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SPA to Host American Journal of Political Science, Among Other Top Research Journals

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Story Update: In August 2018, Kenneth Meier joined SPA's faculty as the Inaugural Distinguished Scholar in Residence. He is currently the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Behavioral Public Administration. This brings the 2018 total number of journals that SPA hosts to five.


The highly regarded American Journal of Political Science, which is published by the Midwest Political Science Association, is the latest research journal to select the AU School of Public Affairs to house its editorial operations. SPA Professor Jan Leighley will serve as interim lead editor of the journal for one year.

The AJPS joins two other quarterly, peer-reviewed research publications that moved to SPA this year.

The Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management announced in November that the SPA would host the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management and named SPA Professor Erdal Tekin editor-in-chief.  

SPA Distinguished Professor Jeff Gill began his term this spring as editor-in-chief of Political Analysis, the official journal of the Society for Political Methodology and the Political Methodology Section of the American Political Science Association.

Leighley, former president of the MPSA, will take over the editorial reigns of the AJPS for one year beginning May 21. The journal is among the most influential publications in political science and was recently ranked with the highest five-year impact factor in the field.

"This is a huge disciplinary signal that SPA values research and is taking the lead in intellectual and scholarly contributions," says Leighley, who was co-editor of AJSP from 2002-2005 and co-editor the Journal of Politics from 2009-2014. "AU is trying to do so many things with public relevance and outreach. Still, the core of the academy has to be in being on the edge of research and contributing to that."

Just nine percent of submissions are accepted for publication in the AJPS. It is a general, quarterly, peer-reviewed journal that covers the five political science subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, normative theory, and methodology.

"SPA now hosts five journals that span a range of public affairs and government subject matter," said SPA Dean Vicky Wilkins. "Our faculty's expertise in their respective fields is a draw for these journals, and we're honored to play a leadership role for these excellent publications."

Other journals that SPA hosts include the following: