The initial work to found the National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics (NAEAA) occurred in 2006 as a component of a research project into views surrounding legitimacy of newer kinds of undergraduate academic disciplines (Bump, 2006, 2009). 

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Among the tools for building and sustaining legitimacy was the importance of an organizational structure that binds together those that work within a discipline and encourages networking, collaboration, and the building of a body of knowledge surrounding the discipline.

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Recognizing the absence of an organizational structure in the undergraduate equine discipline, conversations began to determine the need for, and interest in, creating structure. 

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Finding overwhelming support, NAEAA was incorporated in 2007 (NY) as a not-for-profit with a volunteer Board of Directors and organizers.

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Our core belief is that there is educational and societal value in the equine discipline of study. A commitment to high impact, low cost meetings and research projects resonates through our work which aims to:

1) explain, promote, and defend the value of educational offering with equines;

2) develop stronger links with direct and indirect industries for career opportunities, emerging needs, and stakeholder support; and

3) understand and address barriers to both 1 and 2.

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References:

• Bump, K. (2006). The Emergence Equine Studies as an Academic Discipline in U.S. Higher Education - Emergence & Challenge. naeaa.com/articles/NAEAAarticle1.doc

• Bump K. (2009). On the fence of legitimacy: A framework for understanding and assessing the legitimacy of new academic disciplines in higher education. Albany: The State University of New York; 2009. 260 pp.