Strategic Plan

APPAM Strategic Plan, 2026 – 2029

In the Spring of 2026, APPAM took a fresh look at where we are and where we want to go. We’re pleased to share how we developed our three-year strategic plan and what it means for members.
The policy research field is changing, and members are navigating new challenges and opportunities. Our plan builds on the programs that bring us together while focusing on four ways APPAM can better support your work and career.

APPAM last revisited its strategic plan in 2016. This time, we wanted clear direction for the next three years without undertaking another yearlong process. We chose a shorter, member-informed approach we called “strategic planning light.” It gives staff and volunteer leaders priorities they can act on while leaving room to respond as members’ needs change. We drew on the February 2026 member survey, the May 2026 AI survey, and feedback from the 2025 Fall Conference. Interviews with members and stakeholders helped us understand the experiences and concerns behind that feedback.

Staff looked for common themes, drafted priorities and possible steps, and refined them with APPAM’s vice presidents, Sanya Carley (University of Pennsylvania) and Johanna Lacoe (University of California, Berkeley/California Policy Lab). The Executive Committee then worked through the draft in a four-hour session in early summer. Four priorities emerged:

Guidance on AI in research and APPAM activities

Members have asked for help navigating AI and told us they are finding limited guidance elsewhere. We aim to develop useful resources and clear policies for AI use in conference participation and submissions. Work on an AI task force and training opportunities are already underway.

Career connections and professional development

We want APPAM to be a place where members can build connections and find support throughout their careers. That includes more opportunities for employers and job seekers to meet, both virtually and at the Fall Conference, along with hands-on training and a wider range of virtual professional development. We will also explore ways to welcome undergraduate students and programs into APPAM. Ideas under consideration include a virtual career fair, career resources, and a professional development track at the conference.

A growing and connected Fall Conference

As the Fall Conference grows, we want it to remain a place where people can find their community. We will develop a more deliberate approach to conference locations and growth, create space for smaller gatherings and shared interests, and seek more support for attendees who face financial barriers.

A stronger field and more useful research

We want to help connect policymakers and the public with research while bringing members together through a period of change in the field. The launch of the Journal of Policy Implementation and Evaluation (JPIE) offers one way to share accessible, useful research. We also aim to connect members affected by funding cuts or career changes, share opportunities and developments, and work with institutional members and partners to support the next generation of public servants and researchers. APPAM will remain nonpartisan as we convene these conversations.

Putting the plan into action

The plan includes possible steps, timelines, and roles for staff and volunteer leaders. Some work has already begun; other efforts will take shape over the coming months or require additional partners and resources. We’ll use these priorities to guide our decisions over the next three years and adapt as we learn from members.

We’d welcome your thoughts on these goals. Please reach out to us at [email protected].

APPAM Strategic Plan, 2016 – 2020

APPAM revisited its initial 2011 strategic plan, reviewed it, and proposed new goals and objectives to guide the association’s work over the next five years. The yearlong strategic planning effort was led by a committee co-chaired by David Johnson of the University of Michigan and Kathy Swartz of Harvard University. Committee members included Colleen Barry, Johns Hopkins University; Charles Betsey, Howard University; Kenneth Couch, University of Connecticut; John Martinez, MDRC; Jodi Sandfort, University of Minnesota; Michael Shires, Pepperdine University; and Matt Stagner, Mathematica Policy Research. Jane Waldfogel of Columbia University served on the committee as an ex officio member.

A membership survey was administered, and in-depth interviews were performed with thought leaders in the public policy community. Focus groups were also administered at the APPAM Spring Conference. The intelligence gathered through all of these endeavors is the basis of the Strategic Plan Report and Strategic Scorecard.

We thank the committee, especially the co-chairs, for their dedication and commitment over the last year in producing this report.

One of the things that the report created was additional committees to help accomplish the considerable work of the association. We need volunteers for these committees, and encourage you to review the list of committees and, if you’re interested in serving, please email Tara Sheehan and let her know. Committees meet by phone, and the time commitment is minimal. Please note you must be a current APPAM member to serve on a committee.

Thank you for taking the time to read the strategic plan. If you have any feedback on the goals and objectives outlined in the plan, please let us know.

APPAM Strategic Plan, 2011 – 2015

APPAM went through its first-ever strategic planning process in 2011. That plan (and the longer, more detailed full-committee report), along with the amended governance structure, helped guide the association over the last 4 years. During that time, APPAM has seen unprecedented growth in membership, in the size of the Fall Conference, in the number of submissions to its flagship journal, and the number of activities and programs it offers to its members.

The 2011 Strategic Planning Committee was co-chaired by Maria Cancian of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Paul Decker of Mathematica Policy Research. The committee also included Scott Allard, University of Chicago, Sandra Archibald, University of Washington, Angela Evans, University of Texas – Austin, Judy Gueron, MDRC, Ron Haskins, The Brookings Institution and Stephen Raphael, University of California – Berkeley. APPAM was extremely grateful for the committee’s hard work and willingness to commit so much time to this important inaugural effort.

The strategic objectives were deliberately broad to allow the APPAM leadership to execute the plan flexibly. The strategic plan was intended to be a fluid document that would be revisited periodically to update the objectives and strategies. It was revisited again in 2015, and the plan above will guide APPAM through the next five years.