Melinda Adams

Melinda Adams is an Associate Dean and Professor of Political Science at James Madison University (JMU), within the College of Arts and Letters. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in African politics. Her research focuses on gender and politics, particularly women’s political representation in West Africa, and she teaches courses on African politics, development, and international affairs. As Associate Dean, she oversees college initiatives in research, scholarship, and creative activities, and coordinates JMU’s pre-law advising program.

Her research spans topics such as transnational feminist activism, legislative caucuses in Africa, and institutional barriers to gender equity. She has published extensively on these themes, with recent work analyzing Cameroon’s Anglophone conflict, Liberia’s post-conflict governance, and global norms around gender-balanced decision-making. Her academic contributions bridge theoretical frameworks in feminist institutionalism and empirical studies of political representation.

No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Her administrative roles include advocating for research initiatives and student support programs. She is affiliated with the Political Science Department and maintains an active scholarly profile through her publications and teaching.