Welcome to the Haitian Studies Association
The Haitian Studies Association provides a forum for the exchange and dissemination of ideas and knowledge in order to inform pedagogy, practice, and policy about Haiti in a global context.
To this end, we work to infuse scholarship with new ideas, and to make it relevant to Haitian reality; to advance to its rightful place the historical and potential contributions of Haiti to a pluralistic world; to celebrate the achievements of Haitians while affirming the inherent dignity of their history; to bridge the gap between the Haitian Diaspora, Haiti, and Caribbean; and to recognize the diversity that exists among Haitians.
2026 Call for Nominations for the H.S.A. Board
Deadline: November 15, 2026 The Haitian Studies Association is powered by the volunteer service of dedicated members who serve on the Board of Directors. If you meet the requirements and feel prepared to serve at this time, please consider submitting a nomination by November 15th for our upcoming elections! Help shape the present and future of HSA.1Upcoming Events
H.S.A.’s Upcoming Events page is used to share our upcoming events as well as those that may be of interest to our members. If you wish to have your event included here, please contact us with the details.
Haitian Art and the Diaspora (Nov. 20, 2026)
Join us for a conversation in the exhibition Between Archive and Afterlife: Haitian Painting and Politics after the Dictatorship co-curated by C.C. McKee with a seminar of students from Bryn Mawr College.The discussion will be led by McKee (Associate Professor of History of Art and Director of the Center for Visual Culture, Bryn Mawr College), and will feature Nathalie Joachim (musical artist, composer, and Assistant Professor of Music, Princeton University), and Didier William (visual artist and Associate Professor of Expanded Print, Rutgers University.
Emerging Scholars Café (Nov. 12, 2026)
Emerging Scholars invites you to the relaunch of its Emerging Scholar’s Cafes on November, 2026 at 11 am EST. This cafe brings Kervens Chery of the State University of Haiti into conversation with Charly Camilien Victor, PhD in sociology from Université de Haute Alsace (UHA). Kervens will present his bachelor’s dissertation that examines the social practices of the Mouvman Òganizasyon pou Devlòpman ak Desantralizasyon Depatman Nò ak Nòdès (MODÒD) between 2010 and 2020, challenging the dominant view that peasant organizations merely reproduce the development models promoted by the State and the international community. His presentation will be followed by Camilien’s comments on his work.
HSA Emerging Scholars Gathering & Open House (Nov. 4, 2026)
Wednesday, November 4, 4-5 PM ET (Zoom)Are you a student or early-career scholar working in Haitian Studies? Join the Haitian Studies Association’s Emerging Scholars group for a relaxed, welcoming virtual open house. Learn about who we are, how we connect to HSA, and the many ways to get involved and be supported.
Members’ Corner
The Members Corner is a space where the recent works & Accomplishments of HSA scholars are highlighted. Members interested in sharing their highlights can contact us to let us know.
Journal of Haitian Studies
Journal of Haitian Studies Spring 2026 – Volume 32, Number 1
SPECIAL ISSUE ON VODOUVODOU EPISTEMOLOGIES: KNOWLEDGE IN CEREMONY
VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SACRED
VODOU HISTORIES, PAST AND PRESENT
BOOK REVIEWS
H.S.A.’s Blog on the Environment
Welcome to the HSA Working Group on the Environment's blog series. For information on how to contribute your work, please contact Gary Gervais, ggervais@hushmail.com, or Lois Wilcken, lois@makandal.org.
Climate Injustice in Haiti and the Case for Reparations
We are pleased to post excerpts from this report to our working-group blog. Global Justice Clinic at NYU School of Law and The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA School of Law have succeeded in exposing to view the connections among racism, colonialism, extraction, in/justice, and the state of Haiti’s ecosystems. Among other achievements, the report draws from the lived experience of Haitians on the ground in Haiti, and it lists nineteen organizations with which the authors collaborated, all of them developing strategies for adaptation and survival. The authors likewise consulted thinkers outside of Haiti, notably the philosopher Olúfémi O. Táíwò, a leading voice on reparative justice. We cannot separate ecology from reparative justice, and we believe that this report makes a powerful call for reparations to Haiti.Opportunities
The Opportunities section is provided as a public service. If you or your institution have an opportunity that may be of interest to our members and visitors, please contact us with the details. If approved, we will add it to our site and share your opportunity on our social media platforms.
Working Groups
Members asked for new ways of connecting, being involved, and expressed the desire to make our collective scholarship relevant to conversations in policymaking, philanthropy, and legislation regarding Haiti. Cultivating a diverse and inclusive scholarly community is one of the strengths of our association. Working Groups build on this strength and foster more engaged scholarship.
