The Political Studies Association announces its new Chair and Vice Chair

Claire is a Professor of Politics at the University of Exeter and comes to the Vice Chair role after already serving two years as a PSA trustee and more than 20 years as a PSA member. Roger is a Professor of Politics and currently serves as the Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations at Cardiff University.

A public policy scholar, Claire is a specialist in the impact of scientific knowledge, ideas and learning in the policy process. Her work on impact assessment, policy learning and accountability tools is extensively used by scholars and policy-makers in policy analysis and regulatory practice. She brings a wealth of professional experience to the Vice Chair role and current leads the University of Exeter’s Impact Acceleration Account and edits Public Policy and Administration.

On being appointed Claire said: “I am honoured to be entrusted with the Vice Chair role and look forward to working with Roger, our team of talented trustees and, of course, our brilliant members to ensure the PSA’s continued relevance and vitality.”

Roger is a long-serving and active member of the PSA and brings a wealth of academic, communications and professional skills to the role of PSA Chair; he is a past winner of the association’s Political Studies Communicator award, and in 2019 also won the National Mentoring Award in the University category.

Roger said: “The Political Studies Association is the UK’s principal learned society for those who study and teach politics, and one of the largest such societies in the world.

“To be asked to lead the association is thus one of the highest honours that any political scientist can receive. I feel very honoured to follow in the long line of incredibly distinguished scholars who have chaired the PSA. It is also an honour to be the first person from a Welsh university to lead the association. I feel particularly fortunate to follow current Chair Angie Wilson, and Vice-Chair Feargal Cochrane, who have done incredible and tireless work to develop and enhance the PSA’s standing.

The three themes I emphasised in my application for Chair of the PSA were Excellence, Sustainability and Diversity. I am very much looking forward to working with the association’s fantastic staff, with its wonderful board of trustees including incoming Vice-Chair Claire Dunlop, and with its growing and increasingly diverse membership, to drive forward improvements in all three of these areas.”

Roger and Claire were appointed by the PSA’s Executive Committee after a competitive process. They will take up the office at the association’s Annual Assembly in April at its international conference in Edinburgh, at which point the current Chair Professor Angelia Wilson and Vice Chair Feargal Cochrane will conclude their terms.