The Middle East Institute (MEI) was founded in 1946 with the primary goal of fostering understanding of the Middle East among Americans.  Middle East scholar George Camp Keiser and former Secretary of State Christian Herter transformed the organization from its initial roots at the Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies into an independent nonprofit organization.  MEI became a groundbreaking entity focused on issues of the post-World War II Middle East. The region MEi came to geographically define as stretching from Morocco to Pakistan and including Central Asia.

MEI launched several programs that still exist today.  The George Camp Keiser Library was established along with the Institute in 1946.  It is home to the most comprehensive English collection of source material on the Middle East in Washington, DC, outside of the Library of Congress.  The Institute published the first issue of The Middle East Journal in 1947.  It is a highly-regarded academic publication that now appears in two-thirds of university libraries in the United States and is available electronically to students and academics around the world through JSTOR.  

Despite limited funding in the early days, MEI became known for its reliable, unbiased and insightful analysis of the Middle East.  MEI initiatives included seminars, biannual newsletters and annual conferences.  Conferences addressed a myriad of contemporary issues including the impact of the Middle East energy crisis and petrodollar problems on Americans; violence and dialogue in the Middle East; and Soviet policy toward the region.

In 1950, the Institute launched the Middle East Bulletin, a monthly newsletter that is still in circulation today.  The Bulletin informed members of recent Institute activities and developments in the region.  Now published quarterly with expanded content, it is available on the website, a free download for the general public.

MEI offered its first language class in 1953. By 1972 the Institute had a well-established Middle Eastern language program.  The Department of Languages and Regional Studies became nationally accredited in 2005 through ACCET.  Today the department offers multiple levels of Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish language classes, and seminars focusing on the history and culture of the Middle East.

In 1999, MEI welcomed a number of former diplomats, academics, journalists and government officials from the United States and the Middle East to form a core of Adjunct Scholars.  The experts brought years of first-hand experience and expertise to the Institute and continue to educate Americans about the region through their lectures, writings and media appearances.  In less than a decade, the program has grown from the original six Scholars to more than 40.

Under the current leadership of President Wendy Chamberlin and Chairman of the Board Wyche Fowler, MEI serves as a primary resource on the Middle East for policymakers, journalists and the public.  Its mission is to “promote knowledge of the Middle East in America and strengthen understanding of the United States by the peoples and governments of the region.” MEI continues to develop new ways to reach out to these audiences through events, publications, original web content, and the classroom.

The Middle East Institute (MEI) was founded in 1946 with the primary goal of fostering understanding of the Middle East among Americans.  Middle East scholar George Camp Keiser and former Secretary of State Christian Herter transformed the organization from its initial roots at the Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies into an independent nonprofit organization.  MEI became a groundbreaking entity focused on issues of the post-World War II Middle East. The region MEi came to geographically define as stretching from Morocco to Pakistan and including Central Asia.

MEI launched several programs that still exist today.  The George Camp Keiser Library was established along with the Institute in 1946.  It is home to the most comprehensive English collection of source material on the Middle East in Washington, DC, outside of the Library of Congress.  The Institute published the first issue of The Middle East Journal in 1947.  It is a highly-regarded academic publication that now appears in two-thirds of university libraries in the United States and is available electronically to students and academics around the world through JSTOR.  

Despite limited funding in the early days, MEI became known for its reliable, unbiased and insightful analysis of the Middle East.  MEI initiatives included seminars, biannual newsletters and annual conferences.  Conferences addressed a myriad of contemporary issues including the impact of the Middle East energy crisis and petrodollar problems on Americans; violence and dialogue in the Middle East; and Soviet policy toward the region.

In 1950, the Institute launched the Middle East Bulletin, a monthly newsletter that is still in circulation today.  The Bulletin informed members of recent Institute activities and developments in the region.  Now published quarterly with expanded content, it is available on the website, a free download for the general public.

MEI offered its first language class in 1953. By 1972 the Institute had a well-established Middle Eastern language program.  The Department of Languages and Regional Studies became nationally accredited in 2005 through ACCET.  Today the department offers multiple levels of Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish language classes, and seminars focusing on the history and culture of the Middle East.

In 1999, MEI welcomed a number of former diplomats, academics, journalists and government officials from the United States and the Middle East to form a core of Adjunct Scholars.  The experts brought years of first-hand experience and expertise to the Institute and continue to educate Americans about the region through their lectures, writings and media appearances.  In less than a decade, the program has grown from the original six Scholars to more than 40.

Under the current leadership of President Wendy Chamberlin and Chairman of the Board Wyche Fowler, MEI serves as a primary resource on the Middle East for policymakers, journalists and the public.  Its mission is to “promote knowledge of the Middle East in America and strengthen understanding of the United States by the peoples and governments of the region.” MEI continues to develop new ways to reach out to these audiences through events, publications, original web content, and the classroom.