily through scholarship of fellowship programs which allow pre-doctoral and senior scholars to pursue independent research important to the increase of knowledge and to our understanding of foreign cultures.