SPSA Committees 2026-2027

Committee on the Status of African Americans in the South

• Najja Baptist, Chair, University of Arkansas
• Karra McCray-Gibson, University of South Carolina
• Emmitt Riley, University of the South
• Sekou Franklin, Fisk University

Committee on the Status of LGBTQ+ Persons in the South

• Michelangelo Landgrave, Chair, University of Colorado Boulder
• Anne Caldwell, University of Louisville
• Matt Lamb, Texas Tech
• Robert Anstett, Lebanon Valley College
• Rachel O’Neal, Cottey College

Committee on the Status of Latinos y Latinas in the South

• Raul Sanchez-Urribarri, Chair, LaTrobe University
• Ivelisse Cuevas-Molina, Fordham University
• Maria Isabel Puerta Riera, Valencia College

Committee on the Status of Women in the South

• Katie Stauffer, Chair, University of Georgia
• Mandi Bates-Bailey, Middle Tennessee University
• Stephanie Davis, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Vanessa Baird, University of Colorado

Site Selection Committee (for 2030 meeting)

• Mark Hurwitz, Chair, SPSA Executive Director
• D’Andra Orey, SPSA Past President
• Kirk Randazzo, SPSA President
• Ali Yanus, High Point University

Finance Committee

• Kerstin Hamann, Chair, University of Central Florida
• Ryan Carlin, Georgia State University
• Jeff Staton, Emory University

Membership Development Committee

• Ali Yanus, Chair, High Point University
• Chris Burks, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Pam Corley, Southern Methodist University
• Belinda Davis, Louisiana State University

Nominations Committee

• Erik Herron, Chair, West Virginia University
• Natalie Rogol, Rhode Island College
• Enrijeta Shino, University of Alabama
• Ingrid Bego, Western Carolina University

Arnold Vedlitz Award Committee

The Arnold Vedlitz Award is intended to recognize environmental research in the American South, with particular consideration for the Gulf Coast area’s environmental challenges.

• Neal Woods, Chair, University of South Carolina
• Suzanne Robbins, University of Florida
• Ashley Ross, Texas A&M University Galveston

Diane Blair Award Committee

The Diane Blair Award is presented biennially to a political scientist who has played an outstanding role in politics and/or government during his or her career. This award will be presented in 2028.

Joseph L. Bernd Best Journal of Politics Paper Award Committee

The Joseph L. Bernd Best JOP Paper Award is presented annually to the author of the best JOP paper published in the calendar year preceding the SPSA Conference (for the 2027 conference, the paper will have been published during 2026).

• Joe Ura, Chair, Clemson University
• Chris Bonneau, University of Pittsburgh
• Douglas Thompson, University of South Carolina
• Monica Lineberger, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater

James C. Garand Outstanding Mentor Award Committee

The James C. Garand Outstanding Mentor Award honors James C. Garand and is intended to recognize outstanding mentors in political science.

• Mark Hurwitz, Chair, SPSA Executive Director
• Mary Anderson, SPSA President Elect
• Kirk Randazzo, SPSA President

Pi Sigma Alpha/Malcolm Jewell Award Committee

The Pi Sigma Alpha/Malcolm Jewell Award is presented to the author(s) of the best Graduate Student paper presented at the previous year’s conference.

• Toby Rider, Chair, Texas Tech University
• Susan Johnson, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Lindsey Cormack, Stevens University
• Jeffrey Lazarus, Georgia State University

Manning Dauer Award Committee

The Manning Dauer Award is presented biennially to a political scientist for exceptional service to the profession.

• John Szmer, Chair, University of North Carolina at Charlote
• Jacob Straus, Congressional Research Service
• Rebecca Lemoine, Florida Atlantic University

Marian Irish Award Committee

The Marian Irish Award is given to the author(s) of the best paper on Women and Politics presented at the previous year’s conference.

Neal Tate Award Committee

The Neal Tate Award is presented annually to the best paper on Judicial Politics that was presented at the previous year’s conference.

• Drew Lanier, Chair, University of Central Florida
• Logan Strother, Purdue University
• Shane Gleason, Trinity College

Robert M. Howard Award Committee

The Robert M. Howard Award is given to the author(s) of the Best Overall Paper presented at the annual meeting.

• Whitney Manzo, Chair, Meredith College
• Matt Furhmann, Texas A&M University
• Bob Lupton, University of Connecticut
• Ali Masood, Oberlin College

V.O. Key Award Committee

The V.O. Key Award is given out annually to the best nominated book on Southern Politics published during the previous calendar year (the 2027 award will be presented to the best book on Southern Politics published in 2026/2027). Books may be nominated by the publisher, author or reader. Five complimentary copies of the book need to be sent to the SPSA office or a copy to each committee member as requested by the SPSA.

• Seth McKee, Chair, Oklahoma State University
• Keith Gaddie, Texas Christian University
• Rob Mickey, University of Michigan

SPSA Women Sponsored Erika Fairchild Award Committee

The Erika Fairchild Award was designed to honor the memory of the late Erika Fairchild who once served as president of SPSA Women (formerly the Women’s Caucus for Political Science, South). The award criteria consists of those attributes that Erika exemplified:

• A strong record of scholarship
• A strong commitment to students and teaching
• Service to the profession
• A collegial spirit

The Fairchild Award is given biennially. Committee includes the current caucus President, the past president, and the most recent award winner.