Biography
Dr. Charles Keckler serves as Director of the Doctor of Law and Policy Program at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies, where he brings extensive experience in public governance and interdisciplinary scholarship. His recent research explores bipartisanship and effective governance, building upon his scholarly contributions across law, political science, and anthropology.
As Associate Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Keckler led the award-winning ReImagine HHS change management initiative and briefly served as Acting Deputy Secretary, functioning as COO of the nation’s largest civilian agency. He represented HHS on the President’s Management Council and led the department’s Regulatory Reform Task Force. Dr. Keckler was twice nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate to the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation, where he chaired the Operations & Regulations Committee overseeing funding for civil legal aid.
Before his leadership roles in government, Dr. Keckler practiced trial and appellate litigation at one of Chicago’s largest law firms and clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. His academic career includes teaching positions at Harvard, the University of Michigan, Northwestern, Pennsylvania State University, Washington & Lee, and George Mason University, most recently focusing on courses in constitutional principles and administrative law.
Dr. Keckler earned his Ph.D. in Public Policy from George Mason University with a dissertation on independent agency structure. He received his J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, where he served on the Editorial Board for the Michigan Law Review. He holds an M.A. in Anthropology from Michigan and an A.B. magna cum laude in Anthropology from Harvard College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
His publications include work on independent agency performance, constitutional law, and interdisciplinary approaches to legal reform, most recently as co-author of a small volume, Restoring the Republic: A Blueprint for Constitutional Administration. As Director of the Doctor of Law and Policy program, Dr. Keckler is committed to empowering the next generation of citizen leaders through a rigorous education in policy development and legal principles.
