Joel Kovel (born 27 August 1936) is an American politician, academic, writer and eco-socialist. A practicing psychiatrist and psychoanalyst until the mid-1980s, he has lectured in psychiatry, anthropology, political science and communication studies. He has published many books on his work in psychiatry, psychoanalysis and political activism. He is a member of the Green Party of the US (GPUS). He is married, having three children, three stepchildren and five grandchildren, and resides in Willow, a rural district of Woodstock, Ulster County, New York. Kovel is the Father-in-law of comedian Greg Fitzsimmons.