Meet our Faculty Affiliate: Amy D. Meli

Monday, August 18, 2025

The Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) is excited to announce the promotion of Amy D. Meli from CEL Research Affiliate to Faculty Affiliate.

Dr. Meli is an assistant professor of political science at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA. Her research centers around interest groups and the way they influence the political system. Her research projects include an examination of the way involvement in interest groups influences interest group member political efficacy and affective polarization, the relationship between interest groups and the political parties, and corporate reactions to the January 6 insurrection. She also studies the relationship between interest groups and legislators, especially the relationship between interest group involvement and legislative effectiveness. Dr. Meli holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Maryland, an M.A. from the Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University, and a B.A. in Political Science and Communication Studies from Virginia Tech. She comes to academia after a career as a practitioner of politics, including work in the U.S. House of Representatives, corporate public affairs, grassroots organizations, and political action committees. During her time as a CEL Research Affiliate, she served as a postdoctoral research associate at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia.

We are excited to continue working with Dr. Meli in her new role and look forward to her assistance in advancing our understanding of legislative effectiveness.