Welcome to the official website of the Southern Political Science Association (SPSA)!
Established in 1929, the SPSA is a thriving community of educators dedicated to the study and practice of government, politics, and public policy. We are committed to supporting the professional development of our members as both scholars and teachers. Our members contribute to developing an informed and engaged civic life. Beyond imparting specialized knowledge in various fields within the discipline, our work fosters intellectual curiosity, analytical skills, and a lifelong love for learning.
The SPSA is home to one of the flagship journals in the discipline—The Journal of Politics (JOP). The JOP publishes high-quality research across various fields, including American and comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. Drs. Timothy Hellwig (SUNY Buffalo) and Timothy P. Nokken (Texas Tech University) lead the current editorial team.
We hold our annual meeting each January. Our 2025 meeting took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, providing a rigorous professional experience for over 1,400 participants. Attendees enjoy a variety of conference formats, ranging from traditional subfield-focused panels to forums oriented towards issues facing professionals, including early career faculty and graduate students. Conferences within a conference are a hallmark of the annual meeting: these feature multi-panel sessions organized around specialized research areas. The association hosts daily events designed to promote networking and social interactions. We also host a Virtual Summer Meeting. In both contexts, the SPSA is committed to providing inclusive programming in an environment that promotes mutual respect.
In 2026, we are excited to return to New Orleans at the Hilton Riverside. Led by Dr. Angela K. Lewis-Maddox (University of Alabama at Birmingham), the Program Committee is exploring several innovative programming ideas and welcomes your suggestions and proposals.
We are fortunate to have an outstanding professional staff who are integral to the functioning of the Association. An Executive Council governs SPSA and comprises those elected by the membership.
We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans, where you will undoubtedly enjoy the Southern’s hospitality. In the meantime, please get in touch with any of us if you have a suggestion or concern: info@spsa.net.
B. D’Andra Orey, SPSA President – Jackson State University
