In December 2024, Professor Waïl S. Hassan was elected second vice president of the Modern Language Association (MLA). With over 20,000 members based in over 100 countries, the MLA is the principal professional association for academic scholars, professors, and graduate students of modern languages and literatures in the United States. Hassan will serve as second vice president from January 2025 to January 2026, then as vice president form January 2026 to January 2027, then as president from January 2027 to January 2028.