History
The Modern American began in April 2004 with the collective financing of the diverse student organizations at WCL. Since that time, TMA has become its own student organization that receives SBA funding and produces two issues a year—fall and spring.
Our name and identity convey the message that many people experience America differently based on many factors and, although labeled, their experience is no valued than others. In modern America, our publication expresses the distinct perspectives of our generation, while conveying the sense of pride we have as the People of America for our histories and hope for the future.
Today, TMA has grown immensely. Our staff has grown in number since the beginning and continues to be the most diverse staff on any publication at American University Washington College of Law. We are now available popular legal databases, including Digital Commons, Westlaw, LexisNexis and Hein-online. We will also host our annual spring symposium and fall event with the D.C. Women’s Bar Association. Further, we have not only grown at WCL, but also throughout the country. Over fifty law libraries are subscribed to TMA and we consistently receive subscription requests from law libraries, minority organizations, law faculty, and practitioners throughout the U.S. One of our most significant accolades to date came during the summer of 2006 when we were awarded first runner-up for the Henry J. Ramsey, Jr. Diversity Award from the American Bar Association.
During spring and summer 2010, after six successful years, TMA underwent and completed a Strategic Plan Initiative. The Strategic Plan aimed to identify the publication’s areas of growth to further secure it as a leading publication on diversity within the intellectual legal community. As a result of the Strategic Plan, the publication intends to continue attracting cutting-edge scholarship and writing from scholars, practitioners, and students alike, and to match its exceptional print content with comparable web content, including multi-media and commentary.