mˈɪdəl ˈiːst stˈʌdiz ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən ˈɔfən ɹᵻfˈɜːd tʊ æz mˈeɪsə ɪz ɐ lˈɜːnᵻd səsˈaɪəɾi, ænd ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tʊ ɪts wˈɛbsaɪt, "ɐ nˈɑːnpɹˈɑːfɪt ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən ðæt fˈɑːstɚz ðə stˈʌdi ʌvðə mˈɪdəl ˈiːst, pɹəmˈoʊts hˈaɪ stˈændɚdz ʌv skˈɑːlɚʃˌɪp ænd tˈiːtʃɪŋ, ænd ɛŋkˈɜːɹɪdʒᵻz pˈʌblɪk ˌʌndɚstˈændɪŋ ʌvðə ɹˈiːdʒən ænd ɪts pˈiːpəlz θɹuː pɹˈoʊɡɹæmz, pˌʌblɪkˈeɪʃənz ænd sˈɜːvɪsᵻz ðæt ɛnhˈæns ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən, fˈɜːðɚɹ ˌɪntəlˈɛktʃuːəl ɛkstʃˈeɪndʒ, ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪz pɹəfˈɛʃənəl dɪstˈɪŋkʃən, ænd dᵻfˈɛnd ˌækədˈɛmɪk fɹˈiːdəm.".
Middle East Studies Association (often referred to as MESA) is a learned society, and according to its website, "a non-profit association that fosters the study of the Middle East, promotes high standards of scholarship and teaching, and encourages public understanding of the region and its peoples through programs, publications and services that enhance education, further intellectual exchange, recognize professional distinction, and defend academic freedom.".