Prof. Dr. Machteld Venken Elected 2nd Vice-President of the Association of Borderlands Studies

We are delighted to announce that Prof. Dr. Machteld Venken has been elected as the new 2nd Vice-President of the Association of Borderlands Studies (ABS), the world’s largest scholarly organisation committed to advancing the study of borders and borderlands. Founded in 1976, ABS brings together nearly 300 leading researchers and scholars from all continents and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026.

A member of ABS for a decade, Prof. Dr. Machteld Venken has played a vital role in the organisation’s activities, including the organisation of ABS’s highly successful second World Conference in Vienna and Budapest in 2018. Her long-standing dedication and international collaborations continue to strengthen the global network of border studies.

On 27 March 2026, Prof. Dr. Machteld Venken joined ABS’s Presidential Board. In accordance with ABS’s tradition of rotating leadership, she will serve as 2nd Vice-President for one year, transition to 1st Vice-President, and subsequently hold the presidency of ABS during 2028-2029. Her three-year term marks a new phase of international engagement and innovation for the organisation.

Prof. Dr. Machteld Venken’s election coincides with a milestone year for ABS—the 50th anniversary of its founding. To mark this significant occasion and ensure the legacy of border studies, she will spearhead three key initiatives:

1. Community Archiving Initiative:
   Launching an Open Access digital archive, this project will document the emergence and consolidation of Border Studies as an academic field, making foundational history and resources available to scholars globally.
2. Transatlantic Network for Emerging Scholars:
   Building on her commitment to international collaboration, Prof. Dr. Machteld Venken will launch a network to connect the Northern American emerging border scholars group with PhD researchers in Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, and France—cultivating new research partnerships and nurturing the next generation of scholars.
3. Annual Conference Internationalisation:
   Traditionally held in the United States, ABS’s annual meeting is going global. Prof. Dr. Machteld Venken will play a key role during this transition—supporting the 4th World Conference in Portugal and Spain in 2027 and guiding the organisation through its first Annual Conference in Mexico in 2028.

The Presidential Board meets biweekly at 9 PM CET, 1 PM PDT, 2 PM CST and 7 AM (AEST).

Please join us in congratulating her on this appointment and wishing her success in her new role!