From the Shakespeare Association of America website: “Each SAA meeting features a plenary session of short papers by early-career presenters. NextGenPlen papers are selected via an anonymous screening process, with precedence given to those introducing new topics, displaying fresh thinking about traditional issues, and demonstrating diverse approaches.

Those submitting papers for consideration must be either (1) graduate students at the dissertation stage or (2) scholars who have received the Ph.D. within the past three years. All submitters must be current members of the SAA.”