Melani Cammett Taeku Lee serves as Clarence Dillon Professor of International Affairs and Bae Family Professor of Government in Harvard University's Department of Government. They direct the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs and serve as faculty dean of Dunster House, while also holding the presidency of the American Political Science Association. Their research spans identity politics, conflict resolution, and development with particular focus on post-violence societies in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lebanon, and Northern Ireland. Complementing this, their work examines racial and ethnic politics, public opinion dynamics, political behavior, and the relationship between corporate power and democratic governance. This dual research trajectory investigates how political identities form and evolve in diverse contexts, both internationally and within American society. Among their most significant publications are the forthcoming Billionaire Backlash (2026), Race and Inequality in American Politics (2024), and foundational works on Asian American political participation and immigrant incorporation. Their scholarship consistently addresses how marginalized communities navigate political systems and how institutions can become more responsive to diverse populations. Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences As an academic leader, they mentor numerous graduate students while directing major research initiatives at Harvard. Their work with the American Political Science Association shapes national conversations about political science research and its relevance to contemporary governance challenges. Current projects examine corporate scandals as potential catalysts for democratic renewal and the political behavior of communities in post-conflict environments. They lead interdisciplinary research teams at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, fostering collaboration among scholars studying global political phenomena. Their approach integrates qualitative fieldwork with quantitative analysis to produce nuanced understandings of political behavior across diverse contexts.











