Presidents and Executive Politics (Section 9)
Presidents & Executive Politics (PEP) of APSA is the premier association of scholars devoted to the study of the presidency and executives (formerly known as the Presidency Research Group). To that end, it welcomes diverse theoretical perspectives, analytical techniques, and data sources as they contribute to the advancement of scholarship and teaching. It also invites the contributions and perspectives of other disciplines. PEP values the establishment and enhancement of non-partisan links between scholarship, the real world of presidential and executive politics, and public policy.
Founded: 1985
Social: @APSApep
Website: connect.apsanet.org/s9
Section Membership Dues
| Student | Regular |
|---|---|
| $0 | $10 |
Section Officers
Section Officers
Section Awards
Section awards are presented during the APSA annual meeting awards ceremony. To learn more about any award listed, contact the award committee chair for the award.
All section 09. Presidents and Executive Politics awards to-date »
George C. Edwards III Dissertation Award
The George C. Edwards III Dissertation Award is given for the best dissertation on executive politics completed and accepted during the previous two calendar years (January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2026). To be considered for the award, nominees must submit a nomination letter and a PDF version of the dissertation to each member of the award committee. The recipient will receive a $300 award. Deadline for nominations: February 8, 2027
Award Committee
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
Annie Benn (Chair) | Colgate University | abenn@colgate.edu |
| Zak Taylor | Georgia Institute of Technology | mzak@gatech.edu |
| Kimberley Fletcher | San Diego State University | kfletcher@sdsu.edu |
| Huchen Liu | University of Nebraska-Omaha | huchenliu@unomaha.edu |
Founders Best Graduate Student Paper Award
The Founders Award will be given for the best paper on executive politics presented by a Graduate Student at either the APSA annual meeting or at any of the regional meetings in 2026. Deadline for nominations: February 8, 2027
Award Committee
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| David Miller (Chair) | American University | Dmiller@american.edu |
| Kevin Baron | Siena University | kbaron@siena.edu |
| Shannon Bow O’Brien | University of Texas at Austin | shannonbow@utexas.edu |
The Founders’ Award for Best Paper by a PhD Holding Scholar
The Founder’s Award is given annually for the best paper on the presidency/executives given by a PhD Holding Scholar at the previous year’s APSA conference or one of the regional conferences. Deadline for nominations: February 8, 2027
Award Committee
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
Jakob Wiedekind (Chair) | University of North Carolina | wiedekind@unc.edu |
| Matthew Eshbaugh Soha | University of North Texas | mes@unt.edu |
| Christine Kinane | Yale University | christina.kinane@yale.edu |
| Paul Collins | University of Massachusetts Amherst | pmcollins@legal.umass.edu |
Richard E. Neustadt Award for the Best Authored Book on Executive Politics
The criteria for the Best Authored Book award shall include: a) the book so honored must have theoretical significance, and b) the award committee shall consider the broadest number of perspectives as possible in considering nominees. The book must also have a copyright date coinciding with the year of the award. This date (2026) shall precede the year in which the award is presented. Deadline for nominations: February 8, 2027
Award Committee
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
Julia Azari (Chair) | Marquette University | julia.azari@marquette.edu |
| Adam Warber | Clemson University | AWARBER@clemson.edu |
| Adam Warber | Pomona College | amanda.hollis-brusky@pomona.edu |
| Mitchel Sullenberger | University of Michigan | msollenb@umich.edu |
The Legacy Award
The Legacy Award will be given to a living author for a book, essay, or article, published at least 10 years prior to the award year that has made a continuing contribution to the intellectual development of the fields of presidency and executive politics. Letters of nominations should provide a rationale for the work receiving the award. Deadline for nominations: February 8, 2027
Award Committee
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Sidney Milkis | University of Virginia | smm8e@virginia.edu |
| Justin Vaughn | Coastal Carolina University | jvaughn@coastal.edu |
| Jasmine Ferrier | University of Louisville | j.farrier@louisville.edu |
| Alejandra Aldridge | Brigham Young University | alejandra.aldridge@byu.edu |
Lyn Ragsdale Mentorship Award
The Lyn Ragsdale Mentorship Award recognizes outstanding mentorship in the field of presidency and executive politics. Nominations should include a letter outlining the ways in which the nominee has mentored individuals in the Presidency and Executive Politics section. Deadline for nominations: February 8, 2027
Award Committee
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Nancy Kassop (Chair) | SUNY-New Paltz | kassopn@newpaltz.edu |
| Dan Ponder | Drury University | deponder@drury.edu |
| Adam McMahon | Villanova University | adam.m.mcmahon@villanova.edu |
Best Undergraduate Paper Award
tHE Best Undergraduate Paper Award IS given annually for the best paper on the presidency/executive politics by an undergraduate student in the academic year prior to the annual meeting at which the award is granted. Papers shall be nominated by faculty members. No more than one submission per faculty member is permitted. Deadline for nominations: February 8, 2027
Award Committee
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Trantham (Chair) | Saint Leo University | austin.trantham@saintleo.edu |
| Gary Hollibaugh | University of Pittsburgh | gary.hollibaugh@pitt.edu |
| Bethany Conrad | Florida Gulf Coast University | bconrad@fgcu.edu |