56TH ANNUAL COLLEGE ENGLISH ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
WESTIN HOTEL/ST. LOUIS, MO. APRIL 1-3, 2026
CONFERENCE THEME: GATEWAYS For its 2027 annual conference, the College English Association (CEA) invites proposals for papers and panels that explore the theme of “Gateways” and their significance in literature, criticism, and pedagogy. ogical work to open up interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary gateways?
WE EXTEND A SPECIAL WELCOME TO OUR CCCC’S COLLEAGUES!
PAPERS ON GENERAL TOPICS ALSO WELCOMED The CEA Conference encompasses a wide range of areas, including literary studies, creative writing, rhetoric and composition, technical communication, linguistics, and film. We further encourage proposals in areas about our wider role as academics, including student/instructor accountability and assessment, student advising, academic leadership in departments and programs, and the place of the English department in the university.
MEET US IN THE MIDDLE Centrally located, St. Louis offers a variety of adventures just outside the doors of our conference hotel. The Westin St. Louis is a short walk to the famous Gateway Arch, which houses the Museum of Westward Expansion. Even closer is Busch Stadium, home to the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s a quick trip on the light rail (just outside the hotel) to Forest Park (bigger than NYC’s Central Park!) where you ’ll find the St. Louis Art Museum (it’s free) and the St. Louis Zoo (home of the Penguin & Puffin Coast). Or channel your best Judy Garland and visit the World’s Fair Exhibit at the Missouri History Museum.
CEA WELCOMES GRADUATE STUDENTS As always, the CEA extends a special invite to students pursuing a graduate degree, not only to attend the conference but to submit their presentations to the CEA Outstanding Graduate Student Paper competition. The award carries a grand prize of $250 and publication of the winning essay in the CEA’s flagship journal, THE CEA CRITIC.
NEW FOR 2027: UNDERGRADUATE ROUNDTABLES CEA invites undergraduates to enjoy the conference experience by sharing their work in flash-essay roundtable sessions. A flash essay is a highly condensed, high-impact presentation (typically 300-1000 words, or 2-5 minutes) that delivers core research findings, a specific argument, or a compelling narrative. During roundtable sessions, the speakers and audience engage in discussion with each other in more of an open conversation than in traditional panels. Learn more about roundtables here: https://cea-web.org/about-roundtables
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES The submission deadline for proposals of 200-300 words is November 1, 2026. Only one submission per individual, please. Notifications of proposal status will be sent in early December. Electronic submissions can be made here: kuam2132
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CEA AND OUR 2027 CONFERENCE, PLEASE VISIT US AT CEA-WEB.ORG
The College English Association:
Ken Bugajski, Executive Director
Jeri Kraver, Associate Director and Treasurer
Moumin Quazi, Past President
Emily Jane Pucker, President
Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay, First Vice President and Program Chair
cea.english