We are saddened to share that our friend and colleague, Dr. Michael Collins Dunn, passed away on March 20, 2023, in Virginia. Mike served as Editor of The Middle East Journal from late 1998 to early 2018, also editing other MEI publications for most of that time. His tenure as Editor saw the Journal shift from a print-only publication to being included in electronic library databases, where it is now read hundreds of thousands times annually. He was an exceptionally kind man with a vast knowledge of the region's history and cultures, which he always enjoyed sharing.
His Editor's Blog, which he maintained from 2009 through most of the 2010s, is a testament to his wide-ranging expertise and intellectual curiosity. Spanning more than 5,000 posts, the blog was a prominent voice in the Middle East blogosphere of its time and was featured regularly on MEI's website. His posts frequently took readers on historical deep dives, weaving together encyclopedic knowledge, humor, and an eclectic mix of interests ranging from the Byzantine Empire to the US Civil War, Ireland, and genealogy.
Mike is survived by his wife, Tam, and daughter, Sarah. Messages of condolence may be sent to editor@mei.edu.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 20, at 10:30 a.m., at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown (1315 36th St NW, Washington, DC 20007). There is no on-site parking, so please come by taxi or rideshare. After the service, there will be a reception from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Murphy Funeral Home in Ballston (4510 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203), where there is plenty of parking.