APCO Worldwide Adds Prominent U.S. Elections Expert to its Roster of Analysts for the 2016 Election

Washington (19 September, 2016) – Dr. James Thurber, distinguished professor of government and founder and director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University, joined APCO Worldwide’s International Advisory Council (IAC), announced Margery Kraus, founder and executive chairman of APCO Worldwide.

“Our clients currently face a unique presidential campaign, and an uncertain political future. Jim’s election expertise will be of great valuable to them, both in 2016 and beyond,” said Kraus. “His distinguished career as a political advisor and leading academic gives him an unparalleled knowledge and understanding of the U.S and global political systems. We’re delighted to welcome Jim to our IAC.

Dr. Thurber has been a faculty member at American University since 1974, and founded the university’s Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies in 1979. Under his direction the center biannually organizes the Campaign Management Institute and the Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute and the annual European Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute in Brussels. During his tenure at American, Dr. Thurber served as the principle investigator of a four-year study analyzing lobbying and ethics for the Committee for Economic Development, and is currently working on international lobbying and ethics reform with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

A prominent academic, Dr. Thurber was honored as the University Scholar/Teacher of the Year in 1996, and received the 2010 Walter Beach Pi Sigma Alpha American Political Science Association award for his work combining applied and academic research. He is also a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, and a member of the American Bar Association’s Task Force on Lobbying Law Reform.

“Joining APCO’s International Advisory Council is an exciting new opportunity,” said Dr. Thurber. “I look forward to contributing to the firm’s global expertise, and am eager to help clients solve complex political issues.”

Dr. Thurber has authored numerous books and more than eighty articles and chapters on Congress, congressional-presidential relations, congressional budgeting, congressional reform, interest groups and lobbying, congressional ethics and campaigns and elections.

Dr. Thurber holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Oregon, and a doctorate degree in political science from Indiana University.

Thurber joins a distinguished group of political and academic experts on the IAC including:

• Richard V. Allen – Former assistant to President Reagan for National Security Affairs and chief foreign policy advisor
• Dan Glickman – Former U.S. congressman; former U.S. secretary of agriculture; former chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc.
• Anita B. McBride – Former assistant to President George W. Bush; former chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush
• Jane Nelson – Senior fellow and director of the CSR Initiative at Harvard University
• Donald W. Riegle Jr. – Former U.S. senator and congressman; former chairman of the Senate Banking Committee
• Tim Roemer – Former U.S. ambassador to India; former U.S. congressman; current advisor to Issue One