Since its founding, the WLA has served to publish scholarship and promote work in the field; it has gathered together scholars, artists, environmentalists, and community leaders who value the West's literary and cultural contributions to American and world cultures; it has recognized those who have made a major contribution to western literature and western studies; and it has fostered student learning and career advancement in education.
"[3][4][5] The Association publishes Western American Literature: A Journal of Literary, Cultural, and Place Studies (since 1965) in partnership with the University of Nebraska Press.
It considers itself "the leading peer-reviewed journal in the literary and cultural study of the North American West, defined broadly to include western Canada and northern Mexico".
This is a list of people who have served as presidents of the organization and have hosted the annual conference.
[6][7] New York Northfield, Minnesota Sacramento, California Big Sky, Montana 2005 2006 The Grove Hotel, Boise, Idaho 2007 Literature, Social Justice, Environment Berkeley, California British Columbia, Canada 2016 2017 2019 2020 (due to COVID-19 pandemic)[8]