The American Political Science Association (APSA) is very pleased to announce that Dr. Kimberly A. Mealy has been appointed Executive Director of the organization, effective September 16, 2024. Dr. Mealy, an instrumental leader at the association for over seventeen years, previously served as Senior Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Strategic Initiatives at APSA.
“We are delighted to welcome Kim Mealy to this critical leadership role. Kim’s extensive experience at APSA, combined with her passion for political science and commitment to advancing the discipline, make her an ideal choice to lead our association. We are very excited about this new chapter in the APSA’s evolution under Kim’s leadership,” said APSA President, Mark Warren.
As Executive Director, Mealy will be responsible for developing and implementing the strategic mission and vision of the association, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of APSA, including governance, finance, communications, the annual meeting, the teaching and learning conference, publications, membership services, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, research and grants, development, advocacy, and public engagement.
Mealy brings a wealth of organizational experience and expertise to the position. During her tenure at APSA, Mealy’s commitment to excellence and advancing the mission of the association has been evident through her active engagement in strategic planning; leadership in facilitating three APSA presidential task forces: Political Science in the 21st Century (2011); Negotiating Agreement in Politics (2013); and Systemic Inequalities in the Discipline (2021); co-leading the Ralph Bunche Fund development campaign which reached its goal of $2.5 million dollars in 2021; and serving as the co-Principal Investigator on the National Science Foundation (NSF) $1.4 million dollar Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (DDRIG) (2020-2023 and 2023-2026). Dr. Mealy has also directed the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference (2007-2014), overseen the facilitation of the APSA Status Committees (2007-2024), and directed several flagship association programs such as the APSA Mentor Program, the APSA Ralph Bunche Summer institute, the APSA Diversity Fellowship Program, and the APSA Fund for Latino Scholarship.
She has been an innovative leader, creating programs and resources to promote recruitment, retention, and advancement: In 2020, she developed the Advancing Research Grant for Indigenous Politics and the Advancing Research Grant for Early Career Scholars—helping to expand support for scholars throughout the discipline, and creating and implementing a strategy for increasing outreach and engagement to faculty teaching at Minority Serving Institutions (MSI). Dr. Mealy has also been a key voice advocating for a welcoming, respectful climate through the creation of the APSA Ombuds Resource in 2017 and the APSA RESPECT Campaign in 2018, collaborating with the APSA Ethics Committee to update of the APSA Ethics Guide, and developing and implementing policies and procedures on professional ethics in the discipline.
Pictured above: Kimberly A. Mealy
Dr. Mealy stated:
I am excited to step into the role of APSA Executive Director. I look forward to leading the association in fulfilling the strategic mission and continuing to work with the APSA staff, the Council, the committees, and the organized sections in this new role. As a political scientist, it is an honor and a privilege to serve the association and I am eager to leverage the 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. I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to former APSA Executive Director Steven Rathgeb Smith for his eleven years of outstanding leadership and service to the profession, and for his support. To meet the opportunities and challenges of the future, I will build upon the strong foundation and contributions of Dr. Smith and continue to advance the strategic plan, broaden participation, create welcoming, respectful spaces and pursue excellence in teaching, learning, service and research that can be shared with the discipline and the wider public.
In addition to her contributions and senior leadership and management experience within the association, Dr. Mealy has developed extensive external partnerships with leaders of other associations such as the National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), where she has served on the Science and Human Rights Coalition Council since 2017. She regularly advises associations and academic institutions on resource and policy development in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-sexual harassment best practices and procedures, professional climate, and the role and structure of the organizational ombuds.
Prior to joining APSA in 2007, Mealy taught at Wellesley College in the political science department from 2003-2006, where she offered courses in American politics and Black Politics, and advised students on careers and postgraduate studies as a teaching fellow and a Visiting Assistant Professor.
Dr. Mealy holds a PhD in political science from Indiana University Bloomington, a master of arts degree in political science from Stony Brook University and a bachelor of arts degree in history, with a concentration in Black Studies, from Swarthmore College.
