The World History Association (WHA) is a scholarly and academic organization that promotes the study of world history through the encouragement of research, teaching, and publication at all levels, from K-12 to college and universities. It was founded in 1982 by a group of scholars who believed in the importance of looking more globally at the history of world events and identifying patterns and connections between them.^[1]. Its membership is global. Its world headquarters has been located in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA since late 2025. Previously it was situated at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts USA and at the University of Hawai'i Manoa.

The WHA provides many opportunities for connecting world historians with one another. The Association holds annual conferences at sites in the United States and throughout the world. It issues three peer-reviewed publications free-of-charge to all current members: the Journal of World History (quarterly--in paper and digitally), World History Bulletin(semi-annually and digitally), and World History Connected (annually and digitally) ^[2]. The Association awards several distinguished prizes and scholarships annually: the Jerry H. Bentley Book Prize, the Outstanding Contribution to the Field of World History prize (formerly known as the Pioneer in World History Award), the Dissertation in World History Prize, the WHA/Phi Alpha Theta Undergraduate and Graduate Paper Prizes, the World Historian Prize (for K-12 students), and the WHA/Bloomsbury Diversity in World History Prize.

The WHA played a key role in the creation of an AP World History course, which was launched in the 2001-2002 school year. More recently it has partnered with OER (Open Education Resources) in its development of world history curricular materials and it is a key collaborator with History for the 21st Century (H/21), which builds curricular modules for use in world history centered courses.

Over the course of its history, regional affiliates of the World History Association has emerged in various parts of the United States. These include:

The Midwest World History Association (MWWHA)
Southeast World History Association (SEWHA)
World History Association of Texas (WHAT)
Northwest World History Association (NWWHA)
New England Regional World History Association (NERWHA)
Mid-Atlantic World History Association (MAWHA)
World History Association of Hawai'i (WHAH)
Mountain West World History Association (MTWWHA)

The World History Association was among the founders of NOGWHISTO ((Network of Global and World History Organizations) in 2008 and continues to be a principal partner in NOGWHISTO's activities.

The World History Association has been an affiliated society of the American Historical Association since 1983 and a member society of the American Council of Learned Societies since 2011.

Leadership

Current Executive Board (2026-2027):

Ruth Mostern, president
Cynthia Ross, vice president
Eric Nelson, treasurer
Sarah Eltabib, secretary
Trevor R. Getz, past president
Judi Freeman, executive director

Past presidents of the World History Association:

1982-1983 Kevin Reilly (pro tem)
1984-1985 Ross Dunn
1986-1987 Kevin Reilly
1988-1989 Arnold Schreier
1990-1991 Marilynn Hitchens
1992-1993 Ray Lorantas
1994-1995 John Mears
1996-1997 Judith Zinsser
1998-1999 Heidi Roupp
2000-2002 Carter V. Findley
2003-2004 Ralph Croizier
2004-2005 David Northrup
2006-2007 Michele Forman
2008-2009 Anand Yang
2010-2011 Alfred Andrea
2012-2013 Marc Jason Gilbert
2014-2015 Craig Benjamin
2016-2017 Rick Warner
2018-2019 Merry Wiesner-Hanks
2020-2021 Laura J. Mitchell
2022-2023 Jonathan Reynolds
2024-2025 Trevor R. Getz
2025-2026 Ruth Mostern

References

↑ "History of the WHA". World History Association (thewha.org). World History Association. Retrieved August 7, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑ "Publications". World History Association. World History Association. Retrieved August 7, 2026. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links

[1] "History of the WHA". World History Association (thewha.org). World History Association. Retrieved August 7, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[2] "Publications". World History Association. World History Association. Retrieved August 7, 2026. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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