The Hubert H. Humphrey Award is presented annually by the American Political Science Association (APSA) to honor notable public service by a political scientist.
Citation from the Award Committee:
The Committee is pleased to award the Hubert H. Humphrey Award honoring notable public service to political scientist Colleen Shogan. Dr. Shogan is currently the 11th Archivist of the United States (and first political scientist to hold this office); a position in which she directs the National Archives and Records Administration. Her interest in merging “the academic and practitioner perspective in [her] future classes” led Dr. Shogan to apply for the APSA Congressional Fellowship, the first step in a professional journey
Dr. Shogan’s contribution to public service is not only extensive it is also impactful. At a time when democracy is confronting various threats, her commitment to making the historical record of the United States more accessible to the public through actions such as digitizing the Archive’s holdings and reimagining its public exhibits, is particularly significant. Notably, she added the Emancipation Proclamation to the National Archives Rotunda in 2023 to commemorate Juneteenth.
Dr. Shogan’s nominators used words such as “inspiring” and “tireless” to describe her and referred to her as a “force for change.” Dr. Shogan’s devotion to her work was captured in an interview she gave earlier this year. In referring to the National Archives, she said, “We are an essential building block of democracy. Records are our basis for holding our government accountable and providing transparency. It is not a nice thing to have. It’s not something that should be an afterthought. It is a necessity.”
In conclusion, the Committee commends Dr. Shogan for her distinguished career in public service. Her publications include numerous refereed journal articles as well as the book, The Moral Rhetoric of American Presidents, which contribute to our understanding of elected leaders in government.
Colleen Shogan is the 11th Archivist of the United States, and is the first woman to lead the National Archives and Records Administration.
As the nation’s record keeper, Shogan is responsible for preserving, protecting and sharing the history of the United States. Shogan is deeply committed to civic education and public engagement, and has made it a priority to expand the reach of the National Archives to a wider audience. Under her leadership, NARA has launched initiatives to enhance services and make its holdings more accessible, both in-person and online, with the goal of cultivating public participation and strengthening democracy.
With the transition to electronic record keeping, Shogan is also driving a digital renaissance for the National Archives. NARA is leveraging AI and advanced technology to enhance preservation, streamline internal processes, and unlock public access to the billions of stories in its holdings.
Prior to becoming Archivist, Shogan served in a number of leadership roles. Most recently, she was Senior Vice President and Director of the David M. Rubenstein Center at the White House Historical Association. She also worked in the U.S. Senate and as a senior executive at the Library of Congress.
Shogan served as the Vice Chair of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and Chair of the Board of Directors at the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation. She taught at Georgetown and George Mason University, and has moderated seminars for the Aspen Institute.
A native of Pittsburgh, Shogan holds a B.A. from Boston College and a Ph.D. from Yale.
APSA thanks the committee members for their service: Dr. Ann Bowman (Chair) of Texas A&M University, Dr. Frank Baumgartner of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Michelle Chin of the University of Texas at Dallas, Dr. Carl LeVan of American University, and Dr. Sanford F. Schram of Hunter College, CUNY.