Leadership Positions and Nominations

About the Policy Council

The Policy Council works on behalf of thousands of APPAM members to improve public policy and management by fostering excellence in research, analysis, and education. The Policy Council is the association’s main governing body, or its Board of Directors.

Serving on the Policy Council is one of APPAM’s ultimate honors because of the responsibilities it confers. Policy Council leaders set the organization’s overall agenda and execute its strategic plan. They deliver key benefits to APPAM members, including the Annual Fall Research Conference, The Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, and regular programming throughout the year. Policy Council members are distinguished professionals who have demonstrated success at the highest levels in their careers, and many have served in presidential administrations and held leadership positions at federal agencies.

Policy Council Structure

The Policy Council comprises several standing committees, including the Executive Committee, and representatives from APPAM’s membership. Coming together from a variety of backgrounds and areas of expertise, these individuals provide the key perspectives needed to set and implement the association’s top priorities. Policy Council members belong to four separate cohorts, each serving four-year, staggered terms.

The six representative members of the Policy Council are:

  • Researcher in an academic setting
  • Researcher in an academic setting, early career (Within ten years of earning a terminal degree. Elected every other year.)
  • Researchers in a non-academic setting
  • Institutional representative
  • Student representative​ (Institutional Members are invited to submit for nomination)

​Requirements for Serving on the Policy Council

The leadership team meets four times a year – virtually in the first and third quarter, then in-person in the second and fourth quarter. The first in-person meeting is typically in May, and the final meeting takes place at the Annual Fall Research Conference in November.

In addition to the quarterly Policy Council meetings, Committees are asked to meet virtually four to six times per year to accomplish the annual tasks. All Policy Council members must serve on at least one committee.

Nominees must be an APPAM member in good standing for three years, and nominations must come from active APPAM members. Nominees and voters must also be active APPAM members at the time of the election (December – January).

APPAM is committed to building a culture of diversity in its leadership. We strongly encourage members of underrepresented groups to consider running for a role.

2027 Policy Council Nominations

This year, APPAM is looking for nominations for the leadership positions of APPAM Treasurer, APPAM Vice President, and APPAM President-Elect. All terms will begin in 2027. Officer positions are two years, and board positions are four years.

In addition to the leadership positions, the membership will elect:

The individual(s) nominated must be members in good standing and have been a member for at least three years. You can self-nominate or put forward the name of a member whom you feel would be an excellent leadership candidate. As part of its commitment to equity and inclusion, APPAM encourages underrepresented candidates to apply for Policy Council service.

The full roster of candidates will be presented to the membership at the APPAM Membership Meeting, held in conjunction with the Fall Research Conference on Thursday, November 5. Voting will take place shortly thereafter, and the winners will be announced in January 2027.

Interested in serving or have questions? Email APPAM Executive Director Tara Sheehan for more info by Friday, September 4.

Committees:

Committees meet virtually four to six times each year. In consultation with the Executive Director, the current President appoints each member of the Policy Council to committees following the election every January.

APPAM members who are not currently serving on the Policy Council may be considered for committee membership on a case-by-case basis. If you are interested in serving on a committee and have been an active member for at least two years, please email Tara Sheehan ([email protected]) to express interest.

The Policy Council’s committees are:

Executive Committee

This committee makes key decisions on behalf of APPAM’s members and oversees the Association’s finances. Members of the Executive Committee are APPAM’s principal officers and include:

  • President – Oversees the Board and the Executive Director and sets strategy for the organization.
  • President-Elect – After being elected at the Annual Membership meeting, convenes the next Fall Research Conference before assuming full duties of President.
  • Immediate Past President – Serves one additional year post-presidency to maintain leadership continuity on the Policy Council.
  • Vice Presidents (2) – Step in for the President at meetings and public events, if necessary.
  • Treasurer – Oversees the organization’s finances and works with the Executive Director to set the budget and oversee audits.
  • Secretary – Takes minutes at meetings to make sure there is an accurate reflection of votes and decisions in the minutes for posterity.
  • Chair of the Committee of Institutional Representatives – Represents the interests of the Institutional Representatives on the Policy Council. The Institutional Reps have their own bylaws and rules.
  • JPAM Editor – Oversees the content, production, and administration of the Journal of Policy Analysis & Management as an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee.
  • APPAM Executive Director – Chief executive of APPAM and manages all operations, programs, tasks, and administration. Responsible for executing on the organization’s strategic plan as an ex officio member of the Executive Committee.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

This committee is responsible for developing and overseeing the Association’s activities to promote diversity in its membership, at its member schools, and in its leadership.

Dissertation Committee

This committee reviews all the submissions for the PhD dissertation award and picks a winner and two runners-up for the annual award, presented at the Annual Fall Research Conference.

Institutional Representatives Committee

This committee comprises the four elected institutional representatives on the Policy Council and is charged with ensuring that the interests of the APPAM institutional representative members are well represented on the Policy Council.

Meetings & Conferences Committee

This committee advises the operations, logistics, agendas, sites, and all other details for all APPAM meetings and conferences.

Membership Committee

This committee helps develop membership recruitment plans and priorities, develop new membership benefits as appropriate, evaluate membership trends, and assess renewal strategies and member satisfaction.

Nominating Committee

This committee prepares a slate of candidates for the annual election to the APPAM Executive Committee and Policy Council. They work with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee to ensure that the slate of candidates for election to leadership is as diverse as possible.

Policy Relevance, Development and Communications Committee

This committee is responsible for ensuring that all APPAM activities and events connect policy to practice and for identifying and implementing training and educational opportunities for all APPAM members across all communication channels and platforms.

Student Activities (SAC) Committee

This committee oversees student activities, programs student sessions at the Annual Fall Research Conference, and considers ways to strengthen the representation of students in all APPAM activities and events. The committee is composed entirely of students and includes one student member on the Policy Council.

Sponsorship Committee

This committee helps staff identify the best foundations/organizations/schools and contacts people to approach for membership, sponsorship, and grant funding opportunities to help fulfill APPAM strategic objectives.