It is my distinct honor to present my first Executive Director’s Report for the American Political Science Association. This report provides a comprehensive overview of APSA’s programs, activities, and deliverables over the 2024 fiscal year. This report is an opportunity to share information about APSA’s extensive programming and operations that provide resources to the membership.

In 2024, APSA achieved several significant milestones across multiple initiatives, including reinforcing our commitment to advancing political science research, education, and professional development and providing resources for scholars. APSA’s wide range of programs and fellowships continued to provide critical support for scholars, educators, and students. The 120th APSA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA brought together 6,596 attendees, fostering discussions on “Democracy: Retrenchment, Renovation, & Reimagination.” In the spring of 2024, APSA hosted its first annual Virtual Research Meeting, which expanded access to scholarly collaboration through virtual research groups. APSA Teaching and Learning programs provided vital resources for educators through webinars and APSA Educate. Internationally, APSA strengthened partnerships with organizations in Brazil, Japan, and the MENA region to support early-career scholars. These accomplishments underscore APSA’s dedication to fostering an engaged, diverse, and connected political science community. APSA has leveraged many opportunities to engage and collaborate with the membership and the broader discipline through the promotion of innovative programming, support for research and scholarship, and resource provision for students, teachers, scholars, and practitioners alike. Below is an overview of the programs and initiatives of the association in fiscal year 2024.
THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND GOVERNANCE
Between September 16, 2024, and December 31, 2024, newly appointed Executive Director, Kimberly A. Mealy, led and facilitated staff orientation exercises and transition meetings with the APSA staff and APSA Council. Mealy and the APSA governance staff also held a virtual orientation session for new APSA Council Members on November 22, 2024. The APSA staff worked to prepare the FY2025 association budget proposal and sent the draft budget to the APSA Council for review. The Council reviewed and approved the FY budget during its December 16, 2024, Council Meeting. The APSA President, Taeku Lee and President-Elect, Susan Stokes, visited the APSA Headquarters in Washington DC, to meet with APSA staff. Among the topics of discussion were the APSA strategic plan, the presidential task forces and programmatic updates and goals for FY2025.
ANNUAL MEETING AND CONFERENCES
The 2024 APSA Annual Meeting & Exhibition took place in Philadelphia, PA from Thursday, September 5, through Sunday, September 8. Featuring 6,596 attendees, the 120th Annual Meeting provided a forum for political science students, professors, researchers, and practitioners to share innovative research, engage with relevant issues, and network with colleagues.
The meeting featured 22 pre-conference short courses, 1,500 panel sessions, 94 business meetings, and 75 receptions. Program co-chairs Danielle Allen, Harvard University, and Michael Neblo, The Ohio State University, created a program focused on the conference theme of “Democracy: Retrenchment, Renovation, & Reimagination.” The program addressed a range of significant and timely issues including “Democracy, Retrenchment,” “Democracy, Renovation and Reimagination,” “AI and Democracy,” “Future of Political Parties,” and “Implications of the Israel-Gaza Crisis for the Middle East and Beyond.” The program co-chairs also designed three multi-day mini-conferences with the topics “Civic Learning on Campus,” “Learning from Global Democratic Challenges and Innovations,” and “Political Parties and American Democracy.” APSA President Mark E. Warren gave the Presidential Address “Democratic Innovation and Representative Democracy.”
To further emphasize our continued dedication to the advancement of students and early-career scholars, APSA hosted on-site Interview Services, the Career Open House, and the fifth annual Emerging Scholars Symposium, providing undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to present their research in a panel format. Other notable events included the APSA Awards Ceremony, which recognized 41 award recipients’ scholarly contributions to the discipline, and the seventh annual TLC at APSA. Around 150 attendees joined TLC at APSA on Saturday to discuss research papers on the theme of “Teaching Democracy: Reflection, Innovation and Imagination.”
I am deeply grateful for the exceptional leadership of the conference program co-chairs, division and related group chairs, and APSA staff, whose efforts made the program possible and the meeting a success. Together with the 2025 Program Co-Chairs, Tatishe Nteta from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Christian Dyogi Phillips from the University of Southern California, I am excited to welcome political scientists from around the globe to Vancouver from September 11-14, 2025. The conference theme will be ’Reimagining Politics, Power, and Peoplehood in Crisis Times.”
VIRTUAL RESEARCH MEETING
APSA’s inaugural Virtual Research Meeting took place February 8-9, 2024, with over 400 scholars participating in research workshops and keynote discussions on political crises, academic freedom, and the 2024 US elections. The two-day event provided a forum for scholars interested in sharing their research, providing constructive feedback for others, and creating partnerships and networks for future collaboration.
This 100% digital event welcomed scholars from across all subfields and various career stages of the discipline, and featured opportunities to learn from research workshops, general panels, and three virtual keynote panels around the theme of “Challenges in Political Science.”
I would like to extend my appreciation to the 2024 Virtual Research Meeting Program Committee: Pippa Norris, Harvard University; James Curry, University of Utah; Rebecca Ann Glazier, University of Arkansas, Little Rock; and Joe Klesner, Kenyon College. The 2025 Virtual Research Meeting was held on April 10-11, 2025.
TEACHING AND LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING
APSA’s core objectives include the promotion of high-quality teaching and the professional development of members. As scholars, practitioners, students, and educators navigate a challenging higher education and career environment, APSA has expanded its opportunities for instructors to further develop their curricula and teaching materials through APSA’s teaching and learning resources while also offering increased academic and professional development events and resources for political scientists both within and outside of the academy.
2025 TEACHING AND LEARNING CONFERENCE
The biennial APSA Teaching and Learning Conference stand-alone event took place in Alexandria, VA from February 7-9, 2025. More than 250 attendees explored the theme “Teaching Political Science Matters.” The meeting featured seven tracks, including “21st Century Skills: AI, Literacy, Analysis, Research, and Writer;” “Career Preparation in the Political Science Curriculum;” “Civic Engagement and Democratic Values;” “Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility;” “High Impact Practices;” “Internationalizing and De-colonizing the Curriculum in Political Science;” and “Simulations, Games, and Active Learning.” In addition to participating in track sessions, attendees had over 20 workshops to select from during the conference and had multiple opportunities for networking and community-building. Michelle D. Deardorff, of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, gave the keynote on “Finding Joy in Teaching during Dark times” at the event.
I would like to extend my appreciation to the 2025 TLC Committee: Co-chair Terry Gilmour, Midland College; Co-chair Stephen Meinhold, University of North Carolina, Wilmington; Natasha Duncan, Purdue University; Josh Franco, Cuyamaca College; John Ishiyama, University of North Texas; A. Lanethea Mathews-Schultz, Muhlenberg College.
2024 TLC AT APSA
The 7th annual TLC at APSA, a full-day mini-conference held in conjunction with the APSA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, brought together nearly 150 political science educators in a highly interactive forum to share innovative tools and techniques for political science education, present research on the scholarship of teaching and learning, and reflect upon the mini-conference theme of “Teaching Democracy: Reflection, Innovation and Imagination.” The 2024 TLC at APSA program committee, led by co-chairs Colin Brown, Northeastern University, and Bobbi Gentry, Bridgewater College, included Helen Chang, Hostos Community College, CUNY; Wendy Johnston, SUNY Adirondack; Kevin G. Lorentz II, Saginaw Valley State University; Chapman Rackaway, Radford University; and Shyam Sriram, Canisius University.
TEACHING SYMPOSIA AND OTHER RESOURCES
In 2024, APSA held two teaching and learning symposia, with each event bringing together 15-20 teacher-scholars to produce concrete teaching resources in emerging substantive and pedagogical areas. An in-person symposium brought scholars together to workshop teaching resources for teaching Comparative Politics while a virtual symposium focused on De-Centering the US in the Global Classroom. APSA also collaborated with the National Capital Area Political Science Association (NCAPSA) on a one-day workshop on Connecting Community and Classroom. In 2024, APSA hosted a five-part webinar series on “Engaging the US Election,” and also curated a Teaching of Civic Engagement Resource Collection. Materials from these events are available as collections on APSA Educate, APSA’s online teaching & learning library.
Since 2020, APSA Educate, an online resource, has published over 400 teaching resources and 330 teaching-focused blogs, with teaching materials for undergraduate and graduate courses across all subfields of the discipline. All materials are free and allow users to easily search, upload, and “favorite” materials.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In recent years, APSA has increased the number of professional development resources and events for political scientists in both academic and non-academic careers. The 2024 APSA Annual Meeting featured professional development-focused panels and events, including dissertation workshops, roundtables on the job market and getting grants, and events for scholars interested in non-academic careers. APSA also collaborates with member committees to host virtual professional development webinars and workshops. APSA’s Departmental Services Program supports political science departments by providing resources for department chairs, data and reports on the profession, forums for departments to address common issues, and services for chairs, faculty, and students. Over 55 department chairs gathered for the inaugural Department Chair’s Mini-Conference at the 2024 Annual Meeting for two panels, a luncheon keynote, and networking opportunities. We look forward to welcoming Department Chairs to the second-annual Department Chair’s Mini-Conference at the 2025 Annual Meeting.
RESEARCH
APSA’s Research Department conducts research on the political science profession regarding degrees earned, job placement, access, opportunities, and representation within the discipline and higher education. The Research Department produces reports on APSA surveys and other data, publishes reports for the discipline, and maintains interactive data dashboards.
Three primary instruments of data collection are: (1) the Graduate Placement Survey, which solicits data on political science job candidates from PhD-granting institutions in the United States; (2) the Departmental Survey which collects data from department chairs about political science curricula, enrollments, and faculty; and (3) the Project on Women and Minorities (P-WAM) survey, which collects data on demographics at all levels of the profession. The Research Department runs specialized surveys for the Association and collaborates with members undertaking research on the profession in their own capacity as researchers.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
APSA is committed to fostering dialogue between scholars, students, and researchers with non-academic audiences to help develop a better understanding of the value of political science amongst the public and to share practical insights from the discipline. APSA’s Public Engagement programming supports, develops, and encourages members’ engagement with their communities, policymakers, the media, and other audiences within the broader public.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
APSA is proud to offer public engagement programs and opportunities for our members. APSA staff provided support for a series of members-only webinars titled “Engaging the 2024 US Election,” showcasing a variety of tools political scientists can use to teach and increase understanding of the US election from a variety of perspectives. APSA also coordinates an annual virtual Media Training Workshop in partnership with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) SciLine project. This workshop is a day-long training for scholars and APSA members who are interested in developing skills on engaging with members of the press. APSA also provides support for the Pracademic Fellowship Program, which aims to support mid-career scholars placed within federal agencies in performing research and providing a “practical academic” perspective in government.
APSA staff routinely engage with and strategize on potential future public engagement programming with numerous committees, including our Public Engagement Policy Committee, Civic Education Committee, and Election Assistance and Policy Committee. Each of these committees supported panels at APSA’s 2024 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & ADVOCACY
APSA advances the interests of the association and the discipline of political science through its government relations efforts and Advocacy Program. APSA pursues the development of nonpartisan relationships with Members of Congress, federal agencies, and other key stakeholders in efforts to educate policymakers about the value of political science scholarship, funding for research, and defend against threats to the discipline. APSA will also periodically author public statements and letters on relevant issues to the political science discipline, including the rights and freedoms of our members to teach, research, and learn.
Through its Advocacy Program, APSA staff provides opportunities for members to engage more deeply with policymakers through the sharing of updates and analyses on policy, alerts to enable outreach to Members of Congress, training on how to advocate for political science, and preparatory support to hold meetings on Capitol Hill. APSA staff serve as active participants in several advocacy-oriented coalitions to coordinate efforts with partner organizations in the higher education space, including the Consortium of Social Science Associations, National Humanities Alliance, Coalition for National Science Funding, Coalition for International Education, Coalition for National Security Research, and the CivXNow Coalition. APSA provides support for the annual advocacy fly-in days for several of these organizations.
In 2024, APSA staff conducted the following activities as part of APSA’s Government Relations work:
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• Conducted 15 meetings with Congressional offices
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• Authored seven public statements and letters on behalf of APSA
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• Signed APSA onto additional joint and community letters
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• Provided logistical support for three advocacy fly-in days in collaboration with our partner organizations
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• Organized three panels at APSA’s 2024 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA
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• Served on the Advisory Board for the Students Learn Students Vote (SLSV) Coalition
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• Assisted with the development of the CivXNow Coalition’s Teachers Advancing Civic Learning (TACL) advocacy program
In 2025, APSA aims to expand congressional outreach and strengthen partnerships to enhance civic education and policy impact.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
APSA continues to collaborate on a variety of initiatives that extend our global network and provide research and professional development support to scholars across the world, particularly for early-career scholars from the Global South.
In August 2024, APSA collaborated with the Brazilian Political Science Association to offer a half-day short course on “Publishing in High-Impact International Journals in Political Science” prior to their conference in Salvador, Brazil. Leading the session for 20+ junior scholars were Nara Pavão, of UFPE, and Michelle Dion, of McMaster University, who gave a lecture on the journal submission and review process with insights from APSR.
With support from the Japan Foundation, APSA and Japan Political Science Association (JPSA), are collaborating on a new initiative to advance civically engaged research on critical issues in our societies through a multi-year program of scholarly exchange, professional development, and community engagement. The inaugural JPSA-APSA Working Group on “Civically Engaged Research for Critical Issues in Society” was held alongside the September 2024 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. The four-day program focused on Environmental Politics and featured research from 16 junior scholars (8 from Japan and 8 from USA).
With support from Carnegie Corporation of New York, APSA extended our engagement with early-career scholars from the Arab MENA region. In May 2024, we held the second MENA Methods Training Workshop, which ran as a three-day in-person training in partnership with the Tangier American Legation Museum (TALIM) and the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis (MIPA). 22 participants from Morocco and other Arab MENA countries attended the workshop on “Qualitative Methods for the Social Sciences: Causal Analysis.” APSA also supported 7 scholars from the MENA region to attend the IQMR and ICPSR summer methods training programs in June/July 2024. APSA worked with partners at the Center for Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies at Kuwait University to hold the 11th annual MENA Workshop, which focused on “The Politics of Identity in the Middle East and North Africa.” The December 2024 workshop was attended by 21 fellows who were subsequently given three years membership to APSA and the opportunity to apply for small grants to support their research.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMMING
The APSA strategic plan states that one of APSA’s overarching goals is to promote and encourage diversity and inclusion in the profession. The APSA Diversity and Inclusion Programs include long-standing programs to increase inclusion and access within the discipline of political science across all levels and at APSA meetings and events—for all scholars. APSA Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship and Grant programs (such as the Diversity Fellowship Program and the Fund for Latino Scholarship, among others) support research on under-studied topics and awarded a total of $149,041 for FY24. An additional $64,000 was awarded to the Advancing Research Grants for Early Career Scholars and the study of Indigenous Politics.
APSA MENTORING PROGRAM
The APSA Mentoring Program was created in 2003 and connects undergraduate, graduate students, and junior faculty from all backgrounds to experienced and senior members of the profession for professional development support on a wide range of academic and career topics. Mentorship is vital to the success of scholars in the profession, including graduate students and early career scholars. Mentor matches are made twice a year, once at the beginning of the fall semester and once at the beginning of the spring semester. Mentor matches can be short-term (one semester) or long-term (one academic year). In spring 2024, APSA staff matched 48 mentors and mentees. In fall 2024 APSA staff made an additional 85 matches. During the 2024 APSA Annual Meeting, the Mentoring Program held a Best Practices Roundtable for Mentors and Mentees, which featured advice and guidance from mentors and mentees who previously participated in the Program.
RALPH BUNCHE SUMMER INSTITUTE
The Ralph Bunche Summer Institute (RBSI), established in 1986, introduces undergraduates to graduate education within the political science discipline. In 2024, 14 undergraduate students participated in the annual, intensive five-week program hosted by Duke University on May 26-June 27, 2024, under the direction of Dr. Paula D. McClain. The 2025 institute will be held May 25-June 26, 2025. The program is funded in part by the National Science Foundation, Duke University and APSA.
RESPECT CAMPAIGN
A key component of APSA’s efforts to create an inclusive and respectful environment at APSA meetings and events is the RESPECT Campaign, which encourages “professional respect” by and towards all APSA annual meeting attendees and participants at all times. The RESPECT Campaign was featured at the 2024 Annual Meeting through email messaging, signage, and buttons. RESPECT stands for Respectful, Equitable, Safe, Professional, and Ethical Conduct Towards All. The APSA Sexual Harassment Survey Report and Anti-Harassment Policy (code of conduct) addresses the importance of facilitating a climate of respect at the annual meeting. The goal is to promote a respectful climate throughout the profession. The presence of APSA resources like the APSA Meetings Ombuds and the onsite Bystander Intervention Training, which were available during the 2024 meeting onsite and virtually, also embody this message of RESPECT.
HISTORY OF THE PROFESSION: APSA ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
During the 2024 National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS) Annual Meeting held in Los Angeles, California, the APSA Diversity and Inclusion Department conducted a second set of oral history interviews. This new video series, Contributions by Scholars of Color Series 2 , contributes to a continuous project that seeks to amplify the scholarship and contributions of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to the profession and investigate the history of race and racism in the political science profession. It further builds upon the APSA-Pi Sigma African American Alpha Oral History Project (1988-1994) (https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7sqv3c2n3p) and is motivated by the McClain Task Force on Systemic Inequality in the Discipline (2022). The videos premiered at the 2024 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Established in 1953, The Congressional Fellowship Program (CFP), serves the mission of APSA by enhancing public understanding of policymaking and improving the quality of scholarship, teaching and reporting on American national politics. The 2024-2025 cohort is comprised 35 accomplished professionals from diverse fields, including political science, journalism, healthcare, and US government domestic and foreign policy specialists. Fellows are currently serving in various congressional offices, with placements in the House of Representatives, Senate, committees, and other legislative and executive offices.
2024 also marked a significant milestone, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the study exchange partnership with Canada’s Parliamentary Interns Programme, reinforcing the longstanding tradition of international legislative collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Looking ahead, the CFP has selected six political scientists for the 2025-2026 fellowship year. These six APSA-sponsored fellows, supported through an endowment by Verizon (originally a gift from MCI), will join a larger Congressional Fellowship cohort, which includes additional fellows supported by various partner organizations and agencies
CENTENNIAL CENTER FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The Centennial Center had a dynamic and impactful year in 2024, advancing its mission to support research, civic engagement, and scholarly collaboration. Through a diverse range of programs, the Center continues to strengthen the political science discipline, providing funding opportunities, training initiatives, and community-oriented programs that enhance research and civic engagement.
SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND ENGAGEMENT THROUGH GRANTS
Grant funding remained a cornerstone of the Center’s commitment to advancing political science research and civic engagement. In 2024, the Center awarded a total of $187,573 in funding, distributed as follows:
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• Two winter Grants ($25,000)
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⋄ Research Projects on Critical Issues ($15,000)
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⋄ Growing Democracy ($10,000)
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• 17 spring grants ($40,000)
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• 33 summer grants ($122,573)
These funds provided critical resources for scholars conducting innovative research and promoting civic engagement initiatives that address pressing societal challenges.
INSTITUTE FOR CIVICALLY ENGAGED RESEARCH
In 2025, the Institute for Civically Engaged Research (ICER) welcomed 15 new fellows, bringing the total to 92 fellows since the program’s inception in 2018. The program’s four-day institute held in collaboration with the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University provided advanced training in civically engaged research methodologies, equipping scholars at all career stages with the tools to conduct rigorous, ethical, and community-driven research.
A significant milestone this year was the establishment of a new partnership with the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, the Center for Community Engagement at UCLA, and the College of Arts and Sciences at UCLA. This collaboration will enhance ICER’s reach and impact, providing new opportunities for scholars to engage in civically engaged research. Looking ahead, the 2025 institute will take place during the summer in Los Angeles, California marking an exciting expansion of the program and reinforcing its commitment to advancing ethical, community-driven scholarship.
STRENGTHENING THE VISITING SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Visiting Scholars Program flourished in 2024, welcoming Bogdan Mamaev (Griffith University) and Lucia Vitale (University of California, Santa Cruz). Their participation enriched APSA’s intellectual community through invited lunch-and-learn talks, where they shared their research with APSA staff, DMV-area scholars, and practitioners. This program provides scholars with a home base in Washington, DC, allowing them to conduct research, develop their work, and expand their professional networks with the support of APSA.
In 2025, the Centennial Center aims to expand the Visiting Scholars Program, increase member participation, and further promote the use of APSA facilities for workshops, lectures, and book talks. A key priority is to encourage more members to engage with the Center and utilize its resources, ensuring that it continues to serve as a hub for political science research and collaboration. Through these efforts, the Centennial Center remains dedicated to fostering a vibrant community of scholars, promoting impactful, engaged research, and strengthening the intersection of political science and civic engagement.
PUBLICATIONS
In 2024, APSA publications focused on promoting cutting-edge research in the association’s journals, helming editorial transitions, and promoting newer ventures including APSA Preprints and the association magazine, Political Science Today. American Political Science Review transitioned to a new editorial team in summer 2024 with Monika Nalepa of the University of Chicago and John Gerring of the University of Texas, Austin taking the lead as co-editors along with their team of 14 associate editors. The APSA publications team worked closely with the new editors to ensure a smooth transition. PS: Political Science & Politics published its bi-annual US election forecasting symposium with one contribution successfully predicting the 2024 Electoral College map, and Perspectives on Politics brought on an associate editor for political theory.
Journal of Experimental Political Science, a publication of the Experimental Research Section, transitioned to a fully Open Access journal in 2024, and Politics and Religion, another section title, will transition in 2025. Due to Cambridge University Press’ “transformative agreements” with institutions, an increasing percentage of articles in the APSA flagship journals are also being published Open Access, providing the association the opportunity to better serve members across the discipline in that format.
Three additional APSA publication initiatives continued advancing in 2024. The association magazine, Political Science Today, completed its fourth volume. The quarterly magazine, which is available to all members in print and online, includes news about the discipline, member spotlights, and association updates. APSA Preprints continues to serve as an important resource for scholars to share research. By December 2024, the site had 1,000 original articles, 800,000 abstract views, 450,000 article downloads, and has been cited over 400 times. Additionally, APSA formally announced the two new book series to be published by DeGruyter on teaching civic engagement and professional development in political science, expanding the reach of APSA’s book program in those fields, and the first book contracts were signed.
The Public Scholarship Program, now in its sixth year, provides an opportunity for graduate students in political science to come to APSA as fellows where they learn how to write and summarize journal articles for a general audience. This year our fellows authored a record number of 40 summaries, including the write-ups of APSA’s Teaching the 2024 Election webinar series.
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
APSA strives to connect with members and the general public through email newsletters, social media, numerous events, and various websites developed by APSA to encourage communication between scholars, students, and researchers. By spreading awareness of APSA’s program initiatives, the Association aims to encourage a better understanding of political science, provide members with ample learning opportunities, and enhance the capacity of political scientists today.
APSA uses a multichannel approach to promote and increase awareness around all APSA’s programs, including but not limited to diversity, equity and inclusion programming, our Congressional Fellows, the Centennial Center, research in the discipline, international programs, teaching and learning resources, individual membership and departmental membership, awards and recognition in the profession, eJobs, grants and funding opportunities, advocacy, development, and much more.
PSNOW
Political Science Now continues to grow and evolve as the storytelling arm and content hub of the American Political Science Association, which is designed to highlight all aspects of the Association and political science community. This includes daily Association announcements, news, and updates—featuring the latest political science research from APSA’s leading journals, teaching and learning trends, current program opportunities and support for political scientists, insightful interviews with scholars, grant and award recognition, professional development resources, Association meetings and events, and much more.
APSA CONNECT
APSA continues to provide support and resources for APSA Connect users, an online community for APSA members to share, connect and network with one another. APSA Organized Section microsite administrators and officers make up more than 50% of APSA Connect users on the platform. Currently, APSA hosts and supports a total of 83 microsites managed by APSA staff, committees, and organized section officers.
APSA OPERATIONS
As of March 1, 2024, both APSA’s headquarters and adjacent property are fully leased to tenants. We added two tenants on the fourth floor of the main offices early in 2024, which will provide more than $300,000 annually in tenant income. APSA’s rental income helps provide a diversified income and investment portfolio that through careful fiscal management, maintains APSA’s strong financial position and supports our various programmatic activities in support of our members. Also, as of July 2024, APSA’s mortgage with Bank of America was paid in full, freeing up approximately $240,000 in annual cash flows, which would otherwise have been used to pay down the mortgage principal.
APSA remains in a sound financial position with ample resources for current and future operations. The combined Fair Market Value of APSA’s Investments as of December 31, 2024, was $57 million, up from $50.63 million on December 31, 2023, due entirely to favorable equity conditions that prevailed in 2024. For much of 2024, APSA’s Investments have benefited from favorable equity market conditions as rising interest rates have ceased; yet inflation worries have persisted and a strong labor market continues to hamper cuts in federal interest rates, allowing the combined APSA investments to rise to $58 million on January 31, 2025. APSA’s Investment Policy targets are 65% Domestic Equities, 20% International Equities and 15% Fixed Income.
APSA MEMBERSHIP
APSA membership has continued to remain stable. In 2024, individual membership averaged 10,617 members. 2024 ended 4.46% ahead, with 453 more members than December 2023. 2024 Q4 averaged 10,777 members, which is 4.44% higher than the 2023 Q4 average of 10,319 members.
APSA Organized Sections continued to grow in 2024. Overall, organized section membership averaged 26,787, a 2.6% increase from 2023 (26,115). Organized Sections Membership is projected to rise 3.8% in 2025, reaching 27,806. Individual section membership averaged 515 in 2024, reflecting a 2.4% increase from 2023 (503). Early data for 2025 shows a projected 3.9% increase, with Individual section membership at 535 members. In 2024 Organized Sections recognized and supported members through over 400 awards, travel, and research grants. Over $168,000 was disbursed by sections in awards and grants to their members.
CONCLUSION
APSA’s accomplishments over the past year reflect the association’s ongoing commitment to supporting political science scholars, students, political science research, education, and public engagement. Through innovative programming, expanded professional development opportunities, and strengthened global collaborations, we continue to provide valuable resources for scholars at all career stages. APSA is very fortunate to have many dedicated members who generously devote their time and resources to supporting our extensive programming, including the annual meeting and multiple publications. I look forward to working with our members in the coming year as we continue developing programs that advance research, pedagogy, professional development, and public engagement. I would like to express my gratitude to former Executive Director, Dr. Steven Rathgeb Smith, for his excellent stewardship of the association for the past eleven years. I am grateful for the leadership of the APSA Council, the service of the numerous governance and standing committees, and the dedication of our members, staff, and partners who help to support the association’s strategic mission and values. I look forward to continuing to lead the association in advancing and achieving our shared mission and goals for the political science profession. ■